I love every record he’s done, but Shape & Destroy is by far my favorite. It’s probably not better than Dying Star, but it came at the right time for me. The Weakness is coming in at a time like that for me and I could totally see this staying at the top for me. The Weakness Shape & Destroy Dying Star Halloween Dirt Emo I did it. I ranked them.
Also, between Ruston, Daughters, and The National and lord knows what else is coming imma have a panic attack trying identify my AOTY.
okay, three tracks in and i just know i'm gonna love this. i can see his work starting to fill a sonic/lyrical void once taken up by Noah Gundersen (just to make it clear, fuck NG).
Seems to be a lot of consternation about the production on this one – folks upset there's not a lot of pedal steel and harmonica – but I don't have any real complaints.
St. Jupiter is so goddamn good. Wife and I are taking a little vacation to NYC for his show there later in the month, very excited.
god this album is fucking hitting, year's been a trash fire on a personal level and I really needed to hear a record like this specifically around now
I’m really happy that he’s writing songs like “St. Jupiter” and “Michael Keaton” that carry on the humor of some of his earlier work. Shape and Destroy is incredible, but the subject matter is so intense. It’s nice that he can let the goofy parts of himself out again in his art.
To that end, I love this part of “Holy Shit”: Was I wasted when I called Or was it all a dream? Did you say pride before the fall? 'Cause I don't know what that means
This is extremely back heavy imo. Was thinking I dunno all throughout the first half - other than the opener, which is awesome - but the second half was more what I was looking for
Yeah, in the “Mending Song” video there’s a whiteboard behind him with the album track list and four extra deluxe songs: The Watcher Nothin’ Out There Heaven Made the Darkness Cold Black Mile (Hotel Version) Hopefully people ask about the deluxe during the tour VIP Q&A
The way the end of “Let Only Love Remain” washes over you like a sound bath. Had it on repeat all morning.
This thing gets better and better each time I play it. The back half is so good, and I think my early favorite is Better Now!