honestly disagree that mercurial world is more experimental instrumentally than imaginal disk, i think id has a lot wider soundscape + pulls from more genres
Thousands of prog, alt and classic rock albums have structural issues because the first parts are more lyrics focused and they sonically rely on this thing called guitar solo that usually happens in the last portion of the songs :(( very great analysis of song structures!!!!
One of the more salient observations I've heard of this album is that it benefits greatly from being listened to as a record, not piecemeal. I heard a few of the tracks individually and out of order when the album dropped, and after hearing the singles it didn't click on first listen. Then I listened to the album from start to finish and it was a much better experience. It wouldn't surprise me if the songs grow on you. No hate.
Yeah I don't know about this take, king. I think MC is nowhere near as experimental as Imaginal Disk, nor do I think ID is the more stripped down record of the two. Also, don't get me wrong, I understand why some people aren't feeling the new album compared to Mercurial World, but I get the impression that's because ID's tracks occupy a space out of most pop fan's comfort zones. In fact, had it not been for Mini Mix Vol 3, I would've struggled to like this album, but I totally get the hype now. I think once you get past the dense production, the album is going to grow on you.
i disagree. if the entire song was like its outro...then the outro wouldn't be as good. its the difference between the two within one song which makes the whole song so great.
Honestly how you felt about this I felt about "Mercurial World" as that album is still good and I like it, but it just doesn't have the strongest back half imo and falls off severely after "Chaeri" to the point where I don't even remember the last 5 songs as they just didn't click in that way. Now "Imaginal Disk" is a 10 for me, so I am most definitely biased, but this is just synth pop perfection. It feels so layered and well thought out and every single second on this album just feels like a dream sequence. I can't even pinpoint what I like so much about, but as a cohesive whole this album just slaps, even though I do agree that some songs have their filler moments, but in the whole it still feels like these moments still belong and it just is a 10 for me and I totally get the hype and you ruined my day with this video >:(. I also only got it on the like 4th relisten so I hope you get around to this just gem, otherwise you will be dealt with.
Personally Imaginal Disk instantly clicked for me at first listen. Some of my favourite parts were the simpler ones before the buildup which may seem forgettable, which i totally get. I do agree with what you said about Cry for Me though, probably one of my least favourites 😭
Hey, when i first watched this video i had the same opinion but the immediate next day this album started clicking with me. It's a couple of weeks later and now its definetely my favorite of the year
1. feeling so validated rn cause this is also how i feel and im kinda sick of listening to imaginal disk cause it feels like im trying super hard to make it stick and it only partly does. that being said i love watching tv 2. blue rev was such a bummer for me at first, and i loved antisocialites, but then something happened and i realized it is the best album of all time actually and molly rankin could sing me to my DEATH. the vocals on that album are insane 3. genuinely wanna be your mutual somewhere. i never feel like people relate to the mix of nerdy knowledge + f4gg0try that is how i consume and interpret music
The same thing happened to me, but honestly it was like that for both albums. When Mercurial World dropped back in 2021, I saw so many people hype up this album and I decided to check it out. I instantly fell in love with the first 4 songs, but I needed more time with the rest of the album. I could not understand the hype for Chaeri. I then decided to focus on the music and that's what changed everything. After a few more listens, the album clicked with me and Chaeri became my 2nd favorite from the album, next to Secrets (Your Fire). Eventually I gave it a 9/10 because I just couldn't get into tracks 10-12. Then I realized just how many times I play the full album without skipping anything and I changed my score to a perfect 10. Now for Imaginal Disk it was almost the same thing. I instantly fell in love with tracks 3-6, but the other tracks didn't really do it for me. I also could not understand the hype for Cry for Me. I knew I just needed to let the album settle for me, just like my experience with Mercurial World. However, this is where it gets different. I warmed up to this album a lot faster than with Mercurial World. Mercurial World took like a few weeks for me to give it a 10/10. Imaginal Disk took only 3 days. Once I started focusing on the music, I started to hear all the different instruments in the songs and felt the emotions that the songs were conveying. I quickly fell in love with the songs because of that. Especially in tracks 7-9. Watching T.V. and Tunnel Vision actually made me cry on 2nd listen (partly because of the lyrics). I think the build-up really worked well with these songs to the point that it made me rank them above Image and Death & Romance. The structures lead to a payoff that feels earned. In fact, I quickly fell in love with the whole album and I have it on repeat. I also have to talk about the final 4 tracks because they feel unique in their own way. That's My Floor! sounds like something out of a Sci-Fi show from the 90s, Angel on a Satellite perfectly utilizes Mica's vocals and is probably the duo's best ballad, and The Ballad of Matt & Mica is currently stuck in my head right now. Now let's talk about Cry for Me. So... this song quickly became my favorite on the album on 2nd listen. Yeah. Most of the time when a song clicks... it clicks. But I remember the exact moment Cry for Me did. And honestly, I don't know how but I was imagining a fight scene starting during the refrain after that evil laugh and it just... worked? The new melody playing, the piano, Mica singing, THAT BASS?!?!! Yeah, idk. 10/10 album.
