Thoughts on "is"

kintante5 · Mar 21, 2025, 04:25 PM

Loving it. Should love it even more after hearing it live. It reminds me of their transition from Z to Evil Urges. Really digging their maturity and growth as a band.

ranyart · Mar 22, 2025, 07:54 PM

We're in Colorado coming home from some hot spring soaking time

and listened to is twice on the way back to Denver today. Everything flows very nicely and can't wait to listen again on the airplane home with headphones.

Lonndown27 · Mar 22, 2025, 09:05 PM

Out In the open is such a good opener, could see it being euphoric live.

Lucius · Mar 23, 2025, 07:38 AM

Out In The Open needs to be a single. Perfect festival/summer vibe to it. It's a really beautiful song that's growing on me with every listen.

Also still really happy with Everyday Magic. My wishlist for this record included some kind of funky little number, I couldn't have imagined anything better than this song. The breakdown before the last chorus has that live Dondante energy where they flip the disco switch. One of the best examples of the band capturing their live essence in studio! I can imagine Carl ripping through it with his sax

Also still obsessed with Die For It. That Psychedelic 70s rock vibe is such a great fit for this band and something I want more of in the future! That outro is the closest thing I've had to an opioid high since I quit using

slappymoe · Mar 24, 2025, 10:20 AM

I like numbers 1 and 2.

The next 4, not so much.

Finishes strong.

ChiefOKONO · Mar 24, 2025, 01:29 PM

YES! Out in the Open needs a single and video release!

I really like Beginning from the Ending, Everyday Magic and I can hear your Love (was hoping for a song kind of in this vein)

Also Die for it and Lemme Know.

Growing on me overall on each listen!

Quote from: Lucius on Mar 23, 2025, 07:38 AMOut In The Open needs to be a single. Perfect festival/summer vibe to it. It's a really beautiful song that's growing on me with every listen.

Also still really happy with Everyday Magic. My wishlist for this record included some kind of funky little number, I couldn't have imagined anything better than this song. The breakdown before the last chorus has that live Dondante energy where they flip the disco switch. One of the best examples of the band capturing their live essence in studio! I can imagine Carl ripping through it with his sax

Also still obsessed with Die For It. That Psychedelic 70s rock vibe is such a great fit for this band and something I want more of in the future! That outro is the closest thing I've had to an opioid high since I quit using

gardenparty78 · Mar 24, 2025, 05:58 PM

I was really out on this album after Squid Ink came out and even my first full listen through.

Gotta say on my third listen to the album I am hearing so much that I completely missed on first listen.
Great melodies, great playing, great mix.

I think we have an album I am really going to enjoy here!

S/T was not my cup of tea. Loved Waterfall and most of Waterfall 2.

Don't think I could rate the songs just yet, as some I didn't enjoy on 1st listen are quickly climbing...except Squid Ink:)

Nikkogino · Mar 24, 2025, 06:46 PM

Quote from: gardenparty78 on Mar 24, 2025, 05:58 PMI was really out on this album after Squid Ink came out and even my first full listen through.

Gotta say on my third listen to the album I am hearing so much that I completely missed on first listen.
Great melodies, great playing, great mix.

I think we have an album I am really going to enjoy here!

S/T was not my cup of tea. Loved Waterfall and most of Waterfall 2.

Don't think I could rate the songs just yet, as some I didn't enjoy on 1st listen are quickly climbing...except Squid Ink:)

Of all the dumb rockers MMJ have made (highly suspicious, holding on to black metal, squid ink), Squid Ink is the best.

Lonndown27 · Mar 24, 2025, 07:04 PM

Squid Ink is complete buttrock. Don't know wny they did a buttrock track like Complex and Squid Ink. They're not good 🤣🤣

But my favorites are DIE FOR IT, OUT IN THE OPEN, man I'm really just dipping and diving. Like 15 listens in and it's still an enigma. I love stretches of this record and then others I'm not sure of just yet....a few times there's these forced platitudes in the lyrics that come out of nowhere and have zero place...almost like a PSA...I think it was during Lemme Know.
Everyday Magic....hmmm I dunno yet.
There's some i just need to keep hearing.

Nikkogino · Mar 24, 2025, 07:26 PM

Hot take:
Half a Lifetime is the best track.

MyYinzerJacket · Mar 25, 2025, 06:23 AM

It seems like there's something for everyone on is, they really killed it on this one.
I appreciate how concise it is as a studio album, but I can't wait to see how they perform them at OBH and beyond, there's a lot of potential there. Should be some fun shows this year!

Lonndown27 · Mar 25, 2025, 10:37 AM

Quote from: Nikkogino on Mar 24, 2025, 07:26 PMHot take:
Half a Lifetime is the best track.

