This sounds nothing like most emo revival bands. It's not twinkly at all, and there's a lot more depth, lyrically and musically, than most of the other emo revival bands. It deserves much more than a 6.
this comment is super late but i definitely agree. it wasn't my favorite when i listened to it for the first time a few years ago, but coming back to it with a bit more maturity and experiences really allowed me to really see how amazing truly is, especially lyrically/
Left Hand yah i like watching his reviews but i haven't found a single review that we have agreed on. like ive been searching all night and not 1 xD cool dude though
ye he's completely wrong this album is one i'd stick an easy ten, i've listened to the whole thing over twenty times definitely and it's just beautiful, the tracks never got old however samey he describes them and they really collaborate together throughout the album, lyrics amazing dynamics and music amazing it's a 10 way better than kids see ghosts and any other generic shit he gives a ten😊
Sorry, love your reviews bro, but on this one you're just wrong. The point of this album is that it doesn't break new ground musically. Rather, it used tried and tested motifs of the genre and uses them to create something which is at once nostalgic and unique. The lyrics on their own are deserving of a 8/10.
+N Beesley I re-listened to it again yesterday, and I was hit with how nostalgic it sounds. It just felt comforting. As much as a cop out as that might sound, that's what the album feels like. Comfort. It deals with some really heavy issues lyrically, and there is a strong theme of solidarity through the pain, it's almost as if the album says "Man, life is shit, but let's go get drunk on a field and celebrate the good old times" and that kind of essence of escapism, nostalgia and solidarity is why this album has actually helped me through a very dark patch in the last year. Completely agree that it doesn't musically break any new ground. But that's not why I re-listen to Brand New or American Football. I listen to them because I know they're going to make me feel okay again. And seriously, the amount of times I've belted out "In framing" just shows that the band has excelled in song crafting and being able to present a clear and beautiful message. I would give the album an 8/10, the other two points would undoubtedly be reserved for groundbreaking material, but I've found a lot of albums these days around the 6/7 mark anyway.
that or the dealer review. this album is more beloved but that dealer review is one of the biggest flatout misunderstandings of any record he's ever reviewed
Bands he listed; Cap 'n Jazz American Football Sunny Day Real Estate Jawbreaker Mineral Rites of Spring Brand New Envy ?Gospel Pageninetynine Circle takes the square Gettup kids Jimmy Eat World Dashboard Confessional Bright Eyes
The lyrics on this album were a 9/10 for me. The musicianship is nothing novel, but i'll still give it a 7/10 for the nostalgia and the fact that it complements the vocals in a nice, albeit typical, way. I believe this was the best album of 2014 by far and all the guys in the band were very genuine and kind to me when I met them.
There's actually some really understated musicianship on this, lot's of subtle time signature changes (alternating 11/4 and 6/4 in "Discomfort revisited", 7/4 in "Life in Drag", 6/8 in like every song at some point) and a good use of song structure and dynamics. It definitely uses very tried and true pop-punk motifs, but fits them into a very non-formulaic arrangement.
LOL. What is this? Clearly this record has a lot more better things going on in it both musically, lyrically and production wise that most of the "emo-revival" acts out there and this gets a 6?
Shame this doesn't have the numbers to go into a controversial reviews video or something similar because it definitely belongs among any of his other hot takes lol
I think this was AOTY last year so I disagree with the 6, I'd give a 9 at least. And I think Life in Drag as a least favourite shows a lack of listening to this album in depth. Especially due to how original the subject matter it is. It's the most honest and open song about gender and sexuality non-conformity I've ever found and some of the only stuff, along with Against Me!'s new material, that has connected to me as an LGBT individual for that reason than any song ever before.
I mean, Life in Drag lyrically is great and it's a cool change of pace, but it's still the worst track on the album. Just does not fit. Album is a 10 btw.
So cool that you reviewed this album! I went to high school with all of the guys in this band and even sat behind Vocalist/Bassist Christian Holden in Science class freshman year!
