Album Rating: 2.5

why don't we do it in the road



this is more elaborate, but now I am thinking of what The Grey would sound like if it were more elaborate, and that thought does not spark joy. 12 min orchestral club mix when

Album Rating: 4.5

ngl if I was in the club and they played a Thrice remix I'd go wild

Album Rating: 4.0 | Sound Off

"I'm in love with the album's rare blend of pristinely mesmerizing production and epic/grandiose songwriting". This short summary from Sowing is spot on for me. And, intentionally or not: there are several short passages/details throughout album that strongly sounds like other artists/bands from different genres. Think this is nicely done and enhances my listening experience further together with the great variation.

Album Rating: 4.5

Yeah the variation here is incredible. Most albums this eclectic would sound like an identity crisis incarnate, but Archive somehow tie it all together beautifully. Just for example -- Mr Daisy, Freedom, and Shouting Within all sound like they belong on totally separate albums by completely different bands. It's more than just eclecticism though; the album is completely unified, and the oft-abrupt stylistic shifts only add to the aura of disorientation/mystery/confusion, playing right into the hands of the album's "wandering through the fog" atmosphere as well as the overarching political themes. Honestly, it's pretty genius.

Album Rating: 3.5

fuck ok sounds like an insta check for me

always skirted around the edges with this band

Album Rating: 4.5

Neek I think you'll enjoy this. Just be prepared for the length haha.

Thats a hell of a write up

Mr. Daisy has a healthy amount of F bombs in it lol

Album Rating: 4.5

Yeah at first I didn't really get Mr Daisy but the lyrics were pretty telling once I looked at them a bit closer. They might've been able shave a few fucks off but honestly I sort of enjoy the lack of restraint in that specific instance for some reason.

Album Rating: 3.3

Just finished my first listen...



Pretty good stuff, damn is this way too long though.

Album Rating: 4.5

I feel like I exclusively review stuff that is way too long these days. Iosonouncane's IRA, Scarypoolparty's The Act of Forgiveness, Kanye's Donda, now this. It always results in me having to have the "should/does an album's length impact its critical reception" debate lol.



I get both sides honestly, because as a working adult with a family and kids I rarely have time to sit down for 2 hours and listen to music. Also, longer albums do not often justify their length -- Donda definitely didn't, and even Scarypoolparty's last LP -- while excellent -- was all over the map stylistically and realistically could have been pared down to a more reasonable length of the same overall musical quality or better.



IRA and this, though, have a unique atmosphere where I wouldn't necessarily alter anything. IRA is certainly more unique and experimental than this, but this one has its own unique vibe where it feels like everything belongs as well. It's definitely very long -- but I don't think it is to the album's detriment in this particular case aside from inconveniencing listeners by not being consumable enough. Which, from an artistic standpoint, is a nonstarter of an argument in my opinion.



With all that said, I could see someone fashioning a 10-12 song playlist from this to allow themselves easier access to their favorite moments from the record. It wouldn't necessarily be a reflection of the album needing alteration, just a matter or creating a scenario where the record becomes more approachable and digestible for those running on a bit of a tight schedule.

Album Rating: 3.3

Well said!



My personal tendency is to prefer albums that are a more easily digestible length (often even on the short side), but I will say there's been several very long albums in the last few years which have challenged that preference: Adjy, Big Thief, even Mastodon's latest to some extent. It just feels like a higher bar to clear, for me, though.

Album Rating: 4.5

I actually tend to reside on the same side of that spectrum as you do (for instance, one of my all-time favorite mini-LPs is The Antler's In The Attic of the Universe which clocks in at 26 minutes), but all these Covid-era 2x and 3x LPs have been really good for some reason. Big Thief and Mastodon are also prime examples, so I'm glad you mentioned them. I think if you asked me three years ago I would have said long albums are annoying and a chore to get through, and that artists should simply be more selective about the material they include, but now I'm less sure of that notion. When executed as part of a larger theme/atmosphere, it can work even better than any short album could because it allows room to be even more expansive/creative with various styles -- as is the case here with a band that, to my knowledge (I'm admittedly not an Archive diehard), has never sniffed this level of experimentation and overall weirdness before.

Apple Music lists this as 1 hour and 44 minutes long.

I am so fucking in. Excellent review and thanks.

Album Rating: 4.5

Thanks! Hope you like it, just be prepared to be in it for the long haul lol

Album Rating: 4.0 | Sound Off

Movie length on this and have reached 10 spins since friday. Should have been doing some more productive stuff those days but have no problem justifying my behavior. Dramatic and hypnotizing, fantastic flow despite the turns and twists. Amazing that this beast of a record is so accessible and that it's length is so easily digested.

Sounds interesting. Will definitely check this out.

I remember my father loving Controlling Crowds and turning the volume up to 110 on some songs.

Album Rating: 4.0 | Sound Off

From a father: 110 is the way to go on a lot of the tracks!

Album Rating: 4.5

I don't know whether to qualify this as an atmospheric mood piece or catchy alt-rock to blast out the speakers. Somehow it's both.