Three listens through, and it's getting better with each one. While I liked Circuital, and like songs off EU, I can already tell I'm going to like this better. It doesn't have the lo-fi & reverb we love on TTF, AD, or ISM...but guess what does have that...those three records. We can listen to them anytime we want.
Here's my completely unsolicited (and sure to change) ranking after just a few hours (and I'd love to get yours):
1. Like a River - I'm probably alone on this path of ranking it #1 but it's grabbed me. So haunting. Love the little Fela Kuti-esque chant. I can't stop listening to it.
2. Only Memories Remain - Feels/sounds like a song that Jim was going to put on Regions of Light, but needed the band to make it whole. So good how it builds.
3. Tropics - Love the long intro. Love that it has some power towards the end.
4a. Spring - The first 42 seconds of this song are so good, and seem like vintage MMJ, but takes an abrupt turn for me with the Victory Dance-esque beat. Could be stronger lyrically for me. Gets better, and stays better from the 1:33 mark on. Gonna be great live.
4b. Believe - Kinda surprised I have it this high. I love the cadence of his lyrics when he's not doing the "Believe" chorus. I love the feel Bo gives to this song. It can be a little corny at times but I still like it.
4c. In Its Infancy - I feel like this one will grow on me even more and climb my list.
7. Compound Fracture - Pretty different but pretty damn solid. I'm sure it will be a "grower" too.
8. Get The Point - Had higher hopes for this one after that 2min preview where they previewed 5 songs in March. I need more Carl on steel and the lyrics don't move me but the chorus. I like it but thought we may have another Golden or Bermuda on our hands.
9. Thin Line - It's OK.
10. Big Decisions - It's OK also
The two Bonus Tracks are EXCELLENT. I'd put them right in the middle of my rankings. I Can't Wait feels like a song Wes Anderson would've put in Rushmore. I dig it. Hillside sounds vintage too.
Post your early impressions.
In It's Infancy
Compound Fracture
Only Memories Remain
Get the Point
Like a River
Tropics
Big Decisions
Spring
Believe
Thin Line
Tropics
Only Memories Remain
In It's Infancy
Compound Fracture
Spring
Get the Point
Believe
Big Decisions
Thin Line
Like a River
1. Only Memories Remain
2. Thin Line
3. Tropics
4. Like A River
5. Big Decisions
6. Get the Point
7. Compound Fracture
8. Spring
9. In Its Infancy
10. Believe
I enjoy it all though. Thin Line was probably my least favorite a couple weeks ago
This list may change once I get the vinyl tomorrow but for now:
1. Tropics
2. Only Memories
3. Thin Line
4. Spring
5. Compound Fracture
6. In its Infancy
7. Big Decisions
8. Like A River
9. Get the Point
10. Believe
I think its so great these lists are so different. Mark of a great record.
It changes every day, but I think I'll rank it in tiers...
TOP O' THE CROP/ALREADY JACKET CLASSICS
1. Only Memories Remain
2. Compound Fracture
3. Waterfall
GREAT
4. Tropics
5. Thin Line
6. Like A River
7. Spring
VERY GOOD/SOLID GROWTH POTENTIAL
8. Believe
9. Big Decisions
PLEASANT
10. Get The Point
BEST
1. Tropics (not even close IMO)
GREAT
2. Only Memories
3. Compound Fracture
4. Spring
5. Waterfall
GOOD
6. Like A River
7. Thin Line
MEH
8. Get the point
9. Believe
LEAST FAVORITE JACKET SONG EVER
10. Big Decisions
Quote from: parkervb on May 04, 2015, 03:24 PM
I think its so great these lists are so different. Mark of a great record.
Was gonna say the same.
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
I am a few dozen spins in from the leak, but have the vinyl coming today so this may change.....
Here is my take:
1. In it's Infancy (the waterfall)
2. Only Memories
3. Spring
4. Believe (Nobody Knows) - yal sleeping on this one it will be setting off a lot of great shows this year!
5. Tropics (I do feel like this will be massive live too)
6. Compound Fracture
7. Big Decisions
8. Thin Line
9. Get the Point
10. Like A River
Great freaking album though man, really a big fan.
BTW... really think they open the tour up with Spring. First song in Athens. Just a gut feeling.
Amazing:
Compound Fracture
Only Memories Remain
In It's Infancy
Great:
Tropics
Spring
Thin Line
Very Good:
Like a River
Believe
Okay:
Get the Point
Big Decisions
mmj fan since bonnaroo 2003, long time board lurker, but first post.
it goes to show how great this band is based on the variants of list below, so thought i'd add to the conversation.
1. Infancy
2. Like a River
3. Only Memories Remain
4. Compound
5. Get The Point
6. Spring
7. Tropics
8. Believe
9. Thin Line
10. Big Decisions
Songs I can't wait to see live:
1. Tropics
2. Spring
3. OMR
(cracks knuckles...)
1) In Its Infancy :cheesy:
2) Tropics :cheesy:
3) Compound Fracture :cheesy:
4) Only Memories :cheesy:
5) Thin Line :thumbsup:
6) Believe :thumbsup:
7) Spring :thumbsup:
8) River :thumbsup:
9) Get The Point :tongue:
10) Big Decisions :undecided:
Tropics
In its infancy
Only memories
Compound fracture
Thin line
Spring
Believe
Get the point
Like a river
Big decisions
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Great album overall. My ranking changes all the time, so I am putting them in tiers based on album enjoyment AND live potential. The great thing is that even what I currently think of as 3rd tier songs are still good. No real clunkers.
