Vale

I know that this album is fairly devisive among fans. But I do like it.

To an extent. It's not really about anything within the album that I dislike. It's mostly the behind the scenes drama that keeps this from not being my least favorite.

This was supposed to be BVB's swan song. And I think we all know the cause *glares at Ashley*.

And one thing I don't like about that album is that it kind of shows how burnt out everyone was at the time. The energy that I feel had become (and, luckily, still is) synonimous with BVB wasn't there. Like the band members were so exhausted around this time, being in the band was actively draining. That melancholy is kind of inescapable for me.

I can ignore that for most of the songs, because while their energy wasn't what it used to be, Andy, CC, Jake, and Jinxx worked hard to create something worth listening to.

Except for the final track. That one just exposes how bad things had gotten, there's nothing to distract from the despair. I either have to skip this song, or just think of Lonny, because he saved the band from ending it at that.

However, it's not all doom and gloom!

Wake Up, the second song off the record, is the big rock anthem about fighting against the system that is keeping you down. This song, in my opinion, is the one that came the closet to recapturing this energy I mentioned avoce, and for that it's one of my favorite songs on the record. 

When They Call My Name is another personal favorite, because of the sentiment. The narrator deeply loves their partner, and its an adorable moment within the piece.

I do like the album overall, but this is a painful reminder for me of what almost happened.