by Tinman » 8/9/2012, 8:55 am
As drastically different as Gravity is from the first 4 albums, I find it even odder as to how different HIPT is from gravity. Granted, OLP's albums all sound very different, I think its obvious that Gravity was a huge divergence from the bands early sound, which did have some consistencies. It also seems like that change was probably in some way related to Mikes departure (though we'll never know the full story). I thought that the band, at the time, wanted to move in the direction of the gravity sound, and mike was probably resistant to it. This was my own interpenetration based on everything i've read, but I really don't think it was just a matter of mike's skill level, as raine said. Many reviewers of HIPT say that they were shocked, as Gravity seemed to show that the band was looking to move their music in a heavier, grittier direction. However, HIPT, to me, sounds closer to OLP's old sound, however, with poppier tracks designed around getting radio play and having catchy singles. It used to be my least favorite album, but after going back, A/L/S is undeniably solid, and Apology is amazing. There are quite a few songs on that CD that got overlooked by me, and I think many fans... and those few gems seem to be closer to OLP's earlier repertoire. So, I guess, after the success of Gravity, why is Gravity the only album that sounds like Gravity? Why break the trend? With HIPT 40+ tracks specifically due to finding that single, why not stick to what worked so well with the previous album? Even the shittier tracks on the album sound nothing like the previous album. Nor is it anything like BB.