The Fans Review The Waterfall

[EverythingChanges]

We've read the critics' reviews, now let's read each other's in depth analysis of this achievement.

The Waterfall is a grower of an album, but I believe all great albums are growers.  Sure, some great albums give instant enjoyment, but I think to really appreciate them you have to dive deeper to allow them to really sink into your mind and resonate with you.  I've done exactly this with The Waterfall.

Half of this album excites me more than anything on Circuital, save for Wonderful.  Believe is a bold album opener, that seems sort of cheesy at first listen, but it has really grown on me and I am excited to see its incorporation into the shows.  Tropics is a heavy hitter that is sure to please live.  Only Memories Remain is a haunting jaunt reminiscent of the past likes of Dondante or Steam Engine, but it never quite achieves their grandeur.  It begs to be played in a cloudy thunderstorm.  Get The Point satisfies the acoustic folk song that Jim does so well.  Sure, its lyrics aren't quite as powerful as those of Wonderful, or the song quite as moving as I Will Be There When You Die or Bermuda Highway, but I love it all the same.  After listening to this album on repeat, this is the song that rings in my head the most.  However, my favorite part of the album lies with the super interesting guitar and synth work on In Its Infancy.  This song would kill if it was extended live around the 3:50 time stamp.  This unique synth and guitar sound appears in Thin Line as well, which has been the biggest grower on the album for me.

Unfortunately, The Waterfall falls short on a few tracks.  As much as I want to like Like A River, I just don't feel like it is a complete song.  It seems to be missing something.  Hopefully it will grow on me.  Spring is one of the heavier rock-centric songs on the album, but it just ends up seeming like a mess; sometimes a good mess, but a mess all of the same.  It sounds like an inferior follow-up to State of the Art in my opinion.  Big Decisions was my first taste of The Waterfall.  Overall, it is a solid pop song, but the best part is when the horns come into play at 3:13, which is unfortunately when the song ends.  It works so hard the first three minutes building layers to finally hit this musical bliss only to end a moment later.  Finally, Compound Fracture is interesting, but it is not necessarily one of my favorites on the album.

The bonus tracks are great.  I wonder why they just didn't include them on the album?

My biggest complaint on the album is that a good half of the songs leave me wishing they were extended a bit more.  Tropics is awesome, but it never reaches that dueling guitar epic-ness that Lay Low exhibits.  In Its Infancy is my favorite song on the album, but it also leaves me with this same feeling.  Other tracks that end too soon are Big Decisions, and Thin Line.  I love that the guys extend their music live, but I wish the studio recordings could stand on their own when compared to the live cuts to some extent.  I rarely listen to the studio versions of TTF, and AD for the same reason.  I wish I could listen to this album and say, "That jam at the end of Tropics is badass, I can't wait to hear it live!"  Instead of, "Tropics has the potential to be extended and kill live!"  I want it to kill on the studio album as well!  I know these songs can't be extended to 10+ minutes, but is a couple more minutes of screeching guitar and synth that much to ask for?  Lay Low, Dondante, Run Thru, etc. all have this climactic pay off on the studio recording that leaves me satisfied.  These songs on The Waterfall are a tease with all things considered.

Overall, I am super relieved that this album is so great.  I've already seen the songs live, but am looking forward to hearing them live again now that I have had time to become acquainted with them.  This is easily my favorite album of the year so far. 

[dub82]

I have been through about 5 listens, and I got to hear a few live at OBH2. This album is great, but different. I don't feel the same way as I did when I heard z, EU, or circuital. Z made me pissed for about two months because I loved at dawn so much, and ISM is my favorite album of all time. EU had some great moments,but felt forced. So did circuital.

I read all the reviews, and got a little scared. So like I said, I blew through it about 5 times. Starting from the top with believe. Great song, love the grove. Very poppy, with some reverb. Compound fracture, holy shit. Game changer, just an awesome song. Like a river is ok, sounds exactly like fleet foxes, needs some edge. Like a river is just solid, takes about 4 different turns, and they are all good. Nice high hat shout out to OBH. Get the point is perfect, nice classics pedal steel laden mmj. Spring is my least favorite, too disjointed. Thin line is one wor- cool. Just a cool, seventies harmony jam. Big d is good, but was awesome live. Tropics can kiss my ass, it's too cool, and one of my favorite mmj songs yet. Memories is way better live, and a cool ass jam.

