album is overproduced, rehashes too much of their formula (can only complain so much bc Honeysuckle is probably the song most guilty of this but also the chief highlight), has way too many whingy alt metal choruses, has a corny closer and weak pop-adjacent tracks compared to all previous Greg albums
highlights are great, but the signs that they'd reached the end of the road (with this lineup anyway) are all over the shop

Album Rating: 5.0

The only thing I vehemently disagree with is the alt metal choruses part.



Aside from Symptoms of Terminal Illness (which I’ve already said is by far the weakest track here and one of the weaker TDEP tracks in general), I don’t really recall any “whingy (fucking brits) alt metal choruses” at all?



Maybe Nothing to Forget with the “please let me be myself I don’t need anything”, but I really think Greg is a good enough a vocalist to sell that lyrical low point. There are repeating lyrics for sure but I don’t think I would refer to them as choruses at all, let alone “alt metal choruses”

Album Rating: 5.0

Again, and im saying this completely seriously, Johnny you clearly know more about music than I do so I really would be fine with you proving me wrong, but im not so sure on this one chief

Album Rating: 5.0

I also think the production is pretty much perfect. I usually hate production that sounds this clean but I think it was very necessary for this kind of project. You can clearly hear every instrument at any given moment and that’s a huge plus for a record like this

Album Rating: 4.0

I still like this album even though I rarely listen to it. However as time has passed and the aura around this being their swansong has faded, I'd be lying if I said I didn't agree with everything in Johnny's comment.

Album Rating: 4.0

Low Feels Blvd still has my respect for being the most unpredictable track here

re. choruses, Symptom and Nothing are up there for sure, but is also count Apologies, the Wanting... bridge and most of the t/t (basically anything that shows how much Greg took from Patton, though I don't mind this as much other records, maybe for prod/grit reasons?) -- this is a preferential crit for sure (ain't they all), but I don't like how much focus there is on his maudlin lyrics on this (Nothing to Forget probs the worst example). Realise this is a slippery slope given that my second fav Greg album is Miss Machine where he was p much undeniably at his worst lyrically, but something about this one's blockbuster sheen makes it harder to look away
and on the note of production, I agree that their sound benefits from clarity as much as chaos but think OP and Killer had already nailed that balance in away that seemed to accentuate each and every jagged edge they tore out of their instruments. this one feels more than a little smoothed over by comparison (though credit where it's due, I do love how lush Low Feels and Fugue play out as such)
think that's about the scope of it lol, but can still fw most of this when all's said and done - just never bought it as a final high watermark. appreciate you man, even though we disagree on like 75% of threads lol

Album Rating: 5.0

oh yeah I hate your opinions most of the time but you the homie Johnny. Any time I think you have a bad take I almost can’t respond because it’s usually so well thought out and descriptive to the point where im like “maybe he’s on to something here…”

Album Rating: 5.0

Anyways, I think Patton was most definitely the best thing that ever happened to this band, I really wonder what this bands’ trajectory would have looked like had Irony not happened.

Album Rating: 5.0

Realistically, they probably would’ve put out another Calc esque album but it would’ve sounded worse and been much less inspired, and then they probably would’ve broken up.



Just to end up in the books of amazing but short lived early 2000’s acts

Various parts of Wanting Not so Much to as To are lodged in a recess of my brain forever

Album Rating: 4.0

Nothing To Forget into Disassociation is legendary.

Album Rating: 4.5

learning to play this music must be fucking crazy

Album Rating: 4.5

like the drummer is fucking insane

Album Rating: 4.0

easy though

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ayl_nfJK3EQ

Album Rating: 4.5

yarp

t/t is phenomenal in case you were wondering

Album Rating: 5.0

one of their best songs for sure



COULDNT STAY

FOR YOU

WHAT A STRANGE

WAY TO LOSE



FINDING A WAY TO DIE ALONE

IS BETTER THAN WHAT I WAS SHOWN

Album Rating: 4.0

Sad this band had to die, but probably for the best for all involved



It seems like as the years went on Greg and Ben grew apart hard. They used to refer to each other as brothers but people change in ways you don't expect sometimes

Album Rating: 5.0

Yeha they arent exactly super fond of each other anymore pretty sure anyway, no one will reallt know what happened if anything. I think working together so closely for so long broke things down and a lot of the lyrics on this record are in Gregs book and deeply personal.



It sounds strange but I dont want to see a Greg fronted Dillinger reunion, i think they tied that up well in a neat bow. Greg seems to be thriving with Better lovers and his solo work and in a better place, Bens got his gigs with Suicidal tendencies and the dimitri reunion shows, but gets to spend time with kids and his farm.