Nothing like an upcoming concert (read: tonight) for me to finally listen to Glass Animals’ latest album, I Love You So F***ing Much, in earnest.
To be fair, I wasn’t the biggest fan of their single “Creatures in Heaven.” Even though I am a longtime fan of their style, this song seemed especially slow and melancholic. I suppose that is how I would actually describe the rest of the album, but it is truly a Glass Animals record. And after many listens in preparation for the concert later tonight, I can honestly say that it’s pretty good! There are a fair number of songs that will make it into their playlist, so that’s quite the feat! Compared to Dreamland, it does feel much more subdued and almost like a lullaby. Really when I think about it though, Dreamland is probably the least like the rest of their discography, which is why “Heatwaves” sounds so different in a live setting.
Sure, they have plenty of quicker tempo songs, but Dave’s voice is so light, high, and soft, that nothing really sounds like a “party” song from them. Dreamland tried its best, but I think I Love You So F***ing Much takes them back into the orbit they are used to operating in. Although a lot of the lyrics feel deeply personal on this record, I think a lot of their older stuff is also pretty introspective. Or at least really good at capturing the details of things. I do recall Dave stating that much of this album is written about a very specific time in his life, which, I feel like most artists do, but maybe this is him framing it as sort of a time capsule for himself. Or maybe to let fans know this isn’t him all the time forever.
“On the Run” is a certified banger, and I am so happy to see it on the setlist for this tour! Another track that really stood out to me on the first listen was “Wonderful Nothing.” Though I don’t find it to be one of my favorites, I can see “Lost in the Ocean” going over really, really well with a live crowd and all of their cell phone flashlights waving back and forth. Both “Show Pony” and “A Tear in Space (Airlock)” are two other strong tracks off the record, where the remaining songs all seemed a bit too similar. Not that they weren’t any good, but they didn’t have any really distinct qualities for me to latch onto even after multiple listens.
Overall, I’m pleased with the new album, and seeing as I’ll be hearing a lot of it later tonight, that’s a good thing! I do hope to maybe catch them at a festival in the future to hear more of the older stuff that really got me into them a decade ago, but this first live encounter is too many years in the making! Stay tuned!