I think Greg's vocals have lost some of the "bite" that was on their older material. It was really noticeable on his solo record and I think that's a part of the reason it didn't resonate with me. Regardless, I still love most of his songs on this album (besides the last two, which I think are the weakest and why I feel High/Low would be a better closer).
Some of my favorite Tom songs in a long while. This album fucking rocks. Maybe I’m just the right age, but every album always feels so relevant
I want them to go further in the direction of songs like Come on Heartache next time around. think its time to shake it up a bit more
I just read this review and the comments on it, and uh, I'm shocked how many people seem to hate this album? https://www.sputnikmusic.com/review/87760/The-Menzingers-Some-of-it-Was-True/#comments I really don't get it. Anyway the run of songs from Nobody Stay through Ultraviolet is as good as any 5 song run on any album of theirs. I feel like some bands get lauded for having a certain sound they stick with yet this band gets shit on for it? Baffles me.
Well, for the most part, the tones on this album sound like ass, which is highly unfortunate due to how fun some of the riffs on here are. This issue is symptomatic of a much deeper rot in Some of it Was True’s production quality. The band clearly desired a “rawer” sound after working with Will Yip for their past two records, but Brad Cook and the team of engineers responsible for this final product have undeniably missed the mark on how to do that type of sound well. lol what
There are catchy melodies here but most of them are catchy by way of repetition rather than the melody being really unique and attention-grabbing. I admit it got a little irksome by the end -- like once Greg's repeating "she knows my heart, she knows how to start it" and "I wish you were here with me" in Alone in Dublin, I felt kinda fatigued by the amount of repetition going on. I was waiting for something with a bit more going on, like the chorus to Strain Your Memory or Hello Exile. I wouldn't say it's "Menzingers by the numbers" though I mean there's a lot of interesting stuff going on vocally and musically here. The lack of soaring highs probably puts it neck-and-neck with Rented World for my least favorite since the debut, but it's a far more consistent album than that one. Also that production complaint is weird as hell, the record sounds great
I just feel pity for those who can't find enjoyment in it. To trash it is one thing. Sucks to suck in that regard.
He's one of the few outside of this site where if he likes something I assume it's at least worth checking out, based on how many times I've aligned with him in the past, but yeah. I'm not going to Sput for Menzingers reviews, I go to do some digging around new metal coming out. It's a total wasteland as far as their comment sections on one of the most archaic sites still around, but I'd be lying if I tried to say I haven't found some good music through it.
Sometimes I think about going there to check up on an album or read some comments for laughs, then that shitty archaic website fails to load and I take it as divine intervention.
I haven't had much time with this, so my thoughts aren't all that formed. But in the end, I just really dig what this band does. And they continue to do it here. So, no real complaints here. I am still bummed I missed out on that alternate cover variant because of the pricing snafu. Maybe if this one isn't as well received, some people will put up copies for a reasonable price on discogs.
A few more listens and I like this album as background music at home, but almost literally dozed off listening in the car during the mid section of the album. That being said if this the album the guys wanted to make, I’m happy for them.
I'm well past reading loads of reviews on albums and letting them influence my listening. I'll read a couple that interest me and hope they can add a bit to the experience. But the couple I have seen are pretty effusive in their praise. I think the band have just hit that point where people don't want more of the same and don't like changes. But for most fans (like me) as long as the songs are good I'm happy.
It does seem like their most immediate album in terms of repetitive hooks and choruses starting either immediately or very early in the song (about 20 seconds into Ultraviolet for instance). A deliberate choice for sure. A lot of songs seem to have the same line at the start and end of the choruses too, but I am basing that off vibes only I have not counted.