Sunny D
Midnight Hauler
"We've gotta try a little harder..."
Posts: 1,900
|
Post by Sunny D on Mar 30, 2010 23:50:28 GMT -5
Now, nobody jump on me, but I didn't fall in love with either song. They were good, but I just didn't get that "I literally can't possibly wait for this album to come out" feeling as I have with past albums. I'll still buy it, love it to bits, and play it until it gets old. But...for some reason I feel like its sort of juvenile. Not in a bad way, but in a "this is our band's first album" way? The lyrics are great, as always, but the presentation...just...I don't know, the musicality sounds as if it could have came from a score of other bands, doesn't have that Hold Steady flavor. Then again, I listened to Seperation Sunday earlier today, and the sheer contrast between the two might just have me in shock at the moment. But at the same time, incredibly happy that they move on and try new things and styles, instead of continually re-releasing albums that are essentially new versions of BGIA, or something, like many bands seem to do. Does anyone see where I'm coming from, or am I getting dirty glares at the moment? Haha. I agree with this about "Rock Problems." But I think "Hurricane J" is downright incredible.
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Mar 31, 2010 1:19:34 GMT -5
|
|
|
Post by hollywasahoodrat on Mar 31, 2010 5:27:40 GMT -5
Now, nobody jump on me, but I didn't fall in love with either song. They were good, but I just didn't get that "I literally can't possibly wait for this album to come out" feeling as I have with past albums. I'll still buy it, love it to bits, and play it until it gets old. But...for some reason I feel like its sort of juvenile. Not in a bad way, but in a "this is our band's first album" way? The lyrics are great, as always, but the presentation...just...I don't know, the musicality sounds as if it could have came from a score of other bands, doesn't have that Hold Steady flavor. Then again, I listened to Seperation Sunday earlier today, and the sheer contrast between the two might just have me in shock at the moment. But at the same time, incredibly happy that they move on and try new things and styles, instead of continually re-releasing albums that are essentially new versions of BGIA, or something, like many bands seem to do. Does anyone see where I'm coming from, or am I getting dirty glares at the moment? Haha. I've been feeling this way for a while until Hurricane J came out but Rock Problems kinda reproves my point that this wont be like BAGIA or SP, at least not as good
|
|
|
Post by theriver on Mar 31, 2010 8:10:10 GMT -5
Now, nobody jump on me, but I didn't fall in love with either song. They were good, but I just didn't get that "I literally can't possibly wait for this album to come out" feeling as I have with past albums. I'll still buy it, love it to bits, and play it until it gets old. But...for some reason I feel like its sort of juvenile. Not in a bad way, but in a "this is our band's first album" way? The lyrics are great, as always, but the presentation...just...I don't know, the musicality sounds as if it could have came from a score of other bands, doesn't have that Hold Steady flavor. Then again, I listened to Seperation Sunday earlier today, and the sheer contrast between the two might just have me in shock at the moment. But at the same time, incredibly happy that they move on and try new things and styles, instead of continually re-releasing albums that are essentially new versions of BGIA, or something, like many bands seem to do. Does anyone see where I'm coming from, or am I getting dirty glares at the moment? Haha. I've been feeling this way for a while until Hurricane J came out but Rock Problems kinda reproves my point that this wont be like BAGIA or SP, at least not as good I don't think you can judge the album before we've heard the whole thing, with each song in context. I was immediately struck by Hurricane J, not so much with Rock Problems, but after listening to both songs on repeat non stop for the last few days I really can't wait for Record Store Day, especially as I've secured my copy!!! So excited. ;D
|
|
|
Post by roboreckles on Mar 31, 2010 8:30:42 GMT -5
"Rock Problems" just makes me angry that "Going on a Hike" isn't on the final album.
|
|
|
Post by theriver on Mar 31, 2010 8:33:41 GMT -5
"Rock Problems" just makes me angry that "Going on a Hike" isn't on the final album. It might be under another name, but it doesn't look hopeful.
|
|
|
Post by st5801 on Mar 31, 2010 9:16:48 GMT -5
"Rock Problems" just makes me angry that "Going on a Hike" isn't on the final album. It might be under another name, but it doesn't look hopeful. It could be The Weekenders, maybe?
|
|
|
Post by theriver on Mar 31, 2010 9:25:14 GMT -5
It might be under another name, but it doesn't look hopeful. It could be The Weekenders, maybe? Maybe. I'm thinking that Seperate Vacations = The Weekenders. I really hope that both of them are on the album. Although, another two unheard songs would be awesome.
