Album Rating: 4.0

someone - it flows well and I like the theme...but also 54 minutes is a lot of mid tempo and quite similar songs, too much I'd say, but that's personal preference

Album Rating: 4.5

this could definitely afford to cut a handful of tracks, this kind of music is better when it’s concise



that being said, god there are some s-tier bangers here

Album Rating: 4.0

anat - favourite songs?



my top four would be Wild Guess, Cold Reactor, The Mad Stone and City Song



think the biggest grower could end up the last song

Album Rating: 4.5

cold reactor is up there with their best, then I’m really enjoying mad stone, city song, the witness



even if you only ditch tv dog and canary, you shave off a good 7 minutes and improve the flow immediately

Album Rating: 4.5

Wild Guess and City Song are my favourite non-singles, R U Happy is brilliant too, only listened a few times but this already feels like a very special album.

Album Rating: 4.0

Agreed anat, the second song I also don't miss if I edit it out though it is in no way actively bad or anything - I listened to an eight song comp I made of the new album today and that was a really enjoyable consistent listen - I might have missed 'Enter the Mirror' a little too, so there's enough material I really enjoy in there.



Saying that, I also listened to my favourites from RDF today and that was a lot more of a sprightly listen and stuff like 'Pizza Boy', 'My Computer' and 'Kevin's Car' are pop perfection. I guess I thought the next step for the band might have been releasing a pop album where half the material went in a similar direction to 'My Computer', so a little surprised they've toned down again if anything.



They're great though, as said before, to continuously deliver solid ear worm hit singles (like 'Cold Reactor') that stand up on their own is a very difficult task and there are hardly any bands out there currently who are capable of it.

Album Rating: 4.0

not the biggest fan of the new album but Wild Guess and The End of the Contender have some amazing hooks.

Album Rating: 4.5

R U Happy reminds me of Froot era Marina a bit

Album Rating: 4.5

Your Money, My Summer has a lot in common with Born Under a Meteor, tonally. Wistful nostalgia, etc. Really beautiful song.

Album Rating: 4.0

City Song and Leviathan pair up really well together

Album Rating: 4.0

After about seven listens I've bumped the new one up to yet another EE 4.0 rating...the nine songs I think are up to their usual high standard are just very very good and worthy of a 4.0.



Would I still love it if they'd have trimmed 10-12 minutes from the album? Yes. Do I somewhat miss the snappy and uptempo feel of some of the material on RDF? Yes.



To counter that...I do like the concept here, some of the lyrics are hilarious in context (Elvis dead on the toilet, going wild in the aisles, etc), and generally a lot of this material is thoughtful and well written.



I'd probably only rate it their fifth best, and some of this material is sinking to 'the less good stuff on 'Arc' level...but a 4.0 yet again. They're consistent.

These and The Maccabees are the best of the arty-wank millennial bands.

The Maccabees are sorely missed.

Album Rating: 4.0

I think it's funny this lot are in many ways as grating and annoying as The Cardiacs (who are also great) but also remain radio playable and 'fringe mainstream'



Their songs nag away at you and break down your defences, they know what they are doing.

Talented

Album Rating: 4.0

I need to listen to the Maccabees more, only really know the one album that came out after I'd joined here

Same sort of thing mate.

All a bit throwaway on the first few listens but there’s something that draws you back and it continually grows.

Grew Up at Midnight is a hell of a song.

Album Rating: 4.5

"These and The Maccabees are the best of the arty-wank millennial bands."



I think EE are the artwank kings, and I'm totally going to use that next time my gf calls them shit

Album Rating: 4.5

My gf is really into Alt J atm and we saw them a few months back in Toronto. Great band. I know they aren’t especially loved on here and I get that they’re an acquired taste, but it’s cool that we share bands like those. She was asking me recently what’s another good indie band she can get into and immediately EE popped into my head. She thinks they’re painfully average and borderline annoying tho. It’s the vocals, and a few of my friends have had a similar “meh, shit vocals” reaction to these guys. I can kind of see what they mean, other English indie rock bands sound sort of similar, but it sucks that people write them off so quickly

Album Rating: 4.5

unique vocals over run of the mill dime a dozen could be anyone vocals any day of the week

Album Rating: 4.5

@Gyro Very similar experience to me, I've recommended them to a few people when they've asked who my favourite bands are and been told the vocals are just too much.