Honestly, I thought mercurial world was way better. The individual songs stand up on their own more effectively and there were loads more interesting textures that being said, the central concept of imaginal disk is so clear and strong that it really ought to be looked at as more than the sum of it's parts.
I definitely agree about the song structures, especially with Image, which I think is definitely in need of some bridge to build momentum. Cry for Me also just feels like four verses separated by instrumental sections and is missing a grand chorus section. Worst part is that once the song is starting to reach a climax, it is already fading out. However, I completely disagree that this doesn’t have as much genre experimentation as Mercurial World. The sound design here is leagues more experimental than that album, and songs like Killing Time and the opener sound super unique and refreshing. I think this album is a small step up from its predecessor, but not as much of a revelation as many people are claiming.
i love the album but the way u're soooo right; the more "crescendo-core" approach made my first listen kind of dissapointing, and while i do agree the outro-focused structure make the rest of the song lackluster in comparisons, re-listening to the songs bc of the outro made the rest of it grow on me idk
I totally understand your take on how the outros seem to surpass the rest of the songs to the point where the beginning seems to be boring. I kind of feel that way but not to the point where I think the first half of Killing Time, Watching T.V or Image is underwhelming. I always find the production to be really cool, unless I'm not in the mood for the album. However generally, there's a lot of cool details to be found in the songs' first half in my opinion. And if not, I'm still captivated by the lyrics since they follow a concept that is more fleshed out than on Mercurial World
hey king love your videos, but if you’re open to any feedbacks i’d say try speaking slower when recording, sometimes is hard to fully understand all you’re saying
i wasnt around when mercurial world came out and got into it a bit late. it has some huge highlights for me but also some that fall flat. However, im super freaking obsessed with Imaginal Disk. Opposite of you, i kinda underhyped myself for the album since i had mixed feelings on mercurial world and i liked D&R but wasnt super crazy about it. When the album came out I had a few songs at first really strike me so i kept listening to them, nd then listebing to more of the album and now I'm fully bought in and loving it. It's def up there with brat for my fav albums of the year.
its so unfortunate because mercurial world was such a special moment to experience. its an album that only mag bay could have made and pull off. i was so excited for whatever was gonna come next but this just feels like a standard, average synth-soft rock album. idk it lacks all of the personality and originality of their first album .......
I totally understand where you are coming from. But for me, the production, lyrics and melodies carry everything all the way. It's drier than MW, more rock-prog, an interesting move , but straight synthpop
Tbh I don’t prefer the outro parts listening back to see what you’re talking about and yeah you’re right it exists but I think the beginnings just make for nicer and easier listening
I found Magdalena Bay through Imaginal Disc, an album which I feel pulls a lot from prog and classic rock in structure (HEAVY focus on the last minute or so when the sick guitar solo hits). It is hard to make a song balanced when the focus is on the outro but it was not my experience when listening. I feel like you need a bit more patience when listening to Imaginal Disc compared to Mercurial World, ID is not as much of an instant gratification. I wanted to get more of ID's vibe so I want back and listened to Mercurial World and I was so surprised. Two VERY different albums that I love for different reasons but are still very Magdalena Bay. I'm sorry the hype made it not as big of a hit as you wanted it to be, I hope it grows on you
Imaginal Disk feels like an acquired taste for some songs. Some outros really hit, but some just fell ok. I love mercurial world, bur I fell this one will have a couple skips for now
i think you should have more club penguin characters with wigs in your videos
@@Hardercement finally some constructive criticism
honestly disagree that mercurial world is more experimental instrumentally than imaginal disk, i think id has a lot wider soundscape + pulls from more genres
did not expect this from you :c but imaginal disk is so so good and my album of the year with brat close behind.
real
Magdalena Baytors will find you.
not the magdubators 😭
Thousands of prog, alt and classic rock albums have structural issues because the first parts are more lyrics focused and they sonically rely on this thing called guitar solo that usually happens in the last portion of the songs :(( very great analysis of song structures!!!!
One of the more salient observations I've heard of this album is that it benefits greatly from being listened to as a record, not piecemeal.
I heard a few of the tracks individually and out of order when the album dropped, and after hearing the singles it didn't click on first listen.
Then I listened to the album from start to finish and it was a much better experience. It wouldn't surprise me if the songs grow on you. No hate.
