Girlpool

listened to the new one today. liked it overall, but the title track towers over the rest. stunning song.

Listening to the new one for the first time in a while, "All Blacked Out" (the song that ends side 1) fucking knocked me out. I'd put that in a POX. not sold on the title track yet or much else tbh but I need to spend more time with this record. the effect that Cleo's new voice has had on them cannot be understated - especially since they're only a duo. it's like having a different singer, and it alters the musical dynamic dramatically.

Right, just remembered how much solo material and demos Cleo & Harmony both have, and that some songs on the new record are really old. This is just stunning:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6xHYN64L2Ro

This... might actually be my favourite album of theirs? The songwriting is certainly stronger here than on Powerplant, but it's also so dark that I find i'm not returning to it as much as i did Powerplant two years ago.

But holy fuck, that title track

the nihilist tells me that nothing is true/ I faked global warming just to get close to you

I could listen to this song all day

ok seriously "It Gets More Blue" is the best indie pop song of this decade maybe this century

it's great

I'm still obsessed with All Blacked Out

gorgeous

They posted the demos for What Chaos is Imaginary on Bandcamp, recorded before Cleo transitioned. He has a really nice essay that goes along with it that talks about how uncomfortable it is to hear these old recordings but there is a need to make peace with the voice he used to have.

Having said that, I've been lukewarm on recent girlpool mainly because of production choices. Had a hard time with the last song they released.

These stripped down demos sound like a lost early album and I love it.

the demo of "All Blacked Out" is my favorite thing they've done

Aw, I love the production on What Chaos, they consistently have the most amazing sounding albums.

The last time I saw them, the enthusiasm for playing the new material was pretty incredible, like Avery sustaining the intensity of the "I let it live" part of "Hire" for the entire song. And the way the older stuff was reimagined, while also winking at its remoteness, was lovely. "Chinatown" with dorky guitar licks after the choruses.

I like the album version a lot, it's a great version, but I didn't love the song til I heard the demo. the drawn out tempo & atmospherics of the album version vs. the more platonic demo

Didn't even try to see them when they were here in nov or dec but obv will next time I can in .....3 years??

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m-sIoRmX6TE

love this one from their upcoming album

yeah! I've also fallen in love with "Faultline" since thread's last posts. I'm excited to hear how the album gets from the opening songs to those two toward the middle (and trying to avoid playing any of them much til then).

probably just the power of suggestion but "Faultline" really does remind me of Possum Dixon's "Faultlines." the serenity of not knowing when the ground will give way, or something.

incredible album, again