I can agree that this album is that unique sonically, but it definitely isn't bad in that regard either, it's still well played. Plus, the lyrics are so unflinchingly real, it actually caught me off guard, and i haven't experienced that with much other albums (only other i can think of is Hospice). I'd give it a decent to strong 8 for me.
@@xochitlvilorio8085 why are you going through the all the comments of a video about an emo-revival album, where people will be suggesting emo revival albums, and even bothering to check them out when it's clear you just don't like the genre? You wasted your own time lol
Guys chill, on this channel, a 6/10 for an emo record is basically a 9/10, you ain't gonna see him give a record like this anything higher than a 7, god forbid a 9.
This is my all time favorite album, and my three favorite artists are Bob Dylan, Nine Inch Nails, and Deadmau5. So I don't think there's any bias involved, it's just that good. I don't even listen to emo.
I think the album was more of an outlet for the lead singer and writer more than anything else really. I think the positioning of the tracks on the record are so clever, with that amazing trio "your deep rest", "among the wildflowers", "life in drag". The lyrics alone are outstanding, I mean just stunning. And life in drag is only kinda screamy nonsensical coz he's letting all this emotion out
I think this album deserves an 8-9 personally. The writing, while there is a lot better, more thought out styles, is honestly very impressive. The story-telling and amounts of emotion they put into these songs are very well done. I thought you were crazy mentioning La Dispute and "Life in Drag" at first but that is actually a perfect match haha. I'm new to this channel but you should review some early 2000 folk punk. Wingnut Dishwashers or any other Pat The Bunny project would be interesting since not many people know about it.
Disagree with the lack of their own sound. Sure, they wear their influences on their sleeve but I personally think the songwriting is way above average for a band in this genre, as I find most emo revival bands have a very amateur sound. Everything seems so cohesive and well fleshed out. Also, the vocal performances, especially on the latter part of the album blow me away. Personally I think it's a 9/10 with a slight weak point with the song in framing (not that it's an outright bad song or anything) and it is currently my AOTY with White Sun's Totem as a close second.
disagree, show me another band that touches on gender issues the way that this lp does. conceptually, lyrically & metaphorically unique as fuck easy 8 or 9/ 10
I actually loved this album - the song structures and the incredibly deep lyrics made it stand out for me. But it's definitely not adventurous sonically, so the score here is perfectly justified, though I would still give it a decent 8 as they do what they do well. On an entirely unrelated note, anyone here seen the 3 year old dance on China's Got Talent? It's absolutely brilliant!
Review You Blew It!- Keep Doing what You're doing, I saw them live recently and they were great. Though they're also part of this new trend of emo music.
I saw Tiny Moving Parts, Sorority Noise, Old Gray, Modern Baseball, and The Hotelier in Boston a few weeks ago and I had a great time. Tiny Moving Parts set impressed the fuck out of me and I bought their LP after the show. The Hoteliers and Modern Baseball were also amazing but I already had listened to their albums a lot. I couldn't get into Old Gray or Sorority Noise they weren't bad but it wasn't my style.
I really loved this album from the first time I heard it. This genre just does something for me that most others don't. I loved the lyrics and thought the songwriting was really solid. Is it groundbreaking? no, do they have a certain sound they stick to? definitely. But I think they're a great band who have impactful lyrics and quality music.
- Totally a 9. - Great review, though. - Anthony says "however" a lot. - This is definitely also pop punk, like 50%. - Nice touch on the emo revival. Agreed that a lot of the artists are pretty homogenous. - Eh, I thought this was impressively distinguishing album, hardly "emulating" as the review suggests. - Anthony's NOT a Snowing fan?
This has been my favourite album ever for as long as its been out. I give it a 10 personally, but even taking apart my emotional attachment to it I still see it as a strong 8. Love your reviews, but you might wanna take another listen on this one!
Oh yessss! You named so many bands in this review I'm going to have a hey day! Hey man, you seem a bit... Down in the dumps. Or annoyed with something. I love your videos and I hope you get better! And if your we're just having a bad day I hope your next day is better! See you in the next one!
