Album Rating: 4.0

Have to agree with sleepscience here. I don't really care if the music reflects the concept. Would have been cool, but this is so much fun even without all the weight a concept brings to the table

Album Rating: 3.0

What you didn't enjoy acts IV and V LunaticSoul? That's by far their best work imo haha, those albums are life.



=



Ok, this might sound weird but even as a massive dear hunter buff with like the original color spectrum full collection in my roster, and having travelled far and wide to see them live, for some reason, I was completely fine with them not revisiting anymore the sounds of the Acts, and when they went back at it, it felt a bit forced (Casey himself seemed annoyed in some of the initial interviews regarding act IV?) and I have never been reading much of the story/lyric. So, oddly enough, IV and V were not really that meaningful for me because I wasn´t waiting for a story resolution. I always tell myself that I need to revisit the full suite, but then never end up doing it.



I still rated them between 3 and 3.5 though, so I was just being maybe too harsh. I think I have color spectrum at 4.5 so that is why I say imho they reached their pinnacle there. Idk. I value artists changing and experimenting a lot, so for me even Migrant was a good idea. IV and V were instead backwards focussed and they rubbed me the wrong way.

Album Rating: 4.0

Migrant is awesome. I think people talk it down because it's not a concept album or idk why, but it's as good or better than Act I and III imo

Album Rating: 3.5

@LunaticSoul



Casey definitely seemed annoyed with fans badgering him at every turn about continuing the acts when he decided to do another ambitious concept (color spectrum) and an album divorced from any storytelling whatsoever (Migrant). I think the sheer scope and emotion poured into Act IV dispels any inkling I have that he personally hated returning to the concept, I just think he wished fans gave him more leeway to work at his own pace and the freedom to work on other things. Hell, that's my theory why he has an Act VI is never coming. He just doesn't want people asking about it lol



Migrant is a kick ass album for sure, and seems like a natural continuation from a lot of the ideas on Color Spectrum.

I'm currently trying to get into The Dear Hunter and I've sort of skipped Act I to just listen to Act II exclusively. It's going to need a lot of time to grow on me. I've never been huge on albums that are super theatrical throughout and these songs are long as fuck at times without changing up too too much. That said, it's all good but I'm sort of forcing myself to listen to it.

Album Rating: 3.5

Honestly, I think Act IV might be the best place to start with Dear Hunter. It's got a lot of theatricality, but they strike a much better balance of things for people who aren't accustomed to the band's style.

I tend to like starting with a bands older work (granted Act IV is 8 years old already) just so I can hear how the sounds evolved over time and the production on Act II is pretty meh so it might be rough to listen to after how clean everything else is. I listened to a good bit of The Color Spectrum when I was in college so I'm not completely blind to their work.
I saw them live with Coheed in 2017 and thought they were incredible, I just never really tried to sink time into listening to all their discography. And as a side note Red Hands is by far my favorite song on Act II so far.

Album Rating: 3.5

Red Hands is pretty much THE dear hunter song. Not sure if that's still the case given how strong some of the songs on Act IV and V are, but that Red Hands was basically their anthem for a long time

Album Rating: 4.0

Torn between a 4 or 4.5 on this. Rings 5-1 all slap with 5, 4 and 3 being a particularly good run, but it definitely takes some time to get going.

Album Rating: 4.0

Been listening to this on repeat at work and it's been going down real smooth.

Album Rating: 4.0

Yeah I up'd my rating, it currently sits around a 3.7 for me. Very enjoyable and it digests so easy, great production.

"Red Hands is pretty much THE dear hunter song."
I had no idea. Lol. It just came on and I was like yeah this is it.

Album Rating: 3.5

Although this isn't anywhere near my favorite record, I am glad it exists, and I will continue to spin it all year just because it hits certain spots that other records dont

Album Rating: 3.5

This is pretty good album but not their best.

Album Rating: 4.5

Act II hasn't aged particularly well, but back when it first dropped... It really kicked ass (and does today in my opinion). It released when the likes of MCR, Panic At The Disco and Fall Out Boy were at their prime, and it felt like The Dear Hunter took a stab at their style, jazzed it up and made it prog. And it was a massive eye-opener back then. I still believe Act II is their strongest album overall, next to Act V which is a little tamed down, but the final 5 song run on that is overwhelmingly fantastic.

Also Antimai isn't a massive departure from their sound, a lot of it would fit right in on Act IV and V. I just don't think it's quite as grabbing for some reason.

"Red Hands is pretty much THE dear hunter song"

I think that King of Swords (Reversed) from Act IV is the new THE Dear Hunter song. Which I am completely fine with as it's an absolute banger on the album (Act 4) and live.

Album Rating: 4.0

"Also Antimai isn't a massive departure from their sound, a lot of it would fit right in on Act IV and V. I just don't think it's quite as grabbing for some reason."







I found myself thinking this a lot on most songs here, surprised people seem to be hearing it as something so different.

Album Rating: 3.0

I think IV and V approached this territory on a few songs per LP but it felt like an interesting change of pace (I'm one of the seemingly few folks who thought Mr. Usher on V was fantastic). As the predominant style it's a little overbearing, especially for a band known for, among other things, variety

Album Rating: 4.5

Casey doesn't like Act 2 as a whole afaik

Album Rating: 4.0

Yeah I recall he said he's very unhappy with the vocals in act 2?