This album is more harmonic than anything they have ever done, and it's good. Real good.

[RobRoy286]

highlights for me include...

- the length of the album. 10 songs is perfect, and they tracked them so well.

- how get the point "breaks up"  the album right in the middle, then spring is the rebirth of side B

- speaking of spring, it's the biggest grower for me. At first I didn't care for it, and thought it was just a rehash of victory dance/state of the art, but now I absolutely love it. The horns at the end are killer.

-"nobody loves you except for me" that line is delivered so fuckin beautifully. So cool to learn that that is from an old MMJ song. What does he say though? "Giving ____, crazy diamonds?"

- "our earthly bodies will surely fall, but the love we share outlives us all. What's done is done at the end of the day, but still those memories remain"

- I loved big decisions when they first released it. I love it even more now.

- the Miami jungle version of compound fracture sounded weird to me at first, but now I can't decide which version I prefer. Love the vocals in the main version, but I wish they had kept the pre-chorus and the guitar solo at the end.

[marino13]

Only three times through, which is not enough to give a good opinion yet.  But one thing I'm sure of.....

G R O W E R

[grizzy]

We've read the critics' reviews, now let's read each other's in depth analysis of this achievement.

The Waterfall is a grower of an album, but I believe all great albums are growers.  Sure, some great albums give instant enjoyment, but I think to really appreciate them you have to dive deeper to allow them to really sink into your mind and resonate with you.  I've done exactly this with The Waterfall.

Half of this album excites me more than anything on Circuital, save for Wonderful.  Believe is a bold album opener, that seems sort of cheesy at first listen, but it has really grown on me and I am excited to see its incorporation into the shows.  Tropics is a heavy hitter that is sure to please live.  Only Memories Remain is a haunting jaunt reminiscent of the past likes of Dondante or Steam Engine, but it never quite achieves their grandeur. It begs to be played in a cloudy thunderstorm.  Get The Point satisfies the acoustic folk song that Jim does so well.  Sure, its lyrics aren't quite as powerful as those of Wonderful, or the song quite as moving as I Will Be There When You Die or Bermuda Highway, but I love it all the same.  After listening to this album on repeat, this is the song that rings in my head the most.  However, my favorite part of the album lies with the super interesting guitar and synth work on In Its Infancy.  This song would kill if it was extended live around the 3:50 time stamp.  This unique synth and guitar sound appears in Thin Line as well, which has been the biggest grower on the album for me.

Unfortunately, The Waterfall falls short on a few tracks.  As much as I want to like Like A River, I just don't feel like it is a complete song.  It seems to be missing something.  Hopefully it will grow on me.  Spring is one of the heavier rock-centric songs on the album, but it just ends up seeming like a mess; sometimes a good mess, but a mess all of the same. It sounds like an inferior follow-up to State of the Art in my opinion.  Big Decisions was my first taste of The Waterfall.  Overall, it is a solid pop song, but the best part is when the horns come into play at 3:13, which is unfortunately when the song ends.  It works so hard the first three minutes building layers to finally hit this musical bliss only to end a moment later.  Finally, Compound Fracture is interesting, but it is not necessarily one of my favorites on the album.

The bonus tracks are great. I wonder why they just didn't include them on the album?

My biggest complaint on the album is that a good half of the songs leave me wishing they were extended a bit more.  Tropics is awesome, but it never reaches that dueling guitar epic-ness that Lay Low exhibits.  In Its Infancy is my favorite song on the album, but it also leaves me with this same feeling.  Other tracks that end too soon are Big Decisions, and Thin Line.  I love that the guys extend their music live, but I wish the studio recordings could stand on their own when compared to the live cuts to some extent.  I rarely listen to the studio versions of TTF, and AD for the same reason.  I wish I could listen to this album and say, "That jam at the end of Tropics is badass, I can't wait to hear it live!"  Instead of, "Tropics has the potential to be extended and kill live!"  I want it to kill on the studio album as well!  I know these songs can't be extended to 10+ minutes, but is a couple more minutes of screeching guitar and synth that much to ask for?  Lay Low, Dondante, Run Thru, etc. all have this climactic pay off on the studio recording that leaves me satisfied.  These songs on The Waterfall are a tease with all things considered.

Overall, I am super relieved that this album is so great.  I've already seen the songs live, but am looking forward to hearing them live again now that I have had time to become acquainted with them.  This is easily my favorite album of the year so far.