Yeah I don't know about this take, king.
I think MC is nowhere near as experimental as Imaginal Disk, nor do I think ID is the more stripped down record of the two. Also, don't get me wrong, I understand why some people aren't feeling the new album compared to Mercurial World, but I get the impression that's because ID's tracks occupy a space out of most pop fan's comfort zones. In fact, had it not been for Mini Mix Vol 3, I would've struggled to like this album, but I totally get the hype now. I think once you get past the dense production, the album is going to grow on you.
i disagree. if the entire song was like its outro...then the outro wouldn't be as good. its the difference between the two within one song which makes the whole song so great.
Honestly how you felt about this I felt about "Mercurial World" as that album is still good and I like it, but it just doesn't have the strongest back half imo and falls off severely after "Chaeri" to the point where I don't even remember the last 5 songs as they just didn't click in that way.
Now "Imaginal Disk" is a 10 for me, so I am most definitely biased, but this is just synth pop perfection. It feels so layered and well thought out and every single second on this album just feels like a dream sequence. I can't even pinpoint what I like so much about, but as a cohesive whole this album just slaps, even though I do agree that some songs have their filler moments, but in the whole it still feels like these moments still belong and it just is a 10 for me and I totally get the hype and you ruined my day with this video >:(.
I also only got it on the like 4th relisten so I hope you get around to this just gem, otherwise you will be dealt with.
WOOOOOO NEW PAPER BOYFRIEND VIDEO!! WE'RE EATING GOOD TODAYYYY
Personally Imaginal Disk instantly clicked for me at first listen. Some of my favourite parts were the simpler ones before the buildup which may seem forgettable, which i totally get. I do agree with what you said about Cry for Me though, probably one of my least favourites 😭
people beating my ass up on twt when i say i don't like the album 😭 it's just too all over the place for me but i love image and a couple other songs
Hey, when i first watched this video i had the same opinion but the immediate next day this album started clicking with me. It's a couple of weeks later and now its definetely my favorite of the year
Also i hadn't heard of magdalena bay before listening to this album so i've been going through their discography and it's great
FINALLY, someone who isn’t prostrating himself before this album!
1. feeling so validated rn cause this is also how i feel and im kinda sick of listening to imaginal disk cause it feels like im trying super hard to make it stick and it only partly does. that being said i love watching tv
2. blue rev was such a bummer for me at first, and i loved antisocialites, but then something happened and i realized it is the best album of all time actually and molly rankin could sing me to my DEATH. the vocals on that album are insane
3. genuinely wanna be your mutual somewhere. i never feel like people relate to the mix of nerdy knowledge + f4gg0try that is how i consume and interpret music
2:38 right?!? I like the first part of Tunnel Vision so much the outro feels too long and like I wish there were some lyrics in the outro at least
The same thing happened to me, but honestly it was like that for both albums.
When Mercurial World dropped back in 2021, I saw so many people hype up this album and I decided to check it out. I instantly fell in love with the first 4 songs, but I needed more time with the rest of the album. I could not understand the hype for Chaeri. I then decided to focus on the music and that's what changed everything.
After a few more listens, the album clicked with me and Chaeri became my 2nd favorite from the album, next to Secrets (Your Fire). Eventually I gave it a 9/10 because I just couldn't get into tracks 10-12. Then I realized just how many times I play the full album without skipping anything and I changed my score to a perfect 10.
Now for Imaginal Disk it was almost the same thing. I instantly fell in love with tracks 3-6, but the other tracks didn't really do it for me. I also could not understand the hype for Cry for Me. I knew I just needed to let the album settle for me, just like my experience with Mercurial World. However, this is where it gets different. I warmed up to this album a lot faster than with Mercurial World. Mercurial World took like a few weeks for me to give it a 10/10. Imaginal Disk took only 3 days.
Once I started focusing on the music, I started to hear all the different instruments in the songs and felt the emotions that the songs were conveying. I quickly fell in love with the songs because of that. Especially in tracks 7-9. Watching T.V. and Tunnel Vision actually made me cry on 2nd listen (partly because of the lyrics). I think the build-up really worked well with these songs to the point that it made me rank them above Image and Death & Romance. The structures lead to a payoff that feels earned. In fact, I quickly fell in love with the whole album and I have it on repeat.
I also have to talk about the final 4 tracks because they feel unique in their own way. That's My Floor! sounds like something out of a Sci-Fi show from the 90s, Angel on a Satellite perfectly utilizes Mica's vocals and is probably the duo's best ballad, and The Ballad of Matt & Mica is currently stuck in my head right now.
