Gone is the magic surrounding the earlier albums. Gone is the reverb-drenched vocals and the slow-burn of songs about heartache. Gone are the cryptic lyrics that enveloped Jim's vision and created such an amazing and mystical atmosphere. It's like the more popular they get, the more boring the songs are. The lyrics on EU are kind of boring and so literal.
Granted, i'm still a huge fan and will buy EU anyway when it comes out in June...but I seem to get more disappointed with each new album. i realize they are striving to create new albums that don't repeat the previous one, and i applaud that. but don't give up on certain signature elements that separate you from the pack (ie, reverb). remember, jim once said A) reverb is the sixth member of the band and B) anything + reverb = better. i agreed with that whole-heartedly.
i think you can still make new sounding albums that don't repeat but still retain a couple key components that gained your fan base from the beginning. i guess i'm grateful for Band of Horses and Fleet Foxes for retaining those elements that sound so amazing. and i think Cease to Begin blows EU out of the water on several levels...and i thought i'd never say that in all my life.
Okay, now you all can spew your hatred and cuss words for the fact that i caved and listened to a leak and then wrote about my disappointment. don't get me wrong, i really like two thirds of the songs...just find them boring compared to everything else they've done til now.
and BTW, there's not 14 songs. the last track is a 4 second joke.
BUT! keep in mind............... the first time i ever listened to radiohead's In Rainbows.......... i disliked it more than i enjoyed it........ i was really disapointed and angered........ YET. I kept listening... and listening... and now i can honestly say its one of my favorite records of all time. It almost even beats OK COMP in my book....
I for one have no hatred toward you whatsoever but I would like to open this up to an honest and open heartfelt discussion.
You seem very passionate in your post and I think that is refreshing.
"It's like the more popular they get, the more boring the songs are."
I think it's tough to be really emotionally attached to a band and then see them Explode on the "scene" with a sound that is removed from what you fell in love with.
I think I've come to the realization that this record is a "tweener". Meaning it's going to alienate a bunch of longtime fans, and it's also going to catch a shit load of heat from people that are riding the sensational wave that has become MMJ's reputation, and are expecting to hear the best album of all time.
It's just a strange time.......I honestly don't think many people have sat down with this record and truly LISTENED to it. Still Everyone seems to be so quick to have an opinion one way or the other. What if this record is like a rollercoaster ride of bliss once you get past all of the bullshit and the last track isn't -a 4sec. joke-, but instead a pure jubilant celebration of the ride; the ups and the downs....the two halves....the right leg and the left leg.......the evil urges and the good intentions....all right down here with us.
and maybe the sound of there souls being taken.
yeah, that could go two ways to.
First off, it's nice to read some maturity in those responses, but then again we haven't yet heard from some of the nastier members yet.
Anyway, I for one know that this album will grow on me, as It Still Moves did. How i wasn't grabbed by Steam Engine until months later, i have no idea. it's now my favorite song by them.
And yes, In Rainbows has become my favorite R-head release now as well.
I would like to point out that by no means am I going to shelf EU or anything (the production quality is excellent). in fact, i'm sure i'll listen to it over and over for the next week or more. that's because i'm a diehard fan who will remain loyal.
I just hope some of the b-sides are better than Highly Suspicious (stupid song), as I thought Chills and How Could I Know were sadly omitted from Z. Nevertheless, i have them now and have inserted them into the tracklisting as they were intended to be at one time.
Lastly, i was really hoping for another Bermuda Highway, Golden, or Knot Comes Loose. Those dreamy ballads of Jim's remind me of what love and life is all about. and though i like the sound of Librarian, it just doesn't come close to those others and the lyrics are kind of tacky.
I've said my piece and don't think I'll be responding to any future posts here any more...so for those who may or may not bash me for having a leaked album, know this: the songs were sung at SXSW already, so there's no secret anymore. Especially since i and most of you have listened to them on NPR's website. And, I've already purchased my ticket to the Riverside show in Louisville in Aug. and have also spent hundreds of dollars on other MMJ concert tickets, paraphernalia, and multiple copies of released material. They're getting more and more rich from my (and all of your) money already, so I've justified my actions.
