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Jason Tate
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Review: New Found Glory – Makes Me Sick

NFG - Makes Me Sick
Jason Tate

This first impression was originally posted as a live blog for supporters in our forums on April 24th, 2017. First impressions are meant to be quick, fun, initial impressions on an album or release as I listen to it for the first time. It’s a running commentary written while listening to an album — not a review. More like a diary of thoughts. This post has been lightly edited for structure and flow.

Wooooo, time for a little first listen blogging time. Been way too long since I’ve done one of these, and I’m really excited to do a live-blog-first-listen tonight for the new New Found Glory album. Before getting started, a few things:

  1. I think this is my favorite NFG album since, at least, Coming Home, and I think I actually will end up having it ranked pretty high in their discography within a few years. It is surprisingly fun, energetic, a fun spin on their well known style, and incredibly enjoyable. I didn’t expect to like it as much as I have, and I’ve been playing it … a lot over the past few weeks.
  2. NFG were at one point a band I called my “favorite” (I think I talked about this on a past podcast episode about favorite bands), I wanted to BE this band. Haha. They had the style, the look, and the sound that I wanted to emulate so badly. I kinda moved away from them over the years, but when I go back and play their albums now (at least the early ones), they are so caked in nostalgia for me I can’t help but love them.
  3. I haven’t really liked their last few albums that much to be honest. They’ve been fine, but they felt so predictable to me that I never found myself coming back to them at all. I’d listen for a week or so, and then if I ever wanted an NFG fix, I’d go back to the ST and S&S instead. I really do think this is the first album from them in a while that will shake up that trend for me.
  4. I love the production on this one. I think the band mixing it up with new ears and a new voice in the studio was exactly what they needed. I think Sprinkle knocked this out of the park.
  5. I’ve talked on past podcasts about bands getting in a rut, and how I wish more would try new things that work within their sound … this album is exactly what I wanted to see from this band … it really is exactly that.

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First Impressions: New Found Glory – Radiosurgery

Jason Tate

Honestly the first impression I get of Radiosurgery (which I promise I will type “Radiosugary” a hundred times in the next few months) is that it reminds me of Self-Titled. I think that may be the production/mixing coming through — but I hear it in the song writing a little bit as well. I think the single’s the weak link and “Summer Fling, Don’t Mean a Thing” the highlight (the hook is what pop-punk should be). At this point these guys are as close to a sure thing as I can think of in the genre. They are exactly what they are, they do it damn well, and that’s all there is to it. There will always be a soft spot in my heart for this band, I’ve been listening to them for fricking years, and they’re one of a handful of bands yonder that I still love to listen to — and have massive amounts of respect for. With all the band drama these days, all the bands breaking up and changing members and throwing hissy fits … these guys are a model to emulate.

”What did you say as I walked out the door, awooaooh, did you want me back?”

Can’t get that damn chorus out of my head.

Hi Joe.

First Impressions: New Found Glory – Not Without a Fight

Jason Tate

The new New Found Glory is an interesting album. It sounds a lot like their self titled album, a more raw production with straight to the point – in your face – pop-punk. If anything, it reminds me of when I first listened to Less Than Jake’s GNVFLA album. It’s an album that is a “return to form” from a band I loved in high-school, basically sounding like it would have if released when I was in high-school. So it’s a strange feeling – it’s very nostalgic, but at the same time I definitely enjoy the album. I would recommend it to any pop-punk fan – especially a NFG fan. There’s no reason it shouldn’t be in your collection.

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Review: New Found Glory – Coming Home

New Found Glory - Coming Home
Jason Tate

New Found Glory have always been a musical-staple of my summers. Since the release of Nothing Gold Can Stay, so many years ago, it seems that when the weather gets warm the pop-punk goodness of NFG is always close in tow. However, the band’s latest album hits us as the summer months fade and the air bends to the onslaught of fall. Incidentally, the band’s musical thermometer is still intact. Instead of an album full of summer-fist-pumping-anthems they’ve released the perfect music by which to watch the leaves fall from the trees.

The changing of seasons seems to be the perfect metaphor for New Found Glory; however, it’s important to note that while the color of leaves may change, the underlying nature never does.

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