well, just to provide a disclaimer, I love these guys, they are one of my favorite bands and pretty much everything they've done I've liked in one way or another. some of it I have absolutely treasured, so this isn't like, a hipster "they sold out" kind of thing. :) but you know me better than that anyway.
yes, it's catchy and poppy, but somehow, while listening to it, all the songs merged into one and sounded the same, and forgettable (except for "No More Running," which I did like). I disliked how far away the vocals were from the drums, it seemed like there was so much treble and then BOOMING bass, and no mysterious muddling middle that I so like about them. it sounded like it was made for children, actually, which is not like a cruel thing to say, just that it seems like they wanted it to be likeable and singable, different from their earlier work which seems to ENACT childhood, not seemingly seek it out as a consumer group.
Normally, I love their pop sensiblities because they manage to stick like good pop does, but to be sort of ethereal and evasive at the same time, like, you can get it stuck in your head, but you always have to return to listen to the song to hear all the parts your head couldn't quite place.
Here, I felt like they were resorting to really used structures and it seemed like there was much less variety in what the songs were like/about/composed of. Strawberry Jam is my favorite... though I like a lot of the more loose earlier stuff too.
I really wanted to like it... but I found the lack of variety and, this is something I thought I'd never say of them, the vocals and repetitions (which I usually like so much) annoying!
Wow, you didn't forget to mention anything did you? I mean the first things I noticed were that the bass took over for the rhythmic drumming, and it sounded notably more Panda Bear-esque. There were parts of songs that stood out, My Girls is a good track. SJ is my fave too. Peacebone is typically amazing AC because of how they can take discordant noise and make it into a funky melodic beat. You should write music reviews, if you don't have enough writing already on your plate, haha. J
I do not know if your reviewer comment is a compliment or something else, but if it is, than thank you :). I just wanted to give an honest answer and provide evidence. writing papers gets you in that habit, I guess!
Yes, I thought it sounded more Panda Bear-esque too, but I love his stuff, and if it was more like him it was more like a lesser him. yes, parts of songs for sure, in My girls especially, you are right. Yes! Peacebone, and #1! I love how that song is just crazy sound and then it turns into pop masterpiece.
yes, it's catchy and poppy, but somehow, while listening to it, all the songs merged into one and sounded the same, and forgettable (except for "No More Running," which I did like). I disliked how far away the vocals were from the drums, it seemed like there was so much treble and then BOOMING bass, and no mysterious muddling middle that I so like about them. it sounded like it was made for children, actually, which is not like a cruel thing to say, just that it seems like they wanted it to be likeable and singable, different from their earlier work which seems to ENACT childhood, not seemingly seek it out as a consumer group.
Normally, I love their pop sensiblities because they manage to stick like good pop does, but to be sort of ethereal and evasive at the same time, like, you can get it stuck in your head, but you always have to return to listen to the song to hear all the parts your head couldn't quite place.
Here, I felt like they were resorting to really used structures and it seemed like there was much less variety in what the songs were like/about/composed of. Strawberry Jam is my favorite... though I like a lot of the more loose earlier stuff too.
I really wanted to like it... but I found the lack of variety and, this is something I thought I'd never say of them, the vocals and repetitions (which I usually like so much) annoying!
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J
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Yes, I thought it sounded more Panda Bear-esque too, but I love his stuff, and if it was more like him it was more like a lesser him. yes, parts of songs for sure, in My girls especially, you are right. Yes! Peacebone, and #1! I love how that song is just crazy sound and then it turns into pop masterpiece.
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J
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