The least rocky tracks in this were the loudest when I saw Deerhunter live.

Julian Koster abandons antique production while continuing to create lyricism that invokes (among other things) childlike wonder, nostalgia, and quiet, late-evening strolls through dimly-lit, newly decorated department stores in Decembers decades ago. Koster also fully embraces adult contemporary here and I think it's the piano noodling + the gently brushed drum set that contribute to these feelings the most.

Obviously calling this a "Beatles" song is a bit of a publicity stunt and while I believe McCartney is as sincere as he can be when he says this is the final Beatles song, the fact that it was composed by Lennon as a solo effort and that Harrison's contribution from 1995 (see the minidoc on YT) is entirely absent, calling this a true Beatles track is sort of laughable. That being said, it's perfectly listenable if overlong and over-produced. Lennon's AI-isolated vocal is way too soft, ... read more

Another collection of throwback, lofi, new-wave-on-acid E6-like tracks. Not as strong or interesting as their first record. Gotta love that length though.

Re-listened to this a couple weeks back, but forgot to post. Innocuous, nostalgic pop/rock. Its length might be its greatest attribute.

I can't be objective about this EP. I knew these guys and played shows with them around Baton Rouge (remember the Dark Room?). I have listened to this countless times on the CD I got from them during one of those shows and later on my absolute brick of an iPod (350GB) and now on my Spotify local files and I love it unabashedly despite its many flaws and demo-like production. Re-listening to it now is a bittersweet experience because it makes me wish they had gotten the break they needed to do ... read more

Near perfect.

Things often play differently for me depending on age, experience, tastes changing, etc. Similar to how it took me multiple viewings of Blue Velvet, Blade Runner, or Citizen Kane to finally understand and appreciate those films' brilliance, SY's most acclaimed record has finally overcome its legendary status and worked for me on multiple levels. Not sure what took me so long.

Maybe the strongest second half in SY's catalog.

https://youtu.be/Vmn9asN-8AE?si=M_8oUDhJvy7Cde3q

You would think re-recording what is arguably one of the greatest records of all time would prove problematic and be an automatic L for Waters, but the new delicate arrangements and the addition of the soft spoken-word passages worked for me. Obviously this isn't going to hold up when compared to its predecessor and original, but I don't think its meant to. As it happens in cinema (take Suspiria for instance), the remake's existence doesn't take away from the magnificence or innovation of the ... read more

I get it. It's just not for me.

Belleville for most beautiful track of the year.

Perhaps unsurprisingly, "Defeat" works much better as a sort of centerpiece suite on this record than it does on its own. Otherwise this is more of AC unwilling to take any meaningful risks with their sound, which has stagnated over the past decade. It used to be the case that each of their records played like such a unique experience with instrumental and vocal experimentation, but now they all blend together in an amalgam of meh.

King Park fucking ruullleeeeesssssss

Could go up significantly on future listens.

Starts out very strong. Peters out toward the back half.

Been in heavy rotation thanks to my five-year-old. The Charli XCX song is tolerable and the Ken song is okay every now and then.

Lesser Bjork is still better than 90% of the music landscape.

The greatest live album of all time.