Top Tier / Expecting Great Things Live:
+ Tropics - the outro is going to have the head banging and strobe lights we all crave :)
+ Only Memories Remain - toward the end of the show...extended reflective sway-along mental departure...love that end section riff
+ Believe - I am probably 50 spins into this record and agree with mynameiscurt that y'all be sleepin on this one...it grew on me in a big way despite the after-school special nature of the title and lyrics. To me this sounds like the beginning of a road trip or the start of a crisp summer day in Tahoe. Rising energy. Not a long jammer but a nice kickoff to the show or an energetic spark off the bench. Positive mental nourishment during pensive concert moments.
+ Spring - I totally dig this one, think it is going to rip live. A little reminiscent of Victory Dance in its dark intro tone, but then has that funky ass breakbeat / Bo section. I think they will get weird in the middle of this one.
+ In Its Infancy - love the guitar tone during the breaks, vintage MMJ. And the spacey keys. Lots of sections for them to improvise. Plus Yim is obviously pretty mentally engaged with the whole Waterfall concept.
Second Tier / Enjoy them already, hoping to be surprised live:
+ Compound Fracture - I like where they are going with it but there's something missing. Saw it at OBH2 and it was pretty good but didn't grab me. I think I know what it is...if they could just get Michael McDonald on backup vocals it would vault it right into the top tier.
+ Get The Point - Short and sweet cool down. I like this song.
+ Like a River - it's nice but doesn't 'go anywhere' for me, unlike a river. I may get mesmerized by it live and be eating my words.
Third Tier / Bathroom and a beer:
+ Thin Line - AKA 'Bathroom Line'
+ Big Decisions - AKA 'Beer Decisions'. Caveat, I do think they will put energy into this one given that it's their big single.
Looking forward to seeing where all of these fall in the set list and what they supplement with given the expanded catalog. No matter what, we're lucky people to be looking forward to this tour...see ya in Nola and SF!
Only Memories
Thin Line
Tropics
Believe
In its Infancy
Like a River
Spring
Big Decisions
Compound Fracture
Get the point
It will be interesting hearing them all live.
Quote from: Bermuda Highway on May 04, 2015, 04:52 PM
Third Tier / Bathroom and a beer:
+ Thin Line - AKA 'Bathroom Line'
just make it back before those dueling guitars come in at the end of the track. It's kinda brief on the track but I HOPE it gets stretched out live.
Quote from: parkervb on May 04, 2015, 05:33 PM
Quote from: Bermuda Highway on May 04, 2015, 04:52 PM
Third Tier / Bathroom and a beer:
+ Thin Line - AKA 'Bathroom Line'
just make it back before those dueling guitars come in at the end of the track. It's kinda brief on the track but I HOPE it gets stretched out live.
Agree. I think this one is a sleeper that will totally crush when played live. Sort of like Slow Slow Tune IMO. I don't think any of these tracks will be "bathroom line" for me until I have seen them live at least once. My tiers:
Top Tier/the Best:
- Compound Fracture (I particularly like the Miami Jungle version)
- Tropics (hoping for a Dondante->Tropics->Run Thru run sometime, I would die happy)
- Only Memories Remain (nice long, classic slow jam)
- Thin Line (I totally dig it)
- Hillside Song (out of place on the album, but has that New Basement Tapes feel)
2nd Tier/Great:
- Believe (getting better each listen)
- In it's Infancy (Victory Dance part 2?)
- Get the Point (just beautiful)
- Spring (so trippy, looking forward to a live version)
- I Can't Wait (feels a bit like a Monsters of Folk song to me)
3rd Tier/Good but missing something
- Like a River (maybe a little overproduced for my taste?)
- Big Decisions (although it is growing on me, still needs something)
This album makes me so happy. Less than 2 weeks until Athens!
I can see that parkervb and bhyman...would be a nice add to extend some guitarwork. good example with slow slow tune, that one didn't get me on the album but hooked me right away live. hoping for good surprises from all of the new tunes.
The whole bathroom / beer thing is a bit tongue in cheek, but you gotta do it at some point...after you've heard them all once.
1. Only Memories Remain
2. Compound
3. Belive (Nobody Knows)
4. Get The Point
5. In Its Infancy
6. Like a River
7. Spring
8. Big D
9. Thin Line
10. Tropics
1. in it's infancy
2. compound fracture
3. believe
4. tropics
5. only memories remain
6. thin line
7. like a river
8. get the point
9. spring
10. big decisions
If I were to include bonus tracks, hillside song might be my number 1. Fits right in with acoustic citsuoca. I would love to have a Jim solo album that is completely acoustic guitar.
1. Thin Line (Amazing!)
2. Only Memories Remain
3. Tropics
4. Believe
5. Spring
6. In It's Infancy
7. Get the Point
8. Compound Fracture
9. Big Decisions
10. Like a River
In Its Infancy
Tropics
Thin Line
Only Memories Remain
Compound Fracture
Spring
Get the Point
Like a River
Believe
Big Decisions
Can I say how damn proud I am of the guys and what they have created!
Someone stated it earlier but I have to reiterate that I love that everyone is picking different orders to these songs, to me that's a sign of a well rounded album!
Ok after three full listens here we go:
1. In Its Infancy (song is so damn perfect for me)
2. Only Memories Remain (I love that we get to look forward to the dueling guitars at the end during the live shows)
3. Tropics (I stated earlier my face will melt at the end of this song)
4. Thin Line (the only way I can describe this is as if I am eating something that tastes so damn sugary and sweet but completely hits the spot)
5. Believe (show opener, easy)
6. Like a River (How am I placing this that low on the list, lol the ending takes you somewhere)
7. Compound Fracture (Bo's keys, thats all im gonna say)
8. I Can't Wait (loved the strictly acoustic live version I heard before but this is nice too)
9. Spring Among the Living (love the different parts and how it seems mashed up)
10. Get the Point (Dig this but I'm left wanting a bit more)
11. Hillside Song (This one hasn't resonated with me yet, but I'm sure in time).
12. Big Decisions (I think it makes sense in terms of flowing with the album but I need more from this one)
***Compound Fracture Miami Jungle Remix and Only Memories Demo both get their spins, it's interesting to see what Jim brought to the fellas and what was created with Only Memories Remain. I love the extra guitar at the end of Compound Fracture Remix and the harder feel to it. I have a feeling we will get both versions throughout the years at live shows.
