1. Arrow – pop gem potential, fucked up by artsy clanky experimentalism.  Hear that mechanical clanky distortion at the beginning?   That’s a sign of the worst of what’s to come on this album, kind of luck a little baby “fuck you” to people who oh, I don’t know, liked T&S for their SOUND – the  harmonizing pop-folk-rocky stuff.
2. Don’t Rush - wtf is up with the herky jerkyness?  if youre trying to sound like a robot don’t shoot for one running on betamax, go for something that’s been oiled recently. again, i hear a gem in there, but its buried is some clanky crap.  After listening to the rest of the album, this song is stronger than I first thought.  By that I mean that the rest is weak enough to make this look good.
3. Hell – better than track 2
4. On Directing – no way to make ‘talking like a teen’ not sound stupid, sorry.  This is the “Like O, Like H” shit-stupid sounding bit for this album.
5. Red Belt – didnt even notice it on 1st pass. annoying beeps. they are doing everything they can to decorate their voices with dung. this song is a throwaway.
6. The Cure - whats up with singing like a guy? decent, nothing special
7. Northshore - what song are they ripping here?  cant remember. again with the boy sing/huffing.  other than that, ok for t+s trying to do something fast… except for the part they are ripping “don’t x, don’t y, blah blah”
8. Night Watch – this is a song?  this song? sucks.
9. Alligator -  almost as bad as track 8, but not.  Wait, it’s over?  I get it, these are “short pop songs”.  But where is the “pop”?  Hell, even the “song” is questionable in some of these.
10. Paperback Head – this would be a good song for some high school kids making music in their garage. they need a music editor to tell them to write another draft before publishing.  then another.  then just file it away if this is as good as it gets.
11. The Ocean – ok this is a little more familiar now.  like one of the weak songs from the previous album. sadly, it looks good on this album because the rest is so bleh.
12. Sentimental Tune – like a weak song on the early albums, which makes it stronger than track 11.
13. Someday – same as 12

All in all, the album as a whole makes decent background noise, but it’s not the kind of thing I want to listen to in my car.   Or, really ever again now that I think about it.   If the last album was a warning shot, this one is a torpedo of lameness to the groin, T&S, your buy on sight privileges are revoked.   Potentially your “buy ever again” option too.

TWO OUT OF FIVE STARS

Not worth money.

It’s a shame they didn’t take my previous advice, and stop trying to be so damn serious.  Or artsy.  Or experimental/cutting edge, whatever.  They’ve mostly traded in what I think was a great pop/rock/folk sound for some … bullshit really.  I’m sure they like it, and I don’t mean anything personal by my comments.  By all means, make and create what you love.  Just don’t expect people to buy it.