Lydia Band • Page 16

I thought Way Up Here was really a great track. And I find most of his releases to be hit or miss so I don't have super high hopes in general.

 

This is so bad.

 

Why does this exist?

 

that was godawful

 

I just want him to dabble in some loud shit again. Even if it’s only as good as Paint It Golden, I’d take that over the vibes he’s been going for over the last decade.

Totally understandable that the “band” is never getting back together, and I guess he is just completely over making the kind of music most of us would prefer him to make. And good for him, he can do what he wants, but with all these bands that are doing the kinda heavy verby gazey sound these days, I can’t help but think it would be a great time for some new loud Lydia.

Oh well

 

is leighton planning on doing that to the whole album?

 

Sadly looks like the whole thing.

 

This description on the order site doesn't leave much to be desired:

"Near Mint brings Lydia’s cult classic back to life with airy synth flourishes and renewed vocal harmonies that transform every track into a dreamy, rhythmic comfort."

 

i just dont understand why? record is perfect.

 

I actually liked the This December re recording but I can't imagine listening to this lol

 

Way to try to ruin such a classic emo album it is like he took out all the emotion from the song

 

Yes I agree with the general sentiments that this is unnecessary-to-undesirable but I think the hate is hyperbolic. While this regrettably eliminates the guitars it’s still a much more sensible and restrained use of synth than some Lydia songs. To be clear, I think there are a lot of really great post-PIG Lydia songs but I tend to dislike the ones that sound too…bouncy and happy, for lack of a better word. And this song doesn’t do that. It’s still an elegant song that would be just fine if not trying to re-envision a classic.

 

I’m assuming he couldn’t just re-release the original album without having to pay the original members royalties from it

 

He says Mindy white is featured on it in the IG post.

 

My biggest beef with the way he writes now is that the songs have no room to breathe musically, like he is only interested in vocal melodies, and even those are pretty tired at this point.

 

I feel like if this was a b-side like, "alternate" version released with the original album, it wouldn't be as poorly received. Not saying it would be particularly loved, but I think it would just be another forgettable "this is fine" acoustic type track that a lot of bands were putting out back then. Lydia's reputation has just changed so much, and this being a re-imagining of arguably the most loved Lydia record makes it a hard sell. So I get why people don't fuck with this, I just don't personally find it particularly offensive.

 

It’s just hokey and lame, very commercial sounding in a Disney channel way

 

I'm with you. I love Run Wild & Liquor in particular. Sue me.

 

Devil is a really great album, the stuff since hasn't really hit for me

 

Liquor is definitely my favorite post-Paint it Golden album they did. I feel like they actually kind of pulled off the "songs you can party or cry to" shtick I remember Leighton talking about during press for that one. I would be lying if I said I even remember a single song off the last Lydia album though. Couldn't even name it off the top of my head.

 

riverman, sound in your dreams, past life, coffee drips
sunlight, friends, red lights, gypsy, way out
Momma, peach paint, even when I don’t

Post-PIG Lydia have some stinkers but when you remove the nostalgia and magic of the scene you see their ceiling never fell imo.

 

One of the truest one-album wonder bands in the world, for me. I adore Illuminate and am at best lukewarm on everything else this band has ever made.

 

Insane take since December is even better than Illuminate

 

December has never done anything for me.

 

I’m realizing I might have a lot of hot Lydia takes because I also do not care for This December. The re-recording is the only version of that album I ever return to.