HELLMODE

Holy, fucking, shit.
This is one of the greatest albums I've ever heard.

Jeff Rosenstock is an artist I've known about for such a long time, and I listened to We Cool? like once several years ago while barely paying attention to it, so I might as well have gone into this album blind.

I'm gonna go through every track in order with short anecdotes now cause it's been a while since I've done that style of review.

WILL U STILL U might be the best opening to any album ever, that song had me instantly hooked.
HEAD was a fun interlude but mostly forgettable.
Holy shit LIKED U BETTER is a highlight on here for me personally, that song is addictive, Jeff's vocal delivery, the instrumentation, it's definitely my 2nd favourite track on here, such a fun song.
DOUBT is like probably one of the best songs on here and I like it, it's a very good track, but I don't know I think I just loved LIKED U BETTER so much on that first listen that this one sounded kinda weak to me.
FUTURE IS DUMB is alright, not my favourite song but I do love that guitar.
SOFT LIVING I think would work incredibly if it was placed somewhere else in the album, it's just such a drop off from higher energy tracks like LIKED U BETTER, DOUBT, and FUTURE IS DUMB, but it's by no means a bad song.
HEALMODE is actually a high point for me honestly! I really love that instrumental that heavily leans on the acoustic guitar, it sounds kinda cute.
Everything I said about HEALMODE also applies to LIFE ADMIN, but HEALMODE is definitely the stronger of the two tracks, I can't really put my finger on it but LIFE ADMIN just sounds a bit bland in comparison.
I WANNA BE WRONG is definitely a come back, we've gotten back to that high energy, controlled chaos, explosive sound of the first few tracks on this thing and honestly, after the 3 track run of SOFT LIVING, HEALMODE, and LIFE ADMIN giving us a slower moment on this thing, thrusting us back into that chaotic world of heavy guitars and drums is such an incredible moment, as it's own song it's still incredible, but it's placement in the album brings it to another level on full listens.
GRAVEYARD SONG is honestly the most forgettable track to me, like don't get me wrong it's incredible like the rest but there's nothing super duper interesting I can point out about it, it's just a pop punk banger.
3 SUMMERS is by far my favourite song on this thing, holy shit what a closer. I love that Jeff kept that big, 7 minute opus for the finale, cause holy shit it works so damn well. The vocals on the track are immaculate, some of not only Jeff's best singing, but like some of the best singing on any rock song I've ever heard. The instrumental is equally as impressive, it's varied and layered, bringing a feeling of a controlled chaos which is present on other songs, but is most prevalent on this one. And finally, don't even get me STARTED on that switch up at the end, when the song gets slower, and Jeff's vocals get clearer, and then it slowly builds and builds back up to this epic finale for the last minute to close out this incredible album, genuinely one of the best musical moments I've ever heard.

Since listening to this album, I've gone back to some of Jeff's earlier work, and some of his old bands like Bomb the Music Industry! and The Arrogant Sons of Bitches, but honestly, out of all the stuff I've heard from Jeff, this is my favourite work of his, it's such a fun ride, and easily one of the best rock albums I've ever heard, and honestly, maybe a top 10 album ever in my opinion.

I just fucking love that guitar man.

FAVS: WILL U STILL U, LIKED U BETTER, DOUBT, FUTURE IS DUMB, I WANNA BE WRONG, 3 SUMMERS
LEAST FAVS (still good): SOFT LIVING, LIFE ADMIN