Another album cut: Phone in a Pool

I guess that solves the whole "f*cking" dilemma.

I guess that solves the whole "f*cking" dilemma.

Yep. No f*cking problem!

I think it's one of his best choruses in a long time. That being said, I do think it lacks a certain punch.

TBH I kind of like the live version at Bonnaroo better
But this song (along with Capable of Anything) are shaping up to make this BF album fantastic

Agreed with all of the above, mostly. I was kinda disappointed when I heard this- for the majority of the song it lacks the energy of the live version.

What happened to the song we've been rocking out to all summer? What's with this "Light FM" version? I'm reminded of Lonely Avenue. The raw songs are terrific but lost something in the released versions. "Phone in a Pool" sounds like it had the soul produced out of it.

This is a personal opinion...and I know we are all Ben fans here so this is a bit of a dig at him..but I do feel that he's not as good at producing as he used to be. I think he intentionally avoids any and all "tricks of the trade" production techniques found in stereotypical pop music. He used to find a great balance of sounding unique, but not being afraid of using what flat out works. Rockin' the Suburbs is about half full of mid-tempo to ballady songs, but they all sound so damn powerful. There is no reason why Phone in a Pool should sound more mellow than Fred Jones Pt. 2, yet it does.

I think he's still writing great songs, don't get me wrong. Past his peak? Yes, let's be honest. (though he's still VERY consistent, more than most in a career as long as his). I have all the faith in him to make great albums still, he's just got some gigantic shoes to fill with every new release, and they happen to be his own.

What happened to the song we've been rocking out to all summer? What's with this "Light FM" version? I'm reminded of Lonely Avenue. The raw songs are terrific but lost something in the released versions. "Phone in a Pool" sounds like it had the soul produced out of it.

Yeah. I remember being pretty blown away by this song in Chicago. I wonder how much "pop single"ing happened to this.

I find the tempo to be way too slow during the verses.  When yMusic joins in on the refrains, it's not as strikingly slow/forced.

Agreed with all of the above, mostly. I was kinda disappointed when I heard this- for the majority of the song it lacks the energy of the live version.

Yeah.  I mean, I get the whole "underwater" approach he was going for with the string hook during the chorus, but I still prefer them more vibrant.  Especially towards the end, right before the "auto-reply" line, yMusic + Sam really kick it in the live version.  First time listening to this one, I was startled by how non-startling that section sounded.

This is a personal opinion...and I know we are all Ben fans here so this is a bit of a dig at him..but I do feel that he's not as good at producing as he used to be. I think he intentionally avoids any and all "tricks of the trade" production techniques found in stereotypical pop music. He used to find a great balance of sounding unique, but not being afraid of using what flat out works. Rockin' the Suburbs is about half full of mid-tempo to ballady songs, but they all sound so damn powerful. There is no reason why Phone in a Pool should sound more mellow than Fred Jones Pt. 2, yet it does.

I think he's still writing great songs, don't get me wrong. Past his peak? Yes, let's be honest. (though he's still VERY consistent, more than most in a career as long as his). I have all the faith in him to make great albums still, he's just got some gigantic shoes to fill with every new release, and they happen to be his own.

Well he's doing more of his own producing now. RtS was co-produced with Ben Grosse.

It was recorded to be a single. So of course it sounds like it was produced to death.

It was recorded to be a single. So of course it sounds like it was produced to death.

sure, but even well-produced singles don't sound lifeless- that's the point.

wasn't this the last-in on the album, recorded while they were in chicago, and they literally finished it that day? my guess is that they did like, 2 takes and had to get the hell out. so it was what it was. so there. bummer.

I still have high hopes for the album itself. Such a unique concept