Not sure if anyone has mentioned it here but the little melody in DVD Menu repeats again at the end of I Know the End just on a grander scale. Brings things full circle.
Omg the packaging!! This lyric book is insanely cool. My first listen of SITA was reading along with the lyrics as the record spun on my turntable, and I’m sooo excited to have a similar experience with this in a bit
In two days my record made it from Bloomington, Indiana to....Indianapolis. Gotta love that standard USPS.
Graceland gave those Sufjan vibes. A lot of this really reminiscent to Bright Eyes ideas too. I need more time with it but a good first outing.
I think this is a pretty sizable step up from Stranger. And I liked that album a lot, without ever really feeling like it was quite as revelatory as a lot of other people found it. This one takes the level where the highlights were last time and makes it the baseline. Extremely impressed.
I expand it more in my interview but not only is this probably going to be my album of the year it will certainly be a top 10 album by the end of this decade (if we get there that is lol) the lyrics are even sharper and wittier - the compositions feel fuller and more luscious and her vocals sound more confident.
I think the step up from Stranger to Punisher is very similar to Julien's Sprained Ankle to Turn Out The Lights. It certainly feels bigger (even though some moments do this by being even quieter) and some elements definitely feel "better" on paper. Whether or not you think it's better is obviously subjective and may take some time.
Kyoto, Chinese Satellites, Graceland Too, and I Know The End are my instant favorites after 2 listens.
The bigger, bolder, more complex arrangements are what's really blown me away over the past couple days. The entire thing sounds so lush and rich.
Without spoiling anything, I get real Michigan Sufjan vibes from Graceland. Going to listen again today.