CHIMMJFAN
1. Tropics
2. In Its Infancy
3. Believe
4. Thin Line
5 Compound Fracture
6. Hillside Song
7. Get the Point
8. Only Memories Remain
9. Like A River
10. Spring
11. Big Decisions
On the deluxe cd: TRACK 11.
I almost bought the standard not wanting the first bonus track to interfere with the end of the album. But track 11 is a minute long silent track and it's a perfect separation that lets the official album stand alone.
Leave it to them to do right by the listener and anicipate the cd listening experience.
1 - TROPICS!!!!!
2 - Infancy
3 - Only Memories
4 - Compound Fracture
5 - I Can't Wait
6 - Hillside Song
7 - Get the Point
8 - Big Decisions
9 - Thin Line
10 -Spring
11- Believe (I want to like it but in my opinion definitely the weakest opening song out of all 7 albums. I usually get hooked on their albums from the first song, and not feeling this song as of right now. Hope to change my mind, especially if they open with this song at every show.)
12 - Like a River (probably will change just on first couple listens)
This album is freaking killer. The previous poster's 11th and 12th favorite are my 1 & 2, which I think speaks wonders for this album.
In Its Infancy
Tropics (honestly these top 2 switch positions every time I hear one or the other)
Compound Fracture
Spring
Get the Point
Only Memories Remain
Believe
Like a River
Thin Line
Big Decisions
Honestly I'm looking at this list and it seems criminal that some songs are as low as they are. I really enjoy Big Decisions. What an unbelievable piece of art this thing is.
1) Thin Line
2) Tropics
3) Compound Fracture (both versions!!!)
4) Get The Point
5) Big Decisions
6) Only Memories Remain
7) In Its Infancy (The Waterfall)
8) Spring (Among The Living)
9) Believe (Nobody Knows)
10) Like A River
Honestly, this has never happened to me before, but when I first listened to the album I only liked three of the songs. Now I absolutely love the majority of the songs. Even the songs lower on my list are pretty damn good. The only song I haven't connected with yet is Like A River. Doesn't do much for me at all, but I will say I enjoy the ending of the song much more than the beginning.
1. Tropics
2. Compound Fracture
3. In It's Infancy
4. Believe
5. Only Memories Remain
6. Get the Point
7. Spring
8. Like a River
9. Thin Line (I actually love this song but it falls here. Great fucking album)
10. Big Decisions
1. Only Memories Remain
2. In Its Infancy (The Waterfall)
3. Thin Line
4. Tropics (Erase Traces)
5. Like A River
6. Spring (Among The Living)
7. Compound Fracture
8. Believe (Nobody Knows)
9. Get the Point
10. Big Decisions
1.Only Memories Remain
2.Tropics
3.Thin Line
4.Big Decisions
5.Compound Fracture
6.Believe
7.Spring
8.Get The Point
9.Like A River
10.In Its Infancy
Right now im alternating between Tropics and Only Memories Remain. Those 2 songs back-to-back are giving me chills. :cheesy:
Fantastic album. Flows so well. Gets better every time I listen to it. Can't wait to see these live at the GA Theatre..
1. Tropics
2. Only Memories
3. In its Infancy
4. Spring
5. Compound Fracture
6. Like A River
7. Believe
8. Big Decisions
9. Thin Line
10. Get the Point
1. Infancy (this song has great potential to be extended near the end!)
2. Only Memories
3. Get the Point
4. Tropics
5. Believe
6. Thin Line
7. Hillside Song
8. I Can't Wait
9. Compound Fracture
10. Spring
11. Like a River
12. Big Decisions
1. Tropics (not only going to kill it live, I think the OBH3 version will be perfect!)
2. In Its Infancy
3. Compound Fracture
4. Get the Point
5 Only Memories Remain
6. Believe
7. Big Decisions
8. Spring
9. Like a River
10. Thin Line
Putting songs last on an album like this feels harsh, I'm really feeling this one. Thank you boys.
1. Compound Fracture
2. Only Memories
3. Tropics
4. The Waterfall
5. Thin Line
6. Spring
7. Believe
8. Like a River
9. Big Decisions
10. Get the Point
Quote from: Bermuda Highway on May 04, 2015, 04:52 PM
Top Tier / Expecting Great Things Live:
+ Believe - I am probably 50 spins into this record and agree with mynameiscurt that y'all be sleepin on this one...it grew on me in a big way despite the after-school special nature of the title and lyrics. To me this sounds like the beginning of a road trip or the start of a crisp summer day in Tahoe. Rising energy. Not a long jammer but a nice kickoff to the show or an energetic spark off the bench. Positive mental nourishment during pensive concert moments.
I'm happy to see some put Believe up there. A little surprised most respondents have this so low.
We're all winners here and that's a great thing! Gonna be a great tour!! The flow of this album is fantastic, plus I love reading these "reviews" more than music professionals, way more entertaining. See ya soon!!
Compound Fracture
Thin Line
Only Memories
Tropics
Infancy
Spring
Like a River
Believe
Get the Point
Big D
compound fracture - love at first listen
tropics
thin line
spring
only memories
believe
in its infancy
get the point
like a river
big d
shout out to bo koster.....he really shines on this album. i know i'm preaching to the choir, but this is one fantastic rock 'n roll band. like all the greats, they make a sound somehow greater than the sum of its parts. really love this record, can't wait for forecastle and atlanta.
