I'm With You vs. The Getaway.

I agree with you. IWY has some strong moments. If we leave behind the low guitar, I prefer almost all the melodies from it. I wouldn't skip a song if I want to listen the hole album. Maybe because of Adventures, after I listened it, I started searching about them and now they are my favorite band since 2011. Police Station is one of my favorite pepper song. Although, on The Getaway maybe I will skip Sick Love and This Ticonderoga, even though I like them. The Getaway (song) is a bit soft for an opener. But for some reason The Getaway album wins for me too, maybe because you can hear and feel the connection and the power they have now with Josh.

I'd say they're about on a par. Take the best half of IWY and the best tracks from The Getaway and you find one killer record!

Personally I prefer I'm With You just because it has such a youthful summery fresh vibe that I love. I felt that was somewhat missing on the Getaway. I love both albums though.

Well I didn't mean that they were going for it and failed, just that it wasn't there (except on a few songs). That sound is what drew me to the band in the first place so the fact that they went in a different direction was a slight disappointment even though I love what we did get.

Thought I remembered this thread! I've seen a bit of discussion on the Reddit sub recently on how these two stand up to one another, it seems pretty divided on what is the stronger album. Aging like a fine wine, IWY seems to be more respected and loved now than what it was even two years ago, with people preferring Josh's style on that record and the sound. Whereas TG is getting praised, as it has been since it was released, on its diversity and its solidarity in its track listing. Something I feel that has been the barrier to what maybe didn't make IWY as much of a commercial success as it could have been.

The main point I wanted to make about this discussion though, is I think the backend of the album (Detroit-Ticonderoga-Encore-Hunter) is what makes or breaks this album for every one of us, as well as some points seen on there. I've seen people give tracks such as Dark and Samurai absolute shit, but their argument always seems to be absolute nonsense and nitpicking at its finest. They to me, are some of the best songs the band has produced in the past decade so I don't agree with those sentiments. Yes - Dark has a recycled baseline from Cant Stop, these songs sound nothing alike though. I would have a problem if they did, but they don't. I don't see the issue. Heck, I've had 50 year olds say that its one of the better songs they have heard in a long time, specifically that intro. Think its a way stronger song and single than Maggie is. Also, seen things such as Samurai is a poor song with poor construction, very messy etc, I mean geez. These were comments coming from people who adore and praise bands like Blink as well, where to me, every song sounds basically the same.

Yet, with these four songs I can understand why they can be questioned. I can understand how people may be put off by them. I can understand how people can see weaknesses in them whilst others think they are great. This has been forementioned pretty much as well earlier in the thread in regards to IWY and some tracks. Its been close to a year already since The Getaway graced us, and I still very much of the thought it is the stronger album ... but I'm not AS confident in saying that as I was six months ago. Most of my thoughts have remained the same though on the two.

I think the ballads as a collective on IWY are much stronger. Meet Me involves some of Josh's best guitar work for mine (and am more confident in saying that after hearing it live) and a track like Police Station is just an underrated gem where it takes you to another place whilst listening to it. Plus Death Song is strong too. The Longest Wave is the only ballad-type song I really do love and enjoy from TG and think is a great piece of music. Would probably had been lauded if Froosh came up with it. Encore and Hunter will remain as questionable, more so Hunter but yeah. I've stated before they went the wrong route with Encore and should have stayed the course with how the jam was being played. The Getaway is just grooving and moving though, all the way up to that four song patch and thats where people are divided it seems. AK's lyrics are much stronger, as well as being as vocally strong as IWY and the interplay between JK, Chad and Flea is much more significant to me on TG. And despite it being a success and producing some great songs, I would prefer they don't go down the layered route that DangerMouse implemented in the creation process if they go again. Although if he is the producer, please keep pushing AK to write better lyrics, as I feel that was another negative on IWY.

I don't think IWY should be grouped with IBY in such a discussion as well. They are seperate entireties. It should be IWY v TG, if they are going to be compared or discussed. B-sides are a different can of worms and add a whole new scope into how these eras are perceived. I personally would want to hear TG's b-sides before having a discussion on that anyway. But, i mean, if IWY had a different track listing though ............... hahaha

Absolutely agree!

I'm a fan of that patch too, which is why the album sits in front of IWY and others. There are people though who are the total opposite and can't enjoy that patch though from what I've read over recent months. I sorta feel that BTW shares the same predicament where people don't enjoy it as much after Can't Stop. That run from I Could Die For You through to On Mercury is a mixed bag for some people. Its really, really interesting.

I love Encore for what it is, but that jam over the previous tour was infectious. The energy, as you said, was great. That and a few others like the Punk Rock Jam from Werchter were jams I had high hopes for, just like i now have high hopes for that intro jam which has been played a few times in the past few months (Lincoln show (?) i think is a good example) for the next album if they go again. I just wish they had kept that funkier, driving, upbeat part/vibe - something it looks like they were debating a fair bit when developing the song as Josh said on the documentary videos. Want to hear Encore live though, it can change and strengthen one's perception and love of a song. I mean, I wouldn't love Don't Forget Me as much as i do if i only had the studio version to go off.

I absolutely agree. I'm hoping they can find a balance live.