Mcid Puns

...and it's still just not there for me. There are still plenty of good tracks (Fly, 16, Canals, Upperdrugs, Arizona, and Snow White are all at least listenable), but the rest are so tough to get through... lyrically, sonically, stylistically, it's just rough. I was so excited for this album when it came out and was pretty much speechless when I first listened. I was almost mad. I threw a couple tracks onto a playlist and have basically ignored the rest of the album since. With a little buzz starting to happen about a new album, I thought I'd give it a spin tonight and maybe I'd like it a little more.

How can anyone listen to the verse lyrics of Tokyo Ghoul or These Days and think "yes, those are good lyrics"?! How do you listen to SOS and say "yes, that's exactly what a collab between Gojira and Highly Suspect should sound like" (and let's not mention Nothing But Thieves...)?! But at the same time, there are moments of brilliance and true craftsmanship throughout the album— musically, Canals is badass and well-constructed; Upperdrugs is a raw and honest proclamation of the distress of addiction; 16 and Fly are ballad-y, softer tunes but they're hooky and catchy without losing their honesty. Arizona is beautiful, but honestly doesn't sound like HS at all and would've been a better fit as part of another project (but I'm still grateful it made this album). The band can obviously still make good music. But the obnoxious synth lines over hiphop beats, the 935793 layers of conflicting parts, the really bad attempts at rap (and I'm a huge rap fan... just, like, good rap), the "I literally didn't try to make this artistic or poetic at all" lyrics, the lyrics about busting nuts and playing with butt, all that has got to go. I really, really really hope the band has been able to see this album from an outside perspective since they've had some time away from it. I hope they can see what didn't work, what did work, and why their fan base was so fucking confused by it. I know they have it in them to get back on track.

I'm not expecting another TBWDW or MA. They're older, they've changed as people and as musicians, and I respect that. I just hope they can collectively agree to put out the absolute best that they're capable of, and not settle for "good enough" or entertain every wild idea that crosses their minds. This next album, whichever way it goes, will seal the band's fate— they can either reclaim their legacy and continue to make waves in the rock/alt wo

The first time I heard MCID I didn’t get it. Because I was so obsessed with there first three albums this one shocked me. I honestly without even giving it a chance decided early on that I didn’t like it. Which I guess was bad on my part. This isn’t there best work at all, and I still like there other albums more. After taking a break and coming back to it I like it more. I had to look past the sound and listen to the message. I do hope they go back to Rock. It’s not that they can’t try new things but I use the example of what if Metallica tried rap or pop, it just won’t work. I used to listen to this band I forget there name but it was rap/rock like Linkin Park and it fit them. On there second album they went 100% techno and needless to say they haven’t put out music in decades. Again I am not sayin they can’t try things, but making rock music is what made them. It’s a tricky line. I am still a fan I would rather them at least dab in different stuff then abandon Rock completely. I understand rap or mumble rap and pop is very popular in 2021 but I love Rock and I don’t believe everything needs to turn into those genres.

(hint, you can't)

The fuck happened to this band. They weren't exactly great, more of a guilty pleasure, but mcid is hot garbage.

I can only find responsiveness psychometrics for the older population for single leg stance and its driving me crazy. Anybody know of any?

i respect the band’s range, and they have the right to make music in whichever style they please, but does anyone else get rly sad when they think of how much better the album could’ve been if every song was as good as canals and upperdrugs? those songs are both probably top 10 in the HS discography, it’s just a little disappointing knowing that they haven’t chosen their new stylistic direction because they’re “burned out” on rock, because they clearly proved otherwise.

MCID stands for “my crew is dope.” It’s supposed to be a unifying motto that promotes appreciation for Highly, and Highly’s reciprocated appreciation for the fans.

Yet MCID as an album- according to Johnny- was deliberately made as a way of pissing off the rock fans. It’s important to note that the fan base is rock fans, that’s the whole reason we found HS. Making an album that’s different or experimental is ok. Artists are allowed to do what they want. But making an album with the intent to annoy the majority of your fanbase is not cool. And it’s super hypocritical from a band that’s supposed to be about being appreciative for their fans. Our crew is dope. You can’t have a slogan of “MCID” but then deliberately try to annoy the core of your fanbase- what changed? Why is the crew apparently no longer dope?

