Album Rating: 5.0 | Sound Off

I mean, I reject the idea that music (or should I say, lyrics in particular) is 100% self-expression in the sense that it doesn't have to be about the musicians themselves. Matt's lyrics clearly aren't entirely autobiographical (although I do think they certainly to some extent reflect his emotions, or at least some of his internal thoughts, at each given time), but that doesn't mean they're disingenuous. That said I do disagree that what they were doing before was in any way "emotionally stifling", at least as far as I can tell. For me, those albums are as emotionally rich and personally resonant as any other music I have ever heard.

Album Rating: 5.0 | Sound Off

It sounds to me a bit as if you're approaching emotion from too cerebral a perspective.

Album Rating: 5.0 | Sound Off

There's plenty of humor in the last three albums as well (especially on High Violet and TWFM) if you look for it. The humor however was never what drew me to their music in the first place and in fact the amount of it in Alligator is a slight turnoff for me at times. If anything, barring Turtleneck, this is the least arguably humorous album they've made.

Album Rating: 5.0 | Sound Off

I'd say High Violet is their album where the bits of humor are most essential, more so than on Alligator, if I'm being honest.

Album Rating: 5.0 | Sound Off

That's totally fine, I can see where you're coming from. But yeah High Violet is arguably my favorite album ever and Boxer is probably top 5 with TWFM top 20 so obviously I'm going to defend even the smallest criticism against them ;-P

Album Rating: 4.4 | Sound Off

I only hear some possible stifling in a few ways throughout TWFM with how dreary and muted it gets, especially the slower songs, but there is humor to be found as Boney said, and it's still an amazing album ofc. Just my personal least fav of the last 5 (including this).

This record shakes up their formula and diversifies their songwriting enough to be a new direction and veer off from how the previous 4 were progressing. It sounds like that was very much needed, given Matt's quote from the previous page; I'm really glad they did just from a fan perspective, and what it resulted in with SWB.

Album Rating: 4.4 | Sound Off

It makes sense that some fans, like Boney, might need more time to really gestate those changes given how much the previous albums progressed, and resonated emotionally. I think I went through similar thoughts when I first heard the live versions of these songs and first listens of the studio version.

This and HV are their most freeing and cathartic imo, touching on what Plane said about this.

Boxer and HV are more-or-less tied for my favorite.

Album Rating: 4.0

Boxer and HV for me too. Those ones just wreck me in the best possible ways. I loved reading this discussion though. Its refreshing to hear people actually elaborate on why they like an album without clutching at review-style objectivity. Its all in the feeling; that obscured line between personal experience and how a piece of art plucks at that experience's strings.

Album Rating: 4.0

been finding myself wanting to skip born to beg thru empire line - not necessarily a big knock on those tracks, but the ones either side are just better

Album Rating: 4.0

giving this another try

Album Rating: 4.0

last 3 songs are by far the best. middle is weak, especially turtleneck which is the worst song ive heard from them by far

Album Rating: 4.4 | Sound Off

Turtleneck is their worst song since Sugar Wife, including their b-sides, and it's still a good song. One of the most consistent bands around.

Album Rating: 4.0

dammit I love Turtleneck to death tbh

Album Rating: 4.5 | Sound Off

The outro to Born to Beg is soooooo good

Album Rating: 4.0

can see this growing on me. the opener is phenomenal

Album Rating: 5.0 | Sound Off

Opener is the second weakest imo

Album Rating: 4.0

much of the mid section did nothing for me at first but the last three songs especially really stood out. let's see how much things change this listen

Album Rating: 4.0

turtleneck was the only song i didnt like this listen. good shit

Album Rating: 4.0

really not sure how anyone could love this album (4.0+) and consider the opener to be one of the weaker songs

Album Rating: 5.0 | Sound Off

I don't know, it's a good song but it feels a bit too static and there's a feeling of it being "The National doing The National" which I don't really get from the rest of this. Plus the chorus is fairly weak. It's a fine intro to the album but as far as I'm concerned things don't really get going till Day I Die.