The Menzingers - After the Party (February 3, 2017) Album • Page 29

I thought it was "Shine the light" initially, but have since started singing "Sha la la la" instead. It makes more sense to me in that he's talking about the past or whatever in the lyrics.

I'm starting to really grow attached to Bad Catholics, but I think that has a lot to do with my background and how I am now, coupled with that's the only other new song by them out right now. I know I'll still be fond of it, but I think this record will be stacked and blow it out of the water.

 

Thank you for this! I never would have known that. Not really all that familiar with Tom Waits.

 

you gotta listen to tom waits, one of the best songwriters and lyricist to ever live.

 

Thanks! I should rephrase and say that I have heard of Tom Waits, but never heard anything by him, so I'll definitely check this out.

 

it's hard to pick one song that really shows what he does, the man can do anything

 

How many more (if any) songs do we think will be released. My hope is 2, but I'm thinking it'll probably just be 1.

 

I honestly don't want any, but I know that's not gonna happen. We already have three songs. Lookers, Bad Catholics, and a live version of Thick as Thieves. That's plenty for me. I would do a proper video for Lookers or something and then I guess the recorded version of Thick as Thieves.

 

I reckon 1 next month and that'll be it till late January. A recorded version of Thick as Thieves would be good.

 

I think I want at least one more, but any more than 2 and it will probably start encroaching on listening to the record as a whole. I don't wanna rob myself of the thematic landscape, you know? That's one of the reasons I love the Menzingers so much. The story-telling.

Yeah that sounds about right. I could dig that for sure.

 

It'd be best because it means the rest of the album would be entirely fresh imo

 

Trying so hard not to overplay Lookers or Bad Catholics

 

I think I already passed that point with Lookers. That song is too damn good and has been out for a few months.

 

I had to back off listening to them altogether because I kept playing those songs over and over. I think by the time January rolls around, I'll toss them back on.

 

Yeah I've already played both a ton. Oh well

 

I've already banned myself from listening to Lookers or Bad Catholics until the next single is released. These long rollouts are a killer.

 

Thats why I just give up, Usually when I try to hold out, I end up completely forgetting about releases.

 

Do major labels think that long roll outs are the best way to do this? I feel like they're stuck in the past if they think no momentum is lost with a 9-10 month long delay between finishing recording and releasing a record.

 

I think that majors and large indies are still stuck in the old model in same ways, but with album roll outs I think they are stuck with the vinyl plant backups. We see the vinyl numbers every year. They are meaningful. If you release the album without them, then you are losing a big chunk of sales that could hurt perception, and thus future opportunities for the album cycle. It depends what the band and label are trying to accomplish. I think Epitaph and the band want to take a shot at going for it, so in that respect you have to play the game a bit. And that includes waiting for the vinyl plants and lining the album up with the right touring schedule. I wonder if the Bayside and Europe tours also played a role in pushing things back. Once the record was done and two fall support tours were booked leading up to the holidays, Epitaph probably preferred to wait for a new year and a headlining tour to properly present the album. And then the vinyl plant schedule just sort of cements that thought process of waiting does make sense.

 

Yeah, well said. I definitely think it's the vinyl. I don't know what the other roll-outs for OTIP or RW were for comparison. It just seems like the way this roll out was talked about it was pretty standard and nothing out of the ordinary. It just seems crazy to me, but I'm also a biased opinion and want the record already haha. Didn't think about other tours pushing it back, but that is a good point.

 

I would honestly say the band may have jumped the gun (in excitement) saying the record was done when they did. They had been pretty quiet and wanted to get something out there and perhaps not knowing what lied ahead put it out there to everyone.

My understanding is that the vinyl plant backups have really been adding up over the last few years and was probably not the obstacle it is now for a record like OTIP. I mean, majors were pressing stuff, but it's really exploded in the last couple years in terms of scale. I have really only heard this excuse mentioned in the last year, but I gotta believe it was building up for a little while.

 

Sideonedummy is doing album announcements perfectly. It's always like a month and a half before release.

Hopeless and Epitaph drag out forever and then I completely lose interest (unless it's one of my favorite bands)

 

those labels aren't really comparable though, two of them are basically mini majors right there

 

Yeah true. I just really hate 4 month or longer album announcements.

 

Not sure if this interview has been posted yet: The Menzingers: Tom May on nostalgia, growing up and Donald Trump

 

58 days, y'all. I might actually be looking forward to this record more than I'm looking forward to Christmas haha.