Had a cool moment with "I Know I Don't Know" the other day. I was starting to miss how, in the live version, the overall speed/cadence of the song seemed more to be driven by those IDM-sounding hi hats in the song and it feels like a faster song. If you were bobbing your head you'd be bobbing it to the fast drums. It's easier to bob your head to the kick drums in the studio version. But I was listening thru phone speakers in the shower and you couldn't hear the kicks at all, it sounded almost like a whole different song! It felt like it was the hi hats driving the song. When you listen thru headphones or in the car its allllll those loud kicks. It almost became like a different song depending on which medium I used to listen to it!
Don't know if pb intended this but cool nonetheless.
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Spagett wrote:
so many screens that I am seeing screens appear behind my eyes (of all places!)
after about 20 listens I can say that this record is pure dopeness!
The only thing I don't like about it is that I now wish ADWTH would have been treated with the same production quality.
I assumed that skip in IKIDK is intentional, i think it sounds sick
it seems like it's his new thing (Rosie Oh and Tropic of Cancer) like not using apostrophes haha. although if it is, this is the first one that seems to work.
Greetings, all. Long time lurker here, figured I might as well get around to posting at some point. Thoroughly enjoying this release, very chill. Folky but also futuristic, a very compact listen indeed.
Interesting people don't like Buoys (the song) on the album as much as live. I listened to that recording from Arte many times and I still prefer the studio version. Different strokes I suppose, wasn't my favorite from the boots anyway
phew, ive been spending the day with this thing and im loving it...for Tomboy and Grim I was chomping at the bit, listening to every new boot ON THE DAY they were uploaded....ive waited for first recordings of new songs and spent too much time with boots...
But with this, I just let it come out, and am walking around with it complete in my phone....blowing my mind to have it and to listen to it as a completely new piece
Noah is like our generations only true-ass songwriter....like, existential, real life adult songs that respect the listener...there used to be so many like Cat Stevens or Neil Young.
cranked and master and home free weren't doing it for me at all at first but I had a time with the album last night while reading the lyrics and now I'm all in.
I'm not feeling it. There are moments I love like the second part of "Token" and I think "Inner Monologue" is a beautiful exploration of new sounds -- To a lesser extent "Home Free."
But the rest of the album feels rigid and cold, it gives me a bad hollow vibe. "Cranked," "I Know I Don't Know" and "Buoys" annoy me, they feel awkward and nauseating. He sounds out of key on "Crescendo."
This album reminds me of all of the reasons I hate "Painting With." There are beautiful songs behind the hideous production and performances. I was so hyped for this album based on the live recordings. This album hurts me.
That's just my opinion though, I don't want to start a fuss.
speaking of apostrophes, I love that "it's a wheel" is never enunciated
both times, it sounds like " 's a whee-uhl ", i could have sworn it was "so we are" in the boots
Hah oh man that's what he's saying
lol i thought it was "so weird"
also, in master during the chorus i guess? where he says "tho the difference is ???" and "and the slips ups it's true" or whatever he is saying...the autotune is doing a thing but i find my earholes wishing for a natural harmonization that's almost happening but doesn't quite. i'm doing a really bad job explaining this, but I just hear this thing almost happening that would be so pretty and great if he used his natural voice rather than autotune to rock that harmony
ugh i love this album but some of it feels kinda lazy and too dependent on autotune and delay or something...could be so much more if he utilized his voice more rather than effects
Dude this album is such a slow burn. I like it more each time I listen. Only one I'm not 100% jiving with is Master, kinda reminds me of a more mellow Recycling. Still great, and I liked it more once I heard the live version. Didn't notice those little syncopated clicks before that (yeah I might be deaf sometimes). Also wanna say I only heard the boot of Inner Monologue only once and didn't care for it, but I love the studio version. And Token is freaking great, really happy with the way that turned out even though I absolutely replayed the 9:30 recording of it too many times. I'm a little cautious being too enthusiastic about this release because I was in denial about Greaper for the longest time... But I'm really loving this thing so far. Gonna be on constant rotation
Happy we got Homies and Bouys in the same year, although I do feel bad it freebirded so early... Had it pre-ordered from day one though.
