The Story So Far - I Want To Disappear (June 21, 2024) • Page 30

I'll have to listen to it again, but on first listen, it didn't grab me right off the bat the way that Proper Dose did. To me, it sounds like a step backwards, which I expected from them. I was never a real fan of their stuff before PD, other than a couple songs here and there, so yeah, that's kinda where I'm sitting with it. I haven't had a real urge to listen to it again. Really wish they didn't have the falling out with Sam Pura because I would have loved to hear a proper PD follow up with him.

 

The more I listen to this album the more it reminds me of NFG for some reason. I really enjoy it.

Also, Torf is my favorite part about this album.

 

Yeah a number of tracks on here are quite NFG

 

Nothing to Say is a perfect song

 

Also, they were excellent on Wednesday. Really felt the energy despite being in the literal Prudential Center.

As an aside, I made it about 4 minutes into A Day to Remember's performance before letting out an audible "nope" and calling an uber home

 

That opening riff to You’re Still In My Way gives BIG time NFG vibes and I ain’t mad at it.

 

damn, ADTR’s performance after TSSF was a level above. I only know 1 or 2 songs by ADTR, but I loved the show. I knew every TSSF song, but the crowd was not into it and the lackluster stage presence didn’t help.

 

Not surprised that the crowd wouldn’t be into the openers. I could see a lot of TSSF/FYS fans skipping this tour since it’s a bit overpriced and both bands will most likely doing headlining tours in the fall/winter in more intimate venues.

 

this is very true. I am a big TSSF fan (the only new era pop punk band I keep up with) and I consider skipping this show due to price alone, but my friend that loves ADTR convinced me to go. I wouldn’t have gone otherwise. And I haven’t seen TSSF in 7 years so that’s a heavy bet to weigh. I need Proper Dose in my ears live.

 

How are they not playing Upside Down or If I Fall on this tour?

 

Understandable. I feel the same way with Sam Pura. I think the production / mixing on this is actually one of my biggest issues as there's some good songs on here but yeah, not in the same quality of Proper Dose that's for sure. I'd say the last three songs are the highlights.

 

Enjoying this album, although I think having two quiet/slow ones at the end is a bit weird and drags a little. Feel the tracklisting could have easily remedied that.

I think it probably sits as my fourth favourite so far, but I do enjoy all their records.

 

Debuted at no 78 on Billboard vs no 18 for Proper Dose. Both may be a position or two out.

 

I think this may be their best record.

 

Wow. I just had to verify this because data like this was always emphasized to me by labels and management as if it was the only thing that mattered. They don’t sign or work with artists unless the data guarantees a profit. "We don’t use creative gut instinct here. Only data” (a direct quote).

With this data, we see that each record I made with them was more valuable and successful. There was never a metric example of "once we ditch Sam, we’ll get higher numbers." However, it was always implied by everyone in their camp that I had nothing to do with their success and should be thankful they chose to work with me, as they could supposedly do better with anyone else.

But here we are with the two lowest-performing albums on Billboard for them being the acoustic versions EP (that I didn’t produce) and the new album (which I also didn’t produce). After almost seven years of regrouping, maturing, a Blink-182 main support slot, etc., it’s the worst-performing album in the catalog. I truly wish the best for them all, but this is very sad. I considered them one of the best bands in the resurgence of pop punk, and instead, that Hopeless record deal they scoffed at, which went to Neck Deep, has made Neck Deep’s data almost four times the value of TSSF.

Scenarios like this are validating, demoralizing, funny, and inspiring. When it doesn’t suit them, the labels and managers will say, "Oh, Billboard doesn’t even matter and isn’t a valid metric," but then make Instagram reels, slides, and ads for Proper Dose to say, "WOW IT WAS #19 ON BILLBOARD."

The point is how wild all this is. I’ve been called all sorts of names and tagged in threads about being an asshole, delusional, and difficult to work with. But the reality is that the value and longevity of my work and productions continue to prove themselves. The albums I’ve done for them and others remain the best-performing records in the catalog, both then and decades later. And that’s not me being some delusional, hard-to-work-with asshole. It’s a fact supported by data.

 

I had never heard of you before or know any of the drama you’re referencing, but after looking it up, heavy head is your best work

 

Is it the best in their catalog?

 

I think so. It came out in early spring, I think, but I spent that entire summer with that album on repeat.

 

I’m making a point. It is the best performing record in their catalog and it is the only record I produced for them. I also appreciate your admiration of that record. That was a fun one with a really great lineup and it’s a shame we didn’t build on that to make another one together even better than that.

 

I just want to say thanks for helping us get Mother Nature. While Proper Dose is my favorite TSSF album, Mother Nature is possibly my favorite album of 2019.

 

I appreciate that. I felt at the peak of my “racing” skills. Except with Proper Dose when I finished and won the race the car exploded. I thankfully had Mother Nature to be able to use as my other “car” and I felt like we barely got to the finish line. I wouldn’t consider that one a complete victory. I have a few complaints. But I’m very proud of it and thankful that it is a strong record in their catalog even if it’s not “their best”

I don’t want to de-rail this thread so I won’t respond unless it’s relevant and necessary but I do appreciate the people who love the work I did and I hope to be able to make meaningful records with more people that will positively effect your lives in the future. You can get in touch with me if you need to. Cheers!

 

Also just checked… how funny I’m not properly credited for that one on streaming services. I’ll have to dive into all those releases now to verify and contact Pure Noise to get the credits sorted.

 

I just want to comment to thank you for producing one of my favourite early fall / autumn records of all time with Proper Dose.

The production on their latest is definitely a massive step down without your involvement.

 

I will say I feel that proper dose also had a much stronger push behind it than this album. It could be one of those things where the label feels the band really won’t grow much more in popularity so they’re just running things as affordably as they can. Of course when this happens the product tends to suffer. I think this album is fantastic, but the mix/master doesn’t fit my particular taste. The volume automation bass boosted choruses is the thing I find most off putting about the mix, I get they want a lift there, but to me it sounds less than organic. There are other ways to achieve that lift that they are going for… either way I think this album is great, mix aside, and I’m happy the bands I like are finding a way to keep churning out material.

 

Hell yeah dude now this is what absolutepunk dot net is about