The ambitiousness of this album is off the charts. A step up from their debut in every way and more. The boys really lean into the weird sampling techniques they teased on licensed to I’ll, and It’s so creatively and perfectly used in every part of this album. Love when an album isn’t afraid to get weird, or to do something totally unexpected, and this albums delivers that tenfold.
The first 7 tracks are incredible and flow SO well. March into the Sea is one of my favorite Modest Mouse songs and Missed the Boat is incredible, but tracks 8-11 REALLY drag. This album has no business being longer than like 45 minutes. Thankfully it picks back up with Spitting Venom and ties up well at the end.
This album has been drifting in and out of my life for the past few months. I feel like it really has everything that makes Elliott Smith and more. The careful play between the larger rock songs and his usual stripped back guitar songs work beautifully here. It constantly finds ways to connect with me, either with the high and exhilarating points like “L.A.”, or the reflective and downright depressing “Better Be Quiet Now.” Maybe his most consistent songwriting ever ... read more
It’s so unfortunate that this is one of the greatest albums I have ever heard. Fuck this guy