*steps off of soapbox*
8-)
thanks for your contribution, evan. I agree it's nice to be able to discuss the music here without be bombarded and raked across the coals. hopefully those peeps have calmed down and will allow us to have an open discussion. or maybe they haven't logged in yet. :-/
I also agree with some of your comments on the album. i posted my impressions in the spoiler thread. i hope it grows on me.
And I hope you stick around, evan! :)
Evanskickedhead is a huge fan with 2 posts? and 1 of them is to say how bad the leaked version of the new album is? And he wants to warn us about the responses from some of the nastier fans here? Huge fan who loves MMJ, and for all the years this forum has been active, decides to come tell us how bad the new album is?
not trying to step on toes, or defending MMJ and what not, but I don't get it. I am trying to see the bigger picture with threads like these from people with 2 posts, and I just don't get it. I guess this is what happens when the boys start making it.
It might be a little more difficult for some of the die hards here to lay off someone coming off the street to criticize the bands new album. But I may be wrong. Just seems like a bad move, IMO.
rock on
I must say it is a bit strange that you decided to make your very first post a negative one. I appriciate your opinion and all, but it's just not very credible. I guess it's pretty typical though, people seem to go out of there way to make a complaint, but rarely take the time out to praise something.
Having said that, I do hope evan sticks around and makes a few posts about something positive! Welcome. [smiley=beer.gif]
PS: Where do the Z B-sides go? I want to put mine on a copy too, but I didn't know there was a specific place for them.
i have not listened to the leaked album yet, but i have heard the free "Evil Urges" and the live versions played at SXSW.
honestly, the first time i listened to the album version of "Evil Urges" i did not like it one bit, but the more i listened to it the more i liked it. i have probably been listening to it 3-4 times a day.
Evan, i totally understand where you are coming from. after Z i anticipated this album was going to be their masterpiece...their "Sgt. Peppers" or "White Album." i think it has been tough for me to hear songs like "Highly Suspicious" when i was expecting another "One Big Holiday." however, like a previous poster said it is only natural for Jim to grow as an artist and a musician.
it is obvious Jim tried to get out of the southern-rock, alt-country, jam-band pigeonholes with these songs. he even said in the Rolling Stone interview he is "tired of rock sounds." i think we have to take this album as it is and embrace it for what it does and does not do. it does not recreate early MMJ (did we really want it to?), but it does build on the sonic splendor that was Z (at least from what i've heard in the live versions). it seems with this album Jim took a risk and probably said fu*k it...i'm gonna write the songs that i wanna write and i wanna write funk/gospel songs! so..we accept it for what is and enjoy it (or don't) and move on. the TN Fire, At Dawn, and ISM will always be there waiting for us to bring back memories of the "good ole days."
QuoteBUT! keep in mind............... the first time i ever listened to radiohead's In Rainbows.......... i disliked it more than i enjoyed it........ i was really disapointed and angered........ YET. I kept listening... and listening... and now i can honestly say its one of my favorite records of all time. It almost even beats OK COMP in my book....
i agree--In Rainbows does grow on you---now I can't stop listening
even if EU doesn't sound like the old ballads-i think it's good to hear a band mix is up, try new things, succeed, fail, etc...i know a couple people that jumped off the MMJ bandwagon after Z and for the life of me, i can't figure out why? what are they hearing or not hearing ? I think it was great that Fleetwood Mac made Tusk after Rumors---for a band to be stuck in one place, in the place that made them popular is kind of sad to me...
I'm on about 20 listens and its unlike any sound my ears have heard. I went from excitement -->questioning -->understanding --> slight disappointment-->acceptance --> holy sh!t these songs will be awesome live--> total bliss
love this album, impossible to categorize and I absolutely understand that it won't please die hard fans of previous albums. Isn't that typical of any band that keeps changing and pushing themselves musically? Their time with Dylan was time well spent, since they are really trying to reach their upper limits and experimenting. Long time Dylan fans know that he always pissed people off by constant change.
Stick with them, appreciate what they are trying to do and REALLY listen. The disappointment will fade. If not, I can respect that.....just keep the curiosity and see them live, see how these songs fit and try and get into what they are doing now.