I'm having the best time listening to this album...the songs are so deceptively simple...i love all the things he's developed to feel familiar but still altered enough to feel new...his melodies on this are 100% his but aren't a redo of any of the past albums - new inflections, tones and effects - the acoustic, done in this way, is a nice object to grab while everything else moves along so colorfully above.....none of the songs are skips to me tbh...
Favorites off top are Cranked, Token, Master, I Know I Dont Know and Inner Monologue...seriously, these songs are surprisingly beachy and futuristic and intimate and self aware...not often do we get weird stuff that works like this from such a contemporary artist...its great to throw on...im sorry if anyones not into it
Dude this album is such a slow burn. I like it more each time I listen. Only one I'm not 100% jiving with is Master.
For me, it is the opposite. The album grew on me really fast and I was totally addicted on my third listen. But after à dozen listens, it already fades. What I considered a clever production with space for the sounds to breathe feels more empty now. I still think it’s beautiful but the melodies have less impact on me and the rhythms sound more binary. It’s frustrating and weird because I thought I would listen to it on repeat all month. PBVSGR was more of a slow burn for me. Hope Buoys will grow again...
My first favorite was Master (with Buoys), in particular its chorus. It’s the catchiest song imo, and I love when he sings « though the differences split » : the combination of the last word and the instrument in the background is so beautiful. I love the fact that this moment gives an emotional feel to the song in just one second and one chord whereas all the rest is more about catchiness.
i thought it was "we ran away, dont run away"..like digging into a more existential human thing..like running to the safety of screens and personal bubbles
I don't think there are any "great" songs on this album a la PP, Tomboy and Greaper, but the production really makes some of these interesting. Token is the best of the batch imo, and a close second is I Know I Dunno but goddamn it ends so frustratingly....
I kinda wish he had taken more time to flesh these out more. It seems like the production takes up a lot of the writing space...
does PB write songs or create atmospheres? is there a difference?
Longtime fan and lurker on the board since the strawberry jam era. Hate to be that guy, but was wondering if one of you fine folks could shoot me a PM?
In the mean time, I'd like to relay a fun story from panda's most recent Minneapolis show.
A month before the show my older brother and I went to see John Maus, someone my bro really loves. He waited around for sometime after the gig to get a vinyl signed and was not only successful (Maus scribbled a cool little doodle of a TV), but they even chatted for sometime after. I'm not surprised, my brother is very sociable.
Anyways, I got us both tickets for Panda at 1st Ave and I decided, like the little brother i am, to follow suit and attempt to get panda to sign my vinyl as well. I got there early, bought a deluxe copy of PBVTGR and waited for my Bro to show. When we finally met up he asked if I had a plan of action to get my autograph. I said not really. He asked if I at the very least brought a pen, but I stood there silent, eyes widen in terror as the reality of my ineptitude finally hit me...
It's at this time I wish to explain something. You see, over the years my brother could be... an asshole. He's changed immensely but there was one incident in particular that was pretty shitty.
Years ago, Panda and his wife released a series of weird, limited edition hoodies. I really wanted one. Saved up, ordered one, and waited forever for it to arrive. At the time my brother and I were working in the same office, and on casual Friday I came into work wearing that hoodie happy as all get out. That very same day my brother brought his camera in to film stuff just for fun, eventually taking a stroll around the office to my section and saw me wearing, what he thought at the time, was a ridiculous looking thing. He burst out laughing in front of all my coworkers, on camera, and began ridiculing me mercilessly. I felt so embarrassed I gave the hoodie to good will a week later, something I regret to this day. Not because it costs so much, or panda made it, but because i felt shame for enjoying what I loved.
That moment, and decision, stayed with me for some time.
