^summed up my thoughts nicely. This album could be really cool with some vocal highs... but Lessard just can't get there. His writing/ delivery style is very robotic which sometimes works (LCTS/Language) but on here it's not enough.

It also doesn't help that his vocals are mixed extremely low on this imo

I actually kinda like how monotonous he is though. Keeps the music from being overshadowed.

Album Rating: 3.0

"Keeps the music from being overshadowed."



Yeah and that I can understand, I suppose they should have just picked spots for him to stand out more.



The vocal mix seemed to get a lot higher overall on track 8 when I was listening to it on my home speakers. Was one of the few times his voice actually popped.

Album Rating: 3.0

"Absolve is just a forgettable b-side, gets in the way of those two awesome tracks The Center and Relapse"



Interesting cause I find it being the perfect way to break up the album and keep it fresh. I actually thought the chorus on that one was going to be quicker-tempoed as well lol

"Yeah and that I can understand, I suppose they should have just picked spots for him to stand out more.

The vocal mix seemed to get a lot higher overall on track 8 when I was listening to it on my home speakers. Was one of the few times his voice actually popped."

True true, that would have been a nice touch. Regarding the vocal mixing, I have only listened to this album once on shitty earbuds so I might be totally ignorant in my comment.

Album Rating: 3.0

No you're spot on man. His vocals just seemed to get in the way more than anything. Not high enough in the mix, which lead to them not being interesting enough to be noticeable (the monotone thing), but also not low enough to be in background and flow with the music well. It's like they were teasing me the whole time or something.



I was also relatively high at the time, so I could have totally been nitpicking lol. But even the few songs I've jammed post-stoney time have lead me to the same conclusion

Album Rating: 3.5

Did they do the same thing as Language and not release the lyrics again?

Album Rating: 4.5

I understand peoples criticism, but for this album you just kinda gotta go with the flow and sink into the album metaphorically, not vibing with an album from first couple listens is all part of nature

"I understand peoples criticism, but for this album you just kinda gotta go with the ebb and flow and sink into the album metaphorically, not vibing with an album from first couple listens is all part of nature"

Fixed it

Album Rating: 2.5

"I understand peoples criticism, but for this album you just kinda gotta go with the flow and sink into the album metaphorically, not vibing with an album from first couple listens is all part of nature"



I understand that argument, and I get that most albums like this need time to gel in, but this is the Contortionist we're talking about. They're heading more and more into a direction where I believe other artists do a much better job of creating an atmosphere while also staying entertaining to listen to. Listening to this evokes nothing to me. It's enjoyable, sure, but if I wanted to listen to a video game soundtrack with vocals that sound like they were recorded in a day by a guy who drank too much codeine I'd play an indie game.

"I understand peoples criticism, but for this album you just kinda gotta go with the flow and sink into the album metaphorically, not vibing with an album from first couple listens is all part of nature."

I get that there are albums like that where you just kinda get lost in them (I thought Planetarium by Sufjan and Co. was the same way) but with this I think it could have done a little more to create climaxes throughout. The whole thing feels very much like it's building to something with "Return to the Earth" being the first big moment of the album. I mean, this is an album Michael Lessard wrote lyrically about his friend's substance abuse and eventual death. You'd think we'd get some really powerful moments from him emotionally but he just kinda sinks in with the music. Especially since this is a semi-sequel to "Language".

I really enjoy the music and Lessard as a vocalist but he just sounds sooooo bored throughout this album. I'll give it a few more listens before rating!

Album Rating: 3.5 | Sound Off

liking this more and more.

Album Rating: 4.5

Agreed that for such poignant music, Lessard really could have done so much more. The lyrics seem to match this as well

Umm yeah, not feeling this much for now. Music is alright but man the singer is fighting the need for a nap really bad.

Album Rating: 4.5

Very tasty album.

Album Rating: 4.0 | Sound Off

@Dewinged



LOL brah.

Ay ay ay.

yeah didn't dig this much, though i can see, as I succumb to morpheus, that this is ok.

Album Rating: 4.0 | Sound Off

I know what you mean... there's something that kicks the nappy mood immediately in this one... and I think it's the vocals...

I mean nappy could also be relaxing which is not a bad thing.

Looking at that cover I was expecting some grrrroowls. Look what I got instead.