The Menzingers - Hello Exile (October 4, 2019) Album • Page 21

Oh for sure -- both bands put out an early-career masterpiece which to some fans can never be topped. However I would say that OTIP suffers less from that mentality than The '59 Sound did because its reach was not as large.
I get thinking these bands never topped those albums. But to say they dropped in quality to any significant degree is just wrong. American Slang was brilliant. Handwritten just as good if not better. Get Hurt is better than people made it out to be, although I'd attribute a lot of the "they declined in quality" group think to Get Hurt's cold reception.
Rented World was a big step down from OTIP to me. I thought the less punk, more sombre 90s alt rock moments failed to connect the way OTIP's tracks did. But I still enjoyed it. When I first heard After the Party I couldn't wipe the smile off my face. That perfect Menzingers sound was back. Lookers, Midwestern States, Your Wild Years and After the Party are completely perfect, and the rest of the album is not far behind.

 

I never listened to OTIP. I can't remember why I just remember thinking that I'd listened to it in the wake of all the critical praise and not liked it.

That changed when I watched a live set on YouTube.

 

After The Party is sooooo good.

I'm glad Tim apologized! He's great on the As You Were pod and I was frankly surprised to see the Twitter drama because he does have such a profound love of a lot of music.

 

This is the kind of thing maybe only I find interesting but every odd number Menzingers album is 13 tracks and every even number one is 12 tracks. I wonder if this is on purpose?

 

I must not know how to order records online because KRM still wont let me

 

Casey doesn’t do it for you? That’s one of those songs I can’t imagine anyone not loving.

 

Rented World all day today.
So underrated.

Nothing feels good anymore makes me want to run thru a brick wall.

 

I probably play this version my acoustic once a week slowed down even more. Would love a Menz acoustic tour.

 

Rented world isn’t my favorite Menzos record, but both In Remission and Asshole would likely make a top 10 list of songs for me.

 

Who sings "No Penance"?

 

Greg I’m pretty sure

 

Definitely Greg. Speaking of No Penance, that song is so fucking good I almost wish it were on the new record too just for convenience sake lol

 

Pretty sure?!? I literally don’t get how people can’t tell the difference haha this song especially

 

I mean, I was really 100% sure, but have only listened to it like once or twice so I didn’t wanna speak in absolutes lol

 

See? Just when I think I have a handle on the Greg / Tom breakdown... I was pretty sure "No Penance" was Tom.

Either way, it's the only one out of the 4 extra tracks that I think is unquestionably great enough that it should have made the cut. I love all 4 though. Like I said, all 17 songs are great.

My other big takeaway from my recent listen to ATP is that "House On Fire" is a standout track. I don't remember thinking that before.

 

House On Fire is Tom!

 

Is it common knowledge that Greg sings songs that he writes and Tom sings songs that he writes...???

The breakdown for ATP on Page 14 of this thread is really neat, because to me it shows that Greg wrote more songs, but not necessarily better ones. He wrote some of the great ones but also some of what I consider the weaker ones as well, whereas all 4 of Tom's are great.

 

Yes, they typically sing the songs that they wrote. Every now and then they mix in some trading vocals, but that was mostly on the older records.

I think over the years Tom has just written less songs and Greg has really gotten into a groove writing songs. Tom also records bands, so I think he’s gotten more into that side with the band’s sound and coming up with guitar parts. That’s my feeling at least. Tom was more of the frontman in the early years, and now Greg has stepped into that role more so.

Based on Greg’s lyrics, he’s really been tapping into the singer-songwriter world and I’d be surprised if he doesn’t do a solo record at some point. That’s clearly where his writing is heading. It’d be cool to see him open on a tour for John Moreland.

 

I like ATP and OTIP more than RW(which is still great) but Asshole is my fave Menz song

 

I never used to tell the difference but it's pretty easy for me to tell now. Greg is more on the whinier side, Tom less so haha. If someone sounds more gruff, then it's probably Tom.

 

I CAN'T SEEM TO TELL, IIIIII CAN'T SEEM TO TELL, I CAN'T SEEM TO TELL IF IT'S GREG OR IT'S TOM THAT'S SINGING THIS SONG

 

I used to not know that there was two separate singers, but once I saw them live and found that out it's very easy for me to tell now. Very interesting phenomenon. Maybe knowing their faces helps?

 

I caught on right away with OTIP there were two different voices, however, a band I did NOT realize until seeing them live was Modern Baseball.

 

Greg haha

 

Really hope Eric and Joe do vocals on the new album to fuck with us even more.