I literally had the same experience when I listened the other day haha. I skipped a lot of the songs on the back half (Two Weeks from Twenty to How I Go, should have removed at least 3 of those songs)
Do not agree at all. Aside from TWFT most songs on Lights and Sounds have great lyrical content. Make Me So has (and I pause here because I know these lyrics are important to Ryan, and I understand that) terrible lyrics.
I adore this band with my heart, but Make Me So is terrible and the last two albums were definitely their weakest. Lights & Sounds (other than Two Weeks From Twenty) is leaps and bounds better than anything on Lift A Sail or S/T.
Most songs on Lights & Sounds are worse than Make Me So. Don't really understand the hate that song gets; what makes it worse than some of their other poppy songs like Here I Am Alive or Light Up the Sky? To me, the latter in particular sticks out like a sore thumb on Paper Walls.
Two Weeks from Twenty has grown on me a lot this year. I would still put it as the weakest of L&S but it's not a terrible song. I also just love how dark and angsty the lyrics on that album are. They hated their time in California and they did not let you forget it in that album. Also, I would listen to Make Me So multiple times in a row before I would listen to some of the lesser popular tracks on OA like Inside Out.
It's just such a different vibe, man. Lights and Sounds is such a top quality album for a certain type, feel, mood...and that just so happens to be nearly opposite of the other stuff they've released which has always been a different vibe. Lights and Sounds both musically and lyrically has gotten me through some shit. I'll sit down with that record and put it up against OA, SA, any day. It all depends on the situation. One of the great things about this band I think is that they have a catalog of music you can turn to in any situation. I will appreciate that for my whole life most likely.
Transmission Home is just such a frustrating song for me to listen to. The intro and first verse are amazing and then everything just pulls back to this weird, off, bland chorus. So disappointing. I also usually skip until F&D.
BTW. The bridge of What Appears is one of my favorite things they've done. I wish I could hear them expand on that sound more in the future.
I love L&S. I HATED it when it first came out. But then I sat down and actually listened. The musicianship on that album is wonderful and lyrics mean a lot to me. The only two songs I don't enjoy on that album is How I Go and Two Weeks From Twenty. I replaced those with When We're Old Men. Plus, the album art is one of my favorites ever.
Because Here I Am Alive and Light Up the Sky are so much more well crafted songs in my opinion, both in terms of structure, tightness and melody. Make Me So just drags. The bridge is pretty cool though.
It's funny how so many people start this album at F&D. I often do the same. The Transmission Home intro is some of the coolest shit they've done, so that almost makes up for the rest of the song lacking a bit. (although the bridge is beautiful)
Here's a fun idea, take your least favorite track from each album and rank them from the best of the worst to worst of the worst.
Light Up The Sky Life of Leaving Home Inside Out (difficult one here) Big Apple Heartbreak Deepest Well/One Bedroom (tie) Here I am Alive Two Weeks From Twenty Wrecking Ball
Life of a Salesman Drifting Here I Am Alive Hang You Up Dear Bobbie The Hurt is Gone Space Travel The Deepest Well
Well, this is harder than I thought. I can not think of my least favorite on Paper Walls, WYTTSY, or Southern Air. I guess I'll go Hide You and Me and One Spotlight Here I am Alive Two Weeks from Twenty Inside Out One Bedroom I Am A Wrecking Ball
Ten Light Up the Sky Transmission Home See Me Smiling I'm a Wrecking Ball Empty Apartment Two Weeks from Twenty
Ocean Avenue Life of Leaving Home A Vicious Kind Leave a Light On Dear Bobbie One Bedroom Two weeks from twenty
I almost chose Ocean Avenue myself. Decided not to bc my band use to cover that song for parties and it was fun to play.
Inside Out (really hard picking one from this album, strong memories connected to every song) Leave A Light On A Vicious Kind For You, And Your Denial One Bedroom Dear Bobbie Two Weeks From Twenty Trembling
Hide (damn, that was tough, I love this song) Inside Out Light Up the Sky Down on My Head Ten Got Yours Make Me So (easily their worst song)