cre618
True Scene Leader
Posts: 714
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Post by cre618 on Apr 17, 2010 23:06:01 GMT -5
Post your first time listening thoughts here.
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As for me. Wow. Not what I expected. It's definitely going to be polarizing. Not sure the indie kids are going to stick around.
Love the beginning. Love the band channeling the Stones. A ballsy opener for sure, but it makes perfect sense. We'd like to play for you.
Those of you who have the CD booklet, the graphics and lyrics are a great companion to the music. And this is, first and foremost, a record. It needs to be listened to in one sitting. It's a journey. From The Sweet Part of the City to A Slight Discomfort.
My one complaint, the background vocals are a bit too much. They feel a little overproduced. Oh, and where did the solo go on "We Can Get Together?" But, there are some great guitar solos on this one.
This one won't grab me right away like Boys and Girls in America did. But I think it's going to stick around longer than Stay Positive.
It's a deep, thick record. It takes time. I'm really thankful that I got to experience the first listening on vinyl, just like the old days.
OK, round two.
Jack
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Post by doctoracula on Apr 17, 2010 23:12:06 GMT -5
i was surprised at how big the backup vocals are, but i like it
i like how the whole thing flows, it retains some of the big anthemic rock feeling, but its also a lot moodier and almost sort of seedy. bad things happening in the background.
where did you get to see the CD booklet? i'm bummed the LP didnt come with any liner notes, but i have a preorder coming in 2 weeks so i can just see them then
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Post by roboshindo on Apr 17, 2010 23:12:20 GMT -5
I've read a few peoples thoughts about how this was going to be the record that THS blow up off the back of. Having listened to 8 of the 10 tracks, i really don't see that being the case. It's not got a mainstream enough sound is all. That said, i ****ing love it so far, and i'm not even done. Now i'm just a lot more excited for the live shows in june. Can't wait. And i don't know what you mean by "going to stick around longer than Stay Positive", i genuinely can't pick one THS album over another as my favourite.
Right now though i've got two tracks left to hear before my second listen and i'm sure this records only going to grow and grow on me. Of the four tracks that were out early, the only one i wasn't huge on at first was Rock Problems (contrary to popular opinion it seemed), but that's grown on me a hella lot already.
Our Whole Lives just started, sounds awwwesome.
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Post by doctoracula on Apr 17, 2010 23:14:37 GMT -5
like i said in another thread...the ending to "a slight discomfort"...holy shit
i love that it starts and ends with slower songs
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cre618
True Scene Leader
Posts: 714
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Post by cre618 on Apr 17, 2010 23:21:58 GMT -5
where did you get to see the CD booklet? i'm bummed the LP didnt come with any liner notes, but i have a preorder coming in 2 weeks so i can just see them then I was lucky, and it was in my pre-order download of "Hurricane J." Someone made a mistake, but I'll take it! And i don't know what you mean by "going to stick around longer than Stay Positive", i genuinely can't pick one THS album over another as my favourite. Stay Positive was exactly the album I needed when it came out. But, I think I'll be listening to Heaven is Whenever more as time passes. We'll see, I guess.... |
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Post by doctoracula on Apr 17, 2010 23:29:40 GMT -5
i'm jealous
i wish i got artwork with my mp3!
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Post by papertiger on Apr 18, 2010 0:01:22 GMT -5
like i said in another thread...the ending to "a slight discomfort"...holy shit i love that it starts and ends with slower songs This makes me very excited. They always have a killer closing track and I was hoping this record would end with a bang. |
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piske41
Cityscape Skin
Hey Nelson Algren
Posts: 9
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Post by piske41 on Apr 18, 2010 1:44:07 GMT -5
It's definitely more "produced" than Stay Posi (which I wasn't expecting with the producer of Separation at the helm), but it doesn't hinder the album at all. The backing vocals are a new touch, but they work well for the most part as people have noted. I like Craig actually singing on pretty much every song, but at the same time I miss the sing-speak awesomeness that was very evident on the first 3 records and even at times on Stay Posi. But even without it, Craig never loses the enthusiasm and emotionalism that has protruded through all of THS's songs.
It will definitely take more listens, but I am loving it on my first listen!!
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status
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Post by status on Apr 18, 2010 2:15:28 GMT -5
To be honest, the first time through, I didn't like it much. Now on the third listen, I like it more than Stay Positive. The backing vocals on We Can Get Together are a bit too much, but they're good elsewhere, I think.
I'm not ready to decide yet, but I think it's pretty fantastic.
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Post by hoodrat on Apr 18, 2010 8:25:26 GMT -5
i'm digging the album. it's a grower, to be sure. my real time notes on the first listen-through:
sweet part of the city sounds less stones to me, and more eagles. gruh.
the smidge = BEST. now this is stonesy awesomeness.
rock problems - earworm of the century. also, hilarious. needs more keys in the mix.
heaven is whenever - i adore these lyrics; i think the song sounds better live but it is one of the best ones on here. (gee, wouldn't some accordion sound nice in there?)
hurricane j - love the lyrics.
our whole lives - this KILLS. absolutely slays
slight discomfort - three of my alltime favorite THS songs are epic closers (slapped actress, resurrection, killer parties). this is not that. but it is a damned compelling song. even as it soars towards the end, it feels like a dark way to end an album.