Now let's talk about Cry for Me. So... this song quickly became my favorite on the album on 2nd listen. Yeah. Most of the time when a song clicks... it clicks. But I remember the exact moment Cry for Me did. And honestly, I don't know how but I was imagining a fight scene starting during the refrain after that evil laugh and it just... worked? The new melody playing, the piano, Mica singing, THAT BASS?!?!! Yeah, idk. 10/10 album.
Also, I would like to say that all the albums I've ever given a 10/10 were never instant 10s. That's just me tho
right i don’t think anything can be an instant 10 that kinda love takes repeated listens (thx for all ur thoughts tho)
@@paper_boyfriend you're welcome
i only see the outro problem in vampire in the corner Tbh
Honestly, I thought mercurial world was way better. The individual songs stand up on their own more effectively and there were loads more interesting textures
that being said, the central concept of imaginal disk is so clear and strong that it really ought to be looked at as more than the sum of it's parts.
I definitely agree about the song structures, especially with Image, which I think is definitely in need of some bridge to build momentum. Cry for Me also just feels like four verses separated by instrumental sections and is missing a grand chorus section. Worst part is that once the song is starting to reach a climax, it is already fading out. However, I completely disagree that this doesn’t have as much genre experimentation as Mercurial World. The sound design here is leagues more experimental than that album, and songs like Killing Time and the opener sound super unique and refreshing. I think this album is a small step up from its predecessor, but not as much of a revelation as many people are claiming.
i love the album but the way u're soooo right; the more "crescendo-core" approach made my first listen kind of dissapointing, and while i do agree the outro-focused structure make the rest of the song lackluster in comparisons, re-listening to the songs bc of the outro made the rest of it grow on me idk
exactly! i think more time with the music will help me appreciate the whole song instead of just focusing on the outro hopefully
I totally understand your take on how the outros seem to surpass the rest of the songs to the point where the beginning seems to be boring. I kind of feel that way but not to the point where I think the first half of Killing Time, Watching T.V or Image is underwhelming. I always find the production to be really cool, unless I'm not in the mood for the album. However generally, there's a lot of cool details to be found in the songs' first half in my opinion. And if not, I'm still captivated by the lyrics since they follow a concept that is more fleshed out than on Mercurial World
I actually agree with you!
Mercurial world hits different 🔥🔥🔥
hey king love your videos, but if you’re open to any feedbacks i’d say try speaking slower when recording, sometimes is hard to fully understand all you’re saying
lol valid
i disagree, i love the building parts in the songs you mentioned. They are still very memorable, at least in my opinion. But to each their own.
i wasnt around when mercurial world came out and got into it a bit late. it has some huge highlights for me but also some that fall flat. However, im super freaking obsessed with Imaginal Disk. Opposite of you, i kinda underhyped myself for the album since i had mixed feelings on mercurial world and i liked D&R but wasnt super crazy about it. When the album came out I had a few songs at first really strike me so i kept listening to them, nd then listebing to more of the album and now I'm fully bought in and loving it. It's def up there with brat for my fav albums of the year.
its so unfortunate because mercurial world was such a special moment to experience. its an album that only mag bay could have made and pull off. i was so excited for whatever was gonna come next but this just feels like a standard, average synth-soft rock album. idk it lacks all of the personality and originality of their first album .......
0:17 shaman necesita revisarse los oido para siquiera creer que es Imaginal Disk es mejor que Misseducation 😂
I totally understand where you are coming from. But for me, the production, lyrics and melodies carry everything all the way. It's drier than MW, more rock-prog, an interesting move , but straight synthpop
Tbh I don’t prefer the outro parts listening back to see what you’re talking about and yeah you’re right it exists but I think the beginnings just make for nicer and easier listening
UN CONOCEDOR DE ML BUCH 🛐🛐🥺🥺
I found Magdalena Bay through Imaginal Disc, an album which I feel pulls a lot from prog and classic rock in structure (HEAVY focus on the last minute or so when the sick guitar solo hits). It is hard to make a song balanced when the focus is on the outro but it was not my experience when listening. I feel like you need a bit more patience when listening to Imaginal Disc compared to Mercurial World, ID is not as much of an instant gratification.
I wanted to get more of ID's vibe so I want back and listened to Mercurial World and I was so surprised. Two VERY different albums that I love for different reasons but are still very Magdalena Bay.
I'm sorry the hype made it not as big of a hit as you wanted it to be, I hope it grows on you
Watching TV and kill!ng time are NOT in the same level don't play w me rn!!!
Imaginal Disk feels like an acquired taste for some songs. Some outros really hit, but some just fell ok. I love mercurial world, bur I fell this one will have a couple skips for now
yeah I prefer mercurial world too tbh
They hated Jesus because he told them the truth.
overrated af
nah