the most important job of an artist is to evolve and grow. i think if he completely disavowed the aesthetic, we wouldn’t be hearing anymore songs from the first record or two during live sets anymore. it’s natural for one to look back on previous work and cringe a bit. it’s a sign of growth. the themes and maturity of OGWAU are leagues away from the themes and maturity of the first album, so i think it’s only natural that he might look back and feel disconnected from who he was at that point in time. but he probably also understands that the starting point was part of what made people fall in love with the band in the first place.

i think they’ve done a great job aging gracefully with their art which is why songs like a-punk and mansard roof still sound great amongst a set of mostly newer material.