Why do you not like that song?

[thebigbang]

This forum is filled with people like me who cannot believe any one band is putting out the consistently wonderful music MMJ has cranked out. But nobody is perfect, and no one elses musical tastes can completely mirror anothers. So, which song do you not like? I am curious which ones others aren't so high on.

I'll start with two that don't do much for me. First an old one, then a new one.

"If All Else Fails" from The Tennessee Fire: This is the only place on that album that my attention wanders.  In an album filled with emotionally riveting performances, this one just appears to be the weak link, not forcing me to listen like the others do. The vocal styling is a bit different than any of Jim's other material, but I don't think that is the problem I have with it. Even the lyrics seem on target. But musically, the pacing and overall sound of it doesn't all come together the way their other stuff does.  Of course, it'll probably be one of my favorites next time I hear it. Such is the experience of listening to MMJ.

This second one will be blasphemy to some folk around here, but "Run Thru" from It Still Moves appears to me that it could have used some new arrangements for the first and last sections.  The bass and drums break in the middle is positively breathtaking in concert and on the CD.  But the rest of it seems clumbsy to me, like they should of sat on it for few days or weeks and taken it back into the studio to make the whole song fit together better.  Such a great sound in the middle deserved to be framed by better music.  This is very apparent to me when they play it live, and the reactions from the crowds when they first began playing it hinted to me that it was problematic for others as well.

Oh well, I still think of all the bands I've heard in the past ten years, they're the best one working today. So please, no flames. I love these guys.


edit: Hey I just now saw the recent thread about what song had to grow on you, which is similar to this. Sorry about any confusion. I just don't have time to read them all!

[peanut butter puddin surprise]

nobody is perfect, they can't come up with all gems.  (or can they?  ;))

[MMJ_fanatic]

I go to sleep during "Its been a great 3 or 4 years" ;)

[SmoothOprtr]

Kind of a negative topic, don't you think?!

I'm not a huge fan of Old Semptember Blues, and I find the Take My Breath Away arrangement neither cool nor funny- but I'll pin that one on Berlin!

Run Thru is one of my favorites on that album!  It may have been one of the songs that originally attracted me to the band.

[MMJ_fanatic]

Kind of a negative topic, don't you think?!

Awww a little constructive critiquing never hurt anyone ;)

[thebigbang]

I go to sleep during "Its been a great 3 or 4 years" ;)

Are you pickin' on the lone Johnny Quaid original?
Johnny gonna hunt you down and shoot you like that big bear on the cover of ISM.

[EC]

(I get a little nervous about this thread...)

[SMc55]

(I get a little nervous about this thread...)

Why?

[thebigbang]

(I get a little nervous about this thread...)

Don't be nervous.  I was bluffing. In reality, no bears were hurt during the recording of It Still Moves. And Johnny Quaid doesn't even have a bear gun.

Feel better?

[thebigbang]

Kind of a negative topic, don't you think?!

I'm not a huge fan of Old Semptember Blues, and I find the Take My Breath Away arrangement neither cool nor funny- but I'll pin that one on Berlin!

Run Thru is one of my favorites on that album!  It may have been one of the songs that originally attracted me to the band.

I think us fan boys and girls can get to gushing too much that we are not very objective at times. Rather than be negative, I thought it would be interesting to hear people talk about something other than "Oh, I just love . . ."

And to prove my point about not mirroring tastes, Old September Blues is one of my absolute favorites by the band, and Run Thru one of the least.  But we're both still fans of MMJ, right?

[SMc55]

And to prove my point about not mirroring tastes, Old September Blues is one of my absolute favorites by the band, and Run Thru one of the least.  But we're both still fans of MMJ, right?

Exactamundo!

There's really no need to get into the "shit-scared we might have said something that might conceivably be construed as less than 100% positive about the band" situation that we've been in in the past. We're all different - thank heavens.

[marktwain]

We're all different - thank heavens.

I'm not!

[EC]

Exactamundo!

There's really no need to get into the "shit-scared we might have said something that might conceivably be construed as less than 100% positive about the band" situation that we've been in in the past. We're all different - thank heavens.

No, and you're right.  Of course we all have opinions, and of course we're all welcome to them.  Aside from tundra, we all share different views on the world, and on the songs, and on everything.

But.  For one, focusing on things that we don't like is not an idea that makes me feel good.  It's not like this is a fan-based website.  This is the band's website.  They make it possible for us to hang out and chat about stuff.  And because of that, I guess I don't really feel like I want to talk about the songs that I don't like.

It's not like we're all robots, and clearly everyone is different.  (except tundra)  I don't know, wouldn't you feel like crap if you found out that you really hurt Jim's or any of their feelings or something?  

Look, I realize that I'm very sensitive.  But this band is extremely special for me, and that's why it makes me uncomfortable to see an entire thread made for the songs that we don't like.

I'm not the word here, and I'm certainly not going to say that this thread SHOULDN'T exist.  It's just my opinion about it in a world full of many.

So slag on!  ;)

[SMc55]

So slag on!  ;)

I don't think anybody's slagging anything. A few people are saying which songs they like slightly less than the others that's all. One of the band's great strengths for me is how eclectic their work is. The songs evoke so many different moods and feelings. It's almost inevitable that people will have preferences.

What makes me uncomfortable is people being worried about not toeing the party line.

[CC]

I really really don't like The Year In Review.
cause it's just way too fast!!!

[inertiatic_jpc]

I really really don't like The Year In Review.
cause it's just way too fast!!!

i know youre not being completely serious... i mean, thats hardly a song but more of a joke.  However,   i actually enjoy listening to that and figuring out what part of the song is playing

[SmoothOprtr]

 But we're both still fans of MMJ, right?

Absolutely!

[havibulin]

The album version of Run Thru does it absolutely no justice...but live...man that song played live makes my hair stand on end.

just my 2 cents.

[EC]

I don't think anybody's slagging anything. A few people are saying which songs they like slightly less than the others that's all. One of the band's great strengths for me is how eclectic their work is. The songs evoke so many different moods and feelings. It's almost inevitable that people will have preferences.

What makes me uncomfortable is people being worried about not toeing the party line.

I'm not disagreeing with that.  The slag line was a joke, because I was trying to be light.  

I'd also like to point out that just because someone is extremely enthusiastic about the band, does NOT mean that they're doing it to "toe" the party line.  It also wouldn't indicate any non-objectivity.  

All of the posts in this thread are interesting and valid, and some, like thebigbang's first post, are very clear, well thought-out and well-written.

Ach.  That's all I'm gonna say.  This is clearly not a thread I should be in, so I'll stay out of it.

[SMc55]

I think you've made my point. Somebody says something that other people see as possibly negative, and people get worried. I'm very enthusiastic about the band. Surely we all are. I just think people should be able to say how they feel without having to make excuses for themselves or being made to feel they've put their foot in it or worried thay might upset other members. I don't think I've ever said anything negative about the band. I don't have any negative things to say about the band, but I am interested in other people's point of view. Nobody would want to be part of this group if they thought that band were crap. It's just people offering their thoughts is all it is.

I'm not saying the people who enthuse about the band aren't objective. If they feel 100% enthusiastic they are being objective. I'm saying people who have another point of view should be able to express it without bad feeling.

This has happened before and I'm sick of it.