Hey man, it's still stuck in my head even if I'm not listening to it, I barely listen to it compared to the other songs.

Nikkogino · Mar 25, 2025, 10:59 AM

Quote from: Lonndown27 on Mar 25, 2025, 10:37 AM
Quote from: Nikkogino on Mar 24, 2025, 07:26 PMHot take:
Half a Lifetime is the best track.

Hey man, it's still stuck in my head even if I'm not listening to it, I barely listen to it compared to the other songs.

I think it suffers from "pre-release single syndrome." As it blends into the album with time, I think people will start respecting it more. Such a tune with some great Jim vocals.

ChiefOKONO · Mar 25, 2025, 11:23 AM

I'm really enjoying the lyrics to Half a Lifetime. Love how different it is!

I wonder if they will make any more videos? Out in the Open or Beginning from the Ending, or any other songs would be cool imo.

Lucius · Mar 25, 2025, 11:40 AM

Hilarious as it is that someone signed up to these forums just to call Half A Lifetime a clunker... they might kind of have a point. I haven't written it off yet, and I have a feeling it's a song that might grow on me live. But... Out In The Open does flow much smoother into Everyday Magic

I'm not sold on it yet. I'm aware this is Jacket Blasphemy, but I didn't like Mahgeetah until I heard it live

so who knows, it's early days still.

I Can Hear Your Love is another one I need to spend more time with. It just makes me want to listen to Slow Slow Tune

APR · Mar 25, 2025, 02:06 PM

After several listens, the album is growing on me and I am becoming a big fan of it. Everyday Magic, Beginning From The Ending, and Die For It are my current favorites. I'm curious which songs will be extended during the live shows. Regardless, I can't wait to hear these tunes in person.

Nikkogino · Mar 25, 2025, 09:08 PM

Quote from: APR on Mar 25, 2025, 02:06 PMAfter several listens, the album is growing on me and I am becoming a big fan of it. Everyday Magic, Beginning From The Ending, and Die For It are my current favorites. I'm curious which songs will be extended during the live shows. Regardless, I can't wait to hear these tunes in person.

It'd be cool for them to play the whole album and extend all of the songs for a live release.

ChiefOKONO · Mar 26, 2025, 02:40 PM

YES!

It also would be cool to release videos of all of the other songs that don't have videos captured live in the studio.

Also, they should guest on NPR Tiny Desk concert series!

Quote from: Nikkogino on Mar 25, 2025, 09:08 PM
Quote from: APR on Mar 25, 2025, 02:06 PMAfter several listens, the album is growing on me and I am becoming a big fan of it. Everyday Magic, Beginning From The Ending, and Die For It are my current favorites. I'm curious which songs will be extended during the live shows. Regardless, I can't wait to hear these tunes in person.
It'd be cool for them to play the whole album and extend all of the songs for a live release.

Nikkogino · Mar 26, 2025, 09:30 PM

Quote from: ChiefOKONO on Mar 26, 2025, 02:40 PMYES!

It also would be cool to release videos of all of the other songs that don't have videos captured live in the studio.

Also, they should guest on NPR Tiny Desk concert series!

Quote from: Nikkogino on Mar 25, 2025, 09:08 PM
Quote from: APR on Mar 25, 2025, 02:06 PMAfter several listens, the album is growing on me and I am becoming a big fan of it. Everyday Magic, Beginning From The Ending, and Die For It are my current favorites. I'm curious which songs will be extended during the live shows. Regardless, I can't wait to hear these tunes in person.
It'd be cool for them to play the whole album and extend all of the songs for a live release.

Crazy that the full band has never done tiny desk. How is that possible.

Also, I wish the band would release a proper EP like the good ol days. Especially if they have some leftover tracks.

ChiefOKONO · Mar 27, 2025, 12:11 PM

I could not Agree More!!!

I'd love an EP too. They could put some of the others from this session on it along with some demos :)

Quote from: Nikkogino on Mar 26, 2025, 09:30 PM
Quote from: ChiefOKONO on Mar 26, 2025, 02:40 PMYES!

It also would be cool to release videos of all of the other songs that don't have videos captured live in the studio.

Also, they should guest on NPR Tiny Desk concert series!

Quote from: Nikkogino on Mar 25, 2025, 09:08 PM
Quote from: APR on Mar 25, 2025, 02:06 PMAfter several listens, the album is growing on me and I am becoming a big fan of it. Everyday Magic, Beginning From The Ending, and Die For It are my current favorites. I'm curious which songs will be extended during the live shows. Regardless, I can't wait to hear these tunes in person.
It'd be cool for them to play the whole album and extend all of the songs for a live release.
Crazy that the full band has never done tiny desk. How is that possible.

Also, I wish the band would release a proper EP like the good ol days. Especially if they have some leftover tracks.