Touché Amoré - Stage Four ALBUM REVIEW

[@screampillow3360]

My dad got diagnosed with Stage 4 cancer this year. This album is literally one of the most painful and relatable experiences I've ever had, aside from hearing my dad's diagnosis. I think I'll be remembering this album for the rest of my life.

[@AlexandreDuqueque]

hold on, bro

[@greghyde6668]

Sorry to hear that man. That sucks. Hope he pulls through (people do, I'm told). My parents are now 75 and 69 and in good health (for which I'm thankful). But this album's got me thinking about stuff I may well have to go through with them in the nearish future, how grateful I am to them for always being there, and the importance of not taking the good times for granted.

[@gearlessmason7743]

Alfred L. I feel you man my step mom who was there for me through elementary till my freshman year passed away from stage 4 keep tough man! You aren't alone man this album hit hard at home

[@rileyhogan5676]

Cancer is a horrible disease. It's really hard to go through something like that. Stay Strong dude.

[@ingmarfris8175]

I hope you are able to maintain some normality in your life. I know how hard it can be when someone you love is sick. By sick I mean seriously ill. My father has cystic fibrosis and it has been very hard living with it. If you have people you trust rely on them. Seek comfort and friendship. I want to say more but I don't think I need to. Understand your purpose and your resources. Hopefully, you have people that you can trust because that will benefit you most. I remember completely isolating myself and losing my purpose. I hope this does not befall you. Try to learn from your experience instead of letting it drag you down. You only have one life, you should use it well. Sorry if I'm saying too much or reading too much into your experience. I think I can understand some of your pain.

[@ghostiemostly5036]

As much shit as we give Mr. Fantano, I think we should be pretty grateful for him. He turns us on to some really good music that we otherwise wouldn't have known of and he spends a lot of time and effort on these reviews. So at least from me, thank you Fantano.

[@samueltheberge8703]

We should give him shit it is his opinion after all

[@ghostiemostly5036]

+Sam theb I know, I'm not discouraging anyone from doing that. He has his opinion, we have ours. I'm just saying I appreciate his work is all.

[@WeepyProphet]

aww shucks

[@dustmemories9937]

+1

[@edinhaveric4539]

Nice try Anthony

[@boppensoccer]

I think maybe Stage Four could also be the fourth stage of grief: depression. Maybe not but it's interesting to think about.

[@austinsteed1581]

Mind blown

[@SilhouetteLifter]

fuck.

[@chrysanth.5700]

Guess the band is working on a triple or quadruple entendre in that title there. If only I was in to Emo or Screamo music then I would be more excited about this release.

[@maxlambie7788]

i never thought about that, but that is extremely insightful

[@WillSmith-fg8be]

I always thought of it that way

[@SilhouetteLifter]

another thing i just realized, the lyrics on New Halloween are: "I skip over songs because they're too hard to hear Like track 2 on "Benji" or "What Sarah Said"". track 2 on Benji by Sun Kil Moon is "I Can't Live Without my Mother's Love"........fuck dude....fuck.

[@jakobsanchez738]

When I listened to the album for the first time in a couple of years, it was when I was obsessed with Sun Kil Moon's Benji. Hearing that lyric and now realizing what it meant cut me like a knife.

[@vin_fm2354]

I grew up listening to what sarah said and hearing it years later i never knew what it meant

[@tikn2029]

Pretty dark year: Radiohead, Nick Cave, Touche Amore,...

[@HannachiMariachi]

David Bowie as well

[@connormac2652]

Also, over 50,000 dead in Syria this year. Equally bad.

[@CaratGlobbins]

prima donna

[@tikn2029]

Connor Mac And Harambe...

[@CaratGlobbins]

lets not forget the election

[@evildead2002]

Personally I think this is one of the most important albums I've heard in years. It had a much bigger impact on me hearing it for the first time and every time I listen to it. I'm a huge Bowie, Radiohead, Nick cave, NIN fan and it fits right in there. 10/10 for me.

[@dbeatfan]

I saw Tiny Moving Parts and Touché Amoré on my birthday in November, and I must say, touché Amoré are so good live. It was quite the show, and I got the pleasure to meet them and get a set list. They are so sincere and humble.

