The first time I listened to this album is an experience I vividly remember, and thoroughly cherish.

This album is much more technical than I ever used to give it credit for, most math rock is in your face. American Football managed to take all of these complex ideas and make them extremely pretty and sutble. As much as I like math rock to be bold, I can really appriate the work that goes into making it so subtle.

TBD

Absolutely insane life changing piece of music. It is abrasive and other-worldly, while still being extremely fun and charming. This was the last Don Caballero album with the 3 original members, Mike Banfield, Ian Williams, and Damon Che. The dynamics between them had been stewing for 5-ish years; and it all lead up to this chaotic-boundary-pushing-in-your-face finale. I don't think this album is for everyone, but oh my god is it for me. Fantastic album!!!!!!

Not So Sorry Now Are You: 8.7/10 great opening track, its great to hear new stuff from damon.

Occasional Grape?: 9.2/10 its in 5/4, immediately great. the middle section reminds me of battles in the best way.

Nice Walrus: 9.4/10 Wow this intro is fucking nuts, the crazy horn, then the song kicks in, in 7/4.

If You Say So: 5.4/10 this track doesnt really wow me off the bat, i might need to listen to it more to appreciate it

People Don't Like It When You Call Them Ace: 7.5/10

Fire, ... read more

literally only one song on this album that i dont particularly enjoy, everything else is actually peak

overall this is probably my least favorite Pinback release, but there are some really fantastic stand out tracks in this album; true north, his phase, glide, sediment are all really great. but its too polished to sound like pinback to me, i largely prefer their earlier work where they recorded in a garage, or zachs place or something. their rough on the edges, more lo-fi recording, gave them such a genuine feeling charm to their stuff. i will say i am a little hypocritical, because i LOVE ... read more

easily my favorite Systems Officer release. ABSIV is the goat oh my lord, this is some of my favorite work from him

pretty good cont. of wake up swimming, som really great songs on here

need to relisten in context before writing a review, but on first impression its good

(will write more later)
this album introduced me into experimental music, i love it

will write later!!!!

i just want to talk about the title track of this ep, pulling our weight. this song came into my life during a very formative time, every time i listen to it, all of the feelings of that time come flooding back. no one song has ever had such strong control over my emotions; im tearing up as i write this, without even having to hear it. i reminisce about middle school, and when i would go to the park, and ride my bike with my friends, and sit under the bridge. i wouldn't change a thing ... read more

i cant review each individual song on this album, it would all be pretty samey. but ultimately this is one of the few things i didnt have to think twice about giving a 10/10. this is easily the best ambient album i've ever heard, in my mind c418 had perfected ambient music. it doesn't stay in the same spot for very long, and when it does its tasteful. a wonderful and quite large assortment of different instruments are used on here; its all done so well, no instrument truly feels out ... read more

Other People: 9.5/10
This was one of the first songs that started to get me into math rock. The intro to this song is fucking awesome, i can still barely figure out what exactly is going on. The rest of the song is quite tame, in a good way. in 3/4, but its still great, especially towards the end, when Rob swings the bass over the rest of the instrumentation in 3/4.

Strapped: 6.9/10
when i first heard this awhile ago, i really didnt enjoy it. BUT, the more i listened to it, i started to ... read more

INITIAL THOUGHTS ON RELISTEN
1. For Respect 7.3/10
The chorus of this song is easily the highlight of the track, such a bright chorus compared to the usually muddy guitars. The bridge is also awesome and dissonant

2. Chief Sitting Duck 7.8/10
not the biggest fan of the intro bass, but the weird guitar work kind of saves it. The chorus on this track is fanominal!!! overall the uningaging intro kind of turns me off to listening sometimes

3. New Laws 6.5/10
This song would be better with a ... read more