If you know me at all, you have probably heard me yap about TWRP to a nauseating degree. They have been my favorite band since around 2017. They are an anonymous, rock/funk/electronic fusion band. I have an immense amount of passion for their music, vibe, and just really appreciate them as artists. Their genre of music touches on a lot of my favorite stuff.
However, I have somewhat of a hard time recommending them as they tap into a specific niche that is either a love it or hate it type thing. So often I am just silently vibrating when a new album comes out. But now I have a blog in which I can openly gush about their music.
With that out of the way, I wanted to write something to commemorate their new album release “The Longest Weekend”. The band had released a few singles in anticipation for the drop, those being “My Big Day Off” and “Critters”.
Now yes you would be right in saying I have already listened to the album once through. And as I am writing this post I am going through it again.
Well, how am I liking it so far?
When My Big Day Off came out, I was super pumped. I think this song will end up remaining my favorite off the album. And in the song, it felt like Dr Sung (Lead Vocalist) was leaning off his vocoder. Which I was really looking forward to a potentially more acoustic leaning and less electronic heavy album. Given the nature and long weekend elements this album had, I was thinking that was the vibe. Which as a long time fan, I have really wanted them to experiment with something like that. Though going through the album, it did not really tap into it.
I can’t fault TWRP for this though. They have a very specific vibe and niche that they adhere to. So if we are to never get something like that, it wouldn’t come as a surprise to me. They are quite loyal to their sound, I think it just makes them them.
The album in it’s entirety left me with the first initial thought of “This is good, but not within my favorites.”
I consider Digital Nightmare to be my favorite album from TWRP, which was the album that came previous to The Longest Weekend. And in terms of hook, where Digital Nightmare hooked me instantly, this album does not grab me in this way initially.
I enjoy the messaging behind this album. The taking a break, disconnecting, and relaxing is a wholesome concept. But in terms of its overall sound, it doesn’t feel as cohesive as some of their other bodies of work. Now mind you, New & Improved was one where I wasn’t really hooked on it to begin with either, but it grew to be a favorite of mine. So maybe my thoughts on Longest Weekend may change as I have more time with it. But to me, New and Improved felt at least more cohesive overall.
To me, really the only stand out songs I got were My Big Day Off and The Language of Love. And the little acoustic part at the end of Unbounded and Free (ughh, this is exactly what I wanted them to tap into to fit the lake/forest motifs of the albums messaging and cover art! And it’s only this little tiny portion. It was so good though.)
The Longest Weekend has not left a lasting impression on my at this current time. I don’t feel as excited or passionate for this one, aside from the couple of songs I did genuinely get hooked on. Though because it is so soon, I give albums a bit more time to settle in case it was just missed expectations and not the quality of the album itself.
Orbitedbyerin 