It really seems like Andrew Wyatt's "please guys just bang this out in a couple weeks I know you can do it" approach was not smart.
It's just funny because people will complain no matter what with legacy bands like this. Lightning Bolt was "too soft and mellow", everyone says PEARL JAM NEEDS TO BE HEAVIER. Gigaton was "too weird" also paired with bad timing of Covid and not getting to tour behind it. Now they release a couple of "heavier" singles with more energy, and people still don't like it. I've read complaints about the production, the vocals being too low in the mix, and the drums. I'm not saying I am the BIGGEST fan of these songs, if anything they are just missing a catchy "hook", but this newest single isn't really too far off from "Spin the Black Circle" and "Lukin" which are considered staples in PJ's catalog. If you don't like it, just move on and listen to something else. People's expectations are absurd.
idk i agree people are gonna find a reason to complain about a legacy band regardless but the production does sound legitimately horrible on the singles so far, which is weird, bc watt did a great job with eddie's solo record