along the shadow for whatever reason mostly bounced off me for a few years then i completely 180d on it and it became my favorite lp of theirs. seeing their last tour with anthony probably helped though, really killer stuff
I'm in the minority of also thinking this album is too "same-soundy". I went and listened to it again at the gym yesterday and still cannot get into it as much as their other releases. I think it's the lack of variety in Anthony's screams and then the production level of the guitars and hooks just do not hit as hard as ST or even portions of ISOSG for me. It's almost like not one single song has its own "identity" and I couldn't even tell you the majority of song names from it. I appreciate what they did in trying new things on songs like Old Friends and Sore Distress which take on different structures than we're used to hearing in Saosin releases. I remember being so excited for ATS with such a long wait from ISOSG and being so incredibly bummed that I wasn't into a new Saosin release. For the longest time I thought I was an Anthony > Cove fan with TTN, but I think I've gravitated towards the Cove stuff more. I also never got into Circa Survive so maybe I've just lost Anthony's appeal which stinks because he's a great vocalist. Anyway, I realize I'm in the minority here and I'm happy you all enjoy it. I really wish I did because it's the only vinyl I am missing for them and don't see myself ever putting it on the turntable.
i love ats, i think what others hear as samey i hear as thematically consistent and coherent. i will say i think that i can tell there was an accident here is by far the best song from that era (i know it’s a re record of an old song but you know what i mean, it winds up sounding more like an ats cut than anything imo)
Yeah I loved that little span of Beau re-recording a couple older songs (Mookie). They sounded so full and powerful.
ATS is the only album I can think of where my favorite song ("The Secret Meaning of Freedom") seems to be the least popular, at least in terms of streams. I love the overlaid screams and singing, and the chaos of it feels maybe the most TTN of anything they've done since then. Also agree that the two bonus tracks are some of the best, and it's baffling that they left them off originally.
Jesse from ERRA shared the teaser on his Insta. I'm one step closer to a Saosin/Ghost Atlas dream tour....
Ideology is Theft, Illusion and Control, Control and the Urge to Pray, 2 bonus tracks are great and if this new joint has a couple tracks as good as those I'll walk away satisfied