But like so 60s in a way right? Or 60s-70s? I mean me too, like how orange and washed out green seemed big back then, but like its filtered through staight AC shit, and for me its in the form of fantasy or prog/classic rock signifiers. But it's still just AC so I love that theyre indluging this impulse.
There's something about the 60s and 70s that I think very recently became re-exoticised/ othered or something. Maybe similar to how in 60s, you had a re-exoticization of like pre World War era and 19th century. And yet a lot of that stuff still felt relatively close to anyone born before like 2000 I assume, idk.
The othering of a recent time... something that was recently kinda close idk
Last edited by dio on Mon Sep 04, 2023 4:57 am, edited 1 time in total.
ya it's wild this album exists, i can't wrap my head around its existence yet...
i think at the very least those are stormtrooper blasters on Kings (not really) and that's all i needed but i agree i'd mentioned it months ago but i wanted those guns wayyyyy up in the mix just to get obliterated by some random SW in the middle of the boys doing their choral thing
Geo butt slides is a vintage AC scaring away the normies moment... like there's no reason for those to exist in the song but of course they HAD to be there (and they're impeccable)
ya this is totally 60s fringe 70s feels, basically a dream AC album for me...the recorded-to-tape thing means a lot to me, it feels and sounds so incredibly warm and raw to me -- will feel even moreso when listening on vinyl
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some interviewer HAS to ask the band where tf AtCAB came from -- that fade in almost seems to suggest it just kind of appeared out of thin air, like a random band was just slowly walking up to Avey La Discotheque-style down the street playing their tune while he was dreaming and slowly he could start to hear the song, and when he woke up he replicated what he'd heard of the song, fade in and all
Last edited by blindmowing on Mon Sep 04, 2023 5:07 am, edited 1 time in total.
last thing for now: the downward vocal disruptions to Kings wild me tf out. Talk about a Jump Scare fr.
And it almost mimics the weird panda Vox added to Gem. Through line of sweet Leslie speaker style Vox effects on Magicians, Gem and kinda Kings maybe when they do um. What's that word for adding Vox after a mostly live recording damn, edit: overdubs I guess idk. record sounds very live
Got a lot of stupid shit going on in my life rn so been avoiding anything non-vital (sorry fellow obsessive board members) but this could be a nice way to not think for a little while so I ask... Please. Please someone punch me in the ovaries right this instant.
Prayer hands emoji
edit: Complete. Prayer hands emoji again but for a different reason
Last edited by tay's tee games on Mon Sep 04, 2023 5:51 am, edited 1 time in total.
Soul works so well as a scene setter. Has prologue energy the same way Kings as epilogue energy. The more I listen the more the track order works perfectly.
P.S. on mobile so unable to crunch anybody at the moment. Sorry team
Can someone tell me where the bum bum vocals are? I just listened to genie and am thinking I’m not hearing them in the mix because I’m having to listen off my phone speaker right now? Not sure what everyone is talking about. Feeling schizophrenic. Help me before they institutionalize me
ATCAB just kinda feels like they were like... Oh yeah, we were supposed to be doing this medieval carnival theme for the album, let's do a song that's short and sweet to tie it all together, idk it works really well for me..guess I could see how some ppl don't like the placement or whatever, but when it came on for the first time I was just kinda blown away. It's been stuck in my head ever since. I don't even know how to explain it, it's just fun as fuck and I think the fade in is hilarious and playful in the best way after Stride
Anyway, I can't even objectively judge this album. I'm still in disbelief I finally have the Sea of Light studio version, I've been pining for that for so long and they mostly nailed it. Oh and Magicians is of course a masterpiece and really sick on the album. Defeat is of course Defeat, what hasn't been said? It's gorgeous. Noah is in full form on the album, I feel like he finally got some kind of synergy with the band on these short songs. I didn't care for Walker much and like Car Keys but not quite on the level of these two. I'm part of the "bum bum" Gem and I gang, I was so on board from the moment I heard it lol i would love a whole album of Gem and I and Zodiac type songs, pure mind-bending pop goodness with the focus on drums...