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Felix
Sniffling Indie Kid
Posts: 230
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Post by Felix on Apr 18, 2010 8:45:22 GMT -5
I was lucky, and it was in my pre-order download of "Hurricane J." Someone made a mistake, but I'll take it! Jack, dear sir, do you think there is any possibility for you to maybe open a lyrics thread and copy & paste the HIW lyrics into it?  |
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Post by barryjive on Apr 18, 2010 8:46:39 GMT -5
I'd expected this from the songs we got early, but it's a lot softer-sounding than we've grown accustomed to. Lyrically, I can feel a grower on our hands. And there are a couple standout guitar tracks. But it just feels weird. You can hear Franz's silence. I like the idea of a change of direction sonically, something they certainly delivered, but it's going to take a while until it becomes a welcome change for me. I need the riffs, man.
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mcstevepants
Hoodrat
Shaky but still tryin' to shake it.
Posts: 400
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Post by mcstevepants on Apr 18, 2010 9:02:22 GMT -5
"My one complaint, the background vocals are a bit too much. They feel a little overproduced."
I'm with you on this one, as well as what barryjive said above me. "They're slippin soft rock into the tracklist now". Standout tracks for me are the 4 first released, smidge, and discomfort.
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Post by hoodrat on Apr 18, 2010 9:11:38 GMT -5
I was lucky, and it was in my pre-order download of "Hurricane J." Someone made a mistake, but I'll take it! Jack, dear sir, do you think there is any possibility for you to maybe open a lyrics thread and copy & paste the HIW lyrics into it? i think jakevagrant posted and specifically asked him to please hold it close for a couple of weeks. it's their mistake of course, but he did ask nicely. so, let's not? |
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Felix
Sniffling Indie Kid
Posts: 230
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Post by Felix on Apr 18, 2010 9:30:02 GMT -5
Jack, dear sir, do you think there is any possibility for you to maybe open a lyrics thread and copy & paste the HIW lyrics into it? i think jakevagrant posted and specifically asked him to please hold it close for a couple of weeks. it's their mistake of course, but he did ask nicely. so, let's not? Ok, let's not. I was not aware that, by that request, I could possibly violate any regulation. |
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cre618
True Scene Leader
Posts: 714
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Post by cre618 on Apr 18, 2010 9:47:20 GMT -5
Jack, dear sir, do you think there is any possibility for you to maybe open a lyrics thread and copy & paste the HIW lyrics into it? i think jakevagrant posted and specifically asked him to please hold it close for a couple of weeks. it's their mistake of course, but he did ask nicely. so, let's not? Yeah, what she said. Sorry.... |
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gunner
Cityscape Skin
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Post by gunner on Apr 18, 2010 10:06:17 GMT -5
I think I like less the Stones sound and more the ACDC - Replacement sound of AKM.
I mean I'm going thru a mid life crisis or something, I want louder, faster guitars
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Post by motörben on Apr 18, 2010 10:17:55 GMT -5
Are the Hurricane J backing vocals on every song?
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Post by mja271 on Apr 18, 2010 10:27:42 GMT -5
This album is somewhat underwhelming to me right now. I can't put my finger on it, but something about it is bothering me. Some of the vocals and riffs seem really cheesy. It kinda feels like a watered down version of THS imo. I'm sure it will grow on me, but right now it's definitely my least fave of the 5
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mcstevepants
Hoodrat
Shaky but still tryin' to shake it.
Posts: 400
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Post by mcstevepants on Apr 18, 2010 10:38:53 GMT -5
^
You put it pretty well. I like a little over half of the songs themselves, but that's the 'overall' vibe I get, from the production and everything.
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Post by mhetrick14 on Apr 18, 2010 11:17:50 GMT -5
no guitar solo in 'we can get together' = criminal.
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Post by mhetrick14 on Apr 18, 2010 11:20:32 GMT -5
hurricane j --> slight discomfort is just a helluva run on this one, though.
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Post by hollywasahoodrat on Apr 18, 2010 11:25:05 GMT -5
no guitar solo in 'we can get together' = criminal. it seems like the big guitar solo(s) are in a slight discomfort but i havent listened to the album yet |
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Post by barryjive on Apr 18, 2010 11:28:17 GMT -5
One more thing: I was a bit underwhelmed by Stay Positive, also, and now I think it's my 2nd or 3rd favorite of the band's albums. The only difference: From the first time I heard "Constructive Summer," I knew it was one of my favorite songs the band had ever done, if not my #1. I don't get that feeling from any of these songs.
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Post by jakevagrant on Apr 18, 2010 11:32:02 GMT -5
i think jakevagrant posted and specifically asked him to please hold it close for a couple of weeks. it's their mistake of course, but he did ask nicely. so, let's not? Thanks much, feel free to post em up on May 3rd though! Or just take notes from your vinyl or the NPR stream on Monday I guess......... |
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