[@lookaftering5638]

This is the first album that was able to bring me to tears the first time I heard it. I was crying on an airplane. Absolutely amazing.

[@JustinnnZombie]

Video starts at 0:00

[@JustinnnZombie]

I try :~)

[@Terminado907]

Thx

[@AndrewAcostaYT]

You're a lifesaver.

[@ZachBobBob]

Thanks man

[@eliotaarklova6321]

Thanks bruh the intro sucked

[@monsieur171]

when anthony quotes lyrics you know this shits deep

[@Faverelli]

Yeah... like on the new Travis Scott album.

[@FunTheMentalist]

stroke my cactus

[@purplesky99876]

Anyone else feel destroyed by Displacement?

[@Matthew-dv2gn]

yup especially when he says you cried at the thought of never seeing me again

[@SeniorBrochacho]

Love the album! "Is Survived By" had a hell of an impact on me and this album is hitting me pretty hard every time I put it on. I envy the hell out of Touche Amore because they put everything into their music.

[@PaiMeiHefeweizen]

Having a good day and want to ruin that? Try listening to This, David Bowie's Black Star and Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds' Skeleton Tree in one go. So you can surround yourself by thoughts of losing a mother, losing a son and losing your own health & life slowly. Sounds like fun.

[@HannachiMariachi]

How bout seasoning that depression steak with some carrie and lowell and a crow looked at me? Garnish the dish with selected Elliot Smith classics and it'll really blow your brain.

[@mariliapinheiro5194]

throw in A Crow Looked At Me and Carrie & Lowell while you're at it

[@DoctorEpIc465]

Coming from a dude who has never even lost anyone to cancer, this album literally made me tear up hella emotional hella good.

[@stephaniegarcia5420]

tbh, i haven't listened to touche amore since Parting the Sea Between Brightness and Me and I was so impressed by this album. After 10 minutes of learning that it was because of Bolm's Mother's death, I immediately added it to my cloud and listened to it entirely. this album is probably one of the most beautiful I've ever heard. My list grows long and my heart hangs heavy because all I like is sad - and sometimes aggressive (and most of the time, both) - kinda music. Great review and call to subtleties in the title. *Thumbs up*

[@HendersonHinchfinch]

Is Survived By is an amazing record as well. Do yourself a favor and check it out.

[@11LuStar]

Again... You review it like you're gonna give it a 9 but it gets an 8.... Just give out a bloody 9 already Frank

[@Lleq3]

getting mad about a problem you invented in your head, nice

[@11LuStar]

+Lleq3 it's what I do best

[@Blairskirock]

To be fair this has happened with Blonde, Skeleton Tree AND this, where it seems like the record deserves that 9 but he kind of holds off.

[@mrmans484]

nah dude, this sounds more like a 6 or 7. he had a lot more negative stuff to say bout this one.

[@donttouchtheac8651]

if he thinks its an 8 then he thinks its an 8.

[@Gore171459]

I didn't think he'd like it this much......BUT HE DID leeeeet's *clap clap* FUCKIN go!

[@Molteniceee]

8:11 "rawr sound"

[@Vopodop]

xD

[@rashotcake6945]

Virtual Blaze "I love you" in dinosaur sound

[@Molteniceee]

Rashotcake *dinosaur language

[@rashotcake6945]

Virtual Blaze sorry my mistake, don't tell the emo authorities

[@xhildhood]

I went and saw them when I was a dumb freshman in High School. After the show, I went up to Jeremy and asked him to sign my phone. Shortly there after, 5 or 6 fangirls ran up to him asking him to sign their shoes. He was just trying to get to the back room, and thanks to me he had to stand and take pictures. To this day I still feel bad. Jeremy, if you're reading this, I'm sorry.

[@goodgriefmedia4483]

I'm really happy with this review, I was expecting the polar opposite if I'm being honest. really glad he addressed the conceptual idea behind the album too, some haven't picked up on that yet

[@Adam-tt8tz]

Their best album so far. A little more vocal range on this one which I like.

