Whatever point in time this happens it will be cool. I figured bands will try and tour as quickly as they can when this is over. Try to make up lost tour dates for fans an earn back revenue quickly. It would help venues, and give people a place to go after being isolated for months. With having time to work on songs during isolation/distancing, bands could work on songs together on tour, flush the songs out in sound checks. Then record over a winter break. Then get back on the road. I thought this mass volume of release may happen more in 2021, late April or May and keep running through the summer with lots of touring and festivals. I guess the first and most important thing is to stop this virus first. Until then, rare tracks, compilations, covers, live streams, alt versions and or previously produced songs will have to hold us over. Just a guess. Film may dominate the Fall entertainment because they’ve held so much back. Their lull may be offset by the music lull.
Menz have always been a summer band for me. Maybe I’ll dig this more whilst mowing the lawn, and sipping on brew. Good album either way.
I’ve been wondering if there are any b-sides to this album. Anyone know? B-sides/additional singles/covers for After The Party were fantastic.
The Freaks/Toy Soldier are top notch Menzingers to me. Love those songs. I listen to No Penance, Cemetary’s Garden and the Covers EP a lot too. ATP and these other songs make up such a solid album era for the band. Hoping they release a bunch of other cool stuff to build on the HE era.
My biggest takeaway 7 months or so after the release of this is how strong Tom's songs are. I haven't enjoyed much of his output (save Thick as Thieves & The Freaks) since OTIP. Last To Know is easily my favorite track on this record.
Last two records have straight up been Tom's strongest body of work in their discography. Dude really been benefitting from focusing on a few songs rather than half a record imo
That's an interesting takeaway. I actually found Tom's output to be stronger relatively on their first three LPs. On Chamberlain Waits-- I love Home Outgrown, Who's Your Partner, and No It Isn't. Male Call is a great side A closer as well. On OTIP-- Burn After Writing, Nice Things, and Sculptors are solid. I actually have a Burn After Writing tattoo. To me, he really faded on Rented World and ATP. With respect to my view on RW, Greg had a few bangers, then the largely forgettable Tom tracks, and then some Greg songs I reaaaaally don't care for. On ATP, I know people like House on Fire and Boy Blue but they do nothing for me. I'm a bigger fan of The Bars than the average Menzos fan, though. With most bands moving toward 10-song records, I could see a 7/3 split being pretty beneficial to both writers.
In agreement that Tom killed it on Hello Exile. Last to Know, Portland, and Strawberry Mansion are all so good.
feel like this forum cooled on this album a lot quicker than it did ATP (which isnt BAD, per se, that record is incredible) but - this album is almost just as good and ive listened to it a bunch the last few weeks after putting it away for a while and yes, it still absolutely smacks. Tom's songs on here are his best he's ever done. I don't love Last to Know, but Portland and Strawberry Mansion are album standouts.
If the vocal production on Hello Exile sounded like ATP it probably would have had more staying power.
the vocal production became much less glaring for me as i went on, it still stands out most in the first few tracks though.
Agreed. When a HE song comes on shuffle, it stands out more, but I barely pay any attention to it when I listen front to back.
I agree that this album is almost as good as ATP, but personally when ATP came out it felt super fresh, and it was kind of a comeback, while HE felt like more of the same (but still very good).
Seeing this thread pop up reminded me that I hadn’t listened to this record in a minute. Just rectified that. Still hate how it sounds, but the record really does hold up.