After listening to it now for two+ months, I can say which songs have grown on me, which havent and which were just a crush who I might go out for a coffee with now and then.
As a whole, I really dig the album. It's a fun record, though it is quite clear that it's
more "style over substance" (cough Bagman cough), and this might take me some time to get used to. There simply is heavy focus on making short, clever and catchy as hell "good time" tracks. The essence is there - great melodies and inspired guitar/bass playing. Lyrically, this is nowhere near Scott's best work, and let's face it - he hasn't got that much to say. But, I've never thought Bowie nor the Stones had anything to say and still were cool as f*ck so...
There's a little lack of heaviness, and the influences (Beatles, Bowie, Nirvana...) are little too obvious for my taste.
The only songs I really have a problem with are "Dare if You Dare" and "Maver".
DIYD, is...sorry, a little pretentious, it's something about lines like "lady Richard won the nobel prize" and "newsman Tom" that annoy me, are you an 80-year old englishman, Scott?
and the chorus bores me to tears. "Dare" is prefect example of what I meant with influences being too obvious, it's exactly as if Lennon did the verses, while Sir Macca takes over in the chorus.
When it comes to "Maver", I really tried to like it, and I like the flow for the most part (nice singing in the verses), but then the chorus sounds exactly like any 20-something singer/songwriter, everytime I hear it, I feel I've heard chords like that with a melody like that, atleast a thousand times. Another thing is also Scott's voice, don't be hatin, but I just get the feeling he hasn't got what the song is asking for, especially the part "for her" is a little painful to listen to, the song had me waiting, like "show us the ropes, this is "Atlanta" of 2010 right", oh well.
"Hazy Daze" and "Peacoat" have their moments, but over time they've become a little "blah" and sound a little "filler-ish" if you will. The other eight however, are brilliant. "Between the Lines" and "Fast As I Can" sound so awesome when pumped loud in my car, especially the latter - best song on the record!
"Huckleberry Crumble" is very punchy and awesome and "Hickory Dichotomy" really fresh and energetic. Take a Load Off has easily the best chorus since Tiny Music days. "Cinnamon" is pure pop, but hell it's beautiful. Though I think Scott tries to sound a little too "cute" and more 22 than 42 in the verses.
"Bagman is" almost in the category of being so ridicilous it's good, but that Dean Deleo/Weiland "ride out" is just EPIC!