Believe - My least favorite on the album so far but I don't dislike it at all, those opening synths are delicious. As many of you said Bo really gets a chance to shine on this album.
Get The Point - Again not one of my favorites but it often gets stuck on repeat on my mind, a definite earworm that keeps growing on me.
Big Decisions - Whilst you're all running to the bathroom at the shows I guess I'll be the only one continuing to dance like a complete nut. This song is great, fun and catchy. I love it.
Thin Line - Grated on me a lot during my first listen, but it was soon stuck in my head and despite the annoying chorus (which I now love) I kept going back to it again and again. Those solos near the end, holy shit.
Compound Fracture - Very tame but very fun, I would probably prefer the Miami Jungle version if it had those awesome woo-ooh-ooh's but it doesn't so I don't.
Only Memories - I love this song, a lot. I think I'm going to love the live versions a lot more though, as the studio version can sound a bit rigid depending on my mood, other times I melt into it. I'm most excited about hearing this one live.
Like A River - Beautiful. There are no other words for it.
Spring - There's SO much going on with this one isn't there? Most of the time I love it but occasionally my ears get a bit confused. It is awesome though, I love how it explodes at 3:42, it's going to be HUGE live.
In Its Infancy - I'm a sucker for any song that strays away from a conventional structure, and this song GOES PLACES. I love it. Hats off once again to Bo, those synths are BEEFY as hell!
Tropics - The thing I love most about this album is how much the band have grown, how much their sound has shifted and morphed but not for one second is that classic MMJ sound ever compromised. I think Tropics is the best example of this, absolutely huge and hard hitting just like the MMJ we all know and love but at the same time all very fresh and exciting. To me they just keep getting bigger and better.
Like I said before I honestly think this could turn out to be my favourite MMJ record. I'm still a relatively new fan but I've had 5 or 6 years now to really get into their catalogue of awesomeness. I'm seeing the band live for the first time in London later this year and I guess I'm in for a massive fucking treat! I can't wait!! :cheesy:
Not to diss Circuital -- I like a number of the songs on it -- but any one of the 10 songs on the primary album would have been the best song on Circuital. It's that high quality. Ranking them is a tough order, because they change from day to day. Here's a shot, but it could all change tomorrow:
Thin Line
Spring (Among The Living)
In It's Infancy
Like A River
Compound Fracture
Only Memories Remain
Get The Point
Tropics
Big Decisions
Believe (Nobody Knows) -- seriously, though, I'm warming up to it
--
Hillside Song (appropriately placed as a bonus track; good, but not in the top 10)
I Can't Wait (ditto)
Random thoughts:
--It's fascinating to read the varying opinions of everyone's ranked tracks.
--I think the album underscores that the band behind MMJ is the best vehicle to Jim James' astounding musical creations. There is great alchemy going in here between all of them, and the instrumental work throughout is phenomenal.
I wish I could rank them but I'd keep coming back to edit my thoughts over time.
Easily Tropics as #1. I have strong feelings for Only Memories Remain and In Its Infancy (feels Victory Dance-ish), they're obvious winners. Compound Fracture is super fucking catchy so it's kind of a guilty pleasure because it's so poppy but it also kicks ass at the same time. Kind of the same for Believe but to a much lesser degree, not nearly as catchy either. Spring is awesome and I wasn't even a big Victory Dance fan so I consider it a better version of capturing the dark tribal sound, same with In Its Infancy.
I originally felt like Thin Line and Like a River were the 2 more forgettable tracks on the album but they're growing, more so Thin Line which is out of this world with how different it is plus the ending is very rewarding. It feels like a song I'm going to enjoy listening to on its own just for fun. I love the eerie elements of Like a River but it's a simple song, great for setting a mood and exploring some folk sounds but not very substantial. Maybe a good opener like how they place At Dawn or Rollin Back.
Big Decisions was just okay for me originally but once I heard the sampler and then within the context of the album, it grew on me to the point where I played it on its own a few times. One of the weaker songs no doubt but there's only 3..at most 4 pop friendly songs on the album so I know they feel they needed some safe candidates for promotion.
Get The Point..This and Thin Line seem like the most divisive tracks here. I feel like something is missing personally, it fills a niche on the album but as far as simple, soft MMJ songs go it's not quite as strong as their others. I still like it, it's a nice song. I just don't feel like it's as big of a deal as people are making it out to be. I feel if anything the album maybe needed one more song like this.
As far as the bonus tracks I'll have to listen more but I prefer I Can't Wait over Hillside Song. I'm not quite feeling Hillside Song as it is. The other two don't add enough to make me feel as if I should add the bonus tracks to my car playlist but I only listened once so we'll see. Listening to them on their own may help, I listened after I played the entire album and at that point it was too soon to hear them again even if they're different.
1. Tropics (Erase Traces)
2. Spring (Among the Living)
3. Compound Fracture
4. In It's Infancy (Waterfall)
5. Believe (Nobody Knows)
6. Only Memories Remain
7. Big Decisions
8. Like a River
9. Thin Line
10. Get the Point
Only Memories Remain
Compound Fracture
Spring
Thin Line
Big Decisions
Get the Point
Tropics
Believe
In Its Infancy
Like A River
:thumbsup: I'm having a very hard time ranking the songs because so many of them are so equally good, but I have to say first of all that the bonus track - I Can't Wait - is my favorite song on this album and no one else is mentioning it. What's up with that? It's so good!!!
And I'm surprised everyone seems to like In it's Infancy so much. So far I'm not that impressed with the again, again, again thing...and I'm not crazy about the keyboards and the 70's soft rock sound. It's a little corny for me. But the guitar solo is pretty good.
