I mean

it’s no silk sonic

Dinosaur is what wakes me back up...honestly, I start to drift when Bedhead (hah) hits.

Album Rating: 4.5

did someone seriously say that

i mean is that really a pasta-take
this is sounding better on its second spin, so far

Album Rating: 3.7

This still sounds like a mix of the most unadventerous elements of a load of other doof takes - like the safest parts of every dumbass/lazy/stupid opinion shoved in a blender. Vanilla boomer smoothie.

he didn't wait 4 days after the release date to publish it
so it is not ok

Album Rating: 3.0

The only songs that stuck out for me were the bookends. Both are fantastic. I'll try this again at some point, but meh. Light 3/5.

Album Rating: 3.0

This feels like such a step down from Black Mile. It's pretty good, but man, I really don't feel like re-visiting half these tracks

I like this but that "pasta take" is really not that egregious and as much as I like this band there's more than a kernel of truth to it. This record does veer into the "every song needs to have an epic crecendo" habit which gets a little old for me but I did like it better on the second listen.

Definitely some stuff that reminds me of newer Foals albums, I think the uber-produced vibe might be a little much at times and kind of takes me away from the songs themselves which are quite strong. Some people adore "The Silence," which is I think what they responded to and pushed more towards this time around, I never really connected to it sonically and I think that's where the disconnect is.

Album Rating: 5.0

"This record does veer into the "every song needs to have an epic crecendo" habit which gets a little old for me"

You're absolutely right about this, but that's also been their MO (no pun intended) since Simple Math. Not saying you have to like it of course, I totally get why this would be too saccharine for many.

Album Rating: 3.0

Yeah it does that. Sometimes it works, sometimes not.



I’ve realised the pacing issue is probably partially to do with the fact Dinosaur is a relatively weak cut - that one seems designed to break things up yet I don’t really like the concluding part(s).



However I keep going back and forth on this one, it definitely has a few very satisfying moments. It isn’t Black Mile, nor does it need to be.

Album Rating: 5.0

I agree with just about everything you said there, especially the bit about Dinosaur. I'm in love with the build up and the climax, but I would have been far more satisfied had the breakdown gone on uninhibited for an extra minute. The way it quickly fades makes it seem like a ploy merely to have a moment of heaviness for heaviness' sake, which I don't think was their intent.

Only just seeing this - wonderful write up

"You're absolutely right about this, but that's also been their MO (no pun intended) since Simple Math. Not saying you have to like it of course, I totally get why this would be too saccharine for many."

I'm not sure I totally agree with that. Like, my favourite stretch in their catalogue is The Alien -> The Sunshine -> The Grocery, which works because the first two songs just build in tension without having to have an epic "Here's where the drums and powerchords come in" conclusion. Whereas on this it feels like every song eventually gets there.

I mean, I don't blame them for it. The Silence was a big unexpected hit and I'm sure they're also thinking about what will play well live. On record it just doesn't quite payoff for me

Album Rating: 3.5

Power chords in 2021? kinda cringe bro

Keel Timing into Bed Head is so great

Album Rating: 3.0

They really got us good with the reverse single release. Now it's my favorite moment of the album.

Album Rating: 3.5

Oh my gooood

Album Rating: 4.0

Opening 4 song stretch is the best part of this album. REALLY not feeling Let it Storm or Way Back. Everything else I’m enjoying quite a bit though. Really cool change of pace for the band as a whole and the album has such a great cohesive sound.