Tbh, it’s Johnny. We all love him, but he took his frustration with being seen as the future of rock (Highly is widely cited as 1 of the best new bands) out on the fans. That’s not cool. Understandably there’s a lot of pressure with trying to maintain popularity, but imo Johnny ditched rock cuz he was sick of the pressure. But that pressure isn’t the fans’ fault- you’ve made rock music in a rock band, your fans are rock fans who want rock music. That’s how it is. People aren’t annoyed as much with Highly making a different album (tho it doesn’t help that it’s both different AND mediocre imo)- we’re disappointed with WHY Johnny made a very different album. It’s the attitude shift that’s problematic.

Point is: regardless of whatever your opinion is of MCID as an album, making it so different on purpose because you’re trying to disappoint fans isn’t cool. Our crew is dope, I’m just sad Johnny seems to resent the majority of his fans. You can’t be all about “MCID” and then try to disappoint fans on purpose. His recent dismissive, occasionally hostile attitude towards a lot of his fans kinda defeats the whole point of his MCID motto.

Man! Just when I thought I couldn't like HS anymore, I started giving MCID a listen. It didn't hit me at first cause I was so into their first 3 albums, but now I can't stop listening to MCID on repeat. It's like a bug, and the lyrics are stuck in my head all the time.

I know a lot of people here hate on MCID, but man, give it a solid listen with an open mind and you'll be captivated. It's a solid album with a lot of bangers.

Good shit HS! Don't listen to haters and keep doing your thing! >:)

All reviews, discussion, and commentary on the album should be posted here.

BUY/STREAM MCID: GOOGLE PLAY/APPLE MUSIC/SPOTIFY/TIDAL

I know, we've had however many of these posts, why do we need another one?

Some background real quick, when MCID dropped I was SUPER disappointed in it. I felt betrayed by what became one of my favorite bands in recent years with the change that they made with MCID. I listened to it a few times, and wrote it off.

Last night though, I came back across Arizona (which I loved at first listen) and then went through a few of the other songs, namely Snow White which really perked my ears up again, as I had forgotten about that song. I listened to the album front to back again this morning while at work...and the album has grown on me. I actually like a lot of stuff that's here. I still maintain that it's their weakest album, but I'm not nearly as upset about it as when it released.

Is it different? Absolutely.

Is it their best material released? I don't think so, but some out there may.

I still don't like Silk Road all that much, but I can appreciate what they were trying to do. Fly is great minus that outro, and Freakstreet is actually not bad minus the rap-thing bridge, and the interludes could have been left off entirely (but I'm not big on interludes on ANY album, so that's already a biased point on my part). I understand that many of us were unhappy with MCID, but if you're like me and you took a good break from it, you might find some new appreciation for the album coming back to it. This is also just my opinion, and I am not trying to sway people into liking the album if you absolutely do not care for it. Just wanted to try and put a positive spin on the musical output that MCID gave us, from the perspective of someone that wrote the album off after it had released.

Ok it's not that bad, definitely their weakest album, but not as bad as I thought week ago. I hated the album because I was mad because album didn't include all of those amazing songs they had been playing for years. Album was not what I expected. But It has grown to me.

SOS and Snow White are fucking bangers

I think it would have fit in perfectly with the style of canals. Wish we would get a studio version. When Johnny said they're would be more rap honest to God I thought he meant more stuff like fire in bedstuy, my name is human and back in the day but then they released Tokyo ghoul (which is ok not horrible)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EgTUVCZ8vUY

After many hours of listening. Here's my top 5.

1. Canals
2. Fly
3. These days
4. Freak street
5. @tddybear

Hbu?

I know lots of you on this sub dislike MCID and in my opinion MCID is the best and most memorable HS album.

The album starts with 'Fly' which is basically Johnny talking about his experiences with depression and its an awesome and motivating message to everyone who is going through a tough time not to mention the cool flow of the music. So 'laugh because you stayed so strong'.

In '16' Johnny also opens up about his life which is something all his posts and previous music that is a challenge for the band and for him to be left vunerable like that is amazing to get an emotional connection to the fans.

'Taking off' is probably one of the best songs on the album with such a vibrating riff that you can feel it pulsing through your body when you have it on loud. It is part of a feeling not just the sound. It makes you wanna stop and vibe with it for a while.

Adding rap elements to 'Tokyo Ghoul' and 'The Silk Road' completely boosts the album from HS other albums because it is incorporating a whole new side to the band. T-Grizzly and Young Thug are super brilliant at what they do and the collaboration through the music sets these songs aside from anything I have ever heard. And the messages that 'The Silk Road' carries are really relevant to what is happening to do with racism now.

The whole album is about how everyone will be able to acsess at least one song in MCID and the band is still relatively young and still finding the right sound and where they fit in on the music scene. I feel like MCID is more about the concept than wanting to please fans. Because if HS make whatever music they want, the fans will come. And if they keep on making amazing music like MCID which speaks to people and makes people feel things then their fan base will inevitably grow.