This album is taking some time to grow on me. After the amazing songs Jim did for the New Basement Tapes I sorta had high expectations. Get the Point, Thin Line and Only Memories Remain make me feel sad to the point where I almost wanna cry for Jim's ex-girlfriend. It must really suck getting dumped by Jim James. :cry:
Anyway, I had fun reading your rankings. Very interesting that everyone seems to have different favorites.
And yeah, Tropics is the bomb. My first run thru the album, Tropics is what stood out the most mainly due to that killer guitar at the end.
I'm dying to see them live and it really sucks that I have to wait until October!! But 3 nights in SF is going to be my best 3 nights since OBH1!!
I think there's little talk of I Can't Wait because a lot of people had already heard it.
It's not my favorite but a good song
This album is seriously getting better with each listen.
Compound- this song is so badass, and was killer at obh2
Tropics- the groove of this song is incredible. Love the coda.
Believe- at first listen, this song was my least favorite. Now I can't stop listening to it. It fucking rocks.
Get the point- classic, mmj country.
Waterfall- I really like to two different grooves this one has. Has some OBH high hats and some sooner guitars.
Thin line- the song is just cool. The end is great.
Big d- this is a good one, very catchy. Perfect use of pedal.
Only memories- a tad boring, even though t ends up great.
Spring- nice tune, just too disjointed
Like a river- will need to grow on me, just boring. Good harmonies though.
This is going to be a perfect summer album. Hats off again, boys.
Compound Fracture and Big D are my favorite songs on the album
Quote from: Osistheones on May 10, 2015, 08:53 AM
I think there's little talk of I Can't Wait because a lot of people had already heard it.
Yeah I Cant Wait was written in like 02 I believe
As others have stated, it is a true testament to how amazing of an album this is that we all have our own list of songs we feel is the best and how that can totally differ between one fan to the next. What I am overly shocked at is the lack of love for Like A River. It is such an amazing song of poetic harmonized beauty and a soothing tale of imagery. Oh well, we all have our preferences but I was in disbelief that it was not better received. Anyways, below is my list:
1) Tropics
2) Like A River
3) Spring
4) Infancy
5) Thin Line
6) Only Memories
7) Compound Fracture
8) Believe
9) The Point
10) Big Decisions
Still, one amazing album. Really is hard to rank them. If these songs translate beautifully live then it could become one of my favorite, if not the very favorite, MMJ CD yet which I never thought any of their other best works would have any competition.
Can't wait to see them in Knoxville and Atlanta!!
this was a fun lunchtime read. thanks everyone for weighing in. I'll have to sort out my list but I know for sure my biggest variance from the group will be Only Memories Remain. I'd have that ranked very low- I find it so boring - and it's interesting to see how many others have it up near the top....
Tropics
Infancy
Like a River
Compound Fracture
Thin Line
Spring
Only Memories
Believe
Big D
Get The Point
Right now something like that:
1. Tropics
2. In Its Infancy
3. Like a River
4. Spring
5. Compound Fracture
6. Only Memories Remain
7. Big Decisions
8. Get the Point
9. Believe
10. Thin Line
After many listens, I'm ready to participate (most likely the order will change down the road).
1. Tropics
2. In Its Infancy
3. Spring
4. Like a River
5. Believe
6. Only Memories Remain
7. Get the Point
8. Big Decisions
9. Compound Fracture
10. Thin Line
Cool Thread - Here is mine. I'm sure none of you recognize me, but I'm pretty long time MMJ fan, just a lurker instead of a frequent contributor.
Great
In its Infancy - I love this song - the repeat verse with again i stop the waterfall is the best moment on the album imo
Get the Point - has a MOF feel
Tropics - I think this one will be killer live
Good
Only Memories Remain
Thin Line
Big Decisions (I don't dislike this as much as some others, although I dislike the hook)
Spring Among the Living
Not so Good
Like a River
Compound Fracture (One i dislike more than most of you)
Believe (I really don't like this song)
That's probably why I like I Can't Wait so much - because it's older. :thumbsup: I told my husband that I thought it sounded like an older song. Sounded kinda familiar. Maybe I've heard it before but I don't know where.
After listening to the whole thing at least 10 times, I'm tired of it - which is not a good sign. So I have decided not to listen to The Waterfall any more for a while. I'm sure that the new songs will be way better live. They always are. Except for maybe Black Metal.
Possibly New MMJ Favorite
1. Tropics (Cannot wait to see live!)
GREAT
2. Compound Fracture
3. Spring
4. Like A River
5. Waterfall
GOOD
6. Thin Line
7. Believe
MEH
8. Memories
9. Get The Point
10. Big D
Quote from: debbie on May 12, 2015, 12:26 AM
That's probably why I like I Can't Wait so much - because it's older. :thumbsup: I told my husband that I thought it sounded like an older song. Sounded kinda familiar. Maybe I've heard it before but I don't know where.
After listening to the whole thing at least 10 times, I'm tired of it - which is not a good sign. So I have decided not to listen to The Waterfall any more for a while. I'm sure that the new songs will be way better live. They always are. Except for maybe Black Metal.
That is just a silly statement. Say what you want about that song, but I don't see Jacket play any song live that gets people as high off their feet as Black Metal. I'm having flashbacks to OBH 1 & OBH 2 were people were losing their s**t to black metal... So good live
1. Like a River- I never bought the idea that Fleet Foxes and MMJ were all that similar, but if you do, it seems the master has been learning from the student. If the goal of this song was to reflect natural beauty, they succeeded with flying colors.
2. Only Memories Remain- Regions of Light was building up to this: mystic spirituality applied at the personal level, with smooth, spacey, and soulful backdrop.
3. Compound Fracture- A 70's soul-pop throwback with hippie vibes and room to jam? Sounds like the essence of what the band has been after lately. Here's a nice spot to point out Bo's fantastic contributions to this album.