Great write up.

The bolded areas are points I super really agree with.

The part in red is what a vehemently disagree with. BUT, it's because I'm one of the rare ones who loves Like a River. 

[EverythingChanges]

We've read the critics' reviews, now let's read each other's in depth analysis of this achievement.

The Waterfall is a grower of an album, but I believe all great albums are growers.  Sure, some great albums give instant enjoyment, but I think to really appreciate them you have to dive deeper to allow them to really sink into your mind and resonate with you.  I've done exactly this with The Waterfall.

Half of this album excites me more than anything on Circuital, save for Wonderful.  Believe is a bold album opener, that seems sort of cheesy at first listen, but it has really grown on me and I am excited to see its incorporation into the shows.  Tropics is a heavy hitter that is sure to please live.  Only Memories Remain is a haunting jaunt reminiscent of the past likes of Dondante or Steam Engine, but it never quite achieves their grandeur. It begs to be played in a cloudy thunderstorm.  Get The Point satisfies the acoustic folk song that Jim does so well.  Sure, its lyrics aren't quite as powerful as those of Wonderful, or the song quite as moving as I Will Be There When You Die or Bermuda Highway, but I love it all the same.  After listening to this album on repeat, this is the song that rings in my head the most.  However, my favorite part of the album lies with the super interesting guitar and synth work on In Its Infancy.  This song would kill if it was extended live around the 3:50 time stamp.  This unique synth and guitar sound appears in Thin Line as well, which has been the biggest grower on the album for me.

Unfortunately, The Waterfall falls short on a few tracks.  As much as I want to like Like A River, I just don't feel like it is a complete song.  It seems to be missing something.  Hopefully it will grow on me.  Spring is one of the heavier rock-centric songs on the album, but it just ends up seeming like a mess; sometimes a good mess, but a mess all of the same. It sounds like an inferior follow-up to State of the Art in my opinion.  Big Decisions was my first taste of The Waterfall.  Overall, it is a solid pop song, but the best part is when the horns come into play at 3:13, which is unfortunately when the song ends.  It works so hard the first three minutes building layers to finally hit this musical bliss only to end a moment later.  Finally, Compound Fracture is interesting, but it is not necessarily one of my favorites on the album.

The bonus tracks are great. I wonder why they just didn't include them on the album?

My biggest complaint on the album is that a good half of the songs leave me wishing they were extended a bit more.  Tropics is awesome, but it never reaches that dueling guitar epic-ness that Lay Low exhibits.  In Its Infancy is my favorite song on the album, but it also leaves me with this same feeling.  Other tracks that end too soon are Big Decisions, and Thin Line.  I love that the guys extend their music live, but I wish the studio recordings could stand on their own when compared to the live cuts to some extent.  I rarely listen to the studio versions of TTF, and AD for the same reason.  I wish I could listen to this album and say, "That jam at the end of Tropics is badass, I can't wait to hear it live!"  Instead of, "Tropics has the potential to be extended and kill live!"  I want it to kill on the studio album as well!  I know these songs can't be extended to 10+ minutes, but is a couple more minutes of screeching guitar and synth that much to ask for?  Lay Low, Dondante, Run Thru, etc. all have this climactic pay off on the studio recording that leaves me satisfied.  These songs on The Waterfall are a tease with all things considered.

Overall, I am super relieved that this album is so great.  I've already seen the songs live, but am looking forward to hearing them live again now that I have had time to become acquainted with them.  This is easily my favorite album of the year so far.

Great write up.

The bolded areas are points I super really agree with.

The part in red is what a vehemently disagree with. BUT, it's because I'm one of the rare ones who loves Like a River. 

Thank you!

Like a River is growing on me. It sort of locks you into its trance. It's not a bad song at all, but I think it is missing a little of something.

[justbcuzido]

I love Like a River, the way it just builds until it explodes into a wave of warmth and sound at 3:10... Just perfect and really does make me feel like I'm back on the mountain tops in Mendocino area of California. Just perfect to me.. Also, I really dig the fuzz of guitars near the end. This is a great headphone track

[Stevie]

I've listened to the album probably 20 times now.  I've learned that I like it best in the middle of the night, of course with some quality headphones on, and a "fog" in the room.  Under those conditions, it feels absolutely perfect. 

