I can understand how people who really dug the first album would be kinda disappointed with the new one but I was actually pleasantly surprised by the upping of production and overall complexity of the songs. I'd say it's much more progressive also in the song structure in that he doesn't rely on the chorus that much as the anchor of a song, a lot of the time they just...flow organically.

Anyway, it requires a few more listens to really get into it but when you do it's incredibly rewarding. One of the best albums of the year for me. Beth/Rest being one of the best (and most surprising) songs (along with Calgary).

I voted 3/5. While not a bad album, it is certainly flawed in my opinion. I can definitely respect Justin for not wanting to rehash the last album, but I felt like the change in direction on this one was forced. The most glaring flaw to me was the production. At times, the songs are overbearingly stuffed with horns, strings, and effects. After awhile it became cumbersome to listen to for me. As always, I found the vocals to be top notch. Justin's voice is gold, but again the over production takes away from the quiet, intimate feel that made the first record so brilliant to me. I just rolled my eyes at the closing track, the cheesy 80's synths, dueling saxophones/guitar combo with the auto-tuned vocals just left a bad taste in my mouth. To conclude, I really hope this band can right the ship on the next album and realize that they don't need to over produce their sound to stay relevant. Just my take on it.

I might hold off on a vote until I give it a few more listens as most people seem to recommend. To be honest so far it hasn't really grabbed me. I loved his first album and I don't know what he could have done to live up to that. If this had been his first album though I don't know that I would have been so looking forward to another.

I quite like it, just coming to the end of it actually. Calgary was a highlight for me. I like it the slight ambient touch in places I really dug. probably going to vote 4/5

http://www.musicbanter.com/images/rating/rating_1.gif Perth
http://www.musicbanter.com/images/rating/rating_1.gif Minnesota, WI
http://www.musicbanter.com/images/rating/rating_3.gif Holocene
http://www.musicbanter.com/images/rating/rating_2.gif Towers
http://www.musicbanter.com/images/rating/rating_2.gif Michicant
http://www.musicbanter.com/images/rating/rating_1.gif Hinnom, TX
http://www.musicbanter.com/images/rating/rating_2.gif Wash.
http://www.musicbanter.com/images/rating/rating_2.gif Calgary
http://www.musicbanter.com/images/rating/rating_1.gif Lisbon, OH
http://www.musicbanter.com/images/rating/rating_1.gif Beth-Rest


Beth-Rest to me sounds like a karaoke backing track.

2/5 overall rating.

Stuck between 4 and 5.

I also thought Holocene was the best track on this rather disappointing album

For Emma, Forever Ago still feels like a better album to me. This self titled album is still very very good, but different and slightly less down my ally.

I think there was a kind of intimacy to the first album that I miss in this one. As to the complexity of the new songs I feel that they seemed a little lost in the mixing. The opening track gives the impression that they were searching for something they weren't able to find and kept adding layers in the hope that maybe that's what was missing. In the end it just sounded incoherently muddied in my opinion.

I agree completely with you. I do like the first album. But some songs on this album are beginning to grow on me. I'd have to say highlights for me are Holocene, Michiant, and Calgary. Calgary was the first song off the album I heard and I instantly fell in love. I just had to cover it on YouTube. I did something a little different because all of the echoes and reverb added to the voice I thought was unnecessary to a certain degree.