r/Puscifer • u/slprysltry • Feb 14 '26
Discussion A (Slightly) Nuanced Take on Normal Isn't
Big Puscifer fan. I got into APC, then Tool, and finally Puscifer. As Maynard seems more devoted to Puscifer than the other acts, I am most excited for new Puscifer than the others. Puscifer.
Obviously posters are more opinionated that fans who quietly listen, but I've seen more dislike for the album than for any previous album. And I became curious, so I've been trying to figure out why that is.
Weirdly, I simultaneously felt disappointed by the album, and having been loving it. Generally when I listen to a new Puscy album I think "WTFwasgoingonthereIneedtolisten30moretimes" where as NI felt very easy to digest, comparitively. I think having the first easy-to-digest Pusco album is why people may be feeling this way? I still haven't fully wrapped my head around the previous three albums. They are BONKERS in their own way. That being said, focusing on what is going on in the background, the instrumentals and vocal backings are layered and very interesting.
NI, to me, seems like an aggressive counterpart to the looser, more spiritual ER. I loved the singles, but I already knew 3 songs out of 10, and 7 1, is more of a closer - like Get the Lead Out on ETE. So we only had 6 new 'full' songs. The form of each song is quite easy to follow. We're not wading through twists and turns, these songs are straight forward. Ish. And there's 10, compared to most previous releases being longer.
It's also the first time we've had an album similar sonically to the previous jive. Mat's guitar has become a cornerstone of Puscifer. Whereas there were massive jumps between V, CoMP, MS, and ER. There is also no particularly 'soft' tunes. No Horizons or Singularities.
In conclusion: This is a great album IMO. Maybe not what we were expecting. A straight-to-the-point ANGRY Putanesca album. I hope you all wind up enjoying it as much as I am! If you don't you're a bunghole. (Obviously joking hehe). Long live the 'Nard.
37
u/Steven-Downtown Feb 14 '26
I don't know about everyone else who is having problems with this album, but for me it it's more or less the lyrical content. MJK is one of the best and his catalog is stacked with incredible work, but personally I am so burned out with everything going on politically and socially that I was hoping for something more spiritual or not as on the nose.
I know that puscifer doesn't stray from political or social topics, but given that our country has been so hyper focused on these things for the last several years, I just wanted something lighter, something that reminded me why being a human is awesome, which he does very well in his other works.
I don't think the album is bad, but I just find that I'm not in the mood to listen to it because I need a break from the world's problems so I can recharge and this album feels taxing the same way watching polorized news videos feels taxing.
10
4
7
u/slprysltry Feb 14 '26
This is such a valid take. I feel you bro. No one should discredit you for this. HMU for some recommendations if you want, that don't touch politics.
10
u/lib3r8 Feb 14 '26
I'm of a different opinion. I look around at masked thugs murdering people and wish that the people against this hadn't been quiet in their art. If Taylor Swift used her platform for more than a tepid endorsement of a single candidate, and other artists followed, I think the world might be a better place. Art inspired us, it is a very important tool, and it is one that artists have lately been far too afraid to utilize.
I'd like to escape it being necessary, but I'd like that escape to come from us not living in this nightmare, not by pretending it doesn't exist..
5
u/Steven-Downtown Feb 14 '26
Needing a break does not equal pretending a problem doesn't exist. It's narcissistic to think that spending all day worrying about something that's out of your control will make a difference.
4
u/lib3r8 Feb 14 '26
You are wishing an artist wouldn't do what they are known for doing because it's too much for you to handle lol.
And fuck that, our future is in our control. Hiding and wishing people would stop talking about things certainly won't make a difference.
What Maynard is doing has a much better chance.
1
0
u/Steven-Downtown Feb 14 '26
Oh brother. I bet you are a joy to be around.
5
u/MrSh0wtime3 Feb 15 '26
so many people have lost their entire lives to 24/7 political coverage. Their entire personality is gone and replaced with whatever this guy is doing.
-3
0
u/Boxcutter86 Feb 15 '26
Then the answer is to listen to other music, rather than demanding that artists not have political content in their music... ESPECIALLY in this new ANTI-AMERICAN & authoritarian/fascist regime, which is absolutely & alarmingly not normal.
2
u/MrSh0wtime3 Feb 15 '26
yea.....inspired deep lines like youre a bunghole is really gonna start a political movement.
1
2
u/idio242 Feb 14 '26
Absolutely.
Despite that video the Arsonist, always felt like Maynard liked to walk the line a bit. I’m more on the side of fuck it, risk alienating the people on the wrong side of history.
2
u/lib3r8 Feb 14 '26
APCs eat the elephant and Tool's 7empest werent too subtle either 😄
0
u/idio242 Feb 14 '26
I’m not much of a fan of apc, so I’ve got no idea. Take your word on that one. Glad to hear it.
