Penalty Life is probably one of their best albums, I have come to this conclusion over the past 2-3 months. While I think the track order couldve been swapped around to make the album play better as a whole, and I still don't ever have the urge to listen to the slower songs... they are very good. It's a real departure from the sound they presented on all previous albums, sorta like a completely different/new band. That retro vibe is totally present as was stated in that guy's original review, and the album uses that basic feel as a base sound, then covers the gamit of other genres/types of songs that stem from it. The actual sound and flavor of the music is very cohesive, with the new equipment and recording process they used (ie. going back to an older style sound and using "vintage equipment")

As I originally thought when it first came out, it's the first step into a new sphere of music for the band and it stands on it's own. Of course no one likes it because it "doesn't sound like the Pillows," but maybe you should just let the band decide how they're "supposed to sound" instead of trying to orchestrate their future into what you want to hear. If you don't like it, then stop listening to their new music and stick to the 1-2 albums that think contain their best material.

Also, comparing Penalty Life to Good Dreams, I'm really pysched about what the next single/album will sound like. I thought I knew where they were going with this "new sound" but they really surprised me and I have a feeling there's even better material yet to come.

[quote="knifin_around"]Paragraphs would be nice. My eyes burn from looking/reading that monstorsity.[/quote]

When someone types a big ass block of text like that, I don't read it, making me the victor.

[quote="Jomei"][quote="knifin_around"]Paragraphs would be nice. My eyes burn from looking/reading that monstorsity.[/quote]

When someone types a big ass block of text like that, I don't read it, making me the victor.[/quote]

Yeah.......

He did break it up.

And you guys are wusses. That's nothing.

Paragraphs are our friends, Joyeuse. If someone doesn't have the courtesy to type in a way that makes reading bearable, then I don't feel the need to read what they have to say.

But let's stay on-topic.

Penalty Life... I don't think it's quite as terrible as some people make it out to be, but I don't really ever listen to it, and that fact basically sums up my feelings about the album.

I count three paragraphs in his post, which is plenty for something as short as it is. There's a difference between paragraphing, and hitting enter every two sentences.

I'm not as fond of Penalty Life as I am their other albums, but I don't think it's all that bad. Some of the songs are kind of catchy.

[quote="Solomonic Thunder Whale"]Whoa! everybody chill out for a sec. First of all If you want my honest opinon ( and Im sure you do) let me say that Penalty life is album that relfects the pillows humor. In a way it is almost difficult to take the album seriously. But what makes it so much fun to listen to is its random song nature. It begins with Dead stock paridise, which is a very cool and rumbleling song. When it starts you get the feeling that this song will set the tone of the album, but it dosen't. The Rest of the album has a pace of random and choatic perportions to each of the other songs. Which isnt ussually a odd trait to be found in the pillows albums. However some of thier other albums like please mr. lostman and little busters, seem to have a completness and continuity that penalty life lacked. Now that is not necesarily a bad thing. Because PL is some what tounge and cheek I like it, that is why it is some much fun to listen to. Also you can tottaly tell in the song writing that the pillows were having fun making this album. I like to believe that they really were enjoying themselves making this album, that is why it has such a childish flare. We have to understand that yes bands make music for us, but they also make music for themselves. Sometimes a artist want to express themselves so that they can understand themselves better. and many times what happens in this musical progression once artists understands himself better they want to communicate that message to other people. For example the beatles did it before. When HELP came out the beatles were still writing songs for thier fans but trying to break out of that mold. Finally the put out Rubber Soul which was a clear indication of thier personal artristry letting the world know we will create what we want. Then they finally let loose with Sgt. Pepper and created something real inside themselves but at same time conveying thier messages to the people through this music. I think thats where Good Dreams comes in. Personally it is a short album, however I never notice its length until its over. However Good Dreams is spell binder like little busters and Happy Bivouac. It lures you into a aray of uncanny songs that seem to string together easily to show the albums creed. A good will message to us to have good dreams in our lives. Good Dreams has a continuity that Penalty Life dose not. This particular calm feeling, regarless of the songs pace, runs through the whole album almost climaxing at good dreams. To be brutualy truthful I believe the song Good Dreams alone is worth buying the album. That song makes me so happy I wanna cry. But on a another note I hate comparing albums, espacially of the pillows. Each the pillows albums have been dynamic and unique each in thier own way, and that is part of why love them. They are unclassifiable, that is why we can continue and listen to thier music regardless if they sound a little better or worse because they give us sound we never had before. I could sit here all week and decern between thier albums whats good or whats bad, less or more and it would be pointless. Whats important to ask and discuss is how does which album makes us feel a certain way. Or dialoug the fabrics of thier songs and ask why some make us cry and others leap for joy. Just like how theyre are hidden messages in word, there are also in music. Its our job find them.[/quote]

I didn't want to continue this discussion in here, but if you insist, we shall. I count one paragraph here.

I was talking about xtsquintx's post. The way the post right after his used the quote, I was mistaken.

I guess we agree after all.

Hug?

Yeah, I realized that there was a misunderstanding there. In hindsight, I could have made it more clear whose post I was referring to by "snipping" the big block of text in order to show its author.

i really like penalty life. Sure i dont listen to some of the songs, but really, not every album can be full of smash hits. I listen to Freebee Honey, Terminal Heaven's Rock, I know you, phantom pain, moon marguerite, mole town prisoner, and the new boku wa kakera, i also listen to super trampoline school kid sometimes. I like the album much more than some of their first albums (ie: Moon Gold, White Incarnation, Kool Spice, and Living Field)

I really dont get why people hate this album. But on the topic of Good Dreams, i must say i do enjoy Good Dream more then PL, but they are both still great albums.

IMHO Penalty Life is a solid album just not up to the Pillow's usual standards

Noboranai Taiyou is an amazing song...great to chill out to

Terminal Heavens Rock is a good one

Mall Town Prisoner is pretty damn cool too

besides that all the songs are just average

i give it a 3...out of 5

[Edited for several spelling mistakes and tons of left out words]

[quote="Culen"]Penalty Life is fucking lame and the aforementioned "50's vibe" (More like 60's) existed in only 1 of 11 horrible creations. The only redeeming quality that the CD held was a remake of Boku wa Kakera and Terminal Heaven's Rock. It hardly warrants a purchase or anybody's time, for that matter.[/quote]

I'm pretty sure I've read comments that were made by you on other boards that said you liked "Freebee Honey" or at least thought it was interesting. And I think you gave the album a 7 out of 10. I guess you just changed your opinion which I've done before on Pillows albums.

The initial novelty of the songs and thrill of a new album wore off a week or two after I first listened to Penalty Life. I quickly retreated to the older albums and tried to pretend it never happened.

[quote="omnistry"]To be honest, I like the old version of Boku wa Kakera better than the new PL version. In the PL version, Sawao just sounds, well, like a frog on helium.[/quote]

[quote="teh_kati"][quote="omnistry"]To be honest, I like the old version of Boku wa Kakera better than the new PL version. In the PL version, Sawao just sounds, well, like a frog on helium.[/quote][/quote]

helium in his hair?