Oh and Stride Rite is insane, I get the same chills and feels I got from the 2019 boots. However... I think this is the one that sticks out to me as being not 100% cohesive with the album, but there is quite a bit of variety on the album so no big deal.maybe I'll feel differently with repeated listens. It's a million times better than R&D for me and im in love with it.
ok I'm still catching up on the last few pages here (love reading everyone's impressions!) but wanted to toss out a few first impressions of my own:
this album definitely feels like a lost 60s/70s psych rock relic, with the extreme variation in track length. the songs almost shouldn't go together at all but the incredible production unites them in kind of a way I didn't think was possible, so extreme kudos for that.
Magicians is just totally crazy. I think I only ever heard the music box version before and have somehow avoided having them play it at any live shows I've been to so I barely remembered it, it was a total surprise to me. such a unique song, I'm really excited to revisit it
Gem & I is dramatically improved from how I remember it, and actually fits in quite nicely with the other tracks. Stride is also gorgeous
Clubs was so baffling to me on the first listen, the fade in was such an awkward transition and the song stood out like a sore thumb even on this album. hearing all the positive things people have said about it make me intrigued to revisit though. usually the AC records that baffle me the most on the first listen end up having the most staying power so I'm excited to let this one sink in
also want to give a ton of love to Kings since I'm sensing that a lot of people don't like it or think it's a throwaway. I've always been intrigued by the track and think they absolutely nailed it here, getting rid of the autotune was a great call and it ends up serving as a closer similar to Too Soon or Whaddit I Done which they haven't really done in almost two decades and I really miss that side of AC. so basically Kings is great IMO and I hope it grows on those who don't seem to vibe with it. it might actually be my favorite as of right now
They did the bum bums live on Gem and I. Also agree that Kings is like too soon-ish or whaddit... super sweet. Also this feels like their country album Rofl
Wtf you're right. Seems like it's just Deak doing it which may be why I never processed it before. It's pretty quiet on the few boots I just listened to
Can someone tell me where the bum bum vocals are? I just listened to genie and am thinking I’m not hearing them in the mix because I’m having to listen off my phone speaker right now? Not sure what everyone is talking about. Feeling schizophrenic. Help me before they institutionalize me
You're having your first listening session to IIN on your phone speakers?!
Agree with pretty much all the above! Loving reading everyone’s thoughts. This is the greatest.
Ignoring the lyrics and all the other connotations the songs have for me, purely sonically, this is a bit of a story/series of images that run through my head when I listen:
Soul = a bunch hippie shamans hold a ceremony in a dense woodland, summoning a fantasy world for us to journey into. We are tasked with completing some kind of mission.
Genies = the wizards arrive to transport us. The strange journey into the medieval ‘other world’. Ancient ships at sea. Last section is us emerging in this new place.
Broke = walking around in wonder, absorbing this new world. Strange jesters, magicians, dwarves, monks, knights, circus performers, renaissance fair on a cloud.
Magicians = our assignment. First half is impending peril. Doubts about whether we are fit for the task. A creepy, disheveled, one eyed prophet predicts our downfall in a tarot reading in a strangely quiet market/bazaar. Second half is the journey out of town and up a mountain. We march with conviction, determined to prove the prophet wrong.
Defeat = waking on a clear, crisp morning to the sound of distant minstrels and having the long, slow realisation that we may be stuck here forever. Can we make a life in this place? What have we already missed? What has been gained and lost? Will we ever make it? Should we stay and build a home in this quiet glen, just us and the horses? Or do we forge ahead with our mission? Halfway through we are visited by a benevolent dragon who buoys our spirits. But the road is long and our will is tested. By the end we are barely able to carry on. Each step is a trial.
Gem = When we need him most, the benevolent dragon returns to give us the key to unlocking the mystery and completing our mission. Our spirits lift. With renewed energy we continue towards our destination. Villagers wave as we pass. The wizards and hippy shamans who brought us here seem to appear amongst them, but when we turn to look they’re gone.
Stride = we finally come to the end of our road. In a deeply wooded forest we find a wise old man dressed in simple garb who tells us the mystery we have sought to solve. But it’s a bittersweet moment. With discovery also comes loss. Ultimately though, our mission is resolved.
Clubs = we return triumphantly to the place from where our journey began. Everything is neatly tried up and the town rejoices. Minstrels and jesters dance. Bunting of yellows, red and greens wave above the cobble stone streets. The fair is in full swing with renewed energy.
