There isn't much to critic on that side but not implying it's a bad thing at all

I love new Julien just as much as everything she's done

I think the album is her best yet

My friend said he literally had a hard time listening to it a second time because it feels so "same-y" compared to her previous work.

Gonna listen with him tonight.

🙄

Yeah I'm nervous. Julien Baker is his #1 favorite artist of all time, so I figured he'd be glowing about it

S*** leaked 👀?

I think people are getting the vinyl early

seems like he just put too much expectations on it being drastically differennt. Honestly, all the singles dont sound anything like her previous stuff so i dont see it.

I don’t get that. It’s pretty different..?

I dug the album but I get what he's talking about. I think he's more frustrated that the "full band" feel is not explored as well as it could be.

I feel like her songwriting, while still great, isn't fully developed for the production and scale here. Feels very transitory, like she's testing out new waters for other ideas she'll have later.

I definitely liked it more than he did.

HIGHLIGHT TRACKS: Hardline, Relative Fiction, Bloodshot, Song in E, Ziptie

That was totally my bad for misunderstanding his point. He felt she doesn't commit to the band-feel enough, and that the songs feel like step downs from her previous work. He was hoping she would flesh out the production/instrumentals more fully, and that this just feels like her previous work but watered down due to her voice/lyrics taking more of a backseat.

His main thing was like "if you're gonna take the backseat, there's gotta be something interesting to bring to the front" and he didn't feel the album did enough of that.

If you like the singles, you will love this record. It’s her darkest yet and also her catchiest

Mines coming on Wednesday

fiending for this

Listening now, Relative Fiction is f***ing incredible

It really is. Yours show up early?

Yeah, surprising tbh cuz I live in Houston and everything is f***ing s*** show rn lmfao

Lol be safe out there I know Texas is going THROUGH it. Hope you enjoy LO as much as I do

Yeah this album is so much better than turn out the lights

100%. Songwriting is better and musically it’s just way more interesting. She leveled up

Bloodshot

ITS THE MERCY I CANT TAKE

9/10 for me, but I don't think theres a weak point on this record. Her songwriting is as good as ever, but now its surrounded by a much more interesting soundscape. I will probably always prefer Sprained Ankle just cuz I adore that album with every fiber of my being, but this certainly is the same quality level.

Best song on album

Ziptie for me.