I think it's a more assured version of "There's No Leaving Now." Seems he knew what he wanted more this time around - I'm on board. However, I'm also a mega fanboi so whatevs lel.

Great review as ever Rudy.

Record's good, but like you it's left me pondering what it is about his music that appeals to me. The fact that Little Nowhere Town is my favourite track suggests it's familiarity. By contrast I find that some of the more expansive tracks here sound a little forced - particularly Sagres, which to my ears sounds like he's jumping on the War on Drugs bandwagon.

Album Rating: 4.5

I agree Sagres sounds a little forced, but on the contrary I do prefer the "expansive" tracks. Not that they're better than his Wild Hunt material, but they're fresh.

am I going to be lynched if I say this is better than TWH and TNLN

no, but all your music credibility will be lost

Album Rating: 3.7

thanks Ali, 100% agree. some of the more expansive tracks really work - "slow dance" and "timothy" in particular, but for the most part i think he sounds more natural when he's not buttressing everything up with overdone production

when he's not buttressing everything up with overdone production

Album Rating: 3.7

that was kind of the gist of my review although i think it works well on some songs more than others

ah sweet cos musical cred is like the least important thing ever

i just feel like someone (Kristian Matsson) didn't get the memo that its kind of a huge sound engineering faux pas to soak shit in reverb this much...

which is exasperated by the fact that this is his fourth LP

it would be much more forgivable if he was a ~newbie~ but when he's this far into his career its just kind of irksome that he would produce an album in such a amateurish way

if it werent for that fact this would just be an average indie folk album but for that and that alone i find this album a complete failure instead of just an average output

what if he actually did it not as a misstep but because that's the sound he wanted to achieve??

Album Rating: 4.0

Potsy I think not everyone has such a huge rage boner on reverb-soaked production.

Album Rating: 4.0

Yeah, the reverb doesn't bother me at all. I can see why a lot of people would dislike it, though.

Album Rating: 3.5

He is amazing live, and a kind person. The new songs also sound a lot better live.

https://scontent-iad.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xta1/v/t1.0-9/s720x720/11235274_10206606523346972_160350849911601468_n.jpg?oh=f58c87596e78f2e0f402191f9cca3426&oe=56030D5A

Album Rating: 4.0

little nowhere towns is amazing

It really is amazing the amount of albums in Sputnik that have the exact same average rating as the staff review's.

Album Rating: 3.7

i'm a man of the people

@ I never said it wasn't the sound he wanted bud. I'm sure it's exactly what he wanted, which is unfortunate because it's awful.

@radical ed did I say everyone did? No, I said I did. Obviously. I don't speak for everyone. But I do know that it is generally frowned upon to overdo things with the reverb in the sound engineering field and this album makes me understand why.

Album Rating: 4.0 | Sound Off

sounds good