Putting the Days to Bed

Not as good as When I Pretend to Fall, but still an excellent album. John Roderick knows how to write a hook, and though these aren't his strongest lyrics, there are some great songs on here. "Honest" and "Ultimatum" are paticular stand-outs.

Though I did enjoy "When I Pretend to Fall", this one has really grown on me. Not one of those "this is bad, then a couple of months of nonstop listening in your car you end up making yourself like it". Instead, it's your usual Long Winters with good old John Roderick making awesome music. I suggest Fire Island, AK and Ultimatum. If you're still unsure, download the free MP3 from this site!

Let's just get this out of the way: you can't fade on John Roderick. (In turn, you cannot fade on the Long Winters.) His songwriting is impeccable. On the new album, Putting The Days To Bed, there is no opportunity for boredom. The pop found in the previous albums is poppier, the sass is sassier, all around this is the best Long Winters effort yet. Not many bands out-do themselves like that, but the LWs do it every single time they release something new.

The songs have a heartrending quality that lends itself to the unique dichotomy of Long Winters songs: feeling the bitter, melancholic, or downright snark-filled sass of the lyrics and still wanting to dance like you just do not care, perhaps with your arms in the air.

The Long Winters offer indiepop at it's finest. With every subsequent record they give us a new collection of songs to fall in love with. John Roderick once again proves that he is one of the best songwriters of our generation. Every song contains at least one line that is chill-inducingly brilliant. Then there is the song "Hindsight" where every line has that effect. This record is in my top five for the year.