The Wonder Years - Sister Cities (April 6, 2018) Album • Page 134

I'm only halfway through but this is fucking great. Shaping up to be their best release yet

 

remember when fucked up did quadruple drum takes on glass boys

 

I didn't know that, that's insane... I just did double drum takes on my band's record, can't even imagine tracking drums four times.

 

We have a million members. The vocals are pretty damn clear and we had to make some sacrifices on clarity of guitar parts for that to happen. There’s also almost always a defined lead in sections instead of having 3 ultra clear guitar parts with extra doubles turning into chaos.

Drum tones are different, but we didn’t want a super modern transient-heavy sound. That’s why we went to someone like Joe Chiccarelli. Probably more in the range of dirty indie rock on the drum tones, but I love it.

The melodic line was Casey. Pretty it was mostly just a micro pog with some reverb/delay into a deluxe reverb. I do all the swelly super verbed bits in that song. I made a huge reverb patch on my H9 and then run that through multiple delays and a verb.

 

The swelly parts were my follow up question haha, thanks. Do you think a nano pog would get the job done or was it more fine tuned than that pedal offers?

 

Nano and micro are pretty much the same thing.

 

The quiter songs on this album are absolutely stellar

 

i wanna go back home and listen to this

glad i ordered the book thing

 

I love the closer, I love this album, and I love the way it sounds. Great job @nicksteinborn and I hope to watch you guys in Philly on this album cycle

 

I'd be very interested in a mansions-esque indie rock album from this band

 

- first song gives me swellers vibes, but the mix is just wrong
- here's hoping this album tones down some of their trademark melodrama
- I'm very fond of Pyramids of Salt, reminds me melodically of darker Yellowcard
- starting to open up to the possibility that this is the best TWY record yet, I like that it's mellower and shies away from pop-punk stereotypes
- flowers where your face should be is gorgeous

I like this lots I think, if I return it a lot it could end up being my fav, we'll see

 

This is what I've wanted for years.

 

i wouldnt rly call specific mentions of mental illness, death, drug use, etc melodrama but theyre definitly dramatic themes

 

I think Kyoto works very well in terms of production, actually. wouldn't want it sounding too squeaky clean. I can hear everything and it doesn't give me a headache like some tracks on NCTH so I'm all for this.

 

I'd like the drums to be further back (not quieter, just further away) and the guitars to occupy more space

the mix feels not as three-dimensional as it should to frame the songs in the best way

 

Welp if addressing serious matters and tragedy in a honest and undecorated way is melodrama, sign me up

 

oh wow I'd say the contrary, I think CWS are definitely more melodramatic. I mean, Annina is out there.

 

i was hoping they'd go in like, that direction or weakerthans for this, but i'm happy with this.

 

Could write a book on the topic but 99% of the time the word “melodrama” is used in criticism of music or art I get frustrated

 

Dan's vocals on this are unbelievable. He's always been good but he improved a lot here.

 

melodrama was just the first word that came to mind. when other artists write and sing about these topics I feel like they're coming from a place of emotional honesty, when Dan does it it feels like he is being entirely performative. I don't think this is a deliberate thing on his part and so idk how else to describe it

the way he approached writing the Aaron West record though kind of illuminates his general songwriting approach, and it's not one that generates any real emotional connection for me, but I def appreciate and am glad that this isn't the case for other (most?) people

anyway back to

 

As hard as it is after reading everyone's input... Still waiting for Friday / pre-order to arrive.

 

Pyramids of Salt, It Must Get Lonely, and The Ocean Grew Hands to Hold Me are my three favorite tracks after one listen. Can't wait to put on good headphones, sit down with the lyrics and really take this in.

Thank you to TWY, their discography is really stacked at this point. Favorite band doing it.

 

I hope my comment didn't come across as petty or complaining, I'm really liking the record! I'm just sensitive to the sonics of recordings after having spent so much time working in the studio tearing apart my own stuff to get the perfect mix, especially recently. I actually really enjoy the kick/snare/toms, I think it's got a real natural feel that still manages to have impact (cymbals are dry for my taste but as a drummer, I accept that I'm being overly picky there). I understand the amount of layers being a lot to fill out the space, it's difficult to get them to all sit right. As you said, the vocals are super clear which is appreciated. Not here to tell you how to do your job, just expressing what I'm hearing. Thanks for continuing to make music I love!

 

You’re good. It’s just a frustrating thing to see comments about. It’s already a complicated thing to do properly and we don’t make it any easier by legitimately having 3 different guitar parts at once with keys and vocal harmonies. Like no shit a TBS record is going to sound clear, it’s all rhythm parts with an occasional lead. I feel the chaos is part of our charm and our downfall.