BTW: what's a PJ massage board? Sounds kinky

what earlier albums? they've really had the same styles since alligator, and that was almost 15 years ago.

This band is FAR from predictable... and I don't even know what conventional is anymore!

yeah, that was a weird comment, especially considering the band just released its most unorthodox album where literally more than half of the lyrics are sung by someone other than the band's lead singer.

This is not a good take.

This is not about raining on your parade or pissing on the band or whatever, im just sharing my disappointment with their decline in quality.

I first saw these guys open for arcade fire on 5/4/7 (I think they had just put out boxer) and they blew me away. They only played a handful of songs to a nearly empty room bc everyone was boozing and chatting in the halls waiting for AF. I too didnt know of them but my friend had and wanted to see them live and I'm very glad we did, bc that show is always in my top 5 concerts list, equally due to AFs performance. Ive see this band many times since around DC and also in NYC - I saw them 3 times during the last tour and I saw them open the High Violet tour at BAM in brooklyn which was another of my all time favorite concerts. This should give me you a little context of where this band sits as one of the greats. The fact is that they've put three "classic' albums from alligator to HV. All three albums have incredible emotional and visceral qualities. What berninger lacks in vocal delivery / range, was more than made up by his in depth lyrics around the anxiety and angst of young adulthood, relationships, and parenthood. Musically the rhythm sections drive and the interplay between the guitars would add to that push/pull tension of the song, and the additional instrument of strings and horns would add to it.

My original point was I think lyrically, starting in TWFM, the songs have declined in quality based on a watering down of the qualities that I've mentioned above. In terms of live, they've become predictable b/c instead of changing their setlist, picking a greater range of their best songs from alligator to HV, they insist on playing fake empire, mr november and terrible love, consistently in their encores.

I think maybe you need a break from the band. I don't think they're designed to entertain people the way you want to be entertained. Not everything is for everybody, you know?

I saw them around the time Boxer came out, too. A virtually unknown Annie Clark opened with a solo performance. We met Matt before the show and again afterwards. Seen them at Red Rocks twice, also. This most recent album is the most unconventional one they've done yet, dude! Matt takes a HUGE step back, there are great guest singing performances, and it's forever tied now to what has probably been the most emotional movie I've ever seen!

What I think is happening here is the same syndrome Tool fans get. They definitely have their own unique style and sound, and maybe you've just grown bored with it.

I effing LOVE TWFM!

I watched that short film again recently and cried again... I can't get through it without crying like a stupid baby

Yup, Niagara Falls, Jimmy!

I can't watch it without blubbering.

me either franklin

yeah, raz wants to listen to this band all the time now and I've grown tired of a lot of it.. but it's a preference thing... I can't get down on the band for doing what they do, cause they do it so goddamn well!

Who do you want to go down on?

PEEPS

Ewwwwww!

ugh i hate to agree with all of this but i do, especially the encore stuff. at this point in their career they know they have a dedicated fan base that's been rather loyal (they aren't playing arenas) and should mix it up more live.

how many times do we need to see matt walk into the audience in an encore? got it. just play some different songs. mr. november, despite it being relevant in trump era, is so overplayed. as is all the other encore songs they play every single night and have for years.

i'm planning on going to denver to see them and they are playing two nights and after seeing the setlists they did in brooklyn over two nights why bother? nearly identical. it's just odd.

I have loved every album since Sad Songs for Dirty Lovers with the exception of Sleep Well Beast, which I think is good but not great. The new album has blown my expectations away. I think it might be Matt’s best album lyrically, and the band is just in perfect form. The addition of the female lead works beautifully. The interplay Matt has with the female singers on stage, the story they tell through lyrics and melody, and emotion, is beautiful.

I would love to see them do another album more stylistically similar to Alligator and Boxer again. Someday. But I trust this band’s musical judgment. I love how they’ve evolved. I love how they work with Matt’s limited range and still have beautiful melodies and interesting arrangements. And I admire that they’ve somehow kept a signature sound while still pushing creative boundaries and telling beautiful, emotional stories.

I agree that they could be more creative with their encores. Id love to hear them play songs like “Lit Up”, “Murder Me Rachel”, “Available” or “Patters of Fairytales”. That would be a cream dream.

i've been criticizing the band for years for not shaking their setlists up, particularly their encores. hell, i think i posted a couple of times in this thread going some time back. but that has nothing to do with, nor is it a reflection of, the quality of their studio efforts, which i would hardly characterize as stagnant or uninspired.

Agreed. The newest album is amazing. Their lack of setlist diversity, not so much.

Yah I have no issues with their musical output. I love all the albums.