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| | The Wonder Years - The Greatest Generation |
Here are my thoughts during the first listen of the record.
1. There, There: Dan's vocals have improved drastically once again. HOLY SHIT, I CAN FEEL IT BUILDING. Kennedy is a great drummer. Oh man, when this fully kicks in. Probably the best guitar tones they've ever used.
2. Passing Through A Screen Door: This is like a new attempt at a song that could have been on Suburbia, but with absolute confidence. Where they might have been hesitant to unleash on that record, this song shows the progression they made on that record in full flight. “Jesus Christ, I'm 26,” and onward brings the feelings.
3. We Could Die Like This: I feel a mid 2000's pop punk feel on this. I also hear The Get Up Kids and Saves The Day on this. It also has that late 90's – early 2000's “big” rock song feel to it. Also, everything right that New Found Glory does in their songs.
4. Dismantling Summer: First couple of verses are so Weezer, but I love it. I also really like fun the pre-chorus is and how sing-songy the chorus is. I still think the bridge is the best thing these guys have written to date. Maybe 5-13 will show me something that changes that. I bet it does. Emotion in the final chorus reminds me of Came Out Swinging's emotion. Cool.
5. The Bastards, The Vultures, The Wolves: I like how twinkly this starts out. Digging the transitions in and out of the chorus along with the tempo changes within the chorus. Came out swinging reference hits the spot. Solid song overall, nothing to standout for me. Kennedy is the best drummer pop punk no doubt. The repeated “I came here looking for a fight,” is a lot bigger than I though. I can hear the crowd chants now.
6. The Devil In My Bloodstream: Man, this song chokes me up. Not just the piano, dual vocals at the beginning. The whole thing just gets to me. I haven't heard such hopelessness from Dan before, and that's saying something. Really digging the vocal effect on “I know how it feels to be,” which I think is Matt over top of Dan's. Fucking organ in the back of the outro, holy shit.
7. Teenage Parents: This song is really fast. The chorus has an awesome alt. Rock, mid 90's vibe to it. OH MY GOD, the bridge into the finally chorus exemplifies that mid 90's alt rock vibe and it's so nostalgic, musically.
8. Chaser: The beginning reminds me of Famous Last Words, and just that dark intro. A fucking guitar solo! Hell yes. And it fits, too. Chorus hits the nail on the head as well. The final chorus is big. The “I got suckered in” part is awesome. It just sounds really young and innocent.
9. An American Religion (FSF): This is an angry punk rock song. Like a poppy early Rise Against. This has some edge to it. Oooh, love hearing Dan's vocals over Josh's fast bass. Woah, Josh can sing.
10. A Raindance In Traffic: Early on I'm getting a The Get Up Kids vibe again. Wow, the chorus is like, classic pop punk summer chorus with a top 40 chorus vibe. Pull out your lighters for the bridge, folks. And the final chorus, of course. Holy sing along.
11. Madelyn: Dan's acoustic song. Poppy guitar chords. Kind of like Jason Mraz bouncy chords. A less folky Frank Turner.
12. Cul-de-sac: This is the ultimate The Wonder Years song. Influences are all over the place. Polar Bear Club, Panic At The Disco, etc. I don't know.
13. I Just Want To Sell Out My Funeral: Killer Kennedy. Probably their biggest chorus out of the gate. Uh oh. A call back to the first song! HOLY SHIT THEY'RE DOING A MEDLEY OF THE WHOLE ALBUM. No, fuck this, I can't handle it. It's a 4 and a half minute montage. If this is the last thing they ever do, it will be the ultimate swan song. Definitely shed a few tears.
Random Thoughts:
There, There is a perfect opener for a record. It just welcomes you perfectly. Kind of like the climb and initial drop of a roller coaster. PTASD is the next part of the ride where it's in full swing. B/V/W into Devil is a really good transition. Stevenson is great. Back up vocals are fucking spot on all throughout. I'm getting a big The Black Parade vibe in terms of grandeur. Influences are all over the place. Early 2000's pop punk, mid 2000's punk, mid 90's alternative rock. | |
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| | Albums of the year 2012! |
Take note that this is not a list of what I think are the best albums of 2012, but my favorite ones, and the ones I hold close to me. Not that a best of 2012 would be too far off from this one, I just want to make sure that distinction is made. Here it is:
1 - The Early November – In Current
2 - The Menzingers - On The Impossible Past
3 - Make Do And Mend - Everything You Ever Loved
4 - Frank Ocean - Channel Orange
5 - Hostage Calm - Please Remain Calm
6 - From Indian Lakes - Able Bodies
7 - Pentimento - Pentimento
8 - Kendrick Lamar - good kid, m.A.A.d city
9 - The American Scene - Just For Now
10 - Basement - Colourmeinkindness
11 - Misser - Every Day I Tell Myself I’m Going To Be A Better Person
12 - The Tower And The Fool - How Long
13 - Forever Came Calling - Contender
14 - Stick To Your Guns - Diamond
15 - Such Gold - Misadventures
16 - Title Fight - Floral Green
17 - Further Seems Forever - Penny Black
18 - The Gaslight Anthem - Handwritten
19 - Daytrader - Twelve Years
20 - How To Dress Well - Total Loss
21 - Every Time I Die - Ex Lives
22 - Taylor Swift - Red
23 - Sharks - No Gods
24 - fun. - Some Nights
25 - Code Orange Kids - Love Is Love // Return To Dust
26 - Trash Talk - 119
27 - Mumford And Sons - Babel
28 - No Trigger - Tycoon
29 - Last Call - Dog Years
30 - Troubled Cost - Awake And Empty | |
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