I’ve been listening to the album for some time now, and even now, I am amazingly underwhelmed by it. I am very happy that so many people are enjoying it so much, and hopefully that augurs well for the band. Maybe it will get some more radio play, and some more commerical success. But “underwhelmed” really is the word that continues to describe how I feel about the album.
As some others have said here, it’s not a bad album per se, but for a T? album, it’s hard not to mentally set the bar of expectation very high, and maybe that’s what I’ve done, and therefore it’s all my own fault. I love the way the album starts and Outro gives way to Sprung, and it continues well with Deluded Son — which I really do believe (with the zero knowledge I have of the record business!) should be a single.
But then I think it kinda loses it. To me the only good bit of Into The Light is that it reminds me of a few Love/Hate songs. But that’s about it. That said, I’ll listen to it. Dopamine…, and Unconsoled are the only tracks I actually skip over now. Fear of God and Our White Noise are growing on me, but I find Private Nobody quite irritating. And I’m certainly like others in thinking that the “?” in “Therapy?” is hanging squarely over Heartbreak Hits.
I also think that I don’t like Rain Hits Concrete. *shrug*
That said, I almost, very nearly almost, really really like Walk Through Darkness. But when I listen to it, it feels like it’s just about to get really big, heavy and anthemic, and then… just goes down a different path. In the literal sense of the word, an anti-climax, to me.
I don’t want to be negative, and maybe the songs will complete rock live, which I truly hope, but after HA and NANE, the album is a big disappointment for me. I am somewhat relieved that the vast majority of people don’t share my view.
I am not sold one way or the other on the discussions of the production, and the drums in the mix… not yet, anyway. I do think however (and forgive me if you feel this is too outspoken a view) that whilst the music is pretty good in places, the lyrics seem to me to be quite lazy, and at times (I’m specifically thinking about oft-repeated phrases constituting choruses here) downright annoying…
I am sure many will disagree with me, but I cannot be one of these people who blindly evangelises about a band, just to be seen as a “proper fan”. I’m still a fan of the band, of course I am. Just a little disappointed and… here we go again, … underwhelmed… by this album.
It goes without saying however, the best of luck to the boys.
