Imagine thinking you need to be nominated for a Grammy to have an opinion on the production of a painfully mediocre album lol
why does everyone rank they're only chasing safety last? that record has a lot of great moments. it's definitely my favourite with define the great line close second.
The production is definitely washy and atmospheric, but i think it’s very intentional.. may not be for everyone but I personally love those walls of sound
It’s a great album but imo each of the following three albums exceeded it a lot in terms of songwriting ambition and musicianship. I feel like a lot of it depends on what you want most from UO though… for me I love when they heavily explore darkness through both pummeling aggression and moody passages.
For me it's simple: I don't listen to any stuff in that style anymore, nor get much enjoyment from it outside of nostalgia. There are a couple exceptions though, Failure On by Beloved being one of them. That one holds up so well. Additional reasons are that I find Spencer's performance to be way too one-note, especially knowing how dynamic his screaming and singing would then become, and the songs blend together in a way the later records don't as well. More than its follow-ups, it feels like a time capsule, and I don't necessarily mean that in a negative way. I can't recall the last time I was in the mood to put it on.
Just not the type of sound I look for when I want to listen to Underoath. Of all their material with Spencer, I find TOCS to be one of their most boring albums. The only song I find myself revisiting from that album is Dangerous Business, which is so tight, but nothing else from that album really grabbed me the way that song does.
Yeah I can't listen to They're Only Chasing Safety anymore either. I loved the album when I was 15 years old, but quickly grew out of it. However, I do still go back and listen to "I've Got 10 Friends And A Crowbar..." occasionally because that songs kicks ass.
Chris has blossomed into one of the best keys/sample/synth/composer/whatever in the game and I’m all here for it. The synth on like TCOT and TOCS is definitely mediocre at best but holy shit his ceiling is so high.
If anyone is going to some early tour dates, can you snag me a tour version vinyl of Voyeurist? Will pay cost + shipping + tip!
this nails it on the head. nothing they’ve written since nails the feeling of belting “young and aspiring” live, but they’ve written much better songs since then too.
TOCS is the best to come from that genre/time period along with The Used self- titled. They both perfectly tow the line of heavy and melodic. Album's a banger, but yeah it's different from where they went, doesn't make it any less good
I would say Erase Me too tbh ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ I enjoy some songs off TOCS (love Impact of Reason, Young & Aspiring, I Don’t Feel Very Receptive Today, and I’m Content With Losing) but they’re from a band that didn’t even understand what their potential could be when the record was being written. Plus songs like On My Teeth, No Frame, and Sink With You are more exciting/interesting than anything on TOCS. I don’t think Erase Me is fantastic but I do enjoy it and I do respect TOCS but it’s farrrrr from the band’s best work IMO. That’s like thinking the best Taking Back Sunday record is TAYF because of nostalgia. There’s a difference between a favorite record and what you consider a band’s best record.
TAYF is the best TBS album because its the only one that's fun to listen to. I'd take TOCS over Erase Me any day of the week too. DTGL is still their peak for me but Voyeurist is really great.
I personally have much more fun listening to WYWTB, Louder Now, and New Again. TAYF is a classic but the production is rough and the songs aren’t as strong as the ones on their later records IMO