To be fair, if Steve's voice were still present, it would affect literally everyone's ability to enjoy the band, so...
Okay I did the car test. I've come up with a review. First off, I totally disagree with people who like the way this album is produced l. I hate it. Every single song has potential to be GREAT but every song also falls short of being do and im blamong that with production. Every song I say "id love to hear a much simpler stripped down version of this". With that said. It's a good album. Unlike previous albums there's something about every song that I can get down with. I mean could we have one "fast " part somewhere? This is a coming home/pop pure pop album. Pure and simple. I'm hearing people say it sounds like self title and sticks...no way. I don't hear it. Yeah those albums with a production that goes overboard on each song maybe? I'll say this. I'm really really really curious on how the band feels about this album. That could really sway me in either direction Favorite songs; happy being miserable, cheapest thrill, antisocial, barbed wire Unsure; sound of two voices, blurred vision, say it don't spray it Nah; jokes aren't funny, short and sweet
Many people thought Resurrection was underproduced and that they would benefit from having a second (or third) guitar in most of the mixes, so I'm sure they felt like they should try to fill the songs out a little more this time around. I don't feel too strongly about the production value one way or the other, but I don't feel like it's all that much different than what they've done before. Maybe a few more elements to it and the synths being a major melody in each song, but overall, it's not that much different than a typical NFG album. Also hate debating genres with people because I feel like that's a pointless argument, but I do see where people are coming from with the Sticks & Stones comparison. It's more in the vibe of the vocal melodies to me and not the songs as a whole that remind me of that album.
Good god, what a lousy opinion. I know we're all entitled to them, but the band does something different and interesting and you want the unique production elements stripped away? This album has their best production in a very long time, if not ever. There's a reason they had gotten stale for three albums now, and it's because they tried virtually nothing new. I just don't get the mindset. I would much rather any band take chances and maybe release something I'm not that into than write the same songs over and over, changing up absolutely nothing in terms of songwriting or production. Final word: Super amusing to see people pretend that this band has always been raw and is all of the sudden poppy, or something. Give me a break, their production has been as glossy as it gets since Sticks and Stones.
Idk, from where I sit, the album is pretty take it or leave it -- there's just not a lot to unpack here. NFG has historically changed little things from album to album with the exception of NWAF, and arrrrrrguably S&S. Not trying to be rude! Just not sure how the motives behind a pop punk band writing a pop punk album would affect how much you like it, is all. It's the same NFG with a slight twist. Hope it grows on you a bit more with time!
Haha lousy opinion cause I don't agree with what you said? I don't think this is the best production they've had, as I stated I think it's the worst. I like the chances they took. The songs are great and I think if you done town the production a bit on them they could be great
Sounded more like he was complaining that there was too much going on by the "stripped down" comment, and not so much that the problem was in the inclusion of new sounds for them. But yeah, I don't know, I just like this album a lot because it feels like they had a good mixture of everything. This is not a huge venture from a normal NFG album by any means, but at the same time, the synths and steel drums give it a new twist. To me, it just feels like the songwriting was a little tighter on this one than on the last few. I'm not sure what tangible elements to point to at the moment, but I just never got to a point where I was like "I don't like that verse/chorus".
It's lazy because it's the type of mindset that promotes stagnation in bands. The production is a big part of the chances they took and it's their most interesting in a long while.
I do like it! Haha I don't want my review to come off like I hate it....i was merely saying I think there's a great album in here with a different producer. Even with the way it's mixed I dig it. Nfg is one of my favorite bands and it's come to the point where I'm curious to what there thought process was making the album.
"I'm really really really curious on how the band feels about this album. That could really sway me in either direction." what??
The songs are interesting. I like it. But I don't agree that changing the production would alter that "interesting sound". I think the production took what could have been a great album and limited it's potential. Also i liked the last two albums.
I can't put my finger on it. There are just moments when the added instruments are fun but there are times I'm like "ah too much". There are moments when the layering feels too cluttered...or the vocal effects are uneccesary.... I wanna hear these songs live
Well it feels so different than ressurection, an album that Chad has said he really liked....so I'm just curious.
Just finished my first listen and it has left a good impression on me. I like the inclusion of the synth sounds and a noticeable second guitar, which was lacking on Resurrection.
Oh god I will not stand for shitting on the production of this album! This is their best sounding album in at least a decade and it's not even close. They're god damn lucky to have worked with Sprinkle on this and you can hear his fingerprints making the songs better all over the place. I say booooooooooo to this take.
What makes the songs so interesting is the inclusion of keys and synths though, stuff they tried for this album that they really hadn't before other than on Coming Home. I guess we disagree on that point, but to me the layers in the songs make them so much better and I can't really wrap my head around thinking the opposite.
To be honest, this makes me care less about what the band has to say, in the sense that my feelings about their music seem to differ greatly from their own.
As someone that's listened to Aaron Sprinkle, his projects, and the bands he's produced for a veryyyyyy long time, it's pretty clear how much positive influence he had on quite a few songs here. The idea that he limited the album's potential is just flat out false. He made it so much better. Grr. This blasphemy cannot stand.