|
|
bigontheinside
Midnight Hauler
If you don't know the words, don't sing along
Posts: 1,478
|
Post by bigontheinside on Mar 31, 2010 9:43:15 GMT -5
It could be The Weekenders, maybe? Maybe. I'm thinking that Seperate Vacations = The Weekenders. I really hope that both of them are on the album. Although, another two unheard songs would be awesome. It would make more sense if Seperate Vacations = Barely Breathing, wouldn't it? "You're hot and you're scared that there's not enough air".
|
|
|
Post by theriver on Mar 31, 2010 9:47:15 GMT -5
Maybe. I'm thinking that Seperate Vacations = The Weekenders. I really hope that both of them are on the album. Although, another two unheard songs would be awesome. It would make more sense if Seperate Vacations = Barely Breathing, wouldn't it? "You're hot and you're scared that there's not enough air". That makes much more sense!
|
|
|
Post by evanjcameron on Mar 31, 2010 10:11:12 GMT -5
Now, nobody jump on me, but I didn't fall in love with either song. They were good, but I just didn't get that "I literally can't possibly wait for this album to come out" feeling as I have with past albums. I'll still buy it, love it to bits, and play it until it gets old. But...for some reason I feel like its sort of juvenile. Not in a bad way, but in a "this is our band's first album" way? The lyrics are great, as always, but the presentation...just...I don't know, the musicality sounds as if it could have came from a score of other bands, doesn't have that Hold Steady flavor. Then again, I listened to Seperation Sunday earlier today, and the sheer contrast between the two might just have me in shock at the moment. But at the same time, incredibly happy that they move on and try new things and styles, instead of continually re-releasing albums that are essentially new versions of BGIA, or something, like many bands seem to do. Does anyone see where I'm coming from, or am I getting dirty glares at the moment? Haha. I think you're absolutely right. No angry glares from this direction. Hurricane J had me concerned (it felt like filler - THS doesn't do filler), but while Rock Problems might feel a little halting - likely due to the sheer weight of it's self-referential content (at times it almost seems like he's satirizing his own writing style by hitting all the same tropes in all the same places) - the Sound of the band is pretty spot on and that twin guitar attack at the end would make Phil Lynott proud. As for the contextual aspect of these singles, well, of course it's important to see where (if at all) this next album slides into the canon but it's not as if knowing the whole story will change the sound of the songs or the fact that Hurricane J turns on a line ("they didn't name her for a saint / they named her for a storm") that would have been stuck somewhere in the middle of a verse in a song like Stevie Nix. So I see little harm in discussing them as individual efforts The newer songs have a LOT more space in them. For the most part this has allowed for some more interesting explorations musically (One for the Cutters, Navy Sheets) while perhaps losing some of the dense, explosive quality of the lyrics from SS and AKM. Still, they've proved with songs like Lord, I'm Discouraged that they can balance both of these things to produce an absolutely beautiful, affecting piece of music married to a truly touching story. If Heaven is Whenever has even one song as good as Constructive Summer or Lord, I'm Discouraged I'll call it a win. Not much point in hoping they'll reach back much further than that - although we had Ask Her for Adderall as a bonus on SP, so who knows. I don't think we'll be hearing any new songs any time soon that re-capture the tightly wound, spring-loaded feel of the early stories but what we all love about them is how much they believe in what they're doing and how much they love sharing it so if the boys think this next move is for the best, I'm perfectly willing to let them convince me of that and even if I don't quite get converted that night, well, I'll still have to admit the band's pretty tight - see you all in Pittsburgh and Harrisburg!
|
|
|
Post by mja271 on Mar 31, 2010 13:45:33 GMT -5
While I enjoy both Hurricane J and Rock Problems, I think they are both in the bottom half of the THS catalog in terms of quality. Not bad by any means, but not as good as most of the other stuff, imo of course. They haven't dampened by excitement for the new record at all either.
|
|
walkincooler
Cityscape Skin
It's like we're not even trying.
Posts: 18
|
Post by walkincooler on Mar 31, 2010 14:59:39 GMT -5
Wow. Reading through parts of this thread, I realized how many people love the Hold Steady for completely different reasons. Some really dig their conservative approach to rock composition, while some (with myself in that catagory) find Craig's lyrics the main pull for the band. As for the new song, being that I only truly care about Finn's wordplay and how the music intertwines it into a presentable package, I must admit that I am growing quite excited for this album. In this song particularly, Finn seems to be pulling an orgy of references and honest double meanings. True, unlike Hurricane J, Craig sets another one of his narratives right in the durgged-out house party scene... but this go around feels different. There's a certain maturity and complexity to Finn's simple story about drugs and rock that I haven't really seen from him yet. Sure, SP was mature in theme and texture... but these two singles seem to re-examine old-fashioned THS narratives (I'm even catching a hint of LFTR PLLR nostalgia, although I can't place a finger on any one line) with a new perspective that is far more involved than SP without losing its complexity. Long story short, great song.
