u/PanteraSteel2001

As a long time Down fan that's seen them 10+ times and Phil 20+ times I'm gonna run my mouth a little.

I really like the song, it's definitely a jamming tune perfect to crank up loud in the car and headbang. I'm still a nerd that makes my own greatest hits mixes for bands and this would definitely make the Down list. The song is a success and I'm glad it's here. That being said I'm a little disappointed in Phil's vocals. The vocals are good as always, but to be honest, I used to really listen to DOWN to hear Philip do some clean singing (Rehab, Beautifully Depressed, Mourn). We'll see what the rest of the album has but it seems like I'm just gonna have to come to terms with the fact that Phil can't or won't sing like that anymore. I'm guessing it's a little of both. Any vocalists feel free to jump in here.

I always thought Down II and Down III had the best vocals of his career. Nola is great but he screams more on NOLA than II or III. Nola may have the better songs, but imo, Bustle and Over the Under have the better clean singing vocals. What I'm getting at is ever since Over The Under I was just dying for more of that vocal approach and that production value from that band and I guess I just need to accept the fact that they aren't that band anymore. Little disappointing but it is what it is. That's the first thing I noticed with the two EP's. On Part 1 his voice took a step back to the more gravely sound, than another step to even more abrasive on Part II. Now with this it seems he's settled in here with this more gravely hoarse style. Happy, love the song, just a tad bummed out to be totally honest. I miss those TIME IS MINE type vocals man. Those songs were extra special to my ears.

To be honest I usually hate when people complain about his vocals and say he cant' sing anymore. I've been hearing that since the 1990's and he always debunks those claims. I'm not saying that. I'm not even complaining, I like that song a lot, just voicing a preference for a type of music they don't seem to be making anymore. The last time I heard Philip really sing sing....was on DYING SONG I believe. I'm more or less just hopeful he'll mix it up and give us a mellow tune like that on the album, just something a little more diverse vocally on a few of the other tracks.

Miss me with any triggered hate....this isn't a post about never being pleased or whatever. I also don't understand why people freak out if someone post something longer than one paragraph. I like the song, I like the vocals, I still love the band, I'm just a fan sharing my thoughts and some of those thoughts are about a style of music from Down that I miss. Hopeful I'll hear it again someday.

Oh....and I forgot...I guess they're giving up on the EP thing?? Once again....Down IV Part III was supposed to be....possibly the mellow EP. I remember Pepper saying the ending of the 2nd EP would kind of lead into the 3rd EP(go listen to the end of EP II). So again....just a little bummed. I've been hearing about a DOWN acoustic album since 2002. A decade later that evolved into...."maybe the 3rd EP will be the mellow one." I remember hearing four EP's that'll cover four different styles the band can cover. Again, it's one of those things I guess they just aren't ever gonna make that "sitting around the campfire" type album they used to talk about.