**Away from the World** (new studio album)

[bassman462]

Somewhere along the line this band lost its imaginative approach that made them worth listening to. Surprise, surprise, THE RIFF sucks.

I think this may have to do with leroi being gone. All of his old sax licks were complimentary to what the band was playing. It seems like the most recent stuff has been just doubling parts. I mean, everyone is playing the riff dave is playing.

[GSR]

I'm glad to hear some flute in there.

[Centipede]

Sounds pretty good to me, first impression.

Edit, second listen: I like it. It's darker and more aggressive than the other new songs we've heard.

[Centipede]

Studio version of Mercy.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kww33eLc6Cs&

[Evan]

Pretty good.

[Coldchillin]

I just came here to post that my local radio station played the studio version. I didn't know it was released yet.

[littlefriend]

Somewhere along the line this band lost its imaginative approach that made them worth listening to. Surprise, surprise, THE RIFF sucks.

I wholeheartedly disagree.

[Centipede]

I've really liked everything I've heard from the new album.

[Coldchillin]

I like all of the music, but not necessarily the lyrics.

[littlefriend]

I can agree with that. A lot of them seem forced and awkward. I definitely dig the music, though.

[bense27]

Tim Reynolds can get fucked.

[Cor]

I do kinda like the studio version of Mercy. But I listened to about half of Before These Crowded Streets this afternoon, and all of those songs have character. Very melodic, a host of different textures, tempos, meters, pretty good lyrics, I could really go on specifically about the things I like on mostly their first three major albums, even though I enjoyed everyday, Lillwhite Sessions, and Busted Stuff too. This new stuff sounds more cookie-cutter to me. Quiet acoustic tune, boring riff, electric guitar doubles it up and then a solo. Didn't they do that same thing in one of the songs on their last album? I think it was Time Bomb? It's just boring to me, but the melodies are lacking, and the songs just don't do it for me anymore. That said I really used to like this band so I'll check out the album because even though I haven't loved what I heard, it sounds better than Big Whiskey.

Of course this is all IMHO.

[Nitro1515]

I'm with you Cor, the first thing I thought of when I heard The Riff was Time Bomb, Time Bomb is a little worse though I think. Lyrics are atrocious.

[bense27]

I've accepted the fact that I am never going to like this band again.

[Banjobach]

I've accepted the fact that I am never going to like this band again.

I am almost there. Just one more album and I should be free.