Kings = we walk away from the village. Our time here is over. We commune with each other. Reflect on the ups and downs of the journey and sail back towards home. The wizards and hippies wave from the shore. We are on our own now. Until we find ourselves back in the ‘real’ world.
Wtf you're right. Seems like it's just Deak doing it which may be why I never processed it before. It's pretty quiet on the few boots I just listened to
holy shit i never noticed it either. it's definitely low in the mix.
Wouldn’t usually start playing with tracklist until I’ve known the album a long time. Exception will be a mega Skiffs mix.
I think they’ve done really well with this album with the lack of transitions. I know that sounds weird but I think long transition sections would have made the album feel bloated. The ambient sections here are more deeply embedded within the songs.
Foxtrot, I loved reading your visual story for every song. Really great. Such a plot would make for a very cool visual album experience, sort of like ODDSAC with more of a cohesive narrative.
Count me in the wtf are these 'bum bums' camp, at least initially. I will remain open minded to them growing on me with more listens. Gem was the only demotitisy track for me, the rest are all impressively executed to my ears. It was my favorite from the boots other than Defeat, and I felt like it could have been better. But like I said, I need some more time with it.
Curious to hear Tropic's take on that one, as I know he was a big fan of the boots too.
But my god Broke is stellar! Can't understand why THAT isn't a single. It's so catchy and perfect, like some have said, one of Panda's best band contributions in a loooong time.
Overall pretty damn great. Even Kings turned out better than I thought it would. I did not like that one from the boots at all.
Agree, I was honestly shocked Broke wasn’t the first single. Catchiest song on the album, way better than Gem & I imo.
First impressions (thanks ss for the punch) after three listens, will most likely change:
This is the loosest/baggiest the band has ever sounded, has a very live album feel, album is full of slow burners and I imagine sequencing this was difficult. Production is stellar except for Gem which could use some filling out but oh well, it’s still great.
SC: Turned out to be one of the best tunes on the album, perfect production, don’t love the talking intro though, would’ve preferred just the snare hit from the single.
GO: Beautiful, and Noah sounds a lot like John Lennon in the verses. Whole album has a heavy Beatles/60’s psych vibe as has been noted. Love this one and feel like either this or Defeat should’ve closed.
Broke: Perfect Panda song. Love.
Magicians: Also perfect translation from live version to studio though I agree mixing in the latter part muddies a bit, but that Geo slide is nice, wish they made that ending a little more epic but no complaints.
Defeat: A masterpiece and very poignant. Should have closed the album. Absolutely nailed it.
Gem & I: I liked the live version, but something feels off. Don’t really dig the bum bums, but whatever I like the melodies. Ends kind of abruptly and segue to Stride is kind of awkward.
Stride: Gorgeous, wish it was longer with those high-pitched Panda vox like the live versions but I guess they couldn’t justify another long track on an album preceded by Magicians/Defeat. Also, love Deak’s vox but wish he had an effect on his voice.
AtCAB: Interesting song. Love the instrumentals behind this but wish it was more fleshed out and less repetitive. Not sure I love the lyrics either but time will tell. Kind of has a Zombies vibe I can dig, but also feels out of place in the sequencing.
Kings: They did this justice and I love it, but this to me is the clear opener.
Kings Walk
Soul Capturer (single version)
Genie’s Open
Broke
AtCAB
Magicians
Gem & I
Stride Rite
Defeat
Would be my ideal tracklist. Nonetheless, incredible album, excited to listen more.
the album is really good. i don't know if i can really give it a proper review at the moment. there are a few things that kind of stick out in the mix for me like a sore thumb, but i'm not sure if it's because of the compression from the mp3. i might have to hold off on future listens until the iTunes release.
but impressions based on the freebird:
Genie's Open sounds great until the last chunk. the vocals sound a bit too dry. i was hoping for a little bit of reverb or something. i've also have never been a big fan of that "more carefully" acapella bit at the very end.
Magicians from Baltimore: drums sound maybe a bit too loud in the mix during the "we should take a long drive". the rest of the song is great, and they definitely knocked it out of the park with this one.
Gem and I does feel pretty abrupt after Defeat. it also ends too abruptly. i kind of wished they added a fadeout or something after the second "let's do it again" part.