[@rjheeb]

This album just makes me appreciate my parents and I love them more because of it. The message conveyed is really riveting to me. When Palm Dreams came out I said to myself "album of the year" already. Its looking like it.

[@maredjurphy]

I've really liked the stuff Touché Amoré has made in the past, but I really think this is their best album yet. The themes of loss hit really close to home, and I definitely agree about the instrumentation being even more interesting on this record.

[@hinglemcringleberry5448]

My mom died of stage 4 breast cancer this year and this album felt like a story of both our lives

[@johnnyscifi]

Condolences...

[@fiilisboa]

Now I'm satisfied. Thank you so much, Anthony.

[@jordanhitsthings]

If there is one thing i can always count on from this guy, it's good and positive reviews on Touché records.

[@shadyweeze]

Dude you're gonna have a hard time ranking your favorite albums of the year! Glad you like the album!

[@roywells3035]

I suggest reviewing the album Neveroddoreven from I Monster it has equal parts rock and electronic, with small chunks of jazz, funk, dance, blues, ambient and easy listening.

[@adamlerner8370]

Yes! Is Survived By blew me away in 2013 and these guys came back with an even better album to their already stacked discography. Going 4 for 4 in quality albums is especially important in such an unforgiving genre that has a tendency to bring nothing new to the table. Having always been a fan of emo/post hardcore, this could easily be my AOTY.

[@megakirbyx]

How has it already been one year?

[@HendersonHinchfinch]

Thats what I think about 10 years 😢

[@victorseryozhenko8990]

@@HendersonHinchfinch it’s line from New Halloween

[@karu6111]

one of my favorite albums from last year, I still play this when going through long trips. thanks melon

[@CrenshawMoreno]

I really digged your review. It took a lot for me to even listen to it, for personal reasons... but I am now a fan. Having loved their last three LPs, it was refreshing to see another semi-skeptical approach to Stage Four. Kudos to you!

[@AladarCZ42]

I'd actually recommend this to anyone that likes old post-hardcore and doesn't really like the post-2000 wave. It's new, but also accessible.

[@FunTheMentalist]

I think the "on my own" hook is mixed this way on purpose, it resembles helplessness in a specific way, everything around it is just louder, it's symbolic

[@zachmccollum8612]

Probably one of your best analyses of any album ever

[@rileyhogan5676]

I lost my grandfathers to cancer and my grandmother to a stroke. This album hit really close to home and where the fuck was this thing when I was a kid??????

[@winterfrost99]

Review Laugh Tracks by Knocked Loose!

[@ShanesSquirrelShack]

^^^^^^^^^^

[@alanpowers4692]

I agree with Mateo!

[@lazarefilms9290]

I second that Mateo! OHW OHW.

[@nahdontevenstart]

if he did he'd expose how painfully generic and one dimensional they are, take 90's and even modern metallic hardcore add some Drop Ab guitars and some internet hype and you people go nuts.

[@winterfrost99]

Not too many bands have their style. The only two bands that may be similar are Code Orange and Nails.

[@penny5914]

Could you review LOW TEENS by Every time I die

[@SenorObesity]

please fantango this is the only mid-2000s metalcore band that doesn't suck ass, and Low Teens rules.

[@rafaelgutierrez6275]

YES, that is something that I'd love him to look into as well!

[@rafaelgutierrez6275]

+Tom Davis Word. It sucks that metalcore transformed from a chaotic Hardcore Punk/Extreme Metal fusion to the bastard son of a pop-punk/post-hardcore/EDM mix.

[@Hans0622]

Rafael Gutierrez The metal core we knew and love is basically dead. Glad someone else feels the sameway

[@alexkuhn5853]

Real shit that album is so damn good. My top album this year. That and dillengers new album.

[@jonathannolan8317]

hey antnee just wanted to give you a sincere thanks. you've directed me to so many amazing albums and have been instrumental in my horizons broadening when it comes to music. a year ago I wouldn't have touched acts like street sects, swans or death grips etc. and now I really enjoy them! appreciate what you do man keep it up

[@Joshmarmolejo_]

this album is amazing

[@vicentealvarado5608]

Fuck yeah cal is back

[@AlexandreDuqueque]

I'm so happy you end liking it. Because the same thing happened to me really, didn't liked the singles at first, but the album itself is so emotional that i can't help but just wave to it.