Like a River has become my favorite.  Warm, beautiful and so very intense at the tail end.  While there are more than a few tracks on this album that deserve to be extended, I feel that Like a River is perfect the way it is.  That's just me though, I feel like I've had a borderline religious experience listening to that song. 

However, I do agree that many of the other songs could have used an extension in some way or another.  The band recently said that they do not think much about the live realm when they are recording, so I'm thinking that maybe they wanted to keep things pretty neat and tidy (perhaps more accessible) this time around.  One benefit of this that does translate to the live renditions is that there are less restrictions for live extensions.  They are not bound by any predetermined type of solo and they can now change these up a little easier as they go along.  Personally, i prefer this as I listen to live recordings exponentially more than the original albums. 

One thing that I've noticed in reading the reviews (I've read almost every one in the review thread) is that it seems like everyone has a different favorite or set of favorites.  To me that speaks to the complexity of the album and of course the quality.

[Stevie]

I love Like a River, the way it just builds until it explodes into a wave of warmth and sound at 3:10... Just perfect and really does make me feel like I'm back on the mountain tops in Mendocino area of California. Just perfect to me.. Also, I really dig the fuzz of guitars near the end. This is a great headphone track

I've listened to the album probably 20 times now.  I've learned that I like it best in the middle of the night, of course with some quality headphones on, and a "fog" in the room.  Under those conditions, it feels absolutely perfect. 

Like a River has become my favorite.  Warm, beautiful and so very intense at the tail end.  While there are more than a few tracks on this album that deserve to be extended, I feel that Like a River is perfect the way it is.  That's just me though, I feel like I've had a borderline religious experience listening to that song. 

For the record, I hit reply before you had posted this.. so i had no clue that you were about to write essentially the same thing.

Looks like we're both tuned in to the same vibe, my friend.     

[justbcuzido]

Glad someone is as psyched about this tune as me!

[gardenparty]

Glad someone is as psyched about this tune as me!

I think it is almost a perfect song.  beautiful

[grizzy]

Glad someone is as psyched about this tune as me!

I love Like a River, the way it just builds until it explodes into a wave of warmth and sound at 3:10... Just perfect and really does make me feel like I'm back on the mountain tops in Mendocino area of California. Just perfect to me.. Also, I really dig the fuzz of guitars near the end. This is a great headphone track

Go check out the thread I started "rank each song".

I ranked Like a River #1 

Me, you, and Stevie should start an exclusive cool club where having impeccable taste is clearly a prerequisite. 

Great call on Mendocino. I was feeling a Yosemite vibe. Like the high country in Tuolumne Meadows...along the cascades of the Tuolumne River behind Pothole Dome.

Sort of makes me sad how low Like a River ranks low on so many of the fans responses. It grabbed me from the first listen.

[grizzy]

Like a River has become my favorite.  Warm, beautiful and so very intense at the tail end.  While there are more than a few tracks on this album that deserve to be extended, I feel that Like a River is perfect the way it is.  That's just me though, I feel like I've had a borderline religious experience listening to that song. 

[meltingaway]

i'm with you guys on this, "like a river" takes me somewhere at the end, and it jumped out at me immediately...and as for "in its infancy", well that one has taken some time to fully appreciate, i am fully satisfied with the rest of the album

all of this is subject to change once i see/hear the new stuff live...i cain't wait

[e-stone]

Glad someone is as psyched about this tune as me!

I love Like a River, the way it just builds until it explodes into a wave of warmth and sound at 3:10... Just perfect and really does make me feel like I'm back on the mountain tops in Mendocino area of California. Just perfect to me.. Also, I really dig the fuzz of guitars near the end. This is a great headphone track

Go check out the thread I started "rank each song".

I ranked Like a River #1 

Me, you, and Stevie should start an exclusive cool club where having impeccable taste is clearly a prerequisite. 

count me in as the coolest - check the date on my post - this was from back when we had to hide our discussion of the new album in the "Off-Topic Ramblings" section or risk being deleted!

I was very pleasantly surprised by the album.  It's beautiful.  The opening of the album totally caught me off guard and really let my mind be open to everything that was to follow.  It's more cohesive than Evil Urges and I think that overall it's better than Circuital (not that I dislike Circuital).  They've ventured into new territory and attached their signature to it.

really well put - i agree with everything you've said here.

the two standouts upon first few listens for me are "Like A River" (that breakdown...jesus) and "Thin Line" (i can already feel how those opening guitars will sound at Red Rocks this summer)

even "Big Decisions" sucks a little less sandwiched in the album 

i've not been this excited about new Jacket tunes in a long while.  it's nice.

