Finally got around to listening to this yesterday. First thought is that it's a pretty subtle record. Second is that some of the hyperbole in here is a bit overblown (particularly FU Dave, come on dude, hating it?).

I've read that these songs were worked up over a pretty long period of time so hopefully the nuances of them will reveal themselves in repeated listenings. I mean, this is a band that is now learning to be a band and record while not being in each others back pockets 24/7 the way young bands are.

I've got tix for them with Neko Case opening in August. Their stuff tends to really open up live.

Dude, I'm so pissed about this. Neko is joining them about a week after their St. Louis date.

Had on Sirius/XM's adult album channel on the Dish Sunday morning while I cleaned house/hung out with my kid. They had their Weekly Countdown of Failure or whatever on...A little disconcerting (and awesome) to hear "Holding On To Black Metal" mixed in with Mumford and Sons, Florence & The Machine and the new Coldplay.

Makes sense. I mean, it's not like they were a punk band or anything. They've always been pretty palatable to a wide audience, they just didn't have the acceptance and success I guess.

I used to play It Still Moves for anyone, anywhere when it came out. "Golden", "Mahgeetah", and "One Big Holiday" appealed to everybody but they weren't getting shit for radio play back then.

It wasn't that it was MMJ, it was that it was that song that was the "radio hit"

I just found it funny; don't burst my fucking bubble, Derris.

We used to be able to talk man.

FWIW, I'm not sure what song I'd pick off this album to be a single. It all kind of runs together (in a good way). Then again, I've only run through it about 1.5 times.

Totally. Like on the last album, it was pretty obvious that a song like "I'm Amazed" was going to be the one you'd hear on Dave FM.

Not lovin' this new one much (yet... hopefully it will grow on me some more). Seeing them next Thursday night in Milwaukee (also without Neko, dammit). Have never seen them live, so REALLY looking forward to it. Great seats as well.

It helps give an emotional connection to the song, and that always helps thing click for me. I enjoyed the hell out of the Storytellers. That "Dodante" story was a little hard to watch since seeing grown men with lumps in their throats/holding back tears is not something I relish.

I was fucking sobbing as if I actually grew up with the guy myself. Even just thinking about that story gets me welling up a little bit. And fuck if they didn't absolutely NAIL that song, too. I can't even imagine how transcendent it must have been to witness that performance in person.

yup, its fucking terrible...I can't listen to it, me and a friend sat and listened to it, smoked a ton of weed, determined to see if we could salvage our opinion of it and it was miserable.

its just dull...and any big rock moments are ruined by being completely dumbed down.

top 5 worst albums ever by a band I love.

"The Day Is Coming" is fucking amazing. just go listen to that one song by itself and tell me it's not.

the album grows and grows, but i will wait to make any final judgement until after 8/4 red rocks.

the only "miss" for me comes with "First Light", and that's minor.

that and "slow slow tune" are my favorites on the album by far

And how good is the intro to "First Light"? I think the contrast from what the intro hints at and what the song actually becomes sort of turns me off.

On about my 4th full listen and I'm with you. My final judgement will be in August as well.

It doesn't have that one huge song that just stands out but I think overall this is a more cohesive effort that Evil Urges was.

No, there isn't much "rawk" but what it does bring, it brings all the way through the album.

I dunno, just seems like a good chilling by the lake album.


Also, I watched that Storytellers thing finally and I hope Jim James doesn't start relying on that falsetto voice to often. It's a great tool when used in moderation but not when used every other song. Couple songs I felt were hampered by him using it to the point of his voice cracking. Hate to see that when he and Carl can harmonize so well.

what'd you think of that "dondante" back story? powerful shit, innit?

I wanted him to name names.

Just like at Hop Sings.

easily the biggest disappointment of 2011 so far. i can't even listen to it.

the guy he was talking about is named aaron todovich, and he was a childhood buddy who was in a band with jj before mmj - he apparently killed himself

YOU GOT ME BLACKLISTED AT HOP SING'S?!?

Seeing the songs live really help, although I did like the album going in. At Bonnaroo, "Victory Dance," "Circuital," "Outta My System," and "Holdin On to Black Metal" all killed live.

after spending a little more time with this, I think it fits in ok with the bands catalog. much better than Evil Urges. i do miss the two or three big bombastic rock numbers, but there's some good shit on this one.

I see this and Evil Urges as late night fingerin' cousins.

I think it's better as an album than Evil Urges but I like the high points on EU a lot more.

Or what you said: There's no "Aluminum Park" here.

It's hard for me to say this album needs an "Aluminum Park" because I enjoy it so much, but some all-out rockers peppered in wouldn't have hurt.

You guys and your all out rockers.