4. Believe (Nobody Knows)- Jim could write show tunes for a living if he wanted to. He has such a knack for the rise and fall of a song and can make an inherently cheesy sentiment sound profound.
5. Tropics (Erase Traces)- I don't hear Bon Jovi as much as everyone else seems to. MMJ does "dramatic and mysterious" songs incredibly well, and this is a worthy entry in that category.
6. Spring (Among the Living)- The verses here are a bit clunky, but the guitar lines are fantastic and will surely make for a hell of a live song.
7. Big Decisions- It's nice to see Jim finally show something resembling anger in his songwriting. For a pop-oriented first single, it captures their essence quite nicely.
8. Get The Point- This kind of song sometimes feels obligatory, but there's a dose of refreshing honesty here that helps elevate it.
9. Thin Line- There are some indelible moments here (Jim vocal gymnastics and Carl's guitar solo amongst them), but the chorus gets a bit grating after a while.
10. In Its Infancy (The Waterfall)- I see what they were trying to do, but it doesn't quite come together as a song. They toy with a lot of interesting ideas that never really get developed.
Not on the same page as most, it seems. The songs I like the most seem to be the ones with stronger melodies and a more traditional structure and style. In general, I'm not very impressed with this new record. In fact, I even like Circuital better.
Thin Line
Big Decisions
Only Memories Remain
Compound Fracture (Miami Jungle version without the falsetto vocals)
Tropics
The rest of it falls pretty flat for me, especially the more experimental tracks like In Its Infancy and Like A River. Spring sounds to me like a rehashed but not as good version of Victory Dance. I prefer Slow Slow Tune and Moving Away to Thin Line and Only Memories Remain. I'm just not feeling much emotional connection to these songs at all. I'm hoping I hear more stuff I like in the live arrangements, but overall this album is in my bottom three of all the Jacket albums. Its a far cry from Steam Engine, I Will Sing You Songs, Lay Low, Anytime, and songs like those.
1. tropics
2. spring
3. like a river
4. get the point
5. compound fracture
6. in it's infancy
7. big decisions
8. believe
9. only memories remain
10. thin line
1. In Its Infancy
2. Only Memories Remain
3. Like A River
4. Thin Line
5. Compound Fracture
6. Get The Point
7. Believe
8. Tropics
9. Spring
10. Big Decisions
1-9. All Tracks not Like A River
10. Like A River
Quote from: walterfredo on May 20, 2015, 05:27 PM
1-9. All Tracks not Like A River
10. Like A River
This cracked me up. At least it made in the top 10 :grin:
Tough and ever changing......
1. In Its Infancy
2. Spring
3. Tropics
4. Compound Fracture
5. Big D
6. Only Memories
7. Get The Point
8. Thin Line
9. Believe
10. Like A River
Quote from: walterfredo on May 20, 2015, 05:27 PM
1-9. All Tracks not Like A River
10. Like A River
I have to agree. The songs, especially "Spring" are getting better and better each listen for me....
I'm just not feeling "Like a River"... At all
Love River, and it's still growing on me
Don't see how anyone can't like Spring
Infancy is awesome
Believe is really good
Get the Point really good
Compound really good, even better live
Thin Line ok for me
Tropics really good, sure it will kill live
Memories good
Big D I like more now since I've taken a hiatus from it for the other songs
I'm very surprised to see the unanimous love for Only Memories Remain. I'm left wanting so much more with that song. Around 5:20 into the song they could've taken it somewhere completely different and tied it all together with a hectic climax, but instead the song just stays the course and dies off.
Here's my list:
1.) Believe (Nobody Knows)
2.) Spring (Among The Living)
3.) Tropics (Erase Traces)
4.) Compound Fracture
5.) In Its Infancy (The Waterfall)
6.) Get The Point
7.) Thin Line
8.) Like A River
9.) Only Memories Remain
10.) Big Decisions
So difficult to rank!! Right now Tropics is high up there as is Get the Point.
I like them all really. Hillside song is so great too!
I do agree about Only Memories and we can only hope they really jam it out live and add some tasty guitar solos!
Also, just listened on headphones and it sounds really nice... some of the details really come through. I thought the drums were recorded very nicely!
1 Spring
2 In Its Infancy
3 Tropics
4 Only Memories Remain
5 Believe
6 Like a River
7 Thin Line
8 Compound Fracture
9 Get the Point
10 Big Decisions
I thought this was going to be fun until songs I really like ended up looking as if I hate them. I'm glad that it's difficult to choose, though.
If I Can't Wait had been given a more fully fleshed production and put in Big Decisions' place, I probably would've declared this my new favorite MMJ album. (Still like Big D, just way, way less than the others.)
1. Thin Line
2. Compound Fracture
3. Spring (Among the Living)
4. Like a River
5. Only Memories Remain
6. Tropics (Erase Traces)
7. Get The Point
8. In it's Infancy (the Waterfall)
9. Big Decisions
10. Believe (Nobody Knows)
Anyone who doesn't like Thin Line is on crack BTW.
In Its Infancy (The Waterfall) is starting to really grow on me, but just The Waterfall section, which is awesome. I'm not crazy about the In Its Infancy section.
One thing that is happening for me with repeated listenings though, is that I'm detecting some themes in the lyrics and that is helping get into some of the songs for which I'm not that excited with the music.
There's an obvious personal theme of ending and moving on from a relationship/partnership like in Big Decisions, Get The Point, Only Memories Remain, Thin Line and maybe Spring and then I'm getting a second theme, more interesting to me, of the evolution of a social standard or spiritual development. This theme is stated most obviously, I think, in In Its Infancy. I'm thinking about it in terms of, for example, the idea of slavery or women's suffrage. I mean that at one point in history a supposedly developed progressive society based on freedom from oppression still thought there was nothing wrong with owning slaves or not letting women vote. Those standards have obviously changed and that change was a long time developing until it came to pass. I think Jim is writing about the future of social evolution (in a non-issue specific way) and how what society jsut accepts or feels powerless to change now (poverty, environmental degredation, racism or whatever current social ill you might think of) may in the future be unthinkable and how these future ideas are in existence right now, but just not developed yet. (Maybe we are seeing that in action our society hopefullly becoming less tolerant of discrimination based on race and sexual orientation?)
