The Front Bottoms - Going Grey (October 13, 2017) Album • Page 18

For me, Talon has always been the pure genius of Twin Sized Mattress and a bunch of other half-baked ideas. I’d say that’s their weakest album by a mile and Back on Top is their most developed and fully realized.

 

I like this album but it really starts with a whimper rather than a bang, with the incredibly mediocre 'you used to say' and 'peace sign'

 

This is going to give Flower Boy a nice run for my AOTY

 

I'll say this about You Used to Say, which I've said a few times is my least favorite track on the album...when Brian sings 'Holy Fuck, I'm About to Die' the first time, I really expected the song to take off and go bonkers right after that moment but instead, the soft electronic, experimental instrumentals that immediately follow are so underwhelming for me. Especially for an intro song for them. I feel like there is a good build-up, but no explosion.

 

While I enjoy this album, I don't get a lot of the same things from BOT that I loved so much. BOT really felt like the band had something to prove, like there were things they really NEEDED to get out of their system. The album feels big, it's urgent, extremely varied... this album kinda feels... easy. I don't get any sense that these songs were bursting out of the band, but rather they sound kinda... content and mild-mannered.

I suppose for the things that I like most about this band, I don't find a lot of it here, but I still enjoy the album overall

 

Listened to the self titled for the first time in a few weeks and Hooped Earrings would be one of their best songs if it had a different chorus.

 

I like You Used To Say as a song in its own right, but 60-70 percent of the time I have been starting the album at Peace Sign (which I like a lot), so I guess I don't like it that much in the context of the album.

By default I think it's my least favourite opening song to a TFB album. Flashlight is a great song, while Motorcycle and Au Revoir probably aren't, but they are really nice fun ramps for the record to jump off of.

From Peace Sign through to Raining (inclusive), I think the album is really strong. There are things I like about Far Drive and Ocean but they could be improved in parts. Have already expressed my dislike of EBY. I might replace it with Tighten Up on my Spotify playlist

 

You Used To Say is a perfect intro to this album.

 

You are right. Not sure what it is about it that makes me skip. Maybe the near 50 seconds of nothing at the start, whereas if you start with Peace Sign, boom, you're into it

 

Me describing this album to a buddy as a well roasted bowl as opposed to the acid hit that was BoT feels right in that the beginning and ending of the album with ocean sounds and layin on the beach kinda vibe.

 

Yea I pretty much love this front to back. Right now I'd say Trampoline and Don't Fill Up On Chips are actually probably the weakest for me. Far Drive is great, and Everyone But You I liked from the start but is actually really growing on me. Probably the part I disagree the most on with a lot of you. It's so catchy and is guaranteed to get stuck in my head all the time.

 

On the topic of best opener/closers, Flashlight is hands down their best opening song, it's not even a question, but I also do really love the way Talon opens (the way Au Revoir acts as kind of an intro track and then explodes into Skeleton). Plastic Flowers is easily their best closer too, but Everything I Own is fantastic too and a really underrated song of theirs.

And this is just a random comment, but the Needy When I'm Needy 7" songs are so good, especially Tighten Up.

 

Openers:

Flashlight
Flying Model Rockets
Au Revoir
Motorcycle
You Used to Say

I'm not overly in love with any of their closers except Plastic Flowers.

 

I totally get this but can't explain why..

 

You Used To Say is their most boring opener. It's alright but a bit dull.

Only songs that grabbed me were Vacation Town, Bae, Grande finale, and Everyone But You.

Chatting to my friends about this, it seems a general consensus that this is just fine. Nothing as good as the last album or even most of Talon or ST's best songs.

 

Crazy talk! I think You Used to Say (Holy Fuck) is their best opener. Love everything about it. I think I relate to it more because of where/what he wrote it about ( was kayaking in Austin and how it feels getting stuck in the brush/branches, using it as a metaphor)

 

If you think that song is better than Flashlight or Motorcycle, I want to take away your ears, you can't be using them correctly.

 

Vacation Town and Bae are the only two I can remember. A few are good when listening but don't stick at all. Then there are others like Holy Fuck and Peace Sign that are catchy but just not good at all.

I was excited about its release date but god damn this just got buried by St. Vincent and Kurt & Courtney. Even Iron Chic is heavier on my rotation.

 

This is easily the most disappointing release of the year for me.

 

I love this now

 

Yeah, I have no desire to return to this album.

 

I'm really enjoying it, despite it easily being my least favorite TFB album. Still a fun, catchy album. Even the songs I don't love are still stuck in my head all the time.

 

This is great I don't know what you guys are listening to. I can see it not being your favorite (there is some tough competition), but I think it's an incredibly enjoyable and consistent record, and I'm really excited to see these songs come to life next week.