The Starting Line - Eternal Youth (September 26, 2025) • Page 31

Classic Jazz and Nights and Weekends wouldn’t have mixed in well with BOATS but the full band version of Lasting Impressions would’ve IMO

 

it is one of the absolute catchiest songs the genre ever produced imo.

 

From 2005 until about 2021 or so I used to truly think that BOATS could have done the same or better than FUCT. But looking at it from the actual songwriting perspective it would never have hit the mainstream in the same way. But it definitely should have performed better. Then again without BOATS doing what it did there would be no Direction.

 

In the Somebody's Going To Miss Us documentary Tom references the band (or likely Kenny) deciding not to go with Neal Avron and how FOB ended up with such a huge album. As if he wonders what could have been.

Similarly to you my hypothetical/retrospective imagining of how big this could have been has been tempered in recent years. Don’t think I appreciated at the time how angular a lot of it was and then didnt listen to it for like 10 years.

Got to also remember just how huge FOB was. FUCT had 2 top 10 singles. Only American Idiot has achieved the same. Can't think of any others.

 

I'm pretty sure in the same documentary they reference how "Island" tested to the top of radio in a bunch of markets but the label (Virgin) had already decided they were done with them. Essentially even though the song was performing really well they weren't going to back them anymore financially.

 

Yeah I don’t remember Bedroom Talk at all, except for the music video, but Island felt like it had a lot of momentum heading into the release…I was 15 at the time of Direction’s release for reference, so my exposure was limited.

 

Bedroom Talk was a colossal mistake for the time period, it was cringy for a lot of people, turn off for others and just not what you want to put on when you're like "hey this is my favorite band." I don't really remember the macro impact, I just remember hating it and it lessening my thoughts about them. I get flak for the take but i think its true.

I love the album, but didn't at the time. Been interesting if the same songs kept more on a traditional SILYM direction.

 

Yeah I have always skipped Bedroom Talk.

 

I prefer the Tim O’ Heir version and I do wish they went a different chorus lol

I think Stay Where I Can See You would’ve been the best single choice for them.

 

It was a misstep and it got taken way too serious. For that time it wasn’t really THAT odd of a phrase to be said out loud.

 

Yeah I like everything else in the song except that one line. Pre-chorus is rad.

 

Neither have I unfortunately. I ordered both of the bigger sets with T-shirts and all that good stuff. Maybe they are having trouble getting the merch in hand since it sounds like the vinyl is starting to arrive for people.

Ant btw I LOVE Granted it’s an earworm that has such positive vibes going on. As I already said I think this album is perfect front to back so I’m biased.

 

While I do think a different lead single would’ve served them better for BOATS, I can understand why they went with it. It’s full of amazingly catchy melodies, the production is huge, and Kenny sounds great on it. There are plenty of other hits from that time with cringeworthy lyrics, and I can also imagine an argument being made at the time that because the chorus has such a jarring line, that would make the song more memorable. I never skip it, I think it’s a great song with a single bad lyric

 

My arm’s the hose and you’re the fire?

 

“If it happens then it happens and that’s all”

 

I like those both! Don’t think they’re any worse than other kinda clunky lines like “I was growing my hair and I could not care,” “All that she wants is another baby” or “I’ve got a big mouth yeah but maybe that’s true”

 

“All that she wants is another baby” is an Ace Of Base reference if you were not aware haha. Not really something Kenny penned, though I understand if the line is simply not your cup of tea

 

Haha, yeah I know that one, I just think it’s kind of a dorky way to get his point across. Though to be clear, I like it and all the lines I mentioned! They strike me as a bit ham-fisted, but I find them all endearing

 

i dont think kennys ever been an excellent writer, although for the time period/his age he was probably head and shoulders above most other pop punk bands, but the chorus of bedroom talk is a bit beyond 'one bad lyric' lol. it hits the same way a lot of latter day max bemis lyrics hit. why do u need to say that brother

 

They did the first four songs and Curveball. Voice gone. Incredible show. Love da band

 

I'm good with those but damn I really wish they would have added Defeating The Purpose + Pivot. That song would be SO good live - especially the last half when they..............pivot.

 

was the crowd into it?

 

They simply must start playing Enjoyment

 

Perfect picks.

 

According to good ole setlist.fm, Granted was on there too. Looks like a fantastic set.

Can someone please explain the Greg's Last Day love to me? I have no connection to it and always wish they'd swap it for something from Direction or BOATS (or the new album, these days)