This song is already one of their best and this is exactly the level up I wanted from this band. Now if they would only mix the vocals a little louder!!! Same problem on the debut.
Short blurb/mini review from Chicago Reader: Chicago’s Retirement Party will brighten your summer with the heavy emo of Runaway Dog
I’m going back and forth on whether to listen early or not. I may do one listen early and save the rest for Spotify plays.
This album is great. I liked their first album but this is even better! I hope this record isn't slept on and this thread isn't just us two talking because it is so good.
To no one's surprise, this is great I'm surprised at how much "heavier" this is than Somewhat Literate for lack of a better word, the guitars bite way harder
The production sounds intentionally "dirtier" than the previous record. I like it overall at first listen, but I worry the songs all sound too similar to each other.
First listen in and I am very mixed. It's clear that the band stepped up almost everything this time - guitars are crunchier, bass is thicker, drums hit harder, songwriting is tighter, lyrics are more focused, and the melodies are great - but the weakest part of their debut was the vocal performance and that actually stands out more here because everything has levelled up. I still don't understand why they would mix the vocals so low - it's clear they sound great on the quieter sections but then they get absolutely buried to where I can barely understand the lyrics on the heavier sections. And the lack of harmonies and (I think) double-tracking makes no sense, the vocals really could benefit from it because they're kinda pitchy in some sections that turned me off of songs I was otherwise enjoying. There's just a real mismatch between the way this record hits musically and vocally. Might get used to it like I did on the first record, but at least that one had that "debut album" charm that made me kind of dismiss my reservations about the vocals. I do still love the title track. Edit: I should say that I like the record overall, but that stuff kept a good record from being truly great for me.
Circling back to this. Fire Blanket is sticking out to me way more this time around, what a barn burner