Granted it’s an old episode at this point, but I recently went back and listened to an episode of The Musician’s Guild podcast that had Matt Rubano on as a guest. Nice to hear from Matt and he seems to be doing well. I don’t follow Angels & Airwaves, so I didn’t realize he was writing and playing with them the last few years.
Post-TBS he worked as a touring musician for a few people. He played bass for Patrick Stump’s touring band when he did his solo thing, he played for the All-American Rejects for a bit, and now he’s regularly with Angels and Airwaves. Prior to TBS, he had been a session musician (and is credited as the bassist for two tracks on the Miseducation of Lauryn Hill).
Rubano also toured with Glassjaw for a few years too. Really cool that Angels & Airwaves is the first post-TBS act that not only labels him as an actual member, but also gives him writing AND producer credits on certain songs.
The majority of people thinking that Self Titled-HI-TW are better than New Again is the most "I'm living in the Twilight Zone" takes to me. Tidal Wave's first 7 tracks are amazing, and then the album takes a massive nosedive. Happiness Is has a few top tier TBS tracks (Flicker Fade, Better Homes, Beat Up Car) but the rest is mostly middle of road and forgettable. Self Titled is their worst album by a mile. I think Tidal Wave and Happiness Is have higher highs, but as a whole New Again is more digestible. End of rant.
For me, a lot of the newer TBS records have more songs that I find skippable or forgettable, though Tidal Wave has a handful I wish were played live more regularly. I think Happiness Is having the two producers is an interesting choice and with the exception of Flicker, Fade, all the Sapone ones are in that forgettable category for me. It’s a shame they have such a bad taste from New Again because I think some of those tracks (Swing in particular) are real bops and would do decently live. Before Happiness Is came out they played Catholic Knees live, and it was really good from what I remember but also that was ten years ago now.
Happiness Is and Tidal Wave both rule and if a new album sounds remotely close to either of those, I'd be super pumped.
The only song on New Again I ever skip. It's a shame too because the b-sides from that album are all fantastic. Wish they swapped one of them for this song.
On the same topic, I think How I Met Your Mother is better than 90% of Happiness Is. Should've made the album!
One of my worst experiences seeing these guys was when they played Tidal Wave in full on tour after it came out. I was checked out once they got to I Felt It Too. Terribly paced record. Ending with 3 slow boring songs was not the move.
I mean, that’s a bad song. But not their worst. But it’s not worth defending either way. Bash away at the song.