BROKEN SOCIAL SCENE

The general feeling among professional critics and fans alike seems to be that YFIIP is the pinnacle and this follow-up is a less focused, less inspired attempt to top it. Some have said they find it less emotionally arresting than YFIIP, and that it seems to be a broken down, bloated mess with too many ideas floating around. Then there are the posts below with vague comments that it's not as "trippy" or "groovy" as prior BSS releases. I entered BSS like most people with YFIIP, which many have called a perfect pop album. I must diverge from the majority of critics and potheads and weigh in to say that I consider this the closest thing BSS has made to the perfect pop album. Even though there is much more going on in the songs and the production is more dense, I find these songs speak to me in a much more direct, emotionally-charged way. As before, I still barely know what the lyrics are, but it does not matter. Just listen to the music! Nearly every song is a rapture of pop extacy. "7/4 (Shoreline)" is about as perfect a pop song there is, and ties with Dave Brubeck's "Take 5" for the most enjoyable use of an irregular time signature in popular music. Even the final track, which ventures dangerously close to self-indulgence and pomposity, is somehow stirring and inspiring, in spite of the disturbing lyrics. The band sounds like they have now figured out just what they have here, and no longer need to ape the styles of their idols. Gone is the tentative quality of past releases, and part of the credit for this must fall onto the producer, David Newfeld. The production is amazing, some of the most daring work of the year. Newfeld somehow managed to gel an overwhealming amount of tracks and takes and ideas all together into something of a masterpiece. This is indeed a perfect pop record, in the grand tradition of "Loveless".

The general feeling among professional critics and fans alike seems to be that YFIIP is the pinnacle and this follow-up is a less focused, less inspired attempt to top it. Some have said they find it less emotionally arresting than YFIIP, and that it seems to be a broken down, bloated mess with too many ideas floating around. Then there are the critical posts below with vague comments that it's not as "trippy" or "groovy" as prior BSS releases. I entered BSS like most people with YFIIP, which many have called a perfect pop album. I must diverge from the majority of critics and potheads and weigh in to say that I consider this the closest thing BSS has made to the perfect pop album. Even though there is much more going on in the songs and the production is more dense, I find these songs speak to me in a much more direct, emotionally-charged way. As before, I still barely know what the lyrics are, but it does not matter. Just listen to the music! Nearly every song is a rapture of pop extacy. "7/4 (Shoreline)" is about as perfect a pop song there is, and ties with Dave Brubeck's "Take 5" for the most enjoyable use of an irregular time signature in popular music. Even the final track, which ventures dangerously close to self-indulgence and pomposity, is somehow stirring and inspiring, in spite of the disturbing lyrics. The band sounds like they have now figured out just what they have here, and no longer need to ape the styles of their idols. Gone is the tentative quality of past releases, and part of the credit for this must fall onto the producer, David Newfeld. The production is amazing, some of the most daring work of the year. Newfeld somehow managed to gel an overwhealming amount of tracks and takes and ideas all together into something of a masterpiece. This is indeed a perfect pop record, in the grand tradition of "Loveless".

Unfortunately, this pressing sounds very thin and cheap. Vinyl buyers beware.

Still one of my favorite albums.

One of the best albums by one of my favorite bands - the sound quality was perfect, and the package arrived in near mint condition (impressive for a 10-year-old release).

Sounds great on vinyl!

Love bss

Very happy with the CD!

Wow !!! Lots and Lots going on ..

EOTR 2016 highlight

Brilliant album.

Very good condition

ottimo doppio vinile che contiene anche l'ep " to be you and me". sulla qualità dell'album non si discute, ma do una stella perchè il disco è arrivato senza bustina sigillata e da l'idea di essere un prodotto ricondizionato nonostante fosse venduto per nuovo. è la prima volta che mi capita per un vinile. visto il prezzo mi aspettavo un prodotto NUOVO. comunque per fortuna sembra che la qualità dei dischi sia buona, mi riservo di ascoltarlo con attenzione, nonostante conosco già l'album in quanto possedevo il cd comprato all'epoca della sua uscita. consiglio ad amazon di specificare meglio la descrizione dei prodotti venduti, magari con delle foto reali dei prodotti, sopratutto per i vinili.