I used to debate music more. Now I realize most musicians are making music they want to make with the hope that a few people out there, "get" them. I am happy to feel like I "get" them and look forward to everything that MMJ has in store for us, no matter how strange or foreign it may be at first. Love this band.
excerpts from new Rolling Stone article:
And if their music is increasingly hard to categorize, that's the point, according to frontman Jim James. "People looked at Radiohead when they started, and were like, 'Oh, Brit-pop rock band,'" says James. "Now they're just fucking awesome, awesome weirdos. You can't put a label on them, and that's what I hope has been happening with us. Whether you love us or hate us, we're not any one type of band."
"I've gotten tired of normal rock & roll sounds," says James. "My ultimate goal is to hopefully turn people on to different types of music."
QuoteEvanskickedhead is a huge fan with 2 posts? and 1 of them is to say how bad the leaked version of the new album is? And he wants to warn us about the responses from some of the nastier fans here? Huge fan who loves MMJ, and for all the years this forum has been active, decides to come tell us how bad the new album is?
not trying to step on toes, or defending MMJ and what not, but I don't get it. I am trying to see the bigger picture with threads like these from people with 2 posts, and I just don't get it. I guess this is what happens when the boys start making it.
It might be a little more difficult for some of the die hards here to lay off someone coming off the street to criticize the bands new album. But I may be wrong. Just seems like a bad move, IMO.
rock on
Seriously? You really think that how much time one spends on an internet message board and how many posts they have defines how big of a fan they are? Or justifies there opinion on the band music. If anything it shows how little of a life you have....Trust me, there are "die-hards " out there that have never even glanced at this forum.
Quote
QuoteEvanskickedhead is a huge fan with 2 posts? and 1 of them is to say how bad the leaked version of the new album is? And he wants to warn us about the responses from some of the nastier fans here? Huge fan who loves MMJ, and for all the years this forum has been active, decides to come tell us how bad the new album is?
not trying to step on toes, or defending MMJ and what not, but I don't get it. I am trying to see the bigger picture with threads like these from people with 2 posts, and I just don't get it. I guess this is what happens when the boys start making it.
It might be a little more difficult for some of the die hards here to lay off someone coming off the street to criticize the bands new album. But I may be wrong. Just seems like a bad move, IMO.
rock on
Seriously? You really think that how much time one spends on an internet message board and how many posts they have defines how big of a fan they are? Or justifies there opinion on the band music. If anything it shows how little of a life you have....Trust me, there are "die-hards " out there that have never even glanced at this forum.
That is sooo very true. And we need to remember that. However, how many of those diehards, that have
never come to the forum, just woke up one day and said, you know, I'm not a big fan of this album, that I just illegally downloaded, I think I'm going to visit the bands forum for the first time ever!!! and tell everyone how dissapointed I am.
QuoteGone is the magic surrounding the earlier albums. Gone is the reverb-drenched vocals and the slow-burn of songs about heartache. Gone are the cryptic lyrics that enveloped Jim's vision and created such an amazing and mystical atmosphere. It's like the more popular they get, the more boring the songs are. The lyrics on EU are kind of boring and so literal.
Granted, i'm still a huge fan and will buy EU anyway when it comes out in June...but I seem to get more disappointed with each new album. i realize they are striving to create new albums that don't repeat the previous one, and i applaud that. but don't give up on certain signature elements that separate you from the pack (ie, reverb). remember, jim once said A) reverb is the sixth member of the band and B) anything + reverb = better. i agreed with that whole-heartedly.
i think you can still make new sounding albums that don't repeat but still retain a couple key components that gained your fan base from the beginning. i guess i'm grateful for Band of Horses and Fleet Foxes for retaining those elements that sound so amazing. and i think Cease to Begin blows EU out of the water on several levels...and i thought i'd never say that in all my life.
