Stealing from Duncan, because I am their unofficial #1 superfan/fanboy.
Words cannot describe how excited I was for this album to drop (yes, i just said "drop" referring to an album's release date). First full length by probably my favorite new and active band=wet dream. Huge wet dream. I also pre-ordered this within an hour of the pre-order going up so i got a signed insert and some pins and shit for free. Even bigger wet dream. I also finally got to see them for the first time earlier this month after being foiled from seeing them the 3 times they've come to Denver and it was EVERYTHING I could have hoped for, including microphones being shoved in my face because i was screaming EVERY GODDAMN WORD right in front. Religious experience. But that is neither hear nor there.
Since I've gotten this album, my iTunes tells me i have listened to this album a minimum of 16 times, all the way through. my actual count is even higher because i still have the CD in my car. Needless to say, this album is super awesome.
Comparing it to their earlier recordings, it is a lot less technical as a whole, but is still very technical in areas (see: Pidgeon). Their musicianship and songwriting is topnotch as ever on this one. The cost for this recording must have doubled the price of each EP as well; HUGE sound. That is not necessarily a good thing though, because i loved the simplicity of their first 2, production-wise. To be honest, i kind of got tired of the HUGE orchestral arrangements and sound and wanted to retreat back into Big Bopper Anthems or something. Sound wise, this album kind of sounds like they picked up right where they left off, but listened to Vampire Weekend and The Black Keys while recording, sounds which are evident, but not forefront throughout. Again, not necessarily needed, as their sound was unique as it was, and now i'm comparing one of my favorite bands to a band I love to hate. NONETHELESS! this album is a bit different, a bit poppier, a bit more sing along-esque, and is a whole lot of fun. Everyone should listen to it for the rest of their lives. And if the string arrangements start to wear on you like they did with me after listening to it so many times, imagine them playing it live, sans cheesy arrangements and just meeeeeeeeeeeeellllllllllltttttttttt.