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Mar 31, 2010 17:21:52 GMT -5
Rock Problems passes the 'notebook/Facebook test' better then Hurricane J
i just made it up but its how often when listening to a song you want to write the lyrics in your notebook or use them as your Facebook status i think Rock Problems is like that for every line
|
|
|
Post by hollywasahoodrat on Mar 31, 2010 19:53:36 GMT -5
^hahaha that works...i guess
|
|
|
Post by muzzleofbees on Apr 1, 2010 5:30:14 GMT -5
Rock Problems passes the 'notebook/Facebook test' better then Hurricane J i just made it up but its how often when listening to a song you want to write the lyrics in your notebook or use them as your Facebook status i think Rock Problems is like that for every line Haha. I agree. I'm running an easter themed status run these days. Yesterday, "What would Judas do?", today "Lost in a fog of love and faithless fear. I've had kisses that make Judas seem sincere" - tomorrow, maybe something from Both Crosses.
|
|
mcstevepants
Hoodrat
Shaky but still tryin' to shake it.
Posts: 400
|
Post by mcstevepants on Apr 1, 2010 8:18:38 GMT -5
^how about "I climbed the cross and found out I liked the view?"
|
|
mcstevepants
Hoodrat
Shaky but still tryin' to shake it.
Posts: 400
|
Post by mcstevepants on Apr 1, 2010 8:23:08 GMT -5
from a dude who works on absolutepunk.net's review staff
"the final track on the new Hold Steady is a 7 minute epic."
woohoo!
|
|
|
Post by st5801 on Apr 1, 2010 18:51:05 GMT -5
Slight Discomfort is going to be a good one. ;D
And like I said in the other thread, nothing wrong with criticism or not liking a couple songs, but I don't see how anyone can make broad generalizations like "this wont be like BAGIA or SP, at least not as good" or "I don't think we'll be hearing any new songs any time soon that re-capture the tightly wound, spring-loaded feel of the early stories".
Wait and see. Based on what I've heard from people who have actually heard the album (the guy who reviewed 'The Smidge', the guy on here who heard the album, and the AP.net staff member) I'm pretty optimistic this album is going to surprise in a good way.
|
|
|
Post by muzzleofbees on Apr 2, 2010 10:21:18 GMT -5
i didn't even want to go out cuz i was way too fried I think it's 'frightened', not 'fried'.
|
|
schlitsz
Clever Kid
someone's little brother
Posts: 119
|
Post by schlitsz on Apr 2, 2010 11:03:26 GMT -5
i didn't even want to go out cuz i was way too fried I think it's 'frightened', not 'fried'. It's both...it's 'fried' the first time and 'frightened' the 2nd time around. I really like this song a lot. At first I liked it a lot better than Hurricane J, but now I think I like both equally.
|
|
|
Post by muzzleofbees on Apr 3, 2010 2:32:23 GMT -5
It's both...it's 'fried' the first time and 'frightened' the 2nd time around. Yeah, I noticed that yesterday, after posting
|
|
|
Post by muzzleofbees on Apr 3, 2010 3:46:26 GMT -5
Anyone got the chords?
|
|
|
Post by hollywasahoodrat on Apr 3, 2010 12:13:11 GMT -5
from a dude who works on absolutepunk.net's review staff "the final track on the new Hold Steady is a 7 minute epic." woohoo! it was only like 5 minutes live
|
|
seann
Clever Kid
Posts: 125
|
Post by seann on Apr 4, 2010 22:16:07 GMT -5
And LOVE the Cheap Trick references in the last verse "Heaven Tonight" and "Black and White in Color". Jim Carroll and Cheap Trick, and in between lies..... The Hold Steady! Friday Night coming down... Love the song. Does anyone else think the riff is a variation off of "She's Tight" from a later album by Cheap Trick? vodpod.com/watch/570968-cheap-trick-shes-tightOr, ashamedly, "Talk Dirty to Me " from Poison? They were the first things that came to mind before Finn starts. THS' take on this classic stuff (with Finn's spin) are why I love this band.
|
|