I want to rant about how The Adults Are Talking is an unassuming perfect song.
It is one of their most palatable, accessible songs and therfore it is very popular way beyond the fanbase. As a consequence of its popularity, it's not very original to praise it or dissect why it's good. For a while, that kept me from realising just how carfully composed it is.
It has that level of depth where you're gradually digging into the mix and the deeper you go, the more you wonder "how is it all so perfectly and specifically curated, yet it sounds lowkey and pop-ish".
The chorus is especially insane to me :
- The first thing you notice is obviously the catchy guitare+vocal riff, which is alone VERY effective.
- Then the lead guitare is layered over with a different picking pattern, adding crazy depth and space without making it sound bloated.
- Then the bass is kept simple, just root notes but the picking pattern makes the rest groovy.
- Finnally, the drums sound pretty simple at first, but it's acctually a strangly and seemingly unnecessarily specific pattern with uneaven hats.
The climax is pretty much all of the above + carried by Julian's cool vocals. I think we'll all agree the SNL version builds on that very nicely.
The back and forth between the guitars during the "solo" is often given credit when disscussing TAAT, and I agree : the title probably was found after listening to it and going "those guitar are arguing lol", which is such a cool image + adding layers of interpretations to Julian's open lyrics.
Not even mentionning the effects and mix choices on the guitars and drums.
It feels like an over-engineered pop song lol and I LOVE IT FOR THAT.
Among other of their songs, YOLO also feels that way. You go "yeah sounds like a generic rock son- ho wait how is it THAT catchy ?" and then you look at it and go "Oh it is so much more complex than it initially sounds and a serie of good & careful choices made it that great"
Love art that is catchy because of thought-through design and not laziness and use of already popular tropes. I know there's always a unnintentional part in any creative process, but yeah - makes you wonder what's intentionnal and what's a lucky accident.
Tell me if any other song has made you feel that way before !
(Sorry for bad english etc etc 💙)