this snuck up, surprised there wasn't a third single before the release. i don't think they've ever released bad music so hoping to enjoy this!
This isn’t awful (Hereafter, Hidden Moon, Empty Nest, Stay Down are chill) but this is for sure the weakest material in a while. Bummer. Would have been better as an EP IMO
Sticks and Stones reminds me of Pins and Needles in the verses so I just changed it to Better Nature.
I enjoyed it. Will definitely need a few more listens to determine how I feel compared to their other stuff. I remember it taking a while for Widows Weeds to really click with me.
Kinda worried about starting a listen than I'm not going to dig it. We'll see. "It Doesn't Matter Why" was a bangin first single and song from the last album, but the full album didnt hold my attention at all(Freakazoid was also awesome). The 2 singles so far here have been "fine". Swoon, Neck, and BN are all almost tied. Then Carnavas, then WW. I listened to Swoon several months ago and I used to call it one of my favorite albums of all time but it had been years since I listened to it, and it kind of didn't' hold my attention like it used to. Giving this one a spin today and we'll see what happens!
They craft such unique minor key melodies - especially with pianos and acoustic guitars and Nicky’s bass - which are always very pleasing to my ears. It’s not their strongest record by any means but I really like it
So I'm on the first listen and I really like it. Even Scared Together has got me excited. Must say I'm a bit drunk, so my opinion might not be that reliable. That doesn't mean it's not a good record!
i think the first part of the record will have to grow on me a little bit more, but honestly track 7 and onwards is amazing, i think the second half of the album is super strong! is it just me though or is the mastering weird for this album? like the quality of the tracks sounds great but it's kinda quiet and needs maybe a little more punch? i would rank this towards the lower middle of their discography, but i love all their music so this is still really great.
This record really surprised me, especially after Widows Weeds. It's full of so much intricacy, and you can really feel the care with which they crafted these songs. I've found myself replaying sides of the records repeatedly before flipping to the next, and I think I'm going to go listen to it again right now.
Most of it has grown in me a ton, still think a few tracks could be chopped though. Really loving Empty Nest.
I've listened through it twice so far. It's more immediately engaging to me than Widow's Weeds or Better Nature. Not sure where it's eventually going to sit for me, but I already prefer it over Better Nature.
this is pleasant. i liked widows weeds a lot and this is a bit of a step back but its still good shit.
Been listening to this all week and I really like it now after a lukewarm first impression. Hidden Moon through Empty Nest goes hard.
Caught them last night at their first stop in Birmingham on their smaller market Physical Thrills tour. I missed them last time in town since ETID played the same night. Like I know how many people are in the band and what each do, but I kind of forget they are a single guitar band. Bryan is so damn good. They played a long ass set at 19 songs. 8 from Physical Thrills. I do enjoy Physical Thrills, but I don't latch on to it as much as Swoon, Neck, and Better. Ideally for me they would have played Wild Kind, but they closed with that last time in town on the Better Nature era tour, so of course that time has passed. Right before the last song Bryan diddled out The Last of Us theme on guitar right before they went into Lazy Eye. Didn't say anything, just softly played about 1 1/2 minutes worth. I knew that melody from somewhere! IDK how many people recognized it.. They had all their albums and EP on vinyl at the merch table. I picked up Swoon. I should have snagged Neck of the Woods too.