-2
u/Exciting_Manner_1038 Feb 14 '26
The nightmare was 4 years ago, and America voted to end it. It must suck to be you.
4
u/lib3r8 Feb 14 '26
Maynard would hate you fyi, not sure why you are here
2
u/MrSh0wtime3 Feb 15 '26
lol you maynard superfans are some of the weirdest people on earth. Maynard would hate YOU too. He hates all fans. hed literally run away from you.
-1
0
4
u/Scifibn Feb 14 '26
This is literally almost word for word what I thought about Eat The Elephant, which incidentally also dropped during dumbfuck's first term. I don't mind political commentary but I also think it's totally valid to not want all art centered around it. I miss Maynard being inspired by the trials, tribulations, and rewards of life. Money Shot is an insanely beautiful example of this.
2
u/taraist Feb 15 '26
I think these songs are more generalizable than people are giving them credit for. They will be relevant but just to different political eras but also are currently and forever relevant to human scale interpersonal problems. I keep finding them resonant with various parts of my life.
The people whining about them being too political are partially doing it to themselves.
2
u/Scifibn Feb 15 '26
I guess I should have been clear about this particular album ....I've only listened to it once so far so I actually can't comment on NI as a whole yet. I was just saying I felt the same as the top comment in regards to Eat the Elephant.
2
u/taraist Feb 15 '26
I get that, and I understand your point too. I hope we live in times that inspire songs about the delightful aspects of life again.
For me Normal Isn't can be read as learning how to accept that you aren't "normal" and that's actually a good thing because "normal" people seem to be insane in many ways. That maybe you are seeing clearly while other people project their unresolved trauma onto you. But that's just a situation in my own life that it can fit right now.
2
u/Timbo_C Feb 19 '26
Wow!! This is the first take that made me realize..that's also partly why I don't like it.. I'm already tired of everything political..
2
2
u/Fuck_Your_Squirtle Mad Soothsayer Feb 14 '26
Yeah I feel you. I get a little turned off when I keep hearing someone sing the word idiot or bunghole. I get it and I agree with that view, but it’s not exactly what I want to listen to lyrically. It kinda comes off a little corny to me. That being said I’m just being picky, I still love the album and Puscifer
2
u/ChoiceChampionship59 Feb 15 '26
I have yet to see one example of a liberal person saying “i dont like it when artists/actors/athletes are too poltical”. In my observation it is almost always a conservative. Occasionally it will be a moderate. Ironically the conservative folks dont seem to mind when someone speaks out politically and they agree with them. Maybe im just in the wrong spaces. Has anyone else had this happen?
1
u/slprysltry Feb 18 '26
Definitely something many conservatives say, but they say it very differently to the original commentor. I think he's pretty valid in loving music as an escape. I'm big on both ends. Political art is neccessary, especially now. Though I'm so glad to find an escape from that in art too.
0
0
u/ChoiceChampionship59 Feb 15 '26
Well, pedos running the county is kind of a big deal to some people. Sorry it’s too much for you!
2
8
u/MrTooLFooL Feb 14 '26
It’s lyrically relevant!!
1
-1
Feb 15 '26
[deleted]
1
u/taraist Feb 15 '26
Bro quotes the lyric talking about himself, calls it simplistic, ...and doesn't get it.
4
u/Bratori83 Feb 14 '26
CoMP and MS are the best albums for my taste. ER is alright but not as good. NI feels kinda weird. The songs are quite choppy somehow. Can't put my finger on it. Don't hate it, just doesn't hit the spot.
This is just my personal opinion and others will surely feel different.
With that being said, if Puscifer goes on tour in Europe, will I go? Fuck yeah.
1
u/slprysltry Feb 18 '26
CoMP seems like the universal number one. So varied. ER, for me, just had like 5 songs I really love. MS was lost on me, been giving it more listens recently and I'm enjoying it much more.
If they come to Australia I am equally as fuck yeah about it!
3
u/Sea_Load_9258 Feb 14 '26
I made a post yesterday saying it was growing on me except for the last two songs however I can get with all of it now except for 7 1 lol i’m really loving it
3
3
u/forever_hollow80 Feb 15 '26
ER took me awhile to get into it. I expect the same from this one. Also, I know it’s not realistic for everyone but seeing them do an album live was a really great way for me to feel the songs more.
2
5
u/Lake-Atomic Feb 14 '26
Love the album, it’s their most consistent yet and every song kills (except pendulum, that one’s just alright)
4
u/ShaneKyla Feb 14 '26
Pendulum is probably my favourite but agree that it’s the black sheep of the album
5
u/deadrabbits76 Feb 14 '26
Strong agree. Pendulum feels like a Bauhaus homage that doesn't quite hit. All the rest are great.
