Really never got into side 2 of Battle Born. Love side 1, and love the closer, but I legit have no idea what The Rising Tide through Be Still sounds like. Couldn't name a single lyric from those 4 tracks. Need to change that I guess, but even if I all of a sudden came to love them I don't think this would top Sam's Town anyway.
I also like The Desired Effect a ton, but any other Flowers album besides that or BB I could take or leave at this point.
Listening to Day and Age for the first time in a good while. Not a lot here for me, but the back to back of Dustland Fairytale and This is Your Life is amazing. Easily the best songs on there.
First half is definitely stronger, though I still really like the album as a whole. Out of the section you've mentioned, "Heart of a Girl" is probably my favorite if you're looking to give it a second chance.
My hat is in the Battle Born is pretty damn good ring. Agree with the second half of the album being pretty weak though, minus the closer. But Miss Atomic Bomb happens and it's awesome and then the rest of the songs are so forgetful, IMO. Flesh and Bone was one of my favorite songs for a while too. Heard them play that live at Firefly's first year before the album came out and loved it then. I think the album overall is underrated by their fanbase.
Am I allowed to say I think all of their albums are just great? Even those I have some issues with, I return to time and time again. Every time I find myself putting one down, I listen to it again and am kind of amazed. All of their records have so much going for them.
Second half of Battle Born is amazing. "Miss Atomic Bomb," "The Rising Tide," "Be Still," and the title track are all terrific songs. Y'all are acting like it's as insanely top heavy as Hot Fuss or something. It's easily their most consistent album top to bottom.
I always want to like Battle Born after the praise I see but everytime I listen to it it fails to hold my attention, especially not the way Sam's Town does.
I know a lot of people don't like the second half of Battle Born as much, but I think it's stacked. "The Rising Tide" and "Be Still" are seriously underrated songs in their catalog.
I like the second half better than the first half of the album too. Tracks 3-5 are my least favorite of the album actually. They're still good and the whole album is good, but it feels like a weaker point for me. I do like Day and Age better though I know you feel the exact opposite haha.
Bummed that Battle Born doesn't do it for me like it does for the rest of you guys. "Runaways" is one of their best songs though, but I can say with confidence that "Prize Fighter" is the worst song this band has (and hopefully will) put out. I hate that song ha. Day and Age is interesting. The highs are extremely high on that album, while the lows are so very low.
Put me in the seemingly rare category that thinks the band gets better with each release, and I love HF and ST. Battle Born is my favorite and I know I'll likely catch crap for putting D&A ahead of ST, but that record just does it for me.
What's Sam's Town like compared to Hot Fuss? I've never taken the time to listen to Sam's Town besides the radio singles. I need to do that.
Not as wildly different as people make it out to be. I think most people would say it's their best album though, so you should definitely check it out!
Well "Prize Fighter" isn't actually on the record, so it's not really fair to hold that song against it.