146 replies to this topic

[nagode]

A Hundred Miles Off is underrated, but it's still not their best by a long shot.

This, however, might overtake Bows + Arrows in my estimation. So much brilliant stuff here.

I'd say it's at least worthy of a 9.0

see id agree except from at least a p4k standard they try and reserve those for something "new" nothing on this album is especially innovative or groundbreaking thus the solid 8.5...i dont know thats just what i think...

[arkin]

i like this record, but definitely not a top 10 on the year for me... just doesn't have any totally killer standout tracks for me, just a solid all around effort.

On the Water
In the New Year
The Blue Route
Red Moon

and that's just for starters

[solace]

i like this record, but definitely not a top 10 on the year for me... just doesn't have any totally killer standout tracks for me, just a solid all around effort.

On the Water
In the New Year
The Blue Route
Red Moon

and that's just for starters

all good songs, but would it kill them to have one or two huge/memorable choruses on the record? i'm not one of those "OMG THE RAT IS THE ONLY THING GOOD THEY'VE DONE" type of fans, but still, it's a pretty low-key and mellow record overall imo.

like i said, it's light years better than the last record at least, and i always love seeing them live.

[JeffTweedysFatStomach]

I'd say it's at least worthy of a 9.0

see id agree except from at least a p4k standard they try and reserve those for something "new" nothing on this album is especially innovative or groundbreaking thus the solid 8.5...i dont know thats just what i think...

Does something really need to be "innovative" or "groundbreaking" to be considered more than solid? What you have here on this album is flawless songwriting and a haunting, beautiful take on familiar sounds. To me thats more rare these days than using ethnic instruments or having a lot of computer bloops and bleeps.

[suckeredyou]

all good songs, but would it kill them to have one or two huge/memorable choruses on the record? i'm not one of those "OMG THE RAT IS THE ONLY THING GOOD THEY'VE DONE" type of fans, but still, it's a pretty low-key and mellow record overall imo.

I kind of felt the same way after the first few listens, but the album has really sunk in for me after a few more listens. It is mellow and low key but I don't really know why that has to be a bad thing. It flows together beautifully. Like they actually made a cohesive album instead of a bunch of songs. And it seems like something you have to spend a little time with. It wasn't immediate for me at all.

And just because the choruses may not exactly be huge or anthemic, that doesn't mean they aren't memorable, it seems like they are more subtle, which I can appreciate.

But whatever, I can't wait to see these songs live now that I know them. Last two times I saw them I didn't know what the hell they were playing.

[solace]

i do agree it's a very fine album, and their most cohesive since the first one, but i still wish there was something pulling me in, rather than just dragging me along for the ride... if that makes any sense. it's definitely an album in the truest sense of the word, no doubt about that. just wish i was feeling it enough to consider it in my top 10 on the year, which i definitely don't yet. the show here is w/ the Broken West, should be great. never been disappointed w/ the Walkmen live, and i've probably seen them 7-8x now since '01

[Johnny's Shack]

all good songs, but would it kill them to have one or two huge/memorable choruses on the record?

"In the New Year" might have the hugest, most anthemic chorus they've written. You're not listening!

[solace]

"In the New Year" might have the hugest, most anthemic chorus they've written. You're not listening!

honestly... Hamilton's voice kind of bugs me on that song, sorry

killer guitar tone however

[nagode]

i do agree it's a very fine album, and their most cohesive since the first one, but i still wish there was something pulling me in, rather than just dragging me along for the ride... if that makes any sense. it's definitely an album in the truest sense of the word, no doubt about that. just wish i was feeling it enough to consider it in my top 10 on the year, which i definitely don't yet.

the show here is w/ the Broken West, should be great. never been disappointed w/ the Walkmen live, and i've probably seen them 7-8x now since '01

wow broken west tooo.....i may need to go to this...sounds like a solid show

[arkin]

all good songs, but would it kill them to have one or two huge/memorable choruses on the record? i'm not one of those "OMG THE RAT IS THE ONLY THING GOOD THEY'VE DONE" type of fans, but still, it's a pretty low-key and mellow record overall imo.

like i said, it's light years better than the last record at least, and i always love seeing them live.

maybe it's just me, but the longer I listen to music, the more interested I am in intricacies, texture, the overall presentation. There are some great choruses here, actually, and there are some songs that are fantastic that don't even have choruses (correct me if I'm wrong, but I don't recall "The Rat" actually having much of a chorus, though it does have hooks). But what keeps bringing me back is that there are more stunning things I hear with each listen, and albums like that tend to be bigger favorites of mine over time.

this could easily become one of those 'how do you listen to music' or 'what do you listen for' kind of arguments, but this is what really strikes me as being great about this album, not to say that I don't like it when they do some catchy singles type stuff, but I think this impresses me more.

[RustyTrombone]

all good songs, but would it kill them to have one or two huge/memorable choruses on the record?

"In the New Year" might have the hugest, most anthemic chorus they've written. You're not listening!

Quite possibly may be my favorite song of the entire year!!

[nagode]

all good songs, but would it kill them to have one or two huge/memorable choruses on the record?

"In the New Year" might have the hugest, most anthemic chorus they've written. You're not listening!

Quite possibly may be my favorite song of the entire year!!

for me im in love with long road ahead of us...hamiltons voice is f'ing brilliant on it...but in the new year is the first song on the album that grabbed me for sure...

[byebyepanda]

halfway through and this album is definitely one of the best to come out this year. probably my favorite walkmen album thus far.

[vamos]

all good songs, but would it kill them to have one or two huge/memorable choruses on the record?

"In the New Year" might have the hugest, most anthemic chorus they've written. You're not listening!

Thats what I'm saying too

Also, this album is definitely one of the greatest releases so far this year imo

[Stop Breathin']

This reminds me, I think my first ever post on here was to proclaim the unreleased, unheard A Hundred Miles Off as the album of the year that year. I was way wrong. I've been trying very hard to hold off on the download, but I'm getting it tonight, dammit.

[RabbiSchmoiley]

This finally "sunk in" for me on the bus today. Some great melodies and (not that this is new for them but...) amazing sound on the guitars. I'm also a huge fan of "In the new year."

[Johnny's Shack]

This reminds me, I think my first ever post on here was to proclaim the unreleased, unheard A Hundred Miles Off as the album of the year that year. I was way wrong. I've been trying very hard to hold off on the download, but I'm getting it tonight, dammit.

ha, this is a lot better than A Hundred Miles. That album isn't bad, though it does have the highest count of lackluster tracks among their 4 discs.

The new album has made me revisit their catalog, which has made my estimation of the band grow more. They really are one of the best rock bands today. How many bands currently making music can lay claim to three great albums? LPs 1, 2 & 4 are all great. And they've had their own signature style and sound from the beginning. Someone said earlier in the thread that they don't seem to be interested in Pitchfork fads or trendy sounds and I couldn't agree more. Their frontman isn't some impish, insecure nerd who sings like Ben Gibbard, they don't fool around with electronics, they haven't tried to implement the dreaded Afro-pop sound; they've always done their own thing. For a band to be great, you have to carve out your own niche, and that's what they've done.

[Lewis]

The Walkmen drop by on FOX to perform "On The Water".

Surreal.

http://www.myfoxny.c...mp;pageId=5.2.1

[nagode]

The Walkmen drop by on FOX to perform "On The Water".

Surreal.

http://www.myfoxny.c...mp;pageId=5.2.1

completely akward...saw this this morning...

guys were do we get our inspiration from?

[JeffTweedysFatStomach]

So I'm def. buying this tonight - anywhere doing any good giveaways in Chicago (or online) to go along with it?