Redonkulous!

[JerseyDan]

I think as fans we need to take a step back and realize a couple things as humans:

- These dudes work REALLY hard. 

- Putting out a record of this magnitude is a MASSIVE undertaking. As the band continues to grow there is more on the proverbial line with each release, taking time to do it RIGHT is critical.

- Post-production the MMJ/MGMT/ATO/CAA team have so much to plan >>
marketing/releasing the record...TV/Radio/Web/Print Interviews...the tours, which is usually routed with publicity hits...merch...staffing...buses...trucks...hotels...REHEARSALS!

Something of this magnitude is a 2-3 year cycle. Every day is a calculated dance of many more people than just the 5 band members. I didn't even bring up their solo work/side-projects, or most importantly their FAMILIES! Its safe to say, while they haven't been on the road 2014 has been crazy busy getting ready for what 2015-16 will bring. Trust me, there will LOTS of shows to enjoy...365 days off the road from OBH1 until OBH2 is well earned, being that they'll probably play 200 times over the coming 730.

Food for thought...

[rincon2]

I think as fans we need to take a step back and realize a couple things as humans:

- These dudes work REALLY hard. 

- Putting out a record of this magnitude is a MASSIVE undertaking. As the band continues to grow there is more on the proverbial line with each release, taking time to do it RIGHT is critical.

- Post-production the MMJ/MGMT/ATO/CAA team have so much to plan >>
marketing/releasing the record...TV/Radio/Web/Print Interviews...the tours, which is usually routed with publicity hits...merch...staffing...buses...trucks...hotels...REHEARSALS!

Something of this magnitude is a 2-3 year cycle. Every day is a calculated dance of many more people than just the 5 band members. I didn't even bring up their solo work/side-projects, or most importantly their FAMILIES! Its safe to say, while they haven't been on the road 2014 has been crazy busy getting ready for what 2015-16 will bring. Trust me, there will LOTS of shows to enjoy...365 days off the road from OBH1 until OBH2 is well earned, being that they'll probably play 200 times over the coming 730.

Food for thought...

I am not disputing much of this as possible, but there is a ton of speculation here. We do not know the magnitude of the new record, or how massive an undertaking it is. I find the 2-3 year cycle as a choice, not a requirement to create great music. Look what Hendrix, Elton, The Beatles, Stones, and many others accomplished in 3 years. The bulk of their greatest works in many instances.

I think they are taking their time for personal reasons. Those reasons may be also considered creative related, but 2-3 years is not required for them to make a great album, in my estimation. I do not begrudge them one bit for them taking time, as they owe me nothing. Let them live their lives, and enjoy what they do offer when it comes around.

[JerseyDan]

I think this thread shows an even bigger misunderstanding of "putting out a record" in 2014...its so much more than just recording on songs, printing artwork, pressing lps/manufacturing cds, getting the stuff onto Amazon/iTunes and into stores.

Look at the trajectory of LP releases from some of their contemporaries >>

Wilco: A.M. (1995) Being There (1996) Summerteeth (1999) Yankee Hotel Foxtrot (2002) A Ghost Is Born (2004) Sky Blue Sky (2007) Wilco (The Album) (2009) The Whole Love (2011)

Arcade Fire: Funeral (2004) Neon Bible (2007)The Suburbs (2010) Reflektor (2013)

Spoon: 1996 Telephono > 1998 A Series of Sneaks > 2001 Girls Can Tell > 2002 Kill the Moonlight > 2005 Gimme Fiction > 2007 Ga Ga Ga Ga Ga > 2010 Transference >
2014 They Want My Soul

Unless you are the Grateful Dead or Phish you tour to support a RECORD...if you are lucky you get to headline a 2nd time on a "victory lap" tour (Spontaneous Curation Tour), or maybe support a tour with a more massive audience than yours (Americanarama Tour).

MMJ Fans = Very Lucky.

[bartel]

I think this thread shows an even bigger misunderstanding of "putting out a record" in 2014...its so much more than just recording on songs, printing artwork, pressing lps/manufacturing cds, getting the stuff onto Amazon/iTunes and into stores.

Look at the trajectory of LP releases from some of their contemporaries >>

Wilco: A.M. (1995) Being There (1996) Summerteeth (1999) Yankee Hotel Foxtrot (2002) A Ghost Is Born (2004) Sky Blue Sky (2007) Wilco (The Album) (2009) The Whole Love (2011)

Arcade Fire: Funeral (2004) Neon Bible (2007)The Suburbs (2010) Reflektor (2013)

Spoon: 1996 Telephono > 1998 A Series of Sneaks > 2001 Girls Can Tell > 2002 Kill the Moonlight > 2005 Gimme Fiction > 2007 Ga Ga Ga Ga Ga > 2010 Transference >
2014 They Want My Soul

Unless you are the Grateful Dead or Phish you tour to support a RECORD...if you are lucky you get to headline a 2nd time on a "victory lap" tour (Spontaneous Curation Tour), or maybe support a tour with a more massive audience than yours (Americanarama Tour).