Okay, now you all can spew your hatred and cuss words for the fact that i caved and listened to a leak and then wrote about my disappointment. don't get me wrong, i really like two thirds of the songs...just find them boring compared to everything else they've done til now.
and BTW, there's not 14 songs. the last track is a 4 second joke.
i like both bands, but i dont think the Band of Horses and Fleet Foxes comparisons are fair -- i think Cease to Begin is just the 2nd LP from BOH and Fleet Foxes is the first full-length from Fleet Foxes. so when talking about retaining elements from earlier albums, the valid comparison for MMJ would be At Dawn compared to TTF, not EU compared to all 4 previous albums...anyway i havent listened to any leaked EU yet so i dont know what it sounds like as an album but i know it will grow on me just like the rest of them did. when Z came out i really started to appreciate the growth of MMJ, and that comes through a lot in the lyrics of Z as well as the 'space rock' sounds. the fact that i was pretty heavily immersed in their earlier stuff was what allowed me to appreciate that growth. i'm sure a ton of people loved Z for itself, but die-hard fans got a lot more out of it because the die-hards know where they came from.
also wouldn't it be kind of depressing if MMJ made 5 albums in a row of heartache and cryptic lyrics enveloping jim's vision? i dont pretend to know what jim's vision is but it would be kind of depressing to me if that vision didn't change over 9 years...
I'm all for open discussions on whether we like this album or not but I do have to say I think it's really f-ed up there's citiques on it almost 2 months before it comes out. If you don't like it that's fine but shouldn't we wait until after June 10th to give our opinions? I think that's more than fair to the band.
I got to hear 10 of the new tunes at 3 shows during SXSW. for some reason they just clicked with me. i usually don't like hearing songs live for the first time but these blew me over...to the point that they stayed with me longer than the old faves. it surprises me that it has to grow on people but i've been there with other bands myself.
QuoteI'm all for open discussions on whether we like this album or not but I do have to say I think it's really f-ed up there's citiques on it almost 2 months before it comes out. If you don't like it that's fine but shouldn't we wait until after June 10th to give our opinions? I think that's more than fair to the band.
I kinda agree...however, this "unfinished" version is pretty much finished. It doesn't really matter though....the people who are not digging the new sound will come around soon enough. I'm personally in love with the new album. Even the songs that sounded out of place (pt. 1 and two halves) are growing on me.
QuoteQuote
QuoteEvanskickedhead is a huge fan with 2 posts? and 1 of them is to say how bad the leaked version of the new album is? And he wants to warn us about the responses from some of the nastier fans here? Huge fan who loves MMJ, and for all the years this forum has been active, decides to come tell us how bad the new album is?
not trying to step on toes, or defending MMJ and what not, but I don't get it. I am trying to see the bigger picture with threads like these from people with 2 posts, and I just don't get it. I guess this is what happens when the boys start making it.
It might be a little more difficult for some of the die hards here to lay off someone coming off the street to criticize the bands new album. But I may be wrong. Just seems like a bad move, IMO.
rock on
Seriously? You really think that how much time one spends on an internet message board and how many posts they have defines how big of a fan they are? Or justifies there opinion on the band music. If anything it shows how little of a life you have....Trust me, there are "die-hards " out there that have never even glanced at this forum.
That is sooo very true. And we need to remember that. However, how many of those diehards, that have never come to the forum, just woke up one day and said, you know, I'm not a big fan of this album, that I just illegally downloaded, I think I'm going to visit the bands forum for the first time ever!!! and tell everyone how dissapointed I am.
Thanks for considering and understanding my sentiments. I am trying to keep my comments above the belt and not say things like "get a life" (plus, by saying this, you insult all the other people here who have more posts than me, or close).
I am a huge WILCO fan and never went to their message board, so, I guess I still do have a life? And, I didn't really like Sky Blue Sky and I had enough courtesy not to go to a WILCO board and post how I didn't like it and then expect people to embrace me.
seems like an odd request
QuoteFirst off, it's nice to read some maturity in those responses, but then again we haven't yet heard from some of the nastier members yet.
Who are the nastier members? That's a great name for a punk band - The Nasty Members. Miss Jackson if you're nasty.
just pretend it's a live album. :D
QuoteGone is the magic surrounding the earlier albums. Gone is the reverb-drenched vocals and the slow-burn of songs about heartache. Gone are the cryptic lyrics that enveloped Jim's vision and created such an amazing and mystical atmosphere.
