Shipyard Daddy

Guys when I 1st came here and read the review there were only about 10 reviews so far and 99% were balls-out positive. I’ve been listening to it now, I’m currently in my 3rd go-around. I don’t recall which of you early reviewers it was but I think HE said it best when he said “THE BIGS ARE BACK!” I feel like there was a lot of lyric influence from Watt possibly going thru a little something with a chick and he let Ed put himself in that space in I think 2 or 3 tracks. There was the obvious ode to Ed’s daughters, nice. Theres this new “style” we hear from Ed’s vocals here and there that I’m not a fan of. It’s all over “React/Respond” in the way he says “don’t react…respond.” It’s like this quirky late 80’s punk style that I’m glad only pops up a couple/few times quickly thru the album. I’m still trying to figure out my fave track. It is DEF the kind of album I’ve been waiting for for fu*king YEARS now. I mean even I started writing in here and there to the band’s site(lol) and voicing my complaints. I’m 49, they’ve been my favorite band since I was 18 when Ten 1st hit. My 1st tattoo was the stickman. And where did I put it? PJ lovers will know…on the inside of my left calf where Ed has his tat of course! lol. I was 18. But it took YEARS for me to finally explode in frustration. Frustration with every album since Yeild (really if I’m being honest)being sub-par. Just not scratching that itch. Of course Riot Act had some real heat at times but lookin’ back you can see now that that was where the “slip away” began. Then they popped out these other albums and each one was less engaging than the last…always with a keeper or 3 tracks that were ok. I’ve never been crazy about Matt on the kit. I’m going to admit it. I still believe talently that Abby was their best drummer by far! He was incredible! But whatever, they’re my guys, ride or die. But we really needed this Al in as fans! Even the live shows have pissed me off over the past say 15yrs. Of course they’re always amazing! Mike sometimes takes a while show over by himself! But frigin’ Ed(who is on my personal Mt. Rushmore btw so I can say this with you guys knowing I literally love the guy!) frigin’ Ed has turned the shows into “family fun night!” I don’t want him down in the front row talking selfies during songs, happy as a lark, smiling away and skipping along in front of the stage high-fiving company CEOs’ who paid $5000 to be up front. It’s enraging to me. I understand the army jacket, bushy long hate, and dirty fingernail days aren’t coming back but damn do I miss it. There was NOTHING like those angry shows man in like 94-95 that were just life-altering! I blame Jill. Lol. But this album I believe is as close as we’re gonna see to “that band” we all have loved our whole lives. That band pre-2000. Watt really did give them a shot of adrenaline I think. God knows he himself knows what PJ is capable of…they just haven’t turned it up to 10 until now. So excited guys! I have it 4 stars ONLY because I know this band so well. What they have inside them and they honestly could turn it up to 11 and we all know it! This might be as close as we ever see it tho so I’m happy as a lark with it!