#static prevails

The stand out track for me is probably 17, there's a great energy to it and a rawness to Tom's voice which I love and the drum fill just before the chorus that gives the song an extra kick. I did laugh at the "Hang loose my friend" line, it's a bit dated but can we bring that era of slang back? I want to start using it again. Another great Tom track is Episode IV, it's much more subdued but with Toms softer delivery and the instrumentation it's a really beautiful track.

In terms of Jims vocals Claire and Call It in the Air are great songs, I said in a reply to another comment but it's unreal how much his voice has changed, even between this album and Clarity!

Then we get to the second half of the album and as I mentioned it just doesn't grab me in the same way as the first half, don't get me wrong I really like teh extanded instrumental opening on Digits and the transition from Digits to Caveman to World is Static is pretty cool and World is Static really resonated with me lyrically. However, a lot of the songs in the second half seem like they're 3 or 4 songs spliced into one resulting in this tonal whiplash which can work (Pass the Baby) but it just doesn't work for me here.

Oh and here's a copy and paste from my notes while listening to the album because I'm a complete chicken:

- Ok Digits is cool. the extended opening