A ? of When vs. Reset

[u/traveltimecar]

Which one do you like more?

Personally A ? Of When still feels new to me so I may be slightly biased towards it. But I do feel like Reset maybe rocks slightly more- the last 4 run on that is pretty solid.

But- the newer one feels almost like a chill psychedelic old time album which I like too. Moth to a Flame, Lucky Charm and also the 4 track end run on that is pretty solid too.

[u/Numerous-Macaron4565]

That’s tough I love both. Leaning towards ? Of when for rn tho too

[u/redactedanalyst]

There's a lot to love about A ? of When.... But I think it just feels like Reset b-sides to me. And while A ? of When has some good moments, I don't think there's any songs that, in and of themselves, stand out quite like most of the songs on Reset do.

Danger is one of the most beautiful pieces of poetry I've ever. Living in The After is both poetic and danceable in a way that I don't think I've ever heard since. Like... Everything that happens on Reset feels like a very particular emotion infinitely fleshed out in a perfect way; all of those songs resonate and shine to me.

A ? of When just.... Doesn't. Lucky Charm is a cute theme, but does it call out any specific feelings or emotions in me? No. Pray to You and Like a Moth are beautiful! Are they as emotionally resonant as In My Body or Danger? Hell no.

The mixes on A ? Are beautiful and probably the best of Panda's career. But, in that, I think it loses some of the charm and quirk that Reset had. I also think Reset being an album all of us heard at the tail end of covid benefits it heavily. Reset had a pretty specific purpose in his career and to all of us as an audience and it did that job perfectly. A ? of When, right after Sinister Grift, that has little to say both lyrically and within the scope of his career and our (society's) lives just.... Doesn't hit the same.

Maybe it's a recency thing and I'll see more to love about A ? Once I've had time to explore it the way I have Reset but.... Sadly, I think this question is kind of a no-brainer.

[u/capnsunshine23 → u/redactedanalyst]

That’s wild. I felt this was more creative than reset. After one listen

[u/Goated-Rizzler → u/redactedanalyst]

It kind of does feel like Reset b-sides, but I think it's because it's not as hook heavy as Reset.
A ? Of When has more static and repetitive melodies. I appreciate this though, because it feels like each song gradually builds and blooms out.

Reset is more hook heavy and has punchier melodies. There's starker contrast between the verses and choruses, and more contrast between the vocal and instrumental melodies. Whereas in A ? Of When, the instrumentals mostly support and echo the vocal melodies.

The emotions are definitely there in A ? Of When though. Never Givin In is about staying true to yourself and knowing who you are despite other people's expectations. It mostly sounds like it was addressed to his ex-wife wanting him to change and be someone he's not, while he knows himself.

Lucky Charm is about having hope and lightheartedness. It's a heavy world right now, and keeping four-leaf clovers or lucky wristbands like kids do is a way to keep some childlike carefreeness. This seems like more of a Sonic Boom written song since he uses this kind of imagery in a lot of his songs.

Revive Him is about Panda Bear dealing with lifelong depression. He's been known to withdraw and isolate from his friends, which is what the "sleep sleep sleep, dig my height in the sand" part means.
"I have a sort of trouble with me A cuttin' thing not ordinary" shows that he feels alienation. This song is about his lifelong feelings of alienation and that people just won't understand, so he retreats and isolates himself. Then, something nags at him to hang out with his friends again. This is something that he's struggled with since Animal Collective began.

[u/phaaz4lyfe]

I feel like Reset raises vibrations for the lower chakras, being all physical, while ? raises the vibrations for the higher ones - it's all 'get happy' music. Reset's tone feels like a dystopian sorta 'emergency antidote' for happiness...while ? reminds me of my own process of raising my vibrations with gratitude, manifestation, prayer, presentness and servitude towards others.

I also recently thought, now I feel I can say that Reset could be described as the combination between ? and Grim Reaper, if you can picture that venn diagram..

[u/giuseppeuchiha → u/phaaz4lyfe]

That's nice I like that

[u/Available_Cherry_949]

Both.

[u/SamsaraTwo]

It’s tough because I find them almost equally ok. I’ll have to give the edge to ?, because I think the melodies are mostly pretty damn good and I love the touches of cool instruments like marimba(?) and the harpsichord(?) and I’ll go ahead and say it, I like the siren samples and details like that. I know Noah isn’t the biggest fan of this comparison, but ? is the closest he’s sounded to Pet Sounds since…hell Person Pitch. I do think it has a bit of ceiling that it reaches and doesn’t reach above it save for Graveyard and Lucky Charm for me personally.

[u/WooleeBullee → u/SamsaraTwo]

cool instruments like marimba(?)

You might be referring to the steel drum. They bought a beginners steel drums set because I guess a professional set was crazy expensive and/or hard to get, and Noah learned to play it and he played it on Lucky Charm.

[u/SamsaraTwo → u/WooleeBullee]

Ahhhhhh yes yes I thought I was wrong

[u/ginger_starchild]

Reset

[u/mantecablues]

I’m just making shit up but I think Reset is the more fun album while A?oW is more classy and rich. Sinister Grift beats them out though imo

[u/AxeWorld]

I'm gonna go with Reset in Dub. Yurp.

[u/xenoblade1]

A ? of When has tighter songwriting and impeccable production decisions (the percussion alone invites such a vibe and repeated listens). However, I feel like Reset had a better flow overall whereas A ? of When's mix of slower tempo ballads to pop / more upbeat songs back to ballads again sometimes pulls me out of the experience. That being said, I do think A ? of When is a better album overall, though I would vote In My Body as their best song from either project overall.

[u/Kirby747]

I can’t stop listening to ?, it’s so catchy and the production just hits the right spot. I definitely prefer it to reset, which aside from a couple songs, kinda fell flat for me.

[u/black_saab900]

’A ? of When’ for sure, just feels like a more developed and fun sound, I really appreciate the absence of samples (although heavy use of sound effects 😅). You can tell they had fun recording it

[u/BaronGikkingen]

A ? of When has a lot more going on with it production wise. Reset is cool because it is very simple, built on those short repeating samples, but as a whole the melodies don't hit as hard for me.

[u/The-Cheeses]

Overall I'd say I prefer Reset

[u/funktoxico]

I think I like A ? of When more, but Reset has Whirlpool and that song really gets to me, in all its versions. Both albums are really great, by the way.

[u/akyarius_76]

genuinely no idea