Fireworks - Higher Lonely Power (January 1, 2023) Album • Page 29

My interpretation of reading these lyrics:

"Who hurt you, Dave?"
"God."

 

Coming back to this thread after another day with this album. Such a long journey from seeing them play with Man O, Transit, and the Swellers back in 2010 iirc?

This album is such a leap sonically. Can't wait to do a deeper dive into the lyrical content

 

My god, this is so good. Huge surprise for me given I've tried so, so many times to get into this band over the years and for some reason they've just never stuck.

 

Anyone have any ideas of what Woods II is about? Obviously some religious stuff here, and maybe it's pretty personal stuff that isn't meant to understand, but I'm not really understanding the "two die in July" stuff.

"Mosquitoes pull blood through my clothes
Just like the pavement did to yours
I remember afterwards, Grown men begged me to give my life to the lord
I watched two die in July
Then one born in the winter time
She took the life from all three
And put it back into me
It’s not my world
It always just felt forced to me
I’ve been everywhere
And I felt nothing there
Never did what young men were supposed to do
Got in the van instead of Pittsburgh for art school
I watched two die in July
Then one born in the winter time
She took the life from all three
And put it back into me
It’s not my world
It always just felt forced to me
I promise I won’t take you with me
I let it win just like my parents did
Trauma sucks chemicals
Human voids that will never be filled"

 

Finally have time to listen. Time to dive in

 

I was wondering the same thing re: Woods II lyrics... has he lost both of his parents now?

 

It sounds like while depressed and dealing with loss, someone he knew had a baby, and the baby's innocence kind of forces him into a different perspective on the world, but he's still grappling with some shit. And maybe trying to not let his dark view of the world/bitterness/cynicism leak out and influence the baby? But there's also plenty of stuff in there that isn't clear to me.

 

wow this rips. closer is gorgeous

 

What a surprise. Diving in.

 

This is wild and sounds nothing like the Fireworks i remember lol (Gospel and prior).

 

Track 1 is a weird opener but hot damn is track 2 good.

 

I've always really liked a lot of songs from Fireworks, but this is the first album of theirs that hit immediately and profoundly.

 

I listened to some of this on my way to work. Got as far as Jerking Off The Sky before I had to stop.

I'm digging it so far. One of the things I appreciate is that every song feels different, which is something I think a lot of artists struggle with. It makes for a more interesting album.

One criticism I have is on first listen, it feels like the vocals tend to get lost in the mix, which for me is a pet peeve. I like to follow along with the lyrics and sometimes that's impossible without straining.

Enjoying it overall though. Glad they got to put it out.

 

First listen is pretty damn good. I'd have scratched 1, 6, and 7 and put on Demittasse.
Very solid though.

 

Definitely a strange way to open the record when nothing else sounds like that

 

Haha, those are 3 of my favorites (God Approved Insurance Plan, Jerking Off the Sky, and Machines Kept You Alive)

 

Ian Cohen mentioned this on Twitter (he wrote that article shared a couple pages back) but he mentioned it having a similar feel to MWY's 9:27am, and I agree with that, because it's also the most aggressive song on that album except maybe Wendy and Betsy.

 

3 listens in and I'm floored.

 

verses on "blood in the milk" sound like interpol and i love it

 

I Want to Start A Religion With You also just “feels” like a perfect opener for this album haha, but I appreciate them going for an absolute killer to start it out.

Sorta reminds me of Raining in Kyoto being the opener when Pyramids of Salt also “felt” like a proper opener, but they said fuck it and wanted to start it out with a gut punch to your face haha

 

Haha. That happens.

 

I know nothing about this rollout makes sense, but it feels like they're missing out on some sales if they don't get those vinyl preorders up soon.

 

Great analogy. totally agree.

 

All of those comparisons are good, but it reminded me most of The 1975’s People, haha

 

Trying to figure out where Demitasee would fit on this. It always felt to me like a closer type song. Thoughts?