Too low — I think this release works a lot better if you treat it as two separate albums (which seems like the point of structuring it like this). Listening to it all in one stretch, yeah it starts to drag a little, but each disc is pretty damn awesome on its own terms. I'd probably bump it to a B+ or A-.

I'm just going to go ahead and say that I strongly disagree with this grade, for whatever that's worth.

I'm just going to go ahead and say that I strongly disagree with this grade, for whatever that's worth.

Best. Buzzkill. Ever.

Best. Buzzkill. Ever.

Not as confusing as comparing the Men to the Eagles. Where the hell did that come from? Are we listening to the same band here? I saw them in a tiny bar a few weeks back and it was nothing but kick-ass punk-flavored stuff.

Not as confusing as comparing the Men to the Eagles. Where the hell did that come from? Are we listening to the same band here? I saw them in a tiny bar a few weeks back and it was nothing but kick-ass punk-flavored stuff.

I can relate. The first place my mind went was Godspeed You! Black Emperor songs, particularly The Dead Flag Blues. I guess maybe it's because they were "my band" during "that time". Even though all their samples are pulled from various places on the road it still sounds larger than life.

I can relate. The first place my mind went was Godspeed You! Black Emperor songs, particularly The Dead Flag Blues. I guess maybe it's because they were "my band" during "that time". Even though all their samples are pulled from various places on the road it still sounds larger than life.

The Cold Part kinda sucks though.

The Cold Part kinda sucks though.

Cowboy Dan would be pretty nifty. A cowboy standing in the tall grass, looking up, starting a war with God. It's weird, the song describes urban claustrophobia (the city moved to me) but then opens up so much.

Cowboy Dan would be pretty nifty. A cowboy standing in the tall grass, looking up, starting a war with God. It's weird, the song describes urban claustrophobia (the city moved to me) but then opens up so much.

Obligatory smbc comic, because I'm unoriginal:

Obligatory smbc comic, because I'm unoriginal:

Presidents tend to promise a lot of things.

Presidents tend to promise a lot of things.

I dunno, I kinda feel the opposite about this album. Bitte Orca had all of these explosive moments where if you couldn't necessarily get the kick from the lyrics, you could feel it in the music. The only thing on Swing Low Magellan that even comes close to the awesome freak-out of Useful Chamber is the opening track.…

I dunno, I kinda feel the opposite about this album. Bitte Orca had all of these explosive moments where if you couldn't necessarily get the kick from the lyrics, you could feel it in the music. The only thing on Swing Low Magellan that even comes close to the awesome freak-out of Useful Chamber is the opening track.…

This is a week late, but fuck it.