Really wish I could get into these songs, this should be right up my alley. Tried again because of your write up, @Jason Tate, which was great.
I think you single-handedly increased the awareness for this band tenfold with your think piece Jason. Almost every comment seems to be from people who've never heard of The Night Game.
Well this is incredible. Die a Little was a big standout, it definitely lives up to the live version and I got chills on first listen. I’m actually gonna disagree with Jason and say that I really enjoy Back In the Van. I look at it as, if this album is a movie, Coffee and Cigarettes is the closing scene and Back In the Van is the credits music. I think it’s a nice coda to the album and shows that even though the heartbreak and loss recurring throughout so much of the album is a part of life, ultimately it’s worth it to keep trying and embrace the struggle of it all. Maybe I’m reading too much into it, but that’s what I got from its placement as the closing track.
Still only on track 4, but listening on this in full quality with my MDR-7506's really makes the impeccable production shine. I'm hearing details I didn't even know about on these tracks I've already played to death.
I actually like Back In The Van a lot haha. It’s cheesy as hell but I dig it. Also, Kids In Love not being on this is insane.
Being born in 1985, I never really got to “grow up” in the 80’s. But as I reached a certain age, the decade started to fascinate me. There was something special about the movies and the music coming out of that era, and the real magic happened when the two were combined, like the John Hughes movies we all know. After a while, punk rock/pop punk took over (thanks, Jason) and I forgot about my love for the 80’s for a while. This love started to resurface again when The 1975 slowly and methodically gave us hints of their eighties influence, and Heart Out in particular kickstarted a new craving for anything remotely connected to that era. (see LANY, Japanese House, Fickle Friends, Dive In, Port Isla, St. Lucia, The Runaway Club, Magic Man etc. etc.) I feel this album manages to combine all those sounds and feelings – the movie-like atmosphere, the nostalgic storytelling of growing up and falling in love – all baked in shimmering chorus guitars and wonderful production. I can’t wait to get lost in this album with a beer and a sunset.
I’m gonna have to give this more tries. On first listen I really liked The Outfield, Do You Think About Us, and Die a Little, but that’s kinda it. I do appreciate the themes it’s tackling, and Jason’s write up makes me want to like it a lot more, so I’ll definitely be coming back a lot.
Sooo weird how something that sounds amazing to one person, can sound just ehhhh to another person. I'll be giving the album a few more run-throughs today at work