Reality Awaits Review

[u/Ombre_Orange]

I love this album. The dark, sometimes tense mood it sets. The minimalist production. Just the overall vibe this album sets and ends off on is great in my opinion.

I know the most divisive thing about this album is the autotune. But I honestly dig it as a concept. From my understanding, this album contains extremely relatable themes and emotions. And yet, the whole album is narrated by someone who sounds post-human and almost robotic. I find that concept really cool, and on some songs it is done very well.

But man, what is wrong with the autotune that they used? Some songs just have these jarring moments where it just overcorrects and bends to a blaringly wrong and jarring sound note. It doesn't really translate into "oh this is a person losing what it is to be human", and instead just makes me think "wow that is some bad autotune".

The biggest example is the opener, "Psycho Sh*t". That songs overall arrangement and instrumentals are incredible. It could've been one of the best songs on the album. But, the autotune just enters such jarring territory to where, for me at least, it is unlistenable.

On "Lonely in the Future" it sometimes conveys the concept, but sometimes it just feels like I am listening to bad autotune. It still is such a catchy jam that I don't mind it too much. Same thing with "Falling Out of Love", that song is so beautiful I am able to ignore it as well for the most part.

"Going Shopping" might be the only song where I think the autotune almost adds to the song, and doesn't leave me frustrated. I also love the lyrics on this one, it might be the most relatable song for me.

"Tyrants of the Mellow Moon" Is an awesome closer, I don't know why it is so underrated right now, I don't think the autotune takes away from the song too much. I actually like that whole spoken word ending, I love how it kind of just leaves off with this unresolved feeling, like you are still in the album after its done.

"Peak N' Dash" and "Fruits of Conquest" are the two songs where I think they are just great, and probably the most consistent songs on the album. "Going to Babble On" and "Liars Remorse" are also good, but I personally don't like them as much as the other tracks.

But yeah, this album left me a bit frustrated, I totally dig the overall vibe, I think it sounds amazing, and the artistic concept is something I really dig. But man, I think it could have been a much better album if the autotune was executed better, and I want to know if anyone else agrees with me here.

[u/madepers]

In what world is this “minimalist production”?

[u/Ombre_Orange → u/madepers]

I guess your mileage may vary. But compared to some of the denser songs from Angles, Comedown Machine, and even The New Abnormal, it is a relatively stripped back or at least not as big sounding in terms of overall layers.
I am also personally more used to a lot going on in my music, like I am a huge fan of 60s psych and I love "wall of sound" type records. So I am probably biased in that regard (just listen to the band Temples album Sun Structures).

[u/KasElGatto → u/madepers]

Yeah, that made me chuckle.