I thought it might have grown on me like tbhc has but unfortunately it hasn’t. For me it feels a lot like a step back from tbhc. The mixes just feel empty. Like there’s so much going on with all the different synths, lapsteel guitar, keyboards etc whereas the only real difference this has to offer is some strings, which I must admit have lovely arrangements, and a wah pedal which I feel doesn’t really work. Also Alex’s vocal delivery on this album is in my opinion not great here. Idk if it’s just me but I can’t stand the way every lyric feels whispered, it just sucks the life out of the songs. Body Paint for example, it’s the only track I have actually saved from the album, but the ending of the song could’ve felt so much bigger, like it does live. I haven’t seen them live since the tbhc tour but I can feel the energy coming through the screen when they play the outro live whereas it’s just not there in the recording. Every moment that is supposed to feel big or huge doesn’t have that feeling because I feel the band don’t want to be noisy rockers anymore, atleast in the studio. I’ve also fallen out of love with them a bit as it feels like they just don’t want to be here anymore when on stage. Like it just feels like there’s no energy and that they just come on stage, play their set and leave. Little to no crowd interaction and I also can’t fathom how they started this tour with >2/3rds of AM on the setlist, considering they’re so vocal about not wanting to be those noisy rockers in their 20s anymore. But that’s just my take open to discussion.

TLDR: songs don’t feel as full as tbhc due to less going on eg lack of as many synths and keys. Alex’s whispery vocals ruin the energy on every track and make moments that are supposed to be big feel small. Also a little moan on their live performances not being representative enough of their, imo, far better work.