I would like to think so too, but the fact that they literally won’t say each others names when prompted to in interviews about fun….doesnt seem good
I believe Jack when he says he wanted out because fun wasn’t really his band. But other things suggest it was either a work relationship that ended or a falling out. Either way, it’s just good they can focus on the music and Nate’s journey since then, since it really felt like he wasn’t gonna make music again. Both Nate and Sam admitted in the World Cafe interview that the 2020 reunion was forced and they were both kind of relieved it didn’t happen.
This is easily my favorite thing Nate has done, I liked a lot of fun. and early Format stuff but this album is way more in my lane.
I think it’s pretty straightforward - Jack was the primary voice and creative force of a band for 8 years, joined a band where he was more of a collaborator, realized he didnt like that as much, and so they broke up. Nothing wrong with that!
Listening to the vinyl for the first time, Dog Problems is my favorite album of all time, but now that I’ve accepted this is a completely different release I love it just as much as anything else in their catalog just for different reasons.
Leave It Alone and Merry Christmas Please Don’t Call by Bleachers both have the line “I’m not your father” nor sure if this means anything but I find it interesting
Big come up at Fingerprints. They still had signed copies of this and the new Joyce Manor. Now I'm not so sad I missed the in-stores.
Looking through the album art I see Nate is playing through a Tone Master, great amp that my band mate had. He also uses the same tweed GLS guitar cable I use. I’m a nerd I know but love catching things like that
So, I really like this album, but it just doesn't live up to their other albums to me because I feel like the instrumentation is kinda basic? To me, it kinda feels like "oh, Nate just learned guitar so let's write the music in a way so he can mash power chords". "Depressed" is especially weak to me. Every other Format and Fun album is better than this imo. Forever slaps, though. And No You Don't reminds me of Manchester Orchestra's newer stuff, so that's great. Also really like Right Where I Belong.
I didn't want to type the part about Nate learning to play guitar...but I agree. I've sat with this for two weeks now and I don't know how often I'll revisit it. I'll always go see them live when they're around but this sits somewhere between "meh" and "fine" to me.
I love this album, more and more every time I listen, and it'll clearly be one of my favorites of the year no matter what. I just love Nate's voice and songwriting at it's core and this brings it back. That being said, I am also kinda mentally putting it in a world of like, this is a whole new era or band, because it's a new sonic space for Nate. I've had The Format and fun. for so long that this feels like a new third thing. Are the arrangements even remotely close to what he used to do? No. Is it instrumentally as complex and creative and different? Not at all. So yeah, if I were to rank it, probably bottom of the list of Nate stuff, just above the solo album, but it's exactly what the band wanted to make and the songs fuckin ROCK so I'm still on board for this era
I'm also loving this more and more with each listen. Put it on last night while making dinner and then immediately started it over after it ended. It's one where I don't need to be in any specific mood or headspace to want to hear it, which makes it perfect for listening to any time. Plus my older son really likes "Holy Roller".