Album Rating: 2.5

was listening to bloodbuzz ohio and the difference is astounding, now there’s a vocal pause that actually justifies itself: “I’m on a blood........ buzz........”, it’s killer

and lit up with its great opening couplet and the climax

even the system only dreams, brilliant lead single that properly integrated a denser sound



I’ll maintain that there are no essential, best of, worldies on this album. SWB has at least 3

sequencing is excellent imo. i'm constantly engaged with the sprawl and it's always a front-to-back listen for me. it's like if the flow of "the colour in anything" was good

Album Rating: 2.0

I'm also a little lukewarm on Light Years as a closer. I think I'll be a bit more comfortable having this at a 4 actually.

Album Rating: 2.5

of the 3 songs i enjoy off swb, i would say i probably like them more than anything here, save for "where is her head", but i definitely like more songs here than on swb. then again, i've seen people say listening to this has made them appreciate swb more, so maybe i'll give it a go again.

Album Rating: 4.0

“Light Years” is perfect for me, only all-timer here so far.

Album Rating: 2.0

Luci I agree for the most part, I'm just not big on the placement of Kansas. The rest is stellar.

Album Rating: 4.2

sequencing is excellent [2] that's the album's biggest strength. I love that the "what Matt was doing while all the guests did his vocals" song Not in Kansas is sequenced between the songs where he's most unsettled from his usual central position, ie Where is Her Head and So Far So Fast. brilliant stuff



would have been fantastic to see people's reactions if they'd used the 10-minute, 17-stanza version of Not in Kansas on the album

Album Rating: 2.5

yeah, two tracks nearly 7 mins each back-to-back was a weird choice.

Album Rating: 3.5

I think the sequencing is ideal and I rather enjoyed having the two long tracks back-to-back, like two towers. It probably helps that I love both songs.

Album Rating: 2.5

hey row......... z..........

Album Rating: 4.0

My only hope for this is that some of the great songs grow into amazing ones. Track for track this is honestly good it’s just so below National par. Then again that’s how I felt about Trouble Will Find Me for two whole years...

Album Rating: 4.0

“Rylan” is really great but it’s frustrating for how it demonstrates just how much the lyricism has deteriorated.

Album Rating: 2.5

I think given reign to condense and shuffle this could raise my opinion but I never would bc it negates the album and its intentions

having said that the interludes are fodder and just don’t do anything so I’d happily lop those off

Album Rating: 4.0

Yeah, the weird thing is the interludes aren’t even used in the film, I assumed they would be because I thought Matt and the boys would have been smart enough to know interludes are almost always unnecessary.

Album Rating: 3.0 | Sound Off

Comparing this album to SWB:



I think people sleep on the Sleep Well Beast title track, that one is incredible, arguably their best ever closer.



Guilty Party is definitely one of their top 10 songs off the two latest albums, maybe top 5, but people don't talk about it.



In terms of similar songs on both albums:

Carin vs Rylan - not a lot in that, maybe a draw, but people often argue Rylan is the best here so...

Walk it Back vs The Pull of You - I'd def take Walk it Back

Album Rating: 2.0

SWB t/t is absolutely one the band's best. Imagine if they had ran with that and crafted something similar to say Hansard's Weight of the World on this.

Album Rating: 4.0

Yeah the SWB t/t is incredible, it took forever for me to realize. A far more daring and successful experiment than anything here.



“Guilty Party” is one of their best ever but it's not overlooked, it was a single and one of the most agreed-upon tracks on SWB :-/



“Walk It Back” eats “Pull Of You” alive.



“Carin” and “Light Years” are more related (check the p4k feature, Aaron wrote the same time), that one’s also a draw I guess. Maybe “Carin” is more replayable? “Pink Rabbits” is a similar vein and the best of the three.



I do like “Rylan” a lot though, “Rylan you should get some sun / There’s a little bit of hell in everyone” is the best lyric/melody combo moment on the album.

Album Rating: 3.0 | Sound Off

'Rylan' is top three here...but Carin wouldn't make my top 6 on SWB.



I think this is where I'm coming from - looked at from every angle, every comparison, SWB clearly has much better songs on it :/



This has the strength of a unified style and a smooth flow...but if the style and the flow are sleepy bordering on bland I'm not sure that, ultimately, is all that much of a strength lol

Album Rating: 4.2

lol I see what you did there anatelier, nice



btw stop comparing this to SWB it's dumb thanks

Album Rating: 4.0

Honestly, I won’t be too mad if the greatest thing I get out of this is a greater appreciation for Sleep Well Beast. The other day when I relistened to it I was doubting its classic status, now I’m reassured of it, lol.