ShadowCipher
Well-known member
The Last Dinner Party's sophomore effort, From the Pyre, has arrived at breakneck speed, leaving fans and critics alike wondering if the London quintet's meteoric rise was indeed manufactured by the music industry. However, despite their swift ascent, the band remains defensive about their accelerated trajectory, insisting that timing felt like a natural progression to them.
In reality, From the Pyre is anything but an opportunistic cash-grab. The album is a dizzyingly dense collection of intricate tracks that marry biblical imagery, baroque detailing, and cacophonous 00s indie energy. Tracks such as "Second Best" and "if This Is the Killer Speaking's" narrator take on Kate Bush-inspired personas, while others grapple with tortured metaphors.
The problem lies in this sonic and lyrical extravagance often coming at the expense of basic melodic pleasure. The band's maximalist approach can be overwhelming, resulting in tracks that feel more like concept albums than genuine pop songs. However, when they restrain their instincts and allow themselves to breathe, the Last Dinner Party's erudite, elaborate pop shines through.
Take "I Hold Your Anger," for instance, a brooding exploration of maternal instinct that showcases the band's ability to craft anthemic, singable hooks. It's this rarefied quality – one that requires restraint and subtlety – that makes From the Pyre feel more like an artist's statement than a hastily assembled commercial follow-up.
Despite its impressive ambitions, From the Pyre often prioritizes style over substance, leaving the listener to sift through the album's elaborate trappings in search of genuine musicality. While it's clear The Last Dinner Party is on the cusp of something special, this sophomore effort feels overly focused on showcasing their conceptual prowess rather than honing their songwriting skills.
In reality, From the Pyre is anything but an opportunistic cash-grab. The album is a dizzyingly dense collection of intricate tracks that marry biblical imagery, baroque detailing, and cacophonous 00s indie energy. Tracks such as "Second Best" and "if This Is the Killer Speaking's" narrator take on Kate Bush-inspired personas, while others grapple with tortured metaphors.
The problem lies in this sonic and lyrical extravagance often coming at the expense of basic melodic pleasure. The band's maximalist approach can be overwhelming, resulting in tracks that feel more like concept albums than genuine pop songs. However, when they restrain their instincts and allow themselves to breathe, the Last Dinner Party's erudite, elaborate pop shines through.
Take "I Hold Your Anger," for instance, a brooding exploration of maternal instinct that showcases the band's ability to craft anthemic, singable hooks. It's this rarefied quality – one that requires restraint and subtlety – that makes From the Pyre feel more like an artist's statement than a hastily assembled commercial follow-up.
Despite its impressive ambitions, From the Pyre often prioritizes style over substance, leaving the listener to sift through the album's elaborate trappings in search of genuine musicality. While it's clear The Last Dinner Party is on the cusp of something special, this sophomore effort feels overly focused on showcasing their conceptual prowess rather than honing their songwriting skills.
But on the other hand, sometimes I feel like it's a bit too much going on at once... the production is insane and it's hard for me to really connect with some of the tracks. Like, don't get me wrong, I appreciate the ambition, but can they just dial it back a notch? 
they sound so talented but sometimes i feel like they're trying too hard to be deep and clever 
instead of just writing catchy pop songs lol who needs all that complexity when ur on fire? 
"i hold your anger" is literally my fave track tho 
I feel like the band is trying too hard to make a statement with their music. It's like they're trying to fit every concept and idea into one album 
, and it ends up feeling cluttered and overwhelming 
. Don't get me wrong, some of the tracks are absolute bangers 
.
!
. Still, I'm excited to see where they go from here!
. I think it's great that they're pushing boundaries, but maybe next time they can find a balance between their artistic vision and, you know, making something that just plain fun to listen to 
i mean dont get me wrong from the pyre is a great album and all, but it feels like they're trying to cram too much into every single track...like yeah we get it you guys are smart and can write some deep lyrics, but can u also make us wanna sing along? 
. Still, The Last Dinner Party seems like they're on to something special, even if this sophomore effort doesn't quite hit all the right notes yet 
And yeah, "I Hold Your Anger" is a total standout - that hook is infectious! But what really got me thinking is how the band's maximalism can also be seen as a strength? I mean, it's like they're pushing boundaries and exploring new sounds... maybe that's exactly what their fans want? 
. Like, I get it, they're trying to push boundaries and all that jazz 
. I mean, I love tracks like "I Hold Your Anger" when they're stripped down, you know? But some of these longer songs just feel like they're dragging on forever 
. Still, I'm super excited to see where this band goes from here 
!
anyone else have this problem where their favorite bands release albums that are too ambitious? 
i'm just excited to see where this album takes them, and if they can refine their sound to make it even more special 
it's not that i don't appreciate the biblical imagery or baroque detailing etc... but come on, can't we just have some catchy hooks for once? 