Real Estate. Not Sunny Day. Just Real Estate.

Not sure if it "means" anything that no one had anything to share here about the new album...my impression is that there are a lot of people who likely feel this is a band whose best work is behind them. I continue to have a soft spot for Real Estate, even while being frustrated at a certain sameness that is both a weakness and strength of theirs.

Anyway--I'm enjoying the new one. "Water Underground" is definitely the most memorable, expertly composed + arranged song here and one of their best ever, I think. The little flourishes that distinguish this slightly from their others are welcome, like the pedal steel on half the tracks and the moody but propulsive rhythms of "Freeze Brain" and "You Are Here". The lyrics are mostly fine, sometimes weak, occasionally just right. I still think Martin's solo records are better than any of the last 3 Real Estate albums.

I like them a lot but yeah I think Atlas was their last really strong album. The new one is a bit mid, they always sound pleasant at least but this seems a bit inessential.

Oh meant to post about this, I've been enjoying it. Can't tell if the songs are at the level of the last album, which I loved, but Real Estate + Golden Hour producer is plenty for me, and I do really like where it goes in the last couple songs.

Yeah this new one is definitely not top tier Real Estate, but I'll be damned if it still doesn't sound gorgeous.

Always pleasant, rarely essential.

A fragment of the video f "Water Underground" was played on the TV news in Spain last weekend. Yesterday I found out that "Atlas" is almost ten years old.

First album and first ep essential, after that yeah, pgwp otm