Gigaton: Official album thread

[guitar_davey]

I don't agree with several of the takes but I'm into the presentation

Ditto.

[Kevin Davis]

Now that this has been out for a while, what is your most improved Gigaton track, and conversely which one has fallen the farthest?

"Superblood Wolfmoon" has undoubtedly been the biggest grower. I actively disliked this when it first came out, thought it sounded like a mid-tier LB track, which is to say one of the bottom 10-15 songs in their catalog. I love it now though -- probably one of my top 4-5 on the album. Just one of those songs that takes a while to make clear what it's trying to do, but once you work it out, it's a blast. I like everything about it.

"Seven O'Clock" has fallen the farthest for me. I listened to the album while mowing the lawn the other night and while I still loved the less verbose parts, I found myself recoiling at some of the wordier passages. All that stuff about summer speaking to winter, killing your despondency, etc., is a little new-age-self-help-y for my tastes. I still like the song, and enjoy the contrast between those parts and the more melancholic passages in-between and at the end, but those sections jumped out at me unfavorably in a way they hadn't before.

[scrub12]

I would agree with Superblood Wolfmoon. It's all over the place and that takes a while to take in, but it's fun and I like a lot of the lyrics. Another grower for me has been Never Destination.

As far as dropping, probably Quick Escape. I still think it's great but I wouldn't have it in my top 3 like I would have said probably a week after the album came out.

[Kevin Davis]

Another grower for me has been Never Destination.

Absolutely, when I listened to this a couple nights ago I had the specific thought that all 3 of the EV rockers have really, really improved for me -- they all sounded like variations on a tired theme at first, now each one seems awesome in its own unique way.

[stip]

Good question. I underwent my SBWM conversion shortly after it came out, so I'd say Who Ever Said - which went from fine to a favorite (probably 3).

Quick Escape and 7 Oclock maybe fell the most, but I still quite like both. I prefer the wordy verses to the choruses on 7 oclock.

[liebzz]

Thankfully, all of the tracks have grown for me and none of them have fallen out of favor. I hope that continues.

[ghost]

Grower: Retrograde. Took a few (dozen) listens to get past the schmaltzy production. Now I would say I genuinely enjoy it and look forward to it as a side-B highlight. Probably should've been the closer.

No-er: River Cross. Too much (lyrics, metaphors, themes, emotions) piled on too little song. Should've been a b-side or stayed an Ed solo track.

[PHATJ]

It’s so nice to see people that initially poo-poo’d songs and compared them to the last two albums doing a 180 and realizing that take was silly. Part of my repeated and persistent praise of Gigaton since day one is based on the fact that I recognized it was immeasurably better than those albums, and equal to many of PJ’s greats, and I firmly believed that the vast majority that initially didn’t like certain songs (or the album as a whole), would eventually see the light. It’s been gratifying to watch that happen.

[Kevin Davis]

Loved from the beginning, still love:
Dance of the Clairvoyants
Buckle Up
Take the Long Way

Didn't like at first, really like now:
Who Ever Said
Superblood Wolfmoon
Never Destination

Still like quite a bit, but have fallen since first listen:
Quick Escape
Seven O'Clock
Comes Then Goes

Didn't really like at first, still don't:
Alright
Retrograde
River Cross

[stip]

It’s so nice to see people that initially poo-poo’d songs and compared them to the last two albums doing a 180 and realizing that take was silly. Part of my repeated and persistent praise of Gigaton since day one is based on the fact that I recognized it was immeasurably better than those albums, and equal to many of PJ’s greats, and I firmly believed that the vast majority that initially didn’t like certain songs (or the album as a whole), would eventually see the light. It’s been gratifying to watch that happen.

trump post

[PHATJ]

It’s so nice to see people that initially poo-poo’d songs and compared them to the last two albums doing a 180 and realizing that take was silly. Part of my repeated and persistent praise of Gigaton since day one is based on the fact that I recognized it was immeasurably better than those albums, and equal to many of PJ’s greats, and I firmly believed that the vast majority that initially didn’t like certain songs (or the album as a whole), would eventually see the light. It’s been gratifying to watch that happen.

trump post

Quite right. It’s the truth.

[Juvenal]

Thanks folks - was in a funny mood this afternoon and thought a review might be interesting.

Without sounding too poncey, I do love it when a song helps conjure an image or setting. Buckle Up: drizzling funeral; Retrograde: far north aurora; SBWM: hungover in the dock of the court. When a song doesn't do that - and a few of Gigaton's don't - it's hard to be as enthused.

Still generally loving this album though.

[EJ]

No-er: River Cross. Too much (lyrics, metaphors, themes, emotions) piled on too little song. Should've been a b-side or stayed an Ed solo track.

That's how I still feel as well. I don't necessarily dislike it, just have no real desire to hear it either.

[PHATJ]

It’s so nice to see people that initially poo-poo’d songs and compared them to the last two albums doing a 180 and realizing that take was silly. Part of my repeated and persistent praise of Gigaton since day one is based on the fact that I recognized it was immeasurably better than those albums, and equal to many of PJ’s greats, and I firmly believed that the vast majority that initially didn’t like certain songs (or the album as a whole), would eventually see the light. It’s been gratifying to watch that happen.

trump post

Quite right. It’s the truth.

I mean I consistently said so about SBWM the night it was realeased and people were saying it sucked. I was driving the bandwagon from the beginning. It’s all there, go back and read the threads.

[tragabigzanda]

pearl jam sucks now

[Juvenal]

No-er: River Cross. Too much (lyrics, metaphors, themes, emotions) piled on too little song. Should've been a b-side or stayed an Ed solo track.

That's how I still feel as well. I don't necessarily dislike it, just have no real desire to hear it either.

This is where I am - which is sad, because I can see its merits but it's like I'm behind thick-panelled glass looking at it.

[mikejasond]

Album Flaws:
Deestahnce
HEEEE-EEEEE
Hever
Hending

[Ms Harmless]

Thankfully, all of the tracks have grown for me and none of them have fallen out of favor. I hope that continues.

[Kevin Davis]

No-er: River Cross. Too much (lyrics, metaphors, themes, emotions) piled on too little song. Should've been a b-side or stayed an Ed solo track.

That's how I still feel as well. I don't necessarily dislike it, just have no real desire to hear it either.

"River Cross" is the one song on the album that I just don't care for at all.

[Ledbetterdays]

I have found myself exploring Take The Long Way more in the favorites category so it is trending up.
I always liked SBWM even when it was deemed wretched by many here. I knew what it was from the beginning.
I also did not fall into the Quick Escape trap. I do like it though.
It's the last third of the album that has declined for me--decent songs, and I already had some notion of that, but most of what is after Buckle Up I probably will not need 6 months from now--just poorly stacked in sequencing.
I maintain that Gigaton is better than anything since Avocado and might be better than that one too.