Yeah you're probably right there actually Davey. Beautiful Darkside definitely picks up towards the
end a little bit, but in comparison to the woah-oh's of Glass Houses and the Emeryishness of Young
Again maybe less so. I was probably too premature with my thoughts. Still, good album is good
nonetheless.

This album's growing off me a bit. It's so huge, but there are parts of it that feel a bit too predictable, as if the group's just going through the motions to sound important. It's mostly the first four songs, but it occasionally happens afterwards too and it's frustrating.

I'll give it another listen and see what I think soon.

yeah its a little of a grower offer, still i love it

Album Rating: 3.0

Hasn't grown on me at all. Hate to do it but I have to give this less than a 4. It's just...dreary and forced. I'd even put Vagabonds above this...this has its moments but it's bloated.

Album Rating: 4.5 | Sound Off

I believe the word "Emeryishness" is being added to Oxford dictionaries next week.



So Omaha thinks there are too many "going through the motions" moments, while Freak thinks it's "forced & blaoted". The thing is, I can see both sides, but the fact that you kind of feel opposite to each other comes off as finding a nice balance to me. I do agree that it's not entirely cohesive, but I still put that down mainly to track ordering.

i don't know who this classic crime band is but when is the new phoenix record coming out thats all i can think of when i see this

Album Rating: 4.5 | Sound Off

Delayed... Due to their name being stolen... It was The Classic Crime.

oh my god

Album Rating: 4.5 | Sound Off

Yes, my child...

lol

Album Rating: 4.0

Finally decided to get this, on my first listen through. Glass Houses is the shit, the group vox are sweet.

Album Rating: 4.5 | Sound Off

It looks like everyone is finding something to like about this album. Gets back to finding that balance I was speaking about on the previous page.

Great review, Davey. I didn't see anything in the genre topping Cold Hard Want this year, but I can't think of an album I've enjoyed incrementally more with each listen.

"The Precipice" is my favorite, but you can't go wrong with either of the two preceding tracks either.

"So Omaha thinks there are too many "going through the motions" moments, while Freak thinks it's "forced & blaoted". The thing is, I can see both sides, but the fact that you kind of feel opposite to each other comes off as finding a nice balance to me. I do agree that it's not entirely cohesive, but I still put that down mainly to track ordering."

I definitely agree that it's awesome when albums cause such differing opinions. That's exactly what the new Minus the Bear album isn't doing

Album Rating: 3.0

Been struggling to pinpoint why I don't like this as much as their last two, and I think it has something to do with the lyrics being a lot sadder than the music. For the most part it's pretty typical punk-pop with a few relatively safe deviations...but Matt seems really depressed, more so than most in the genre, and it doesn't seem to fit.



Also, this is my least favorite vocal performance from Matt. That's part of it too.

Album Rating: 4.5 | Sound Off

Thanks Mr. Senior. I definitely prefer this to the HoH album/



Is that new MtB album just kinda there, is it OS94?



That's actually kind of harsh Freak. Usually, when the lyrics & music have that kind of clash, it's actually seen as a positive... from a critical pov anyway. I do know what you mean though. As for Matt's vocal performance, I have to disagree there. 'Beautiful Darkside' may be his greatest individual performance imo.

Album Rating: 4.5

It's not typical pop punk at all. It's typical alt rock, but good.

Album Rating: 3.0

I'd agree that's usually the case, but I'm not feeling it here. But my favorite vocal performance is probably The Beginning, just for its incredible sincerity. I love Matt's vocals, but he feels like he's kind of restrained on Darkside/Phoenix as a whole. At least to my ears.

Album Rating: 4.5 | Sound Off

This is definitely not pop-punk. Agree that it's alt-rock, if anything.



I found Matt very sincere here (see my line about "blead, sweat & tears" in the review). I think there's an almost (for want of a better word) desperate sound in his voice at times, as if he knew that this album was lucky to be made. Is he restrained at times here? Yeah, I'd agree with that... But I do feel that most of the songs call for that. This is much less aggressive than their previous LPs.

Album Rating: 4.5

Finally got around to listening to a couple songs off this after reading the review (very nice review btw Davey), and Beautiful Darkside is fantastic. The vocals threw me off at first but it's really a great song. Will be listening to this again later. Is it cheapest off Bandcamp or another site?