Thing is, this wasn't a moment of rash decision making or drunken Twitter fingers. This is a book that, presumably, took months took write, went through multiple drafts, was sent to a publisher, etc. It extends beyond mere jerkass behavior and requires more than a mea cupla. I still can't help the feeling that this is part of some plan to get him back in the spotlight. Which, however temporarily, has succeeded.
PLEASE let this be a sign of a new long-player on the horizon, preferably during the summer. I've loved everything he's released but dude needs to drop something that breaks the thirty minute mark again. Also, didn't hear about him signing with MMG. It's certainly fitting but I wonder why he left Stones Throw.
It almost feels intentional, like he's *trying* to get himself cancelled because he knows positively no one gives a flying fuck about him otherwise. Like, who the hell even asked for a Moby autobio in the first place??
Jack White reminds me of Les Claypool, in the sense that he needs a band, and not a collective of collaborators and session musicians, to fully achieve his sound and not kiss his ass all of the time.
And I'd also like to use this space to declare Benson's The Alternative to Love as one of the best power pop releases of the century. I'm high.
I appreciate this comparison, but I'm not sure who is who here. I happen to hold the perhaps uncommon opinion that Tyler has created better shit than Earl, but he's also released more so that may just be a circumstance of volume. Either way, it's a well-played attempted dialogue to pull from one's ass. Cheers.
I agree that it's kind of a more (much more) refined Cherry Bomb, but I think that's his best album (well, until now) so it's exactly what I was hoping for. Give it time to work its magic.
It really covers the bases: Falling in love, despite your better judgement, with somebody you can't have. The noxious aggressiveness and desperation that follows that realization (New Magic Wand [magic wand = gun, because it makes people disappear?]), the acceptance (Gone, Gone) that is at least somewhat rooted in denial ("I don't love you anymore". Sure, you don't) and, ultimately, absolution with a keen eye toward a bright future. And that's just the lyrical conceit, not even touching on the brilliant production choices. A new height.
ALSO also, I love that this didn't leak, that nobody had heard it before anybody else. It's already inspiring a wave of positivity and joy and I think that will only continue to spread throughout the weekend. Something big is happening and we're all a part of it. I don't know, if feels like an event, one we can actually benefit from instead of being ground down by. I'm really, really into this if you couldn't tell.
Fresh off of my first listen, and just...goddamn yes. This is the one. This album is everything I wanted Flower Boy to be (not that it was a disappointing album, just clearly a transitional sound that has been fully realized here.) It's undeniably his masterwork, and I think it *finally* cements him as one of the finest working talents we have. He made it. This will be getting repeat listens for a long time.
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