Overwhelmingly my impression is that I like it a lot, and it’s not really any deeper than that, but in the future it very well may be. There is something about it, about his voice or the arrangements or something, that is pretty immediately distinct and pleasing to me. To my ear, have a corner on their sound, and it’s a good sound. But also, in a lot of ways it’s very straightforward and… I don’t know, “obedient” pop music? It’s not breaking any molds, but it’s fun and well done and it feels very much like its own thing despite that.
The first album, A Ghost in the Walls, feels a little bit loose, a little bit off compared to the rest of their stuff, but once they get past that I feel like they locked it in pretty well. Song after song that is enjoyable and well put together, and just pleasant in a way that is hard to articulate. Like, it really is, there’s something about it that is easy to listen to.
Right now, that feeling is making it a super easy A-, and a pretty high one at that. It can’t carry it higher than that because it’s a very strong like, a liking that comes with clarity, but it’s not anything more than that. At least, not right now. I could see it growing on me, and I like it enough that I’m rather hoping it does grow on me, but that’s a question for later. For now, it’s just a very feel-good A-, and I feel pretty good about that.
Raynes complete, now listening to: Bring Me the Horizon
