The Gaslight Anthem - History Books (October 27th 2023) Album • Page 16

The new songs are hitting me in a good way!

 

new song rips didn't realize Stefan was on it that's so cool

 

I don't hate the production of these new songs musically, my main issue is I can only make out like 20% of the words due to the vocal mix. That's especially true with Little Fires. It sure is an earworm, though.

 

The tempo change is just perfect tbh

 

Gave it one listen and I think that's all I'm going to do. Trying to not ruin half the album before October 27!

 

Still haven't listened. Like an adult.

 

Oh no. The new song Little Fires is gonna start Big Ass Fires when the bad production crowd hears it

 

I can’t remember a batch of songs that sounded worse that I still like. Like does anyone think it isn’t a noticeable mess

 

I don’t.

 

me trying to work out the double negatives

 

Good songs that sound bad.

It's worked before.

 

The band's response to the questionable mix...

 

I swear to god if someone costs me my favorite band again complaining about “production” I’m gonna become the joker.

 

Pretty clear at this point that it was a choice. Not a choice I agree with, but I'm guessing they wanted to steer pretty far afield from the more "arena rock" sound of Handwritten and Get Hurt, considering what those eras ended up tied up in for them as a band.

 

can you elaborate on this? I'm not as familiar with the history of the band

 

lmao i love when a fan talks shit and doesnt think the band will respond and then is like "sorry!!!! still love the songs!!!!!!"

 

(that should also completely put to bed all of this "they cleaned up the production" nonsense)

 

New song is absolutely fucking killer. Can't wait to hear the rest of this.

 

if you’re gonna be a turd online at least have some conviction

 

Obviously not the same but sort of like against me doing TDB after white crosses and new wave. White crosses is one of my fav albums ever but so is TDB and it sounds like shit in comparison but that’s part of the thing.

 

I think there was a lot of push/pressure to become a really "big" band on those albums, probably from the label, the fans, and themselves to a certain extent. They worked with big-name producers, shot for a way glossier sound, and absolutely toured themselves ragged. I think they basically ended up being super exhausted and burned out by the time Get Hurt dropped, and Brian went through a divorce, and then the reception to the album was pretty mixed. I think the guys are still proud of those records, but it seems like they wanted to make something a little more "classic Gaslight" and less in the mainstream/glossy mold for their big comeback.

 

I’ve accepted that bands choose to mix their albums certain ways (remember when Hotelier ran into the same thing and the producer or something jumped on here I think? “That’s how Christian wanted it”).

I’d like to hear the reasoning for it because it was a deliberate decision. Maybe that would help with the listening experience.

 

Can't we just be fucking happy we have music from these guys? I don't get it. Entitled ass fans, oh what the internet has done.

 

Multiple things can be true though. We can be grateful to have the band back and making new music, while also saying the production/mixing/etc. choices aren't our favorite or a hurdle to get over. At least for myself, I was expecting it to be more immediate, but it's taking some listens to get used to and to sit with. I think there is a surprise element there for some people that it's not necessarily as immediate as we were expecting.

 

I'm indifferent to the production/mixing.

First two songs ruled. Not loving Little Fires as much as the first two, but I've only listened once.