[@brandonmeenan8075]

2:14 One of my favorite albums ever.

[@Hebrewhammer1717]

Based on your Track of the Week segments I thought you weren't going to like it. I'm so happy you gave it an 8, now I don't have to delete it from my library :) p.s. touche is my favourite band

[@seangomez1912]

New Halloween is one of my favorite songs ever

[@Trissification]

Great review. You made some really nice points and it's an album I really enjoy.

[@aaronkameric1419]

my favorite song on the album is frustratingly the bonus track "Gather"

[@bentn13]

Piss lots of people off with the Mac Miller review and follow that up with two 8's. Smooth move Fanta :P

[@ExtraSoggy]

very glad to see this review. one of my favorite bands :)

[@gearlessmason7743]

Love this band thanks for doing a review man and I have to agree about the raw voice thing I enjoyed that a lot about them and I feel like this record was more smoother I guess you could say, good review man!

[@collinmarshall366]

such a powerful record and an amazing review. i love your videos

[@Charles.Tobias]

8:10 "You know, I do prefer, in a way, that RAWR sound"

[@Sread95]

Great review! You were really informative and presented an honest perspective

[@loganw5851]

I actually completely agree about this review especially that this is the band's best alblum but I liked survived by the most still just personally not critically

[@preachermansam86]

Surprised you didn't mention Pianos Become The Teeth's 'The Lack Long After' record here... thanks for the great, detailed review :)

[@joshuamorse7454]

Thanks for the review, great job!

[@tylerblake3596]

this album is surprisingly fast-paced for something that's so sad conceptually...watched your review before listening and sort of expected something like Pianos Become the Teeth's latest album or La Dispute's "Rooms of the House"

[@UPtheIRONS52]

Has Fanta ever offered you a sponsorship?

[@bakedbeanishdragon]

Cal looks like Private Pyle from Full Metal Jacket

[@GizmoFan1]

My aunt passed away about a month before this album was released. It's been the soundtrack to dealing with that ever since.

[@shawn238]

Great review of one of my favorite bands! It is a great album. I think it will take a few listens but it really is powerful stuff! Thanks again!

[@edosborne5179]

I loved this album but was scared to watch your review because you generally dislike the more modern Post hardcore and emo albums, but this is a great review. Thanks Anthony

[@a7xweeman]

Damn not expected, this was some good shit, loved them when they were on Deathwish, this was VERY good.

[@kellensweet]

You have got to review the new Every Time I Die album, "LOW TEENS"...out tomorrow. I have it and it's literally the greatest thing this year

[@HendersonHinchfinch]

These guys are slowly turning into one my very favorite bands.

[@drhambone1598]

My father has renal cell carcinoma...this album hits home for me

[@GREENWARRI0R]

This album made me cry

[@sarichj]

It's the best album I've heard in a long time.

[@Swordstriker789]

I expected you to hate it tbh, I'm glad you enjoyed it because I enjoyed it :)

[@ChadQuallo]

really like softer spoken (the guitar lead on the chorus sounds like "just like heaven"), otherwise great review fantnee

[@kristofbe1]

Nice to see Cal again. It had been a while.

[@ryndanriley5348]

You should do the new Taking Back Sunday album because that thing came from way out of left field.

[@floere]

wow great review man. I've never seen you that serious in a review tho.

[@2ndCthulhu]

I wish I could put out an album for Anthoy to review just to see how he's going to pick it apart.

[@alanpowers4692]

Hey, there Anthony! I'm wondering whether you might consider reviewing one or more of the following albums. I would really appreciate hearing your thoughts! Hope you have a great day! Exalt - The Shape You Took Before The Ache Balance and Composure - Light We Made Knocked Loose - Laugh Tracks Expire - With Regret Capsize - A Reintroduction: The Essence of All That Surrounds Me Bent Life - Never Asked For Heaven Renounced - Theories of Despair

[@LaMereACaniche]

Glad you liked this one, fucking loved it.