I think at least some of Jim's music has always had a hopeful and social/spiritual message and for me detecting that theme in his current songs is allowing me to appreciate them more.
"The idea was always there, in it's infancy
The seed took root, over many years
An idea grows before it walks
And as it walks, it learns to run
And as it runs, it feels it's form"
Quote from: APR on May 11, 2015, 03:51 PM
After many listens, I'm ready to participate (most likely the order will change down the road).
1. Tropics
2. In Its Infancy
3. Spring
4. Like a River
5. Believe
6. Only Memories Remain
7. Get the Point
8. Big Decisions
9. Compound Fracture
10. Thin Line
We're almost in 100% agreement here. :cool: The first five are exactly the same for now, and then I have Compound Fracture above Only Memories at 6, with the next couple just dropping down one spot. I'm hoping seeing Thin Line live will make me like it a bit more than I do now.
Quote from: justbcuzido on May 12, 2015, 10:10 AM
Quote from: debbie on May 12, 2015, 12:26 AM
That's probably why I like I Can't Wait so much - because it's older. :thumbsup: I told my husband that I thought it sounded like an older song. Sounded kinda familiar. Maybe I've heard it before but I don't know where.
After listening to the whole thing at least 10 times, I'm tired of it - which is not a good sign. So I have decided not to listen to The Waterfall any more for a while. I'm sure that the new songs will be way better live. They always are. Except for maybe Black Metal.
That is just a silly statement. Say what you want about that song, but I don't see Jacket play any song live that gets people as high off their feet as Black Metal. I'm having flashbacks to OBH 1 & OBH 2 were people were losing their s**t to black metal... So good live
I completely disagree. HotBM is one of 5 or so MMJ songs that I completely dislike. Not even a "it's better than most music coming out today, but not up to Mmj standards" situaition. I just plain don't like it. I think Circuital was an over all tragically large misstep for them, but I don't loathe most of the songs. HotBM and First Light are my two least favorite jacket songs though, easily.
Which brings us back to the topic. The Waterfall isn't my favorite by any means, but it's miles ahead of Circuital. The biggest difference between my list and most all others is that I LOVE Big D.
1. Compound Fracture, Big D, Tropics, Thin Line
2. Spring, Waterfall
3. Believe, Get The Point, Like a River, Only Memories
It's just like old times though, I don't dislike any of it. It's great.
After many listens, here are my top ten:
1. Tropics
2. Only Memories Remain
3. Spring (could have easily been Nr.1 if they have sticked to the beginning of the song and kept it more of a guitar based song)
4. Compound Fracture
5. Believe
6. Big Decisions
7. Get the Point
8. In Its Infancy
9. Like a River
10. Thin Line
I really like:
1. Thin Line
2. Only Memories Remain
3. The Waterfall (LOVE the music and lyrics of the Waterfall section)
4. Big Decisions
Kinda like:
5. Tropics (nasty heavy guitar riff at the end after starting with acoustic guitars)
6. Compound Fracture
Not feeling it:
7. Spring (not much of a melody, more of a fleshed-out groove)
8. Believe (too much of a showtune/Andrew Lloyd Weber sound like unicorns, butterflies and rainbows)
9. Get The Point
10. Like A River
i posted earlier in this thread. without looking back, let's see how much, if any, my list has changed after many listens.
compound fracture
tropics
spring
thin line
believe
the waterfall
only memories
like a river
get the point
big d
here's my list from may 5th. slight changes, nothing major. still love the compound fracture groove :beer:
compound fracture - love at first listen
tropics
thin line
spring
only memories
believe
in its infancy
get the point
like a river
big d
I get a Led Zeppelin vibe (my *other* favourite band) on a lot of this album, especially tracks like tropics, like a river, in its infancy. The "shades of light and dark" that Jimmy Page always wanted.
Patrick's drumming has always reminded me of Bonham, but now we also have the prominent keyboards and those warm bass progressions.
Anyway, my current ranking:
tropics
thin line
like a river
in its infancy
only memories
compound fracture
spring
get the point
believe
big decisions
1. In Its Infancy (The Waterfall) = Because I am in love with these lines:
"Again I stop the waterfall by simply thinking
Again I stop the waterfall before my breathing
Again I stop the waterfall by finally feeling
Again I stop the waterfall by just believing" - pure genious! :cheesy:
2. Big Decisions = Love it, just love it so much!
3. Like a River = Love it how this song reminds me so much of Into The Woods and I LOOOVE that song!
4. Believe (Nobody Knows)
5. Spring (Among The Living)
6. Get the point
7. Tropics (Erase Traces)
8. Thin Line
9. Only Memories Remain
10. Compound Fracture
Hillside song then everything else
1. Spring (Among the Living)
2. Thin Line
3. Tropics (Erase Traces)
4. Like a River
5. Only Memories Remain
6. Get The Point
7. Compound Fracture
8. In it's Infancy (the Waterfall)
9. Big Decisions
10. Believe (Nobody Knows)
After about 30 listens... :cool:
1. Compound Fracture
2. In It's Infancy
3. Tropics
4. Only Memories Remain
5. Spring
6. Thin Line
7. Like a River
8. Believe
9. Big Decisions
10. Get the Point
I seriously can't rank them anymore. Every track has grown on me, and I feel bad knocking any of them down the list. I will say that I initially didn't care for Tropics, until I heard it live. That's climbed way up my list. Same for Like A River and especially In Its Infancy.
