Was very excited for this one after they released Letterman but other than a few decent intros to some tracks, this album is a total dud IMO. Its like ten steps back from Proper Dose and even taking that album out the equation its just so bland musically - and considering the heavy themes of the album, the lyrics are decent but where are the hooks? Melodically speaking this whole album, apart from Letterman, just feels so phoned in and unpolished. Really hope the next project is a step up from this one.
I agree that this album doesn’t touch PD. I’ve started listening to this album from “Keep You Around” to “Nothing To Say” and it is much more enjoyable IMO. Or ending on “Keep You Around”. I think part of the problem is the sequencing. I’m also coming back to this album more than the new TEN record and the new TDS record.
Agree it sounds very phoned in, like they’re just making a record out of obligation. For those reasons and the fairly muted response to this release I’ll be pretty surprised if they ever make another record.
I’m still loving this record but I do agree on the sequencing being not as strong as it could be. Ending on “Keep You Around” would be cool and I think it works as the actual title track for this record. Nothing To Say works too. I couldn’t get into the new TEN aside from 2-3 tracks. Didn’t like Lilac either aside from a few tracks either. Imbue is incredible though!
Saw the dudes last night. Was able to get guest list which solidified me going to the show because funds have been tight lately and I was on the fence for spending $45 for a single ticket. New songs are great live and I'm glad to have gotten a FULL set from them compared to when I saw them open for the ADTR tour earlier this year. Parker stood around as he always does but also completely ignored the 20+ crowd surfers that were screaming the lyrics back to him. It was odd to see him so disassociated from the people crowd surfing but I know his stance on people getting on/near the stage. It was wild they played 3 new songs in a row and I feel like that took the crowd out of it. Throughout the show he said the crowd was great and at the end he said it was one of his favorite shows of the tour, but I personally felt like the crowd was super lackluster compared to previous times seeing them. I'll definitely continue to see them live (maybe not for $45...?), but the pull and yearning is definitely not the same compared to the Proper Dose era where I was scrounging up plans to see them anywhere and everywhere. Those PD songs are such a highlight of the set.
Proper Dose is still their very best. Sucks they did Sam Pura so dirty afterward because a “proper” follow up to that album could have been incredible.
Show was rowdy and fun for my date on Sunday. They did around 1,500 people compared to the usual 950 venue they have been playing here since 2015. Parker's vocals are 100 times better when standing at a mic stand. Really helped the IWTD and Proper Dose songs sound vocally full. Like they've said before, it's hard to be intimate at 2000+ cap barricaded venues + the amount of casual fans they have now.
This is so false. Most of the NFG shows I attend are in this size venue in San Diego. And they do a fantastic job of getting the crowd into it.
Yeah I agree it's a cop out. They just don't seem interested in doing it and TSSF fans seem to go off regardless of what's happening on stage. NFG is a great counter example, they're a blast live whether you've seen them a dozen times or if it's your first. Impossible to be bored watching them in any setting.
I obviously would love to see him move, and everything be more like a NFG show but I've come to accept it and enjoy it
Oh I’m not saying they need to be like other bands in the genre. I was just stating that venue size is not a cop out.
I'm thinking about selling my ticket to their show on Friday. They're phenomenal musicians and one of my favorite bands of all time, and I've been really excited about the support bill, but I just can't bear the thought of seeing the singer not jump around. It's not even music at that point if he's just standing still.
Yeah it’s definitely not the most “oh my gosh this production is insane” but I still want to hear these songs and scream certain lyrics. I’m more upset about ticket prices nowadays and trying to make a case by not giving in to them and waiting for secondary market to drop day-of or snag guest list if I’m buds