Years later my brother found a stack of tapes from the days he carried that camera everywhere. I came over to his house and we started going through them, laughing and reminiscing. Eventually we came across the tape of that day. My bro, who had always remembered te event as funny was excited to see it play out, assuming it give me new perspective on it. I didn't want to watch it, but he begged me to stay. I relented and we started the tape. When it reached the moment when he walked over to me wearing the hoodie, it was just as embarrassing as I remembered. The worst part was the look of sadness in my eyes, a cringe induced visual matched only by his inability to notice or care as he laughed at me in front of the entire office... it was rough. The tape ended and we just stood there in silence for a bit. My older brother's head hung low, eyes closed, trying desperately to comprehend just how awful he acted. Then he broke the silence with a heavy sigh, looked up and said "You know the worst part? That hoodie was actually pretty cool."
This was a week before the 1st Ave show, and for that entire week, he could barely look me in the eye.
So...As I stood there inactive, mind racing trying to come up with a solid plan to get panda's autograph, my older brother downed a shot and said "I got this" and sprang into action. He went to several different club employees just so he could find a pen and paper. He came back and furiously started writing a note to Panda, ingeniously asking me for his real name. The letter was an earnest plea to sign my record as I had been a huge AC fan for over a decade. It was very sweet. He ran to the merch table and charmed Panda's merch guy into getting the letter and my vinyl to his manager, missing a chunk of songs waiting for his reply. The merch man pulled through and told us to wait by the table after the show to see if panda was able to do it. We enjoyed the show and when it was over, calmly and coolly made our the table. But soon, as it was a sunday, we were the only ones left in the venue, the employees eyeing us impatiently, waiting to close up and go home. But then the back doors opened and my my brother perked up. He mumble something about the manager walking by with a marker. It was happening! Soon enough the merch guy walked out and handed us my record. We gratuitously thanked him and got the hell outta of there so they could finally lock the doors. We ran away from the crowd outside so nobody felt weird about not having something signed and took a look at the vinyl to see that Panda had also doodled, in almost the same style as Maus, a likeness of himself along with his signature. It one was of the coolest things my bro had ever done for me. With all of his charm and tenacity he was able to achieve something my timid ass never could. I grabbed my bigger bro and said "this makes up for the hoodie. It is forgotten." It was like a weight was lifted from our shoulders. We went home and continued to have an amazing night.
I love this band. I love how they've been such an important constant in my life.
And I love this community. Though I may stay in the shadows, it has been a pleasure geeking out over the years with all of you.
Thanks in advance to whomever can help with a PM. And have a great day everyone!
Last edited by robeless on Wed Nov 28, 2018 9:06 pm, edited 4 times in total.
does PB write songs or create atmospheres? is there a difference?
With Panda's music and AC in general, I like that they don't really make the distinction between songs vs atmospheres, or the distinction is arbitrary to them. The balance between the two shifts back and forth, and over time it's shifted more towards songwriting, but I hear their music as a seamless integration of the two
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Tropic of Cans wrote:
Wish the band would log back on here and tell us all to shut the fuck up
Yo, robe. Love the sound of your bro. Great story. What a great bro and total dick. That's Bro's* for you. You should post the doodle if you have chance and time. Stick around and join in the fun.
Yo, robe. Love the sound of your bro. Great story. What a great bro and total dick. That's Bro's* for you. You should post the doodle if you have chance and time. Stick around and join in the fun.
*intentional Panda Bear reference.
Thanks, dude.
He has been an asshole, but so have I. He has also been one of the greatest inspirations of my life, and I for him.
We are only what we do, and if there's anything he has taught me, its that we can do anything.
Side note: my biggest regret of the night is not buying Geo's cassette and praising him in the note as well. Whether he signed it or not, I love him just as much as panda, and it would have been nice to let him know.
And thanks to the person how sent me a link already. Again love this community. I already ordered the deluxe vinyl, but I cant wait to listen on such a chilly day in the Twin cities.
hey, my favorite thing about this album i think is how driven it is by the vocals. seems like panda is being more poetic than ever here and each song ends once he's said all he has to say. i like that
_________________
Spagett wrote:
so many screens that I am seeing screens appear behind my eyes (of all places!)
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