Whenever I hear the beginning and end to In It's Infancy I can't help but think Spinal Tap/Stonehendge and the Druids. Makes it tough for me to take it seriously
(https://encrypted-tbn2.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcR7bQdgp2I99sLlBEi_XlOuG9A7IclAMs4Skod8yo84IgWTx1hY)
other than that I really love everything on the album including the rest of the song
You mean the "The idea was always there" line? Reminds me of Pink Floyd.
The whole song in general strikes me as a mix between Steam Engine, The Day Is Coming, and Pink Floyd.
Quote from: RobRoy286 on Jun 05, 2015, 03:40 PM
You mean the "The idea was always there" line? Reminds me of Pink Floyd.
The whole song in general strikes me as a mix between Steam Engine, The Day Is Coming, and Pink Floyd.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qAXzzHM8zLw (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qAXzzHM8zLw)
Quote from: gardenparty on Jun 05, 2015, 01:47 PM
Whenever I hear the beginning and end to In It's Infancy I can't help but think Spinal Tap/Stonehendge and the Druids. Makes it tough for me to take it seriously
(https://encrypted-tbn2.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcR7bQdgp2I99sLlBEi_XlOuG9A7IclAMs4Skod8yo84IgWTx1hY)
other than that I really love everything on the album including the rest of the song
YES x 1000. easily my least favorite parts of the entire album. too bad, as the rest of the song is great.
1. Tropics
2. Infancy
3. Only Memories Remain
4. Get the Point
5. Compound
6. Big Deci
7. Thin
8. Like a River
9. Spring
10. Believe
rough draft
1)Tropics
2)Thin Line (this song is soooooo underrated)
3)Infancy
4)Compound
5)Only Memories
6)Get The Point
7)Spring
8)Big Decisions
9)Like A River
10)Believe
i agree byrd, Thin is very good
Quote from: gardenparty on Jun 05, 2015, 01:47 PM
Whenever I hear the beginning and end to In It's Infancy I can't help but think Spinal Tap/Stonehendge and the Druids. Makes it tough for me to take it seriously
(https://encrypted-tbn2.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcR7bQdgp2I99sLlBEi_XlOuG9A7IclAMs4Skod8yo84IgWTx1hY)
other than that I really love everything on the album including the rest of the song
Ever since i read this post, i find myself laughing out loud when i hear this part of the song. :thumbsup:
while i'm here, i'll do a third and final re-ranking:
compound fracture
tropics
thin line
spring
believe
the waterfall
like a river
only memories
big d
get the point
as others have said, it's tough to do because i like them all (even big d has grown on me), but there's got to be a first and a last.
The more I hear Compound live the more I have to move it up my list. Spring continues to solidify its number one spot, though. Funny because I did not care for it at all when they first released it. I hope that one part toward the end where Jim's soloing gets stretched out a bit. Soul crushing.
Quote from: HardNightConformist on May 21, 2015, 11:17 PM
I'm very surprised to see the unanimous love for Only Memories Remain. I'm left wanting so much more with that song. Around 5:20 into the song they could've taken it somewhere completely different and tied it all together with a hectic climax, but instead the song just stays the course and dies off.
Here's my list:
1.) Believe (Nobody Knows)
2.) Spring (Among The Living)
3.) Tropics (Erase Traces)
4.) Compound Fracture
5.) In Its Infancy (The Waterfall)
6.) Get The Point
7.) Thin Line
8.) Like A River
9.) Only Memories Remain
10.) Big Decisions
Oh, how things change.
After growing more familiar with each song, my list is about to look a lot different. Ask me again in a week and I'm sure it'll change again.
1.) Like A River - whaaaaaat? Not sure if this is gonna stand, but at this very moment it has to be my favourite. Why did I give this song another chance? Two weeks ago I was talking to my friend about how bad the song was, and I said "really? aayy-iioo aayy-iioo aayy-iioo ayyoo? that's it?". From that moment, that part was stuck in my head all day, until I finally realized that I liked it this whole time and didn't even know it.
2.) Only Memories Remain - Really, really wasn't into this song at first. But I was able to realize why that was. I was expecting and hoping it would turn into something epic ala Dondante or Steam Engine, so I was disappointed with every listen. So instead, I thought of it as a song to play on late night bus rides or while having a cigar, and I learned to love it.
3.) Hillside Song - It was a great day when I realized I forgot there was a deluxe version of the album. Loved this right away. Closest to old MMJ we get on this album. Simple, beautiful and honest.
4.) Believe - Nothing special live. Still one of my favourite studio songs. Simply puts me in a good mood.
5.) Thin Line - Starting listening to it at the same time as Like A River. Jim's high-pitched voice in this is just hooks you in.
6.) Spring - Loved it when it first came out, but that may be attributed to the fact that I really wasn't feeling Big Decisions. Still a great tune, but there are better on the album.
7.) Compound Fracture - Slight dip on the list. But if it's 25 and sunny and I'm about to start my day, this is likely the song I'll choose.
8.) In It's Infancy - "Again again again" on the album :undecided: ... "Again again again" live :cheesy:
9.) Tropics - This is the song I feel like I should like more. I recognize it probably should be my favourite, but it doesn't evoke as much feeling out of me like River or Believe do.
10.) Get The Point - The song I sing in the shower. Really like this tune but it's hard to put it any higher on the list.
11.) Big Decisions - One of my least favourite MMJ songs :embarrassed: (can you tell I'm getting lazy with this list now?)
--not gonna count "I Can't Wait" because I heard it so long ago. Also, I like the original version better.
1. Tropics
2. Believe
3. Waterfall
4. Thin Line
5. Like a River
6. Compound
7. Spring
8. Thin Line
9. Big D
10. Get the Point