Listening to Lilac right now and it’s still mostly not doing it for me. I like Perfect Sphere, My Weakness, Hit By a Car (but I think the production is awful for how “big” it should feel), The Lilac, and Make My Bed. I just hope the next TEN record doesn’t go in this direction.
Ave Maria is my favorite on Lilac, I really like the record but don't think it really touches In Currents or Imbue still
It's likely my least favorite of their full-lengths but I still really like it! "The Lilac" and "Perfect Sphere" are top-notch TEN songs and I'd have no problem seeing "Hit by a Car" added to their staple live setlist (although I wish they'd change this up more regularly)
I think what turns some people off on this album is that Ace isn't singing like he has on the last two albums. Like Hit by a Car is missing those "big" yelling vocals we're used to.
on Hit by a Car specifically I think he's singing the way he usually does (like for me his performance is similar to Imbue) but the effect he put on his voice is distracting and kind of undermines the big moments
The highs of Imbue are great but so much of it is just bleh. Basically everything after Narrow Mouth up until Harmony I can’t get through anymore
Nah not really. I liked Better That Way a lot when it came out but over time its repetitiveness has become super grating. Circulation and Magnolia feel like the band just spinning their wheels to me
I haven’t really dug anything of theirs since In Currents =\ I should give Imbue another listen. It’s never stuck with me, really.
I could understand feeling that way about Magnolia but definitely disagree about Circulation. All good though - different strokes for different folks!
I think Ace has an underrated voice in the scene. Imbue definitely is his best vocal record, in my opinion. It was as if he reached an age where he thought, “woahhh I can use this voice of mine like dis?” but then again in currents has songs like call off the bells and guilt n swell wooh..
I'll rank the Ace LPs, sure. It's not like I have work due at 6 PM Best to worst, in order: ACE tier: Enola Gold Rush ICMAMLNB World We Know PERFECT tier: Room’s Too Cold Imbue In Currents GREAT tier: Million Different People TMTMTP DECENT tier: Growing In THE OTHER TIER: Hiraeth Lilac
that's.... a weird-ass list, lol. Gold Rush is probably his worst album.... I have more comments but I'll just leave it at that
I am shocked because Enola would be my top also but Lilac would probably be next, how are we so the same on this but also so different
Ace’s vocals and lyrics always feel so honest and organic. Even when the lyrics are cheesy (like Hit By a Car or Hair), they come across as so endearing.