I appreciate your thoughtful post and I share some of your sentiments. We must consider, however, that Jim is probably in a much different frame of mind these days than when he wrote At Dawn and It Still Moves. Change is inevitable; you just hope it's in a direction you'd like to follow. I feel positive energy in this album, like he's trying to cast love and warmth into the ears of his listeners. Sure, "Two Halves" sounds contrived, and "Look at You" may come close, although I the latter sounds much more genuine. The latter actually reminds me of how I felt when the band played "A Quick One" at Bonnaroo '06 ... "You are forgiven, you are forgiven ... You're all forgiven!" It's such a personal message, and no doubt a heartfelt one.
Emotion-laden songs often sound contrived, but when they're done right, they have depth that radio music simply doesn't approach. While I'd say Jim was the master of the 'slow-burn songs of heartache' through the earlier albums, he seems to be moving in a different direction, and that's probably a good thing for him. Z maintained the dreamy, cryptic lyrics, but was clearly moving in a more experimental direction. I thought Z was a spectacular album. Dondante was unlike anything they'd done, but it is one of my favorite MMJ songs. What I have loved about this band is that their music seems to radiate from the soul ... so much pure, unadulterated emotion. At this point, I feel like a significant number of tracks on this album feel a little flat. However, that does not at all mean I don't think they added a number of solid additions to the repertoire. Maybe all it will take is another 20 listens.
In my humble opinion, the songs "Evil Urges", "Highly Suspicious", and "Aluminum Park" are not terribly impressive. They might be fun to hear live, but they feel kind of empty, like generic rock songs. I'm sure many will disagree with me here, but remember mine is just one insignificant opinion. All that really matters is your own. I wouldn't have been a fan of "Off the Record" if it hadn't been for the cosmic, Floyd-like second half of the song. And I thought "Wonderful Man" was mediocre when compared to the other amazing songs like "Gideon", "Dondante", and "Wordless Chorus" ... so my opinions of the aforementioned EU songs could be different purely because of my personal musical tastes.
"Touch Me" Pt. 1 & 2 remind me of the parts of Z that I love ...absolutely fantastic stuff there. "Thank You Too" and "Smokin' From Shootin'" are excellent songs as well, but won't quite break into the class of exceptionally beautiful songs that come to mind when someone asks for my all time MMJ favorites. "Remnants" is interesting, like a strange combination of Mars Volta and Pearl Jam ... very different for MMJ, but I think this one will be incredible live. "Librarian" is different in that its lyrics are more literal than any of his previous songs, but I absolutely love the vivid fairytale atmosphere. And the strings!!! ... need I say more?! This is the pinnacle of the new album. If there were a new direction I would love to see the band pursue, it would be in the vein of "Where to Begin." However, since it is out of my control, I will be content to watch, hoping that they err away from the generic rock sound that seeped into this album.
Although the album as a whole is not my favorite, I still feel incredibly fortunate to be graced by the magic of MMJ once again. No album as diverse as this one could please every fan start to finish. It's simply going in too many directions. Luckily, there's probably something for everyone.
MMJ is still my #1 favorite band. :)
Edited: A few more listens was enough to convince me that "I'm Amazed" was awesome and I just hadn't realized it. :)
QuoteThey're getting more and more rich from my (and all of your) money already...
rich? HA! that is rich!
Rich? maybe not so much...but hey, I'm just saying that I'm still contributing to the band financially...because as i had said already, i'm buying the cd (and probably the vinyl) when it comes out.
To those of you think this is my first post...search under the Steam Engine lyrical discussion. perhaps you'll change your mind (a little) about my credibility for few posts. besides, as someone else accurately pointed out, i have a full time job, just finished a graduate degree, and volunteer on weekends and basically have had little time for recreational things. i'd like to confess that i only looked into this forum as of last summer. frankly, after reading the posts and topics, i've never felt compelled to write based on the banter that seemed to go nowhere about silly things (at times). it wasn't until i felt so strongly about the beauty of Steam Engine and other songs like By My Car...and the live Acoustic LP that i thought everyone should own.
i didn't know measuring the love someone has for an artist is accomplished by their number of posts that everyone but the band probably reads.
sorry i gave my premature opinion on an album that isn't officially released...but isn't that just a matter of production and subsequent marketing and music label requirements? i mean, one point of waiting for a release date is to build anticipation for a new album...and you'd be a fool if you didn't think i'm going to be first in line on June 10th.
