The Rentals

Hi,
First of all, thank you for starting this thread (I was hoping someone would do that, I had the feeling I was almost the only one posting lately, and that cannot be since a new EP is out).
I enjoy the 4 songs (6 if you count "Tokyo Blues" and "Fall Into The Eve"), but I cannot decide which one I prefer yet, I need to listen to them more (strangely, I think I would go for "Seven Years" or "All I have"). Being a non native English speaker, I need to listen several times to catch the lyrics. So I would say that, because of the "language barrier", my first feeling is mostly based on music/melody.
now, my 2 cents:
We find the ingredients that use to be present in Rentals album (women/men vocals, synths,violin, ...) and the 4 songs set is coherent/consistent as a whole set. I mean the 4 songs are quiet ones, it is not a mix of quiet and tunes. On top of that, this first chapter subscribes in the "songs about time" line project, it fits perfectly as a sound score for the online videos (or is it the contrary, the images fitting the sound score?).
Now I wonder if the next mini album will be consistent with that first one, or if they will go in different directions (more rock tunes instead of pop ones?). Maybe Matt already knows where he is going and is just playing with us.
I wonder if people out there are considering "Songs About Time" as a multimedia artistic project (sound,image, video,...) or just as a new Rentals album. I was waiting for the new songs obviously, but it's good to see that the Rentals offers something more than just songs as a creative project, it seems to be a new way of producing music based on new technologies (more internet oriented). But maybe I am going off topic and that could be developed/discussed in another thread.
This first mini album seems to be following the sound announced by the "Last Little Life" EP (pop quiet songs with the Rentals seal). I am not going to compare it with the first 2 albums (ROTR, 7MM), because we have only the first third of the current project and projects need more time to be really appreciated as it deserves (7MM, Pinkerton,...). But I would say that this first chapter maybe lacks a strong singles like "Friends of P" or "Getting By". (do not misunderstand me, even if my favourites remains ROTR, I really love all the other albums and songs). On the other hand, a big hit would eclipse other tunes and break the balance of this album (and would set the expectation quite high for the next ones).
Talking about the photos/video, they contributes to create a global atmosphere. They do not reflect exactly the making of songs, but you can feel the work/evolution that is done. As a new kind of artistic project, some things could be improved (as involving fans as suggested by Josh).
According the last video (April 14th), the next chapter will count 4 songs too. We'll have to wait 3 months.

Regards

(more off topics things/ideas:
What happen to the 2005-2008 stuff they were working on? They said they had on plenty of songs ideas. Is "SAT" including these ideas or is this 2009 project completely based on new material?
Do you think it's better to have the Rentals autoproduce their own music? This way they have more freedom on how to make it, but it is harder to distribute.
Do you think they just anticipate correctly the years to come by offering songs in digital formats and leaving the CD support?
)

"Story of a Thousand Seasons Past" hit the right notes. I really like this song.

They should use this kind of song composition for their next mini-release!!


agreed. Those are also my 2 least favorite tracks.  Hmmm.... i'm thinking of a fan version of "Story of a Thousand Seasons Past" with the source.

Song of Remembering is the stand-out track (thank's mostly to Joey's lead guitar), but after that things get a little meh. I think things are a little too down tempo.  I miss the crunchy guitars from the first record and the dense, layered production of the second.  I think the Last Little Life EP was a little better.  This EP just feels too sparse.  Lyrically, I feel like he's over thinking things and as a result is often reaching.  Sometimes it feels like they've taken his weaker solo songs and given them better arrangements, but things still come out a little limp.

I really hope the direction changes a little with next EP, though after watching this week's video it seems like that isn't going to happen.

Oh well, super fan that I am, I'm already in for the super deluxe edition.

...mmm... in the crystal ball, I can see railways and a big Rentals arrow...