MMJ Fans = Very Lucky.

I think their touring schedule from 2010 till 2013 was packed and we're very spoiled. A year with no shows seems a long way off the back to back tours from those years.

[manonthemoon]

I think this thread shows an even bigger misunderstanding of "putting out a record" in 2014...its so much more than just recording on songs, printing artwork, pressing lps/manufacturing cds, getting the stuff onto Amazon/iTunes and into stores.

Look at the trajectory of LP releases from some of their contemporaries >>

Wilco: A.M. (1995) Being There (1996) Summerteeth (1999) Yankee Hotel Foxtrot (2002) A Ghost Is Born (2004) Sky Blue Sky (2007) Wilco (The Album) (2009) The Whole Love (2011)

Arcade Fire: Funeral (2004) Neon Bible (2007)The Suburbs (2010) Reflektor (2013)

Spoon: 1996 Telephono > 1998 A Series of Sneaks > 2001 Girls Can Tell > 2002 Kill the Moonlight > 2005 Gimme Fiction > 2007 Ga Ga Ga Ga Ga > 2010 Transference >
2014 They Want My Soul

Unless you are the Grateful Dead or Phish you tour to support a RECORD...if you are lucky you get to headline a 2nd time on a "victory lap" tour (Spontaneous Curation Tour), or maybe support a tour with a more massive audience than yours (Americanarama Tour).

MMJ Fans = Very Lucky.

I think their touring schedule from 2010 till 2013 was packed and we're very spoiled. A year with no shows seems a long way off the back to back tours from those years.

I don't think they have toured what I would consider heavily at all compared to other acts that I follow in the past 5 years and the album output is pretty much less than most over that time frame, 1 album.

All data taken from Setlist FM, so more shows could of taken place if no one added dates, but considering the size of following of these two bands I doubt many would be missing.

MMJ
2014 (1)
2013 (31)
2012 (54)
2011 (73)
2010 (33)
Total (192)

Mastodon
2014 (64) and counting
2013 (46)
2012 (96)
2011 (59)
2010 (80)
Total (345)

MMJ
1 LP

Mastodon
2 LP
2 Live Albums

With this being said I don't think MMJ doesn't tour that often even though those totals are pretty far apart, I would argue that they don't put out that much new material considering the time in between albums. 

With that said if that's what the guys want then so be it, I mean its their band and all so good for them to take some time off if that's what they want.  But I can also understand why some people are getting restless considering the extended time off.  Here's hoping that we get some info soon regarding the album.

[gluvmiller]

Not to split hairs but 2014 had 3 shows  (OBH)

[ffghtrs]

Yeah i'm kinda starting to crack up a bit.  I really liked the new War on drugs but i over did it...Tweedy was great over did it...i don't know i've been really broke lately so i've been just going through old records like some Wax Fang i ordered last year...Z...Circuital...Hollis Brown...Ryan Bingham...Justin Townes Earle...Zeppelin which is weird because i don't love them as much i as i used to.  Meaning i love Led 1 II and III but IV eh...and Houses of the holy is always good.  but eh i'm needing some new MMJ to fill the void to look forward to seeing and Wilco needs to tour again.  also i love all of you.

[JerseyDan]

While I love me some MASTODON (probably seen them a dozen times), its hard to make a 1-to-1 comparison with a band that has major crossover (MMJ) and a thinking-man's metal band (Mastodon). Mastodon has played many a touring festival, and when they headline they play much smaller rooms with 1/3 the production of MMJ. Mastodon, and similar bands) have to be "road dogs" or they don't have much of a revenue stream like a band like MMJ. MMJ gets songs in movies/shows/soundtracks etc...and the biggest media like SNL and CBS This Morning.

And one fine example: last time MMJ headlined Philadelphia, they had 12k seats they could have sold at The MANN...Mastodon had 2500 at Electric Factory. For argument sake, at a $30 tickets MMJ stood to gross $360,000...Mastodon $75,000.

Different ballgame...

[millerjustin]

I think as fans we need to take a step back and realize a couple things as humans:

- These dudes work REALLY hard. 

- Putting out a record of this magnitude is a MASSIVE undertaking. As the band continues to grow there is more on the proverbial line with each release, taking time to do it RIGHT is critical.

- Post-production the MMJ/MGMT/ATO/CAA team have so much to plan >>
marketing/releasing the record...TV/Radio/Web/Print Interviews...the tours, which is usually routed with publicity hits...merch...staffing...buses...trucks...hotels...REHEARSALS!

Something of this magnitude is a 2-3 year cycle. Every day is a calculated dance of many more people than just the 5 band members. I didn't even bring up their solo work/side-projects, or most importantly their FAMILIES! Its safe to say, while they haven't been on the road 2014 has been crazy busy getting ready for what 2015-16 will bring. Trust me, there will LOTS of shows to enjoy...365 days off the road from OBH1 until OBH2 is well earned, being that they'll probably play 200 times over the coming 730.

Food for thought...

well said!  the boys should be all charged up and shoot out of a cannon in May to tour heavily - including a City near you!