Stride Right is flawless. this was one of my favourites from the live boots. and it sounds even better in studio.
i feel like i might be in the minority on this thread and actually kind of dig Kings Walk a lot. i may not have been a fan of the live versions of it, but i think it works really well here as a closer. maybe they could shave 30 seconds down from it, but still, its great! has a Sung Tongs vibe to it.
can't wait to hear a good quality version of all of this.
Phew, wow! here we are, all caught up. As always love reading what everyone has to say. dio in particular all the reference points you're pulling are fascinating and I love your feverish posting style hehe.
I want to get comfortable with the mix of the album before I get deeper into the tongs. For an AC record the mix is unusually stark. The analogue production is a fantastic sonic feast, but it leaves some elements feeling exposed, and places others further in the periphery. Every new AC record presents a learning curve, and I feel every time I have no idea what I might be in for until it hits my ears. It never ever matches whatever it is in my head that I think the AC zone is.
I'll say demoitis-wise my only issue initially has been gem and I, which I had listened to the blast version a lot. Missing the intro groove from that, and wishing PB's voice was further forward in the mix... I'm so used to panda bear's multi-tracked vocal production style, or his live style where he hollers out over the top of the band. instead these are maybe the driest ac vocals we've gotten pretty much ever. He sounds fantastic but he's right in the middle of everything, and the panned backing parts dominate a little.
Other mix-related thought is on Magicians, I saw a couple of people mention it feels muddy in places. I definitely noticed the moment noah's fill comes in for the "we could take a long drive" section, sounds like the top end is EQ'd out of the drum kit. Odd choice given you can hear the snare in the immediately preceding spacey section is nice and crisp, but I'm guessing it's to allow some space for the bass fuzz effect to come through. I feel this sort of effects use is where the 60s vibe comes through?
Reconciling it in this way though I can shake off my trepidations.
Anyway I don't want to get too bogged down in stuff like that when I've had the record for less than a day. As the mix settles in my head the songs begin to open up and the real juice comes through.
magicians is a definite highlight - "emptied a bar in baltimore" is my fav lyric on the album so far, really interesting emotional song for dave that I haven't unpacked yet.
Overall I love how the album is unapologetically slow. Magicians is an epic. Genie's is so steady it's almost static. defeat is defeat. soul capturer is not really slow but it cruises along, breathing deep. and Kings they fucking nailed.
I am so happy with how Kings turned out. Perfect vocal blend, just a little reverb, beautiful space with some delightful details. not too fast and not too slow. works for me as the closer, and it doesn't feel long! I think live the song feels long because the song is so still that it generates a certain level of anxiety in a crowd standing for a rock show. But it works great here. I totally agree with whoever said it feels like dave really focused on the "how" of delivering his lyrics, kings is case in point but true across the whole album.
Wrapping up now- Broke is perfect. ACAB is insane, ABBA was my first thought too! I thought the same of Strung at the time, funnily enough. Avey's next era beckons?? And Stride... the only one that doesn't grab me much. I liked Royal and Desire more and this kind of feels like the same song again. sorry to be a little mean on that. On me to get onto deakin's wavelength a little more.
Long post, thanks everyone. Hope the band isn't too bummed out that the album freebirded.
_________________
I pray deep like
Buuuuuuudhaaaaa
I withheld on listening yesterday so that I can savor the experience today while on a 3 hour drive to the beach. Gonna car camp with some friends and will have plenty of time to revisit this album while in nature. Love the energy on the board right now and can't wait to add my own experiences to the mix soon.
I saw my first autumn leaves this week. The signs were all there.
Still feel like Magicians would have been better with a slightly faster tempo, but the last two minutes are such perfect, top tier AC that I really can't complain.
Also loving Kings more and more with every listen. It makes sense in a way I'm not sure it ever did live.
Finally listened all the way through. This is so 60s psychedelia it’s crazy and I’m in LOVE. There’s a very cheeky, maybe swanky quality to some sections that just gives me reallly good feelings. This may sound reductive but it’s not— this is a true stoner album from them in my opinion. It’s so mysterious and gorgeous and out there. Absolutely an instant classic. Kings is fucking amazing as is Magicians and I had never fully clicked with Magicians until now. This album really has at LEAST two of their best recorded efforts yet.
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