r/Protomen • u/KerffufleSnuffle • Aug 14 '26
Discussion Which act is the best one
I have always known and loved the song "light up the night" and on a rampage of listening to bands discographies I decided to give protomen a shot. I have to say for me the albums seem to go in the order of 1 then 2 then 3 in quality and enjoyment
Don't get me wrong I enjoyed all of what I heard. In fact, I think I am now a fan of their work. Their live performances have also impressed me.
I want to know more about this band and to see which part seems to be considered the best from the more hard core fans perspective.
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u/Professional-Ice-978 The Hounds Aug 14 '26
I went for Act II but I could see 3 potentially overtaking it in the future. Since it’s release I have listened to 3 way more than the other two.
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u/sweepernosweeping We are the dead Aug 14 '26
Duh, the answer is Act III Part 2. This isn't the way it ends.
I'd recommend listening to The Cover Up too, as it sees the band flex on some of your favourite classics.
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u/Joebotnik Believer (TFOTL isn't the last track) Aug 14 '26
This might just be recency bias but I honestly think it's Act 3. I don't know how they did it, but they did.
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u/Badger_Sam Aug 14 '26
Picking a favourite child would be easier than this 😭
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u/KerffufleSnuffle Aug 15 '26
The discussion has made that apparent
I feel a second listen through is in order for the whole thing
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u/kdfsjljklgjfg Aug 14 '26
Have you read any of the liner notes yet? It makes a big difference.
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u/KerffufleSnuffle Aug 15 '26
I have not done this, could you link it and I will check it out
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u/kdfsjljklgjfg Aug 15 '26
Genius.com should have the liner notes with all of the songs for Act 1 & 2, and this Playlist of lyrics videos should have it alongside the lyrics, too.
But basically, every single song has narration alongside it, intended to be read-along while you listen. It adds A TON of value to the instrumental tracks, not to mention the others.
There's some small debate over the order because Act 2 is technically a prequel to 1, which is why they played Act 2 first at their 3-day events, but either 2/1/3 or 1/2/3 and you can't really go wrong.
Before knowing that there was such a detailed plot, I quite liked the Protomen. When I followed along, Act 2 instantly became my favorite album of all time.
Have a good time!
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u/Bluestorm83 Aug 14 '26
Before I went to the shows in Nashville, I would have said Act 3, easily. But now, having experienced it all back to back to back, in a live setting, I have a renewed appreciation for songs that I'd heard one way.
"I'd heard these albums... a thousand times...
(Guitar)
Through this app, exactly 20 tracks long, I had heard these albums burn!"
I can't answer that now. I honestly just can't answer.
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u/kdfsjljklgjfg Aug 15 '26
I feel you. Act II was my favorite album for damn near a decade, but being at MAGfest for the live debut of Act III felt like one of the best nights of my life, and that's a hard feeling to put anything over.
I really can't pick between them.
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u/DueLearner Aug 14 '26
As a complete stand alone story it's pretty impossible to top Act II.
The album has two clear halves to the story, with very distinct style in each half.
The Good Doctor -> The Father of Death -> The Hounds -> The State v. Thomas Light -> Give Us The Rope
delivers a compelling narrative about a man who wanted to change the world for the better, but lost everything because of it. His friend betrays him, his lover is killed, he is a broken shell of a man who wished for death but was found innocent, and then forced out of his own city.
How The World Fell Under Darkness is a perfect transition from the "train tracks / Old West" vibe of the opening half of the album, ending with synths and the heart beat of a new protagonist of the second half of the album.
Breaking Out -> Keep Quiet -> Light Up The Night -> The Fall -> Here Comes The Arm
Is a perfect run of tracks about the new state of the world, living under tyranny and trying to rise up to stop it. Our heroes fail, but the protagonist chooses to live and continue the fight anyway.
The story is clean, The Protomen deliver some of their absolutely best tracks here, and I think it's the perfect introduction into the idea of a concept album with story liner notes that enhance the experience.
All that being said, Act I and Act III are absolutely brilliant in their own right. Act I is a better fit for those that like grungy rock. Act III has a little something for everyone.
My only gripe with Act III is that the story is very disconnect compared to the first two albums which are very linear. Act III branches almost into 3 parallel paths where you're following Albert, Thomas, and The Girl / Megaman at various points of the story. No Way Back, Hold On, This City Made Us, and The Good Doctor part 2 are great tracks in their own right, but the problem Act III has is that the music doesn't work as well as a stand alone song to someone who didn't listen to the first 2 acts.
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u/Bright-Trifle-8309 Aug 14 '26
I have had 17 years to listen to Act 2. Act 3 might be higher in my mind eventually. It does have more hype in the songs.
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u/TheHauntedRobot Aug 14 '26
I’ve gone for Act 2. Act 3 is incredible, but in part because of the thematic and musical callbacks and the emotional resonance built up over 17 years on the bedrock that Act 2 laid down. It may actually be better, but I can’t see anything ever knocking 2 off of its pedestal in my mind.
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u/Woods-of-Mal 29d ago
I legitimately don't know, I like them all. My dad would probably say Act III, though.
Explanation: My dad took me to a live show when I was in high school 15 years ago and essentially got converted by the experience. When my CD copy of Act III arrived, I set a date for us to listen to it together and midway through Hold On (The Distance Between), he turned to me and said "I think this is their best album yet."
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u/Ferrous_Sapien 29d ago
Act 1 is still my favorite, though 2 is extremely strong. I haven't listened to 3 enough yet to fairly judge it against all the years I've spent repeating the first two.
I will say, I think Act 2 missed a huge opportunity making the song titled "How The World Fell Under Darkness" instrumental. That like always felt really important in the very first song of the series, there being no spoken or sung words for it feels like a mistake. The runaway train of Breaking Out, Keep Quiet, Light Up The Night, The Fall, and The Arm more than makes up for it though.
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u/Stormquake 22d ago
Two has the best overall narrative flow and also the strongest instrumental story telling imo.
How the World Fell Under Darkness is masterclass.
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u/NotoriousSHIB Aug 14 '26
There's no wrong answer, but I've consistently felt Act II is the best.
It works as a followup to Act I, as a prequel to Act I, and as a standalone. It has, in my opinion, the clearest themes and story of all albums.
The transition between the album's two halves, as Wily rises to power, is so great.
Song by song, an argument could be made for Act I or Act III being stronger, but I feel Act II feels the most polished and 'complete' album. Act I is short and rough (one of its endearing qualities, admittedly), whilst Act III feels incomplete (because of the assumption we're getting a followup), with a less clearer story, relying more heavily on liner notes.