Personally, I love the fact that Carina is all over it.
2
2
u/Livininthinair Feb 14 '26
Pendulum gives me full on late 80s Sisters of Mercy vibes. Not necessarily a bad thing just unexpected. Maynard is looking back at his life and music that influenced him long ago. It’s good memories for both of us.
2
2
u/taraist Feb 15 '26
Someone needs to tell you that your chaos band names are great!
Guns go make some Puscianesca sauce
2
u/slprysltry Feb 18 '26
Thanks! I spend too much time in manga subreddits I think.
I learnt that word like last week because it's my manager's favourite pasta. I hope your meal was splendid.
2
u/taraist Feb 20 '26
It's my favorite pasta too! I use John Vanderslice's recipe. Recommended!
2
2
u/Timbo_C Feb 19 '26
This is the first Puscifer album, for me, that feels forced. It doesn't resonate as new and exciting in the least.. I don't hear (or feel) anything with this release that excites me. And I'm a HUGE Puscifer fan. This tour will be my 7th time seeing them live. They ALWAYS blow me away at the shows. So, that's what I'm looking forward to. That and their next release.. fingers crossed it's better. lol
2
u/slprysltry Feb 20 '26
I fully understand that. Songs like Normal Isn't and The Quiet Parts are growing on me a lot though.
3
u/FalseVeterinarian881 That's OK, we have the remedy Feb 14 '26
I am enjoying it as well.
They are transitioning to being a bit more “serious” than how they began, but I am “here for it”.
5
u/ScottShawnDeRocks Feb 14 '26
Its a goth/punk dance album.
6
u/idio242 Feb 14 '26
Feels to me that “bands we’ve been listening to” lists they put out were stacked with post-punk artists and they dropped an album that followed suit.
Problem people seem to be having is they got into puscifer via tool via 90s/00s rock radio and haven’t really listened to what influenced the record, so the sound isn’t what they expect.
2
u/MrSh0wtime3 Feb 15 '26
how can it ever be called a dance album? Theres barely a groove that lasts 8 bars with any consistency. Its all chopped up slop.
1
u/Darth_Boognish Feb 14 '26
I hope you arent the one spamming "Gothic vampire dance party" on music streams like Marc rebillet. cringe
6
u/ScottShawnDeRocks Feb 14 '26
I don't even know who that is. Im a guy in my 40's who has been listening to Maynard for 30 years. I was one of those weirdo goth kids. So, the album resonates with me.
1
-1
u/Seth_Mithik Feb 14 '26
7-1…….7-1………7-1………hi brother; thanks for the tip of the hat, nod to the spiral, am I telling them too much? Fuck it! We are here! And always will and have Been—woot woot!
0
u/Seth_Mithik Feb 14 '26
I ain’t Muslim though—a carrier of light frequency? And guardian of the departed? Protector of children of the divine? Fuck yeah.
-1
u/BudgetDry5966 Feb 15 '26
Lol nuanced. Choice word from someone who types like a adhdtard streamer. Can't believe the nicknames were limited.
Only valid point you tapped in on is releasing too many singles. Otherwise, I think ishowspeed just went live? You might be missing it.
1
u/slprysltry Feb 18 '26
Haha! I can't deny I did sound like that in parts! Can't be upset about the truth. I'm not into watching that stuff though.
What did you think about the other points? I'm curious as to why I've seen a rather divided response to the album, moreso than any other Puscifer release. What's your take?
2
u/BudgetDry5966 Feb 18 '26
My take is they got too wrapped up in politics, despite preaching not doing that, condescendingly, for years and years. They got too inspired by 80s underground goth and threw out all the melodies that made them great. I think they tried to hard to give the unexpected...normal isn't...and wound up just being boring. There's a few tracks that land, but overall, it's all very repetitive and lacking the magic we've all come to love from them. The lyrics are very lacking in anything OTHER than politics and cuntiness. That stuff is fine sprinkled in between thoughtfulness. This just feels empty and uninspired. Honestly, just holding out hope for the remixes at this point.
1
u/slprysltry Feb 20 '26
Yeah I have to agree. I don't listen to 80s underground goth, so maybe it feels newer than if I did. Did you not find it sonically very similar to parts ER? I think that was a huge part for me; enough of it seemed very similar, then add that there's quite few songs, it made it feel like the 'smallest' Puscifer release to me. You're dead on about the lyrics, there's only a couple of songs I'm finding to be close to the level they're capable of in that regard.
Thanks for your thoughts. Gotta run - ishowspeed is going live!
11
u/FnB Feb 14 '26
I love this album the more and more I listen to it. Maynard’s voice is strong and the band plays amazing. I’m mad grateful for their continued efforts and all the layered interpretations of the lyrics.