Lecture over thank you if you finish reading.

TLDR; MCID is awesome because it opens the band up to new fans and genres.

Have to admit, finding the early and unreleased Highly stuff on here after listening to MCID has really filled a gap as I enjoyed MCID but it left me wanting more.

It got me thinking though; do you guys think MCID is mostly Johnny's influence? And do you think it will affect the band? (Like Oasis, where members stopped getting on due to Noel's control over the band)

As a band that wasn't yet established, if they really wanted to, they could have released whatever they liked but nothing there sound like MCID. If this was part of a sound they wanted to push, wouldn't some of the early stuff, or even some of MA or TBWDW sound like this?

I don't want arguments, just looking for more input or information.

https://imgur.com/9bpm2sZ

One of my favorite albums of all time, and Bath Salts is probably my favorite rock tune of all time.

WALL OF TEXT. READ IF INTERESTED.

Disclaimer: I did not proofread. I am writing this as is fresh and before i forget.

I am going to be honest, I have seen them live 4 times, listen to their songs for 3 years non-stop (always my spotify top artist for 2 years in a row) but this album is just bad, there is 4 songs I genuinely enjoy. Upperdrugs, 16, Arizona (Rich's voice is just beautiful), Tokyo Ghoul (This song is just a meh).

1. The cover looks like someone just said fuck it, let's put our motto and that's it, no art work no nothing and we as fans know they are better than this from past albums. I want to use slipknot as an example of a cover with the name of the album and a beautiful art or photograph as the main artwork. We Are Not Your Kind is the motto Slipknot's using currently (Album Name), and a piece of art (The woman with a veil grabbing her head.).
2. Song variety is overwhelming and weird and very out of touch with the fan base, TBWDW is a great example of experimentation, with a mix of experimental stuff, rock, hard rock. This point can be argue that bands can do whatever they want with their music and that is correct but you can't make 3 albums full rock with some mix to it and then out of nowhere give us something completely different. One more thing to add, some songs are just fillers which stupid if it doesn't lead to a song, many bands do this at the start of an album from the top of my head slipknot does it every album but the intro song is always something that gives the listener something to anticipate.
3. Song feel unpolished and rushed. The quality of every song seems so mediocre mix and made, it feels like they said "ok guys just record what you know, mix it and call it a night," while this is how it feels it can be the total opposite and they did put their sweat blood and tears to it but from my point of view it feels like an album that was recorded in a basement to show a music label what a band can do.
4. Johnny is delusional, he thinks he created a masterpiece, something everybody needs to love and if you don't you are just one more of their "fake" fans. Now, Johnny, is a very immature person, it feels like he is a kid in a grown-up's body, he can't take any criticism without making it a big deal or not accepting it is ok if people dislike what you have made but then again if you see a lot people who have followed you are not enjoying what you did, instead of growing distance from your true fan base and be a dick,

Johnny's just done an interview with one of our major radio stations here in NZ and one of the fellas was talking about wanting to join the MCID movement. Johnny said, if the idea moved you, and resonated with you within yourself or your own friend group, then you were already "in" etc, so I thought it would be an idea, in the interest of raising the vibe after a couple of weeks of weird shit going on, to share what MCID means to you, in your personal life.

To me, it means loyalty and understanding. MCID is about those people who you can live apart from, and maybe you only see them once every 6 months or something because welp, life gets in the way sometimes, but when you DO catch up, it's like no time has passed at all - like; time does not exist within MCID. It's about companionship and appreciation without judgement, it's about finding your "home" within your tribe.

Looking forward to reading your stories!

1. Fly
2. 16
3. Freakstreet
4. Canals
5. Upperdrugs
6. Tetsuo’s Bike
7. Tokyo Ghoul (feat. Young Thug)
8. SOS (feat. Gojira)
9. @tddybear (feat. Conor Mason of Nothing but Thieves)
10. Arizona
11. Juzo
12. The Silk Road (feat. Tee Grizzley)
13. Taking Off
14. These Days
15. Snow White
16. Nairobi (Outro)

Thoughts?

Hey all,

I've made a MCID Discord server as a place for the MCID community to hang-out in! As there's currently no server for the band I decided to start one. While the main purpose of the server is to talk about the band and music, there's also seperate channels for memes and self promo. If you'd like to see something else added to the server we have a channel for server suggestions as well :)

Join here!

*note to mods, please feel free to delete this post if necessary*