I liked In Currents a lot when it came out and now something about it is off-putting to me, but I'm sure if I go back to it and give it a listen in full I'll love it again. I go through phases of what I'm into.
I didn’t hear TRTC until way after I got in the band so that album does nothing for me. Even trying to view it within the context of the time I just don’t really hear much remarkable about it. I like imbue a lot but it never gets anywhere close the same high once you get past the first 2 songs so it falls to 3rd between the post-TMTMTP albums for me. In Currents has long been what I’d call the best album, though I’m not sure I’ve not skipped Digital Age, really don’t like that song. but all that said, some days I really think lilac tops all. Love the production on it, love how raw and emotional it sounds, the instrumentation is so varied and elegant and romantic sounding. Adore that record, even if some of the songs don’t hit as much.
circulation and cyanide are two of my favorites on the record lol i think it would be hard to beat in currents for me as far as the post reunion records go. also i listened to twenty the other day and had a great time
I'd tend to agree that the first five songs on Imbue are some of their best and then it falls into a bit of a rut. I still like Harmony and I Don’t Care a lot, the rest is fine but kinda unremarkable In Currents is his best album overall to me
A lot of stuff on In Currents and Imbue has the energy I missed from For All Of This. TRTC i’ve always liked, but found it to be a bit sleepy. TMTMTP I find too meandering and I do not like how Ace sings the album. Lilac reminds me too much of the stuff I don’t enjoy from Mess. The rambling thoughts of someone with two Early November tattoos.
I've literally never thought of Anberlin when listening to that song. I'd be happy for more bands to sound like that though.
I think Growing In is maybe his most underrated record, but I also totally understand why it is. Although it is branded as a Mess record, it really doesn't sonically fit that umbrella at all, it's nothing like the previous Mess records. The album honestly feels like a lost TEN album that wasn't 100% finalized. I think in retrospect it would make the most sense as an Ace solo album or Million Different People, but overall it really doesn't matter what the label is.... the album is pretty awesome. I think it definitely deserves more love
completely side note, I think it's kinda cool and unique that the album is called Growing In, because it's from the lyrics of the last track "Growing Into What You'll Grow Out Of" but it cuts the second word in half for the album title. BUT if you listen to the song, that's how he audibly cuts the lyrics too, so it makes sense. Just a random aside