I was merely opening a discussion on this piece at this point in time compared to the others. and i agree with many responses that it is good Jim's evolving...i just really fell in love with his voice under reverb effects. so shoot me.
QuoteRich? maybe not so much...but hey, I'm just saying that I'm still contributing to the band financially...because as i had said already, i'm buying the cd (and probably the vinyl) when it comes out.
To those of you think this is my first post...search under the Steam Engine lyrical discussion. perhaps you'll change your mind (a little) about my credibility for few posts. besides, as someone else accurately pointed out, i have a full time job, just finished a graduate degree, and volunteer on weekends and basically have had little time for recreational things. i'd like to confess that i only looked into this forum as of last summer. frankly, after reading the posts and topics, i've never felt compelled to write based on the banter that seemed to go nowhere about silly things (at times). it wasn't until i felt so strongly about the beauty of Steam Engine and other songs like By My Car...and the live Acoustic LP that i thought everyone should own.
i didn't know measuring the love someone has for an artist is accomplished by their number of posts that everyone but the band probably reads.
sorry i gave my premature opinion on an album that isn't officially released...but isn't that just a matter of production and subsequent marketing and music label requirements? i mean, one point of waiting for a release date is to build anticipation for a new album...and you'd be a fool if you didn't think i'm going to be first in line on June 10th.
I was merely opening a discussion on this piece at this point in time compared to the others. and i agree with many responses that it is good Jim's evolving...i just really fell in love with his voice under reverb effects. so shoot me.
Don't worry about folks around here E. There are plenty of people, like myself, that appreciate well thought out posts like yours, whether or not they're in favor of this or any MMJ release. This forum is a better place because of differing points of view, IMO. Don't take anything personally - some people have been running a little hot lately with all the commotion.
(Aside: I'm lovin' all the shit that's flying back and forth! It just makes the anticipation that much greater!)
Ef that. This one is so complex. It will keep you engaged forever. Great influences and traipses along the edge are what it is made of. I can't wait to buy the vinyl.
Think Jerry Garcia plays R&B with plenty of falsetto. Love the new wave and glitch/minimalist vibes too.
QuoteEf that. This one is so complex. It will keep you engaged forever. Great influences and traipses along the edge are what it is made of. I can't wait to buy the vinyl.
Think Jerry Garcia plays R&B with plenty of falsetto. Love the new wave and glitch/minimalist vibes too.
AGREED.
HOW CAN YOU DISLIKE THIS ALBUM????? IT IS MMJ ON DRUGS!!!!!! Rockin, spiritual, heartfelt, diverse, fun....come one people! I love every MMJ album, and this one brings something new to the table.
(http://img100.exs.cx/img100/4372/CELINE_DION_MIRACLE-8.jpg)
Okay that picture of Celine and baby is just plain weird. Could they actually get a baby to sleep like that at the tips of the mom's fingers? Really. Could they? Plus, what exactly is the message there? My top is so white, please don't crap on it? I just don't get it.
Well done Tracy.
(http://img100.exs.cx/img100/156/CELINE_DION_MIRACLE-24.jpg)
It RULES! ;D
First off: I haven't heard the leak yet (and I probably won't), but I've loved the two official songs I've heard.
I really just want to caution people against judging "art" (kind of pretentious, I know) quickly. Just give it time to sink in and be processed. And if I may extend the Radiohead analogies: Kid A was anticipated in a way similar to EU, and who "got" that on first listen?
I have to say that I'm a bit disappointed in EU. I support Jim and the boys following the musical direction that they feel, but upon first listen last night, I was pretty bummed. Trust me - I LOVE the Jacket. Hopefully the new album will grow on me, but I have to admit that I'm already looking forward to their next release, hoping that it's a lot more organic and less "Prince-ish".
This is ironic because I had no problems as Wilco went from AM to A Ghost is Born.
