|
Post by Shawn on Oct 29, 2021 10:18:42 GMT -5
New song is out. First impressions... It’s a good track for the most part, kind of a mix of ST/WWA/Almeria. The only thing holding it back for me is the melody is a bit too monotone. The theme of “Chester Copperpot” reminds me of the older days with “Stanley Climbfall” and “Fairytales and Sandcastles”. Overall I’d say 4/5… the banjo in the background is sweet. I’m a sucker for that (Gregory Alan Isakov anyone?) Edit: Looked up Chester Copperpot and found a reference to the movie The Goonies. The picture looks eerily like Jason Wade at age 70… goonies.fandom.com/wiki/Chester_Copperpot
|
|
|
Post by apres13 on Oct 29, 2021 12:01:12 GMT -5
This song looks like a deep cut more than a single. My theory is that they will release every song on the album as a single instead of releasing the full album. This is the weaker of the 5. But a good one. Lifehouse going vintage is sweet to the ears.
|
|
|
Post by klein on Oct 29, 2021 12:36:28 GMT -5
As with the other more recent songs, my reaction is basically 'meh'. Not a bad song, but just...underwhelming.
I think I've found the missing Lifehouse ingredient in all of these recent songs they released. It's Jude.
Think about it. Jude co-wrote a huge portion of all the classic LH songs that we love. His production and writing and direction drove the Lifehouse sound for so long. It seems he has been cut out of the creative process entirely (and replaced with Steve supposedly?). I think Jude played a huge part in why LH sounded the way they always did.
Today's Lifehouse sounds more heavily influenced by Steve. All the Steve/Jason co-writes have a similar sound. Kinda makes you wonder when was the last time we actually heard a TRUE Jason song...
|
|
|
Post by Robert on Oct 29, 2021 22:53:37 GMT -5
This one’s a cool song! I love the instrumentation, that monotone melody is vaguely reminiscent of All In All’s monotone style. I LOVE Greg Alan so that banjo isn’t lost on me Surprised to not hear Bryce’s backing vocals very much, Jason is harmonizing with himself during the chorus. Not sure I like it more than the others but it feels a little more old school Lifehouse than the rest in my opinion; quite Smoke & Mirrors / Almería in that bridge and otherwise VERY 2005 yellow era to me, probably because of those backing vocals by Jason (he and Rick did the ‘05 album alone so J did his own bgvs on the demoes and record).
|
|
|
Post by Robert on Oct 29, 2021 22:58:05 GMT -5
As with the other more recent songs, my reaction is basically 'meh'. Not a bad song, but just...underwhelming. I think I've found the missing Lifehouse ingredient in all of these recent songs they released. It's Jude. Think about it. Jude co-wrote a huge portion of all the classic LH songs that we love. His production and writing and direction drove the Lifehouse sound for so long. It seems he has been cut out of the creative process entirely (and replaced with Steve supposedly?). I think Jude played a huge part in why LH sounded the way they always did. Today's Lifehouse sounds more heavily influenced by Steve. All the Steve/Jason co-writes have a similar sound. Kinda makes you wonder when was the last time we actually heard a TRUE Jason song... Jude was involved from Who We Are onwards, except for co-writing You and Me afaik. I think the missing ingredient you speak of is a mastering engineer :/ this song sounds better than some of the muddier Oz stuff but still doesn’t separate the instruments the way every Lifehouse song pre 2021 did. You can hear the difference in some of the older songs that weren’t mixed and mastered by their usual engineers, one example being I Want You to Know (kinda flat, lost some of the sound depth the rest of WWA had). By contrast, Easier to Be has that enveloping, differentiation of instruments and spatiality that made the bajillion different layered guitars sound great. Everything done since 2013’s Paper Cuts has been made with different engineers on the mixing and mastering end, except for OOTW because Jude produced and I think either one of the Lord-Alge brothers or Ted Jensen mastered. It’s a pet peeve that they’re letting these creative arrangements of instruments get smothered by one another when they’re released, but I’m trying to lose the peeve because without Jude I don’t think they’ll switch back. I’m surprised Ricky isn’t saying something, I kinda thought he’s always had the audiophile ear for sound quality. The last time we heard a song that didn’t have Jude involved was probably from the Ron Aniello albums tbh… and even then he was still their manager so there would’ve been something there. I bet the last just-Jason songs you heard were on Paper Cuts
|
|
|
Post by LHfanMI on Oct 30, 2021 9:01:21 GMT -5
Robert, we often have very differing views but this time you said everything I was thinking. Nailed it. Especially starting with IWYTK. I don't remember if I replied to your last comment back to me on another thread about quality, but yes, I meant sound quality. Not lyrically. A lot of the stuff lately has been intriguing and well written. The problem is like you said with the mixing/engineering. This song is really a standout for poor mastering in my opinion. Not saying it's the worst of the mix, but because it had some of the most potential. Man, put headphones on and try to listen to everything in this song...the instrumentation is frickin awesome! But then it came out flat and muddy which is disappointing when there's much about it that I love.
|
|
|
Post by Robert on Oct 31, 2021 18:20:54 GMT -5
Going through the five new songs for lyrics! This is as best as I can hear them:
Just a heartbeat away and it's alright Twist your reality 'til it feels right Spend some time in the attic of your dreams Take a cat nap in a conscious dream Take a trip through the fight or flight Oh no So check your pulse and thank your stars You've no idea where we are Chester Copperpot never made it this far These are my dreams This is my wish I am taking them all back Just a cracker jack prize That's what she said Just a pipe dream swimming 'round my head A dead end tunnel that I'm walking through Said this daylight isn't good enough for you So check your pulse and thank your stars You've no idea where we are Chester Copperpot never made it this far These are my dreams This is my wish And I'm taking them all back
Totally agree @lhfanmi. Interestingly, after listening to all five, Chester Copperpot definitely sounds the best mixed of the lot through my earbuds, although my TV's soundbar completely threw it out of whack haha. Worlds better than En Rogue and Cut & Run, and still better than Static too. We won't speak of Dragonflies
|
|
|
Post by snowfist on Oct 31, 2021 19:22:51 GMT -5
I'm with you guys on this one. Pretty good song although the mixing/mastering could be a whole lot better. I reckon the vocal effects will remain on all tracks of the new record. The last recent song that I can hear Jason's vocal clearly is surprisingly Ozwald's cover of These Days. It's the main reasons why I keep that song on repeat
|
|