New one-off single over at NPR:
http://www.npr.org/blogs/allsongs/2013/ ... ucius-more

Not sure I'm crazy about it. I like most of their albums quite a bit though.

They're excellent.

http://www.stereogum.com/1693589/the-10 ... ongs/list/

I'm going to have to think about this.

That's one of my favorite TVOTR songs, from what is almost certainly their best album. I haven't listened to these guys in way too long.

Yeah, I'm gonna listen to that now I think.

I always liked their music and would have thought it would never transfer love but it worked - I watched their set on a side stage at Lollapalooza 2007 sandwiches between My Morning Jacket’s main stage show with the symphony orchestra (amazing), and Pearl Jam’s closing set. That was one helluva 1-2-3 punch to close out that festival.

Miss this band. The dropoff after Dear Science makes me wonder how much input Gerard Smith (RIP) had in the writing/arrangements.

I liked their post- Dear Science output.

Nine Types of Light and Seeds both have some excellent songs on them. "Will Do," "Happy Idiot," "Right Now," "Seeds" -- these songs feel like dystopian Motown hits, and they're great. And the chorus of "Killer Crane" is one of my favorite moments in all of TVOTR's output. But while it could be argued that anything after the remarkable Dear Science would have felt like a dropoff, the two most recent records do have a flavorless professionalism to especially their low points that stands in pretty stark contrast to their earlier stuff. Their first few albums feel like a creatively uncontained band playing completely by its own rules; the last two feel a fair bit more complacent, though in most cases the songwriting is still strong enough to make them enjoyable listening experiences.

"Will Do" is right up there with their best songs, but the two most recent albums are subpar overall.

I had forgotten about this post-DS gem. Hook it up to my veins.

I spoke too soon re: the last two records. There's a lot to love there.

I also revisited Desperate Youth, Blood Thirsty Babes. Such a raw and brilliant album. Tunde's doo wop influence is on grand display here. Many of these songs make me feel nostalgic for a time when my buddies and I would huddle around a Line 6 looper, passing an SM58 mic around and building songs with nothing but voice.

I'm going to be wearing this album out over the coming weeks. So glad this thread prompted me to go back and listen.

The 'Staring at the Sun' demo is so fucking good. My word.

Happy Idiot is playing here at the bar. I haven't listened to then in a while. Time for a revisit.

Desperate Youth, Blood Thirsty Babes is awesome, but I've never gone any farther with these guys. Would chronological order be the best way to start checking out more of their stuff?

Yup. Go Cookie Mountain, then Dear Science. You're in for a treat!

Definitely correct. The frenetic energy and creativity of those first three sets the table and is the meal. The rest is very good but almost feels like it’s a calmer ride from there on out. Still much to love but it isn’t as mind blowing - just sort of right and comfortable.