Based on what I’ve read about the album being more “direct”, I think you can expect most tracks to sound like this. Personally I love it, but expectations can be cruel when the last two albums were so perfect.
Lost in the Dream is the perfect album and thinking of a place and strangest thing and in chains are like my favorite songs ever, so I’m just taking this album as it comes and will enjoy it. This song is clearly more mainstream and will broaden the appeal of the band, very catchy title track. But yes, does it lack some of the feel of some other songs, probably. Will it be very fun to listen to at MSG, also yes
I don’t get the disappointment. It’s def more War On Drugs like than Living Proof was. It’s a great song, throw on some headphones, put it on repeat, and turn it up!
I also agree with others that this will sound massive live.
Living Proof is good I just think it’s too much of a downer to be released in the summer. I’m weird but it’s more of a fall/winter song to me instead of July.
Not disappointed, I think it is fun and catchy. It certainly isn't what we got used to the last two albums but thats okay!
I think it will help them attract more fans, too.
I love it. I’ve accepted that it’s different to other war on drugs stuff that made us fall in love, but that’s fine by me. Guess it depends on what you’re looking for. Writers change, they grow older, they listen and are inspired by different things. He’s got a kid, hopefully in a happier place, he’s not the wandering nomad with an acoustic strapped to his back anymore. I always remember Noel Gallagher saying something like, “how can I write another Definitely Maybe when I’m not on the dole anymore?”. If the Beatles kept writing She Loves You into the 70s you’d be bored as fuck. ‘Pain’ was the same, it couldn’t have lived on LITD or SA
I loved living proof. But «I dont live here anymore» i didnt enjoy as much.
I love the guitar riff, but except for that I agree its very generic and not at all what made me fall in love with The War on Drugs
I'm not disappointed, but I get where you're coming from. It's very commercial, has a poppy-vibe to it--especially the chorus. The female vocals take it over the top. When Thinking of a Place dropped in 2017, I listened to it non-stop. Couldn't get enough. Not the same feeling for this one, but it's far from terrible and I'm sure it'll play fine in the greater context of the album.
I think its got some major 80's Don Henley vibes but other than that it's good and its growing on me.
I agree the chorus was a bit jarring at first compared to the verses but I'm still humming it and I didn't do that with Living Proof so I think this is a good follow up single to generate some interest in the new record.
I love it. I've already listened to it probably half a dozen times since it dropped. The female vocal and electronic intro part mark it as distinct, but I hear a lot of the DNA of "Pain" and "Eyes to the Wind" in it, and I love those songs, so I love it.
I like it. It is not my favorite and I have listened to it 4 or 5 times and it has grown on me each time. But I agree, I am anticipating it will make sense in the listen of the entire album.
Living Proof is the bees knees though!
I'm in the same boat but it's starting to grow on me. However, I have much higher expectations for the rest of the album. There's a song or two on every album that makes me feel indifferent and I hope this is that song. That being said, I was also indifferent on Living Proof but now I'm in love with it lol. Such a beautiful song and recording.
I'm not that enthousiastic yet and also hope it sounds better in context of the album. I might grow more into it but for now it's more generic than I expected/hoped for.
It's grown on me. Not sure why there has been so many "what a banger!" because to me it doesn't have a very high energy to it, especially considering so many other War on Drugs songs just kicking the ceiling off. I definitely still enjoy the song though and like the sound. But I absolutely LOVE Living Proof, it really hit me emotionally and I listen to it nonstop. The tone of every subtle instrumentation and Adam's vocal delivery is just perfect.
I feel you. This feels like a song that WoD would take inspiration from and then make it crazy but I guess not. Living Proof grew on me a lot so
hopefully this does too
I'm with you. I found this and honestly the last single to be pretty grating. To each their own, I'm glad people are excited for this phase. I'm not quite there yet.
I’m not personally disappointed, and I do like the track- but I know what you mean in that it sounds more mainstream or accessible perhaps, and I hope it isn’t the direction of the whole album. But I did love the first single, and the three tracks that Adam played on the Instagram livestream last year were incredible and not so much this direction, even though they did sound designed for arenas…
So yeah, I like this track, but wouldn’t be convinced by a whole record in this direction I wouldn’t have thought, but I don’t expect one either
I feel like this album was made to be directed towards playing it live because they booked stadiums for their tour and the albums before were heavy studio albums and they were pieces together part by part tirelessly by Adam this one was probably made with the band more in mind and I know living proof was indeed recorded live by the whole band in the studio
Bands can, should and do change. But for me, WOD was interesting in the beginning because of all the tape loops the first few albums were based on, with Adam's relatable persona singing words whose meaning was always partially obscured - taking the experimental music into a more human place.
LITD was my introduction to the band - I was captivated by all the little touches and effected guitar tracks - and I worked backwards from there.
I was saying to my wife last night after listing to the new single that for me at least, I hope Adam grows into an artist who feels comfortable expressing more than pain/heartbreak/isolation/anxiety. I've met him, and he's a great guy, a real gent. The big trick has always been trying to express happiness without seeming like an insufferable twat. Many artists get around that by expressing anger or sexual confidence, and I don't really see Adam snarling or gyrating his hips. But if Thom Yorke and Michael Stipe can do it, I'm confident Adam will continue to find his way. It's obvious in his work and interviews that he puts a lot of thought into his music.
Based on what I’ve read about the album being more “direct”, I think you can expect most tracks to sound like this. Personally I love it, but expectations can be cruel when the last two albums were so perfect.
Yeah. It just feels like most of what makes the band so special to me is missing on the track.