QuoteI have to say that I'm a bit disappointed in EU. I support Jim and the boys following the musical direction that they feel, but upon first listen last night, I was pretty bummed. Trust me - I LOVE the Jacket. Hopefully the new album will grow on me, but I have to admit that I'm already looking forward to their next release, hoping that it's a lot more organic and less "Prince-ish".
This is ironic because I had no problems as Wilco went from AM to A Ghost is Born.
Out of fairness, could you give it more than one listen before you express your disappointment?
QuoteQuoteI have to say that I'm a bit disappointed in EU. I support Jim and the boys following the musical direction that they feel, but upon first listen last night, I was pretty bummed. Trust me - I LOVE the Jacket. Hopefully the new album will grow on me, but I have to admit that I'm already looking forward to their next release, hoping that it's a lot more organic and less "Prince-ish".
This is ironic because I had no problems as Wilco went from AM to A Ghost is Born.
Out of fairness, could you give it more than one listen before you express your disappointment?
I definitely plan to, though none of the other albums (I discovered MMJ during
It Still Moves) required more than the initial listen for me to say, "Yeah!". And I'll buy it when it comes out because I love the band and ethically, it's the right thing to do since I dl'd it. In fact, I'm about to play it now at work :)
I think the music itself is disappointing, not necessarily their intentions. It feels like MMJ is breaking the credo I love so much in "Wordless Chorus" - "we are the innovators/they are the imitators..."
...On EU, MMJ is doing a lot of mimicry. "Highly Suspicious" is a clear reference to Prince or Rick James, "Two Halves" is straight out of 1964 Ronettes record, and "Remnants" sounds like a sub-par Pearl Jam cut from Vs. I love and appreciate the band's willingness to try new things - they have my complete respect - but what I loved so much about MMJ is that they are so unique, even if you can see a direct line between their songs and the American tradition. No band sounds like MMJ did on "At Dawn," "It Still Moves," or "Z." I feel like that singularity is lost in EU because Jim James and company are trying too hard to distance themselves from their past sound, but the past sound is what made this group MMJ in the first place.
Does that make any sense?
QuoteI think the music itself is disappointing, not necessarily their intentions. It feels like MMJ is breaking the credo I love so much in "Wordless Chorus" - "we are the innovators/they are the imitators..."
...On EU, MMJ is doing a lot of mimicry. "Highly Suspicious" is a clear reference to Prince or Rick James, "Two Halves" is straight out of 1964 Ronettes record, and "Remnants" sounds like a sub-par Pearl Jam cut from Vs. I love and appreciate the band's willingness to try new things - they have my complete respect - but what I loved so much about MMJ is that they are so unique, even if you can see a direct line between their songs and the American tradition. No band sounds like MMJ did on "At Dawn," "It Still Moves," or "Z." I feel like that singularity is lost in EU because Jim James and company are trying too hard to distance themselves from their past sound, but the past sound is what made this group MMJ in the first place.
Does that make any sense?
I don't think mimicry is the right word, but I definitely hear influences. And, while I like every song on the album (a lot), the songs you mentioned are not the stand outs in my opinion.
Why is it like Prince? High pitch voice?
QuoteWhy is it like Prince? High pitch voice?
It's like Prince because everyone, for some reason, has to constantly compare music to others. Someone else was complimenting the album but said "think Jerry Garcia does R&B". There is R&B all over this thing but why not say "think MMJ does R&B."
AM to A Ghost Is Born?
those 2 records were 9 years apart. little different.
QuoteAM to A Ghost Is Born?
those 2 records were 9 years apart. little different.
Yeah, no kidding. I was talking about the progression from AM to Being There to Summerteeth to Yankee Hotel Foxtrot to A Ghost is Born.
To answer AngryEwok, I say Prince because of the vocal delivery and danceable beats. And to Jon, life is full of comparisons. I'm not sure how that's an issue. If the comparison is made in a positive light, then I suppose that's better.
Quoteso..we accept it for what is and enjoy it (or don't) and move on. the TN Fire, At Dawn, and ISM will always be there waiting for us to bring back memories of the "good ole days."
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Has it started to grow on anyone that was previously disappointed?
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To answer AngryEwok, I say Prince because of the vocal delivery and danceable beats.
So like Michael Jackson...?
Or