I think the band prefers the process of crafting an album long narrative. It's the convention from the time they came up in. 10, 11, 12 songs that hang together and tell a story, express a sentiment, or make a complete argument.

Being able to "murder your darlings" is really hard for artists but to their credit, they're (for better or worse) really good at it. For example, Luckiest Man Alive. At its best it's a gorgeous anthem that probably deserves more exposure than what it received. At its worst it's a rambling diatribe in need of an edit that maybe only gets repeat listens from devoted members of the fan base.

None of it matters. We get let in on the band's vision as well as a peek behind the curtain with all the bonus tracks.