[grizzy]

Glad someone is as psyched about this tune as me!

I love Like a River, the way it just builds until it explodes into a wave of warmth and sound at 3:10... Just perfect and really does make me feel like I'm back on the mountain tops in Mendocino area of California. Just perfect to me.. Also, I really dig the fuzz of guitars near the end. This is a great headphone track

Go check out the thread I started "rank each song".

I ranked Like a River #1 

Me, you, and Stevie should start an exclusive cool club where having impeccable taste is clearly a prerequisite. 

count me in as the coolest - check the date on my post - this was from back when we had to hide our discussion of the new album in the "Off-Topic Ramblings" section or risk being deleted!

I was very pleasantly surprised by the album.  It's beautiful.  The opening of the album totally caught me off guard and really let my mind be open to everything that was to follow.  It's more cohesive than Evil Urges and I think that overall it's better than Circuital (not that I dislike Circuital).  They've ventured into new territory and attached their signature to it.

really well put - i agree with everything you've said here.

the two standouts upon first few listens for me are "Like A River" (that breakdown...jesus) and "Thin Line" (i can already feel how those opening guitars will sound at Red Rocks this summer)

even "Big Decisions" sucks a little less sandwiched in the album 

i've not been this excited about new Jacket tunes in a long while.  it's nice.

Looks like you're our founding father! 

[whtrentham]

The progression in these songs are killer.  I love it.

I agree with the OP on the opening track, "Believe (Nobody Knows)."  Cheesy at first...but gets better each time I listen to it.

"Tropics (Erase Traces)" instantly became one of my favorite MMJ songs to date.  I'm going to jam the f**k out to this one when it is played in Knoxville.

For some reason, "Spring (Among the Living)" reminds me a lot of "Touch Me I'm Going to Scream, pt. 2," which is one of my all-time favorites.  I have to say, I was glad they released it early so that I could listen to it on repeat in preparation for the album's release.

"Only Memories Remain" could keep playing for another 8 minutes, and I'd be just fine.  Slow and groovy.

"Get the Point" is old school MMJ.  Love the picking.  Love the lyrics.

As always, this band blows me away.  So glad they are finally coming to Knoxville (first time I believe) and that I get to see them live for the first time since Circuital was released back in 2011.  Icing on the cake is I have another album to look forward to later this year.

[headhunter]

Succinctly, the album is excellent and a proud return to form.

I though Compound Fracture and Only Memories were particularly outstanding at OBH2 this year and have no doubt that the new material  will be AWESOME when played live.

This band has great studio albums but is best when live.   I'm confident this will be revealed once again on the upcoming tour.

See ya'll on the rail.

[ellisintransit]

So glad they are finally coming to Knoxville (first time I believe)

I hope this doesn't come across all Mr. Knowitall, but I just wanted to show you the other times they've played Knoxville.  Man have they come a long way since playing Blue Cats...that was three days after Z was released!

6/9/05 Public Square- Free Bonnaroo Warm-Up show with Josh Ritter
10/7/05 Blue Cat's with Kathleen Edwards
11/10/06 Tennessee Theater with Wax Fang

[whtrentham]

So glad they are finally coming to Knoxville (first time I believe)

I hope this doesn't come across all Mr. Knowitall, but I just wanted to show you the other times they've played Knoxville.  Man have they come a long way since playing Blue Cats...that was three days after Z was released!

6/9/05 Public Square- Free Bonnaroo Warm-Up show with Josh Ritter
10/7/05 Blue Cat's with Kathleen Edwards
11/10/06 Tennessee Theater with Wax Fang

I stand corrected!  I didn't really listen to them until I saw them play their epic four hour set in the rain at Bonnaroo '08.  Since that moment, I've watched their tours like a hawk...having to drive way out of town on a weeknight to see them play isn't fun (except for the show of course).  Them playing not only in Knoxville, but on a Saturday night?!?!?!  I'm stoked.

I wish I could have seen them at Blue Cats.  What they've done to that place (NV) is a travesty.  While I like some EDM, that is all it is now...tweakers, tweeners, and a sickening amount of ear-blowing bass.