[@johnnyscifi]

Jeremy Bolm is a brilliant song writer...truly

[@nathanielhickey4081]

Fires Within Fires

[@TonTon.2142]

I expected a joke about something when you said that the stage 4 represented cancer. I guess I've been watching too many of your meme reviews, Antny.

[@stevenmorrissey1677]

So jeremy mentions a sun kil moon track and a death cab track (frontman being Benjamin gibbard) both about losing someone. What’s funny is sun kil moons most popular song is called “Ben’s my friend” referring to Ben gibbard and going to see him perform as the postal service. Idk if anyone else caught that.

[@SanskarWagley]

ayyyy the homie Cal

[@MrCharlieCupcakes]

man you hit the nail on the head i hated the teaser to but once i actually listened to the album i have to say its really fucking good :)

[@8869-z7n]

review my failing marriage next

[@justussmithberger7042]

Whatever happened to your failing marriage

[@CLOCKTHULHU]

Hearing Fantango's reactions to the singles released from this album, then hearing the whole thing for myself, I expected him to hate this one, ha ha. Pleasantly surprised by the review. Bolm's clean vocals definitely grew on me, and Skyscraper definitely works better as an album closer than an isolated song.

[@johnjoesafatso]

With the reviews you gave the singles I was so scared that you'd hate this album. I think Survived is their best album but I love this album too.

[@coding_den]

These guys put on the funnest shows here in cali

[@TheGlassjaw28]

I loved this record! You should review the new Balance and Composure, I love the preview tracks

[@kevindelacruz2679]

Prob my second favorite album of 2016

[@covoo1025]

Review American Football (1999)

[@sportsjunkie52]

Good album. Not spectacular but maybe because everyone has tried to copy that sound/feeling so it seems overdone. I hate given numerical scores because everyone's 10/10 is different but overall I feel 7.5/10. Lovely lyrics, great performance, it's just lacking some over-the-top genre pushing material

[@jordonharris9098]

Lots of loved list additions as of late

[@bobbyadamson2333]

These guys have really held up well. There aren't a lot of good bands doing this stuff consistently well anymore.

[@dude123456m]

I just listened to this album and honestly reviewing something like this feels wrong in a way similar to the lack long after by pianos become the teeth a very similar album but just the level of catharsis it doesn't feel right like looking into someone's personal diary and than telling them what you think that being said the ending of eight seconds are so abrupt and just straightforward that it really it hit me in a way like I had just been punched in the gut brilliant

[@waddamahadda]

Finally! I was missing Cal quite a bit

[@MateoPHX666]

I couldn't STAND Skyscraper when it came out, even with Julien Baker's vocals thrown in there, but in context with the rest of the album, and with the added voice-mail on top, it fucks me up every time now. I'm sad we didn't get a harder faster record, but they've progressed nicely and it's a cool different sound

[@hardyrulez96]

the bonus track, gather is also amazing.

[@TheKozzee]

Review 'Low Teens'

[@strangebrew1231]

No love for Julien Baker on skyscraper?

[@agentx8998]

why are you afraid to give any album 9 or 10 ?

[@iamaninja777]

he has given 9's and 10's before, but I think once you give one album a 9 or 10, it's hard to give an album a perfect or almost perfect rating if there's anything that isn't exactly how you wanted it to be.

[@vackrakristaller]

If you're actually reviewing on a full scale, 10 should be like an asymptote. If you use the website rateyourmusic, the ratings come from a shit ton of people, so a high rating means a huuuuuge understandable appeal and incredible depth. The highest rated album there is a 4.22/5 (OK Computer), which isn't even a 9/10.

[@ceeryle]

What has he given a 10?

[@WhackCalZone]

Death Grips 'The Money Store', Swans 'To Be Kind' and Kendrick Lamar ' To Pimp a Butterfly'. Fantano just values his 9s and 10s more than most people, as he should.

[@dummer66]

Wow, way to go out on a limb. zzzzzzz

[@Lucas-iz3wo]

Nigga why is this not a 10

[@hallecutie]

thumbnail is gold