That’s pretty standard with two guitars
I’ve loved all these songs, save Concessions, from the jump. UMBowl 2022 is top 3 with ‘14 and ‘15(?) for my repeated listening and the songs in general
This album rips in my opinion.
4 Likes
My only disappointment is no Draconian in the tracklist. It was the only other RS they played during those shows that didn’t end up on here. That’s one of my favorites and would’ve enjoyed the big ending with studio vocals.
5 Likes
Just listened through. I really, really like this. The weakest moment for me is the drop into lego 2 of den, feel like they lose steam for a bit. Then again that is the song I am most familiar with so I have a preconceived notion of how that song is supposed to go. Unevolved and Concessions are 10/10 tracks. A fitting bow on Myers career with UM.
6 Likes
Myers work is sooo good
On Monday Joel said that was the last one out
God I love the end of Concessions.
1 Like
Underrated part of this album - the vocal effects on the “chorus” of the first part of Unevolved - “my mind spins a chorus” part. Such a light vocal track and I love it so much
1 Like
…the new new studio album has Myers on it as well apparently unless they decide to scrap his parts and have Scotty record them.
First listen now. This is very good. Best stuff since Mantis (which I adore, I know oldheads have a mixed relation with that one)
There’s another album?
I’ve always liked the end of wide open and exit signs which sound good, but overall I don’t particularly love this batch of songs. Album does sound good though
Yes, it was finished earlier this year I believe. All new songs for the Bort to hate on.
7 Likes
Can’t wait to bitch about it!
4 Likes
Already in line
6 Likes
I mean didn’t a lot of old school rock bands record essentially as a live band in a studio? I find this approach refreshing in 2025. Would be cool if it was new unheard material. I understand not connecting with the songs but I think the process and approach is admirable.
I know it’s been said ad nauseum, but the way they released this is just so utterly confounding and ridiculous.
It’s by far their best album since Mantis, and they could have really tried to sell it as their return to form to re-engage older fans, and also tried to gain a few more prog fans in the process. But breaking these into these short tracks just serves to make it such a confusing release.
6 Likes
I’m not a big fan of the lego tracklisting, either. But if you don’t do it, you have this: 1) Wide Open 10:10; 2) Unevolved 20:00; 3) Exit Signs 7:54; 4) Out of Focus 12:13; 5) Den 5:56; 6) Concessions 16:31
That is pretty extreme, heh. Like even Mantis, the title track is the only one over 10 minutes. I think they still should have done it because in order to be a fan of this band, you need to be able to tolerate a long tune once in awhile, but that side of them (Bayliss) that is always keeping ooe eye on the commercial probably got terrified of having a track list that more closely resembles a Steven Wilson solo album. It’s a shame. This is somehow a perfect middle ground between super-polished studio UM and live UM, and I love the approach they took.
Were the sound effects at the very end of Concessions really necessary though? 
1 Like
The context of that stuff is pretty different (live rhythm tracks, usually of songs not played before, and certainly not ones we have 40 versions of already), and it was pretty uncommon for it JUST to be the parts that existed live. I guess for a band that puts out all of their live shows, it just doesn’t really sit apart for me, and sounds more or less exactly like the live band that i’ve heard 10k hours of. Even the jamband studio records I don’t really care for generally have new parts/arrangements that I can really appreciate. I don’t feel like I get that here.
Seems pretty clear I’m like the only person on here not into it, which really just reinforces what i’ve been wondering about my ability to enjoy UM in general these days. 
1 Like
No shame in taste changing over a few decades. I have some bias having attended 2/3 Top Note sessions no doubt. It sounds so similar to how the shows sounded those nights through the headphones, which I suppose backs your point in that it’s basically just a nicer sounding live show recording. I’ve never heard the drums sound that crisp at an actual show though, even with headphones.
I do hope we get one more fresh album of material from the Myers era though, hopefully that last album catches your attention more!