Album Rating: 4.5

im in love.

So I guess I'm the only one getting a depressing vibe off this? Forced happiness isn't happy; it's desperate.

hey essplode i love you you're my favorite be friends with me

Album Rating: 5.0 | Sound Off

how is it forced :o

just because it's prepared to prove it and is sometimes over-the-top doesn't make it fake/artificial

It's catchy, but it sounds like one of those indie records that indie kids love because they haven't heard other people do this better.

truth

Not what I meant. I mean it's more a factor of some aesthetic choice to give the music this illusion of being a really happy album when it's really just masking some unbridled pains, which are pretty evident over the course of the album. It's never "artificial" per se, because I think it's intentional, but it does seem like it's parodying that artificial happiness people put up when they're constantly being told to get over it. That the final track is allowed its grand comeuppance sounds like an emotional purging, especially following "The Gambler" which sounds like he's honoring the kind of love he's always been searching for since he was 18 believing "we're all just lovers / he sees hope in everyone." It's hopeful, sure, but it's a rough road getting there, especially since forcing something for roughly 40 minutes is a bit much.

LOL

essplode you're cute want to go out with me here have my phone number p.s. i didnt read the paragraph but it made you look sexy and intelligent that's a plus i love youuuuuuuuuuuuu

Then that would be something to commend the band on, how is it desperate?

Album Rating: 5.0 | Sound Off

Hmm, it comes across differently to me. Like I said in the review, it seems when I listen like a kind of don't-look-back hopefulness, obviously life isn't always amazing and Ruess has had his fair share of shit if you believe what he wrote with the Format, but instead of a disguise/parody I hear it as more of a straightforward 'so fucking what'. I get what you're saying, though, I guess it's just a case of how your perspective sits.

I haven't even told you if I liked this or not. "Desperate" was in reference to its tone, which I've been talking about.

being serious though i'm pretty much struggling to get what you're saying in that post above, especially the last half

i get the "intentionally overhappy to show some kind of denial of your true emotions" thing, but i'm not really sure what you're talking about with the last track and the gambler?

Album Rating: 5.0 | Sound Off

Yah I know. The happiness thing is more the effect it has on me/apparently a lot of other people. As a whole listen the record kicks sadness's ass.

I suppose this does have an Elliott Smith "cynical joy" sound on some of the songs, but I don't hear anything forced, just overrated.

Album Rating: 5.0 | Sound Off

How many times have you listened though, scyther?

I'm assuming "The Gambler" is about his own parents and him growing up in that loving atmosphere, and it puts a lot of his past
grievances (on this album and Dog Problems) into a more understanding perspective because he merely wants what he
always believed as a kid (and why he would grow up to be a "gambler" on women i presume). Which kind of jump starts its last
track conclusion more in the vein of that "ah what the hell fuck it" tone you say the rest of the album has.

I listened twice, "Walking The Dog" is my favorite so far.

oh ok that makes sense yeah

that's definitely an interesting perspective. much...deeper than most people would have it. i think they'd just assume it's 'normal happy' and move on. as for me, i'll have to look into this one.

Therefore, I come to the point I wanted to make ever since I stepped foot in this godforsaken thread: there will be no
forgetting of the Beach Boys here.

Album Rating: 5.0 | Sound Off

Yah I'm pretty sure The Gambler is about his own family, and it's self-reference when he says 'he believes we're all just lovers, he sees hope in everyone.' It just doesn't come across to me as forced happiness previous to that; I'm trying right now to hear it. Every song is either ridiculously happy or has a lyric that implies taking something positive from an experience whatever it was like (e.g. "but we owe it to ourselves to try, so we aim and ignite...")

Haha, glad somebody finally disagreed with me about that