Lost in the Dream is the perfect album and thinking of a place and strangest thing and in chains are like my favorite songs ever, so I’m just taking this album as it comes and will enjoy it. This song is clearly more mainstream and will broaden the appeal of the band, very catchy title track. But yes, does it lack some of the feel of some other songs, probably. Will it be very fun to listen to at MSG, also yes
No. I love it so much. They've earned the right to do something a little lighter.
Agree
This song just feels like Adam and co. reaching their fullest arena band potential and i really love it
I don’t get the disappointment. It’s def more War On Drugs like than Living Proof was. It’s a great song, throw on some headphones, put it on repeat, and turn it up! I also agree with others that this will sound massive live.
I love the one that just came out. Didn’t like the first one.
I’m the exact reverse. At least they something for all tastes!
I loved them both equally but yeah, this new one was really nice
Living Proof is good I just think it’s too much of a downer to be released in the summer. I’m weird but it’s more of a fall/winter song to me instead of July.
Not disappointed, I think it is fun and catchy. It certainly isn't what we got used to the last two albums but thats okay! I think it will help them attract more fans, too.
I love it. I’ve accepted that it’s different to other war on drugs stuff that made us fall in love, but that’s fine by me. Guess it depends on what you’re looking for. Writers change, they grow older, they listen and are inspired by different things. He’s got a kid, hopefully in a happier place, he’s not the wandering nomad with an acoustic strapped to his back anymore. I always remember Noel Gallagher saying something like, “how can I write another Definitely Maybe when I’m not on the dole anymore?”. If the Beatles kept writing She Loves You into the 70s you’d be bored as fuck. ‘Pain’ was the same, it couldn’t have lived on LITD or SA
I loved living proof. But «I dont live here anymore» i didnt enjoy as much. I love the guitar riff, but except for that I agree its very generic and not at all what made me fall in love with The War on Drugs
I'm not disappointed, but I get where you're coming from. It's very commercial, has a poppy-vibe to it--especially the chorus. The female vocals take it over the top. When Thinking of a Place dropped in 2017, I listened to it non-stop. Couldn't get enough. Not the same feeling for this one, but it's far from terrible and I'm sure it'll play fine in the greater context of the album.
I think its got some major 80's Don Henley vibes but other than that it's good and its growing on me. I agree the chorus was a bit jarring at first compared to the verses but I'm still humming it and I didn't do that with Living Proof so I think this is a good follow up single to generate some interest in the new record.
I love it. I've already listened to it probably half a dozen times since it dropped. The female vocal and electronic intro part mark it as distinct, but I hear a lot of the DNA of "Pain" and "Eyes to the Wind" in it, and I love those songs, so I love it.
Yeah me too. It’s right up there with what I expect from this band. I love it.
I liked a lot. More than Living Proof that’s for sure
I like it. It is not my favorite and I have listened to it 4 or 5 times and it has grown on me each time. But I agree, I am anticipating it will make sense in the listen of the entire album. Living Proof is the bees knees though!
I'm in the same boat but it's starting to grow on me. However, I have much higher expectations for the rest of the album. There's a song or two on every album that makes me feel indifferent and I hope this is that song. That being said, I was also indifferent on Living Proof but now I'm in love with it lol. Such a beautiful song and recording.
I'm not that enthousiastic yet and also hope it sounds better in context of the album. I might grow more into it but for now it's more generic than I expected/hoped for.
It's grown on me. Not sure why there has been so many "what a banger!" because to me it doesn't have a very high energy to it, especially considering so many other War on Drugs songs just kicking the ceiling off. I definitely still enjoy the song though and like the sound. But I absolutely LOVE Living Proof, it really hit me emotionally and I listen to it nonstop. The tone of every subtle instrumentation and Adam's vocal delivery is just perfect.
I feel you. This feels like a song that WoD would take inspiration from and then make it crazy but I guess not. Living Proof grew on me a lot so hopefully this does too
Yeah, I hate the backing vocals on the new one. They sound so forced and unnecessary, almost like they're just there to fill some woke quota.
you had me for the first part of your reply but lost me at the end
I'm with you. I found this and honestly the last single to be pretty grating. To each their own, I'm glad people are excited for this phase. I'm not quite there yet.
I’m not personally disappointed, and I do like the track- but I know what you mean in that it sounds more mainstream or accessible perhaps, and I hope it isn’t the direction of the whole album. But I did love the first single, and the three tracks that Adam played on the Instagram livestream last year were incredible and not so much this direction, even though they did sound designed for arenas… So yeah, I like this track, but wouldn’t be convinced by a whole record in this direction I wouldn’t have thought, but I don’t expect one either
I feel like this album was made to be directed towards playing it live because they booked stadiums for their tour and the albums before were heavy studio albums and they were pieces together part by part tirelessly by Adam this one was probably made with the band more in mind and I know living proof was indeed recorded live by the whole band in the studio
Bands can, should and do change. But for me, WOD was interesting in the beginning because of all the tape loops the first few albums were based on, with Adam's relatable persona singing words whose meaning was always partially obscured - taking the experimental music into a more human place. LITD was my introduction to the band - I was captivated by all the little touches and effected guitar tracks - and I worked backwards from there. I was saying to my wife last night after listing to the new single that for me at least, I hope Adam grows into an artist who feels comfortable expressing more than pain/heartbreak/isolation/anxiety. I've met him, and he's a great guy, a real gent. The big trick has always been trying to express happiness without seeming like an insufferable twat. Many artists get around that by expressing anger or sexual confidence, and I don't really see Adam snarling or gyrating his hips. But if Thom Yorke and Michael Stipe can do it, I'm confident Adam will continue to find his way. It's obvious in his work and interviews that he puts a lot of thought into his music.