Reading the glowing praise i do feel slightly at odds with it. I feel like my initial feeling towards the album was perhaps slightly (ever so slightly) too positive. I think the first three songs are fine but after that i do perceive a step down. I love the rocking opening of 'It Won't Or It Might' but then feel a bit out of sorts about the "emotional" rest of the track. It's a good song of course and classily composed but just not something i love to hear really. 'Hammering' again is decent but the more i hear it the more it feels very throwaway. Nothing that would blow me away. Same goes for 'Receiver...'.
I can see where you're coming from. The songs do have that generic aftertaste (generic for Melvins standards) of recent releases that sort of blurs together, making for less standout moments, snaking riffs and emotional curveballs. Some parts feel tacked on but I'm expecting this one to grow on me (that said, recent releases have left my rotation shortly after the initial release which I hope doesn't happen again here).
Then again, imagine sitting on four decades worth of tunes and having to come up with something fresh. The novelty is in the delivery these days and it's cool that they're stretching out vocally (though I'm biased towards the BB era as Jared perfectly compliments Buzz's register).
edit: and though I love the guy to bits, it's high time to work with someone other than Toshi.