When I first heard the album on the drive to work, I was half awake and barely paying attention. Still, some parts of some of the songs stood out to me. After the second or third listen, I started reading the lyrics, and that's where it hit me the hardest. The subject matter isn't new for the genre, but the way it was written really got to me-it warped me into various moments of my life when I, my friends, or friends of friends may have felt this way.
To hear introduction to the album and say this band sounds exactly like my chemical romance or some equivalent band from that era is just a bizarre, Dudley from royal tenebaums style computation.
Minion Love Interesting... didn't even know what those videos were. My internet speak must be broken. Why does he weigh like 80% of an album on uniqueness? I personally liked the album not because it was unique but that the lyricism was A+ grade and the instruments were really tightly mixed.
I think it stems from the fact that, like a lot of critics, he's consumed so much of the medium that what's novel and interesting too him are things that break the mold or stand out. You kind of have to go into his reviews knowing that.
They're pretty strong lyrically, and their music is good. Maybe not great or too "stand-out" but definitely good. Considering the amount of albums we get in the genre that I consider bad, I'm all for this record.
I think there are quite a few standouts in the "emo" genre. The biggest in my opinion is last year's, The Albatross by St. Louis band Foxing. If you've not heard it, Anthony, I suggest you do so. The reissue is due this year. Maybe it'd be worth a review?
This is one of the few times this melon has actually upset me. This is honestly one of my favourite albums of all time and he missed the point completely with this review
jammywalter0713 agreed. i really relate to this album and its one of my favorite albums of all time. its so powerful that im actually kinda scared to revisit it xD
This is all opinion dependent. For me it's not all about what the innovations in a genre as long it isn't something completely generic. I look more into the lyricism and musicality of a song/album which i think is unquestionable in this album and also, variety of songs as in not all of them having saying the exact same thing/sounding the same. I really like this album I'd go as far as saying it's one of my all time favourites or even my favourite. It's something I can listen to for days on repeat. Really solid work in my opinion :)
It's okay, I don't like Snowing either. I thought your comments were fair, you're right they're not super original but to me they still sound more like a 7 or 8
I never knew of the guys before I saw them live a few months ago as the opener for Frank Turner and absolutely loved them. Bought this album off them and have had it playing in my car since then.
Hey man, maybe they will progress like Brand New....IE...from "basically" a few rungs off the "boy band" ladder to...some super dark spiritual shit. That would be dope. Or maybe they will drop a lot if acid and end up sounding like Death Grips 2.0. Here's to hoping.
The guy in your deep rest isn't calling in to say he's not coming to the funeral. He's calling in to work while at the funeral because the body and the deceased persons family made him freak out.
The Menzingers, Modern Baseball, and Hop Along are all really incredible modern artists that I'd classify as emo. Modern Baseball's album is a little less well assembled and ambitious effort, but they have some good songs.
Hey Anthony, please consider reviewing Talon Of The Hawk by The Front Bottoms and You're Gonna Miss It All by Modern Baseball. Both real talented bands. thank you!
Pretty on the fence with this. An Introduction to the Album is one of my favorite rock tracks of the year so far, but I can't stand Housebroken even one iota.
I really appreciate how Anthony listed the nine hundred or so bands from the genre that he does dig, going into all of the big names with the heavy influences before even beginning to review this one. He has an opinion (a 6, most people I talk to call this album groundbreaking and he's on the fence) that not a lot of people are necessarily going to agree with and he lets us know that it's not for a lack of background.
Not groundbreaking instrumentally but solidly performed none the less. Think this album should've gotten a higher score based on lyrics/writing alone. I find this album gripping me stronger with each listen. The closing track, Dendron, is one of them most moving, emotive songs I've ever listened to. 9/10.
depends on what albums you catagorize as emo. it's def not better than brand new - deja or devil and god, thursday - full collapse, jimmy eat world - clarity, it's not even better than death cab - transatlanticism....it's a good album but nostalgia for these records played a big part in why ppl love it
