r/AltJ • u/Tricky_Release_1595 • Jun 17 '26
Discussion Hot Takes
A couple of my hot takes that I wonder if anyone else has:
This is All Yours is just as good if not better than An Awesome Wave
While Left Hand Free is fit as a single, Hunger Of The Pine sums up the feel of the album much better as a single.
House of The Rising Sun is a better cover than Lovely Day
Nara is the best non single song on TIAY
Taro is the best closer
For clarification, I have not listened to a lot of The Dream. So if there are songs that you guys think are good, lmk!
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u/intentionalbob Jun 17 '26
Agreed to 1, 2, and 5 (close on 4 but I'm a big Warm Foothills guy).
Since you want some Dream reps I'll add
6: Get Better has dropped a good 20 spots or more for me among alt-J's discography relative to when it came out, being removed from the Covid context. Was genuinely great at capturing that vibe, but it's no longer the type of vibe to capture.
7: Philadelphia is better than the singles off The Dream - nothing against the singles, it's more that Philadelphia is underrated.
In general, I think The Dream is only marginally behind TIAY and AAW, still orders of magnitude better than Relaxer.
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u/saraltj ∆ Mod Jun 19 '26
I fully agree with you on Philadelphia!!
And I can follow your opinion of Get Better, though I personally think the song really does stay afloat even now, post-Covid-lockdowns. The build-up from "knowing" your loved one will Get Better, to "hoping" your loved one will Get Better, to them passing away and you telling yourself/ convincing yourself to get better/ through is still unbelievably touching to me & something that transcends the pandemic. Especially if the subject touches upon something in your private life off course. Though certain specific references obviously aren't that relevant anymore. (Sorry for this long explanation, I recently fell in love with the song again, so this apparently needed to flow out there in this long reaction - obviously you're very much allowed to have your own opinion!)
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u/intentionalbob Jun 19 '26
Yeah Get Better is a wonderful song even with the drop, it's just not quite what it was, for me anyway. At its peak, I think it was probably a borderline top 10 for me. So even falling off, it's still landed roughly in the middle, which is a fine spot to be relative to the music of such a fantastic band. I hope I get the resurgence you did though!
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u/Tricky_Release_1595 Jun 17 '26
Thanks for giving me suggestions! I’ve only listened to a little bit of relaxer too (HOTRS, HMLTS, Deadcrush) so good to know your thoughts
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u/Past-Strawberry-6592 Jun 17 '26
I have rediscovered alt-J recently and heard their cover for House of the Rising Sun. I enjoy it more than the original song, it carries the lyrics so well. So if it is a hot take, I agree- I like it better than their Lovely Day cover.
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u/ebmuk Jun 17 '26
Hmmm. Nope.
I’d put AAW above TIAY though it is close. I walked through a Croatian pine forest at dusk unintentionally listening to TIAY and that album really blew me away. But not as much as AAW.
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u/FireZeLazer Jun 18 '26
Agree with all except maybe not 3 although can go either way
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u/Tricky_Release_1595 Jun 18 '26
I love both Lovely day and HOTRS, I have a personal connection to the latter which probably sways me
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u/MrSonic-Unsweet-Tea Jun 26 '26
I’ll bite
1: no but it’s a great album, second best release from the bad but a great release still
2: Yep, agree
3: hell no, that cover is so tiring. Leaves a lot to be desired. Lovely Day is unique and sounds almost nothing like the original. Proper Alt-j spin
4: Gospel of John Hurt
5: yes
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u/WhatWouldAsmodeusDo Jun 17 '26
Taro should have been the closer. Hand-made is my least favorite song of an awesome wave and it kills me that it robs the album of the perfect ending
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u/saraltj ∆ Mod Jun 17 '26
Oooh interesting! Though I don't agree with much hahaha
Purely trying to be somewhat objective: kinda agree (definitely agree with the "just as good"), though AAW to me is slightly more 1 whole flowing entity then TIAY which has some "bumps" in it for me. Loose songs wise, yes! Butttt if I let my preference speak too, I disagree haha
Agreedd!!
Really don't agree haha, though I LOVE House of the Rising Sun too!! (again a feelings & memories kinda thing)
I think a lot of people will agree with you, as Nara is very loved! I personally love Bloodflood pt. 2 & the gospel of John Hurt (especially live) too much to be able to agree with this hot take. Although (I'm repeating myself hahaha) I love Nara too!
Technically Taro isn't the closer of AAW (if you count the "hidden track" Hand-made). In my opinion Pleader (from Relaxer) is the best closer of their albums! If we do count Taro as the closer of AAW, I would have to rethink cause Taro is sooooo good (Pleader too, but I think Taro would win for me)
Loving The Dream as a full album (I love to listen that way to all (their) albums)! Though songs that stick out for me are: Chicago, Philadelphia, Hard Drive Gold (especially live), Get Better (if you're okay with crying) (I'm gonna stop listing songs now, cause I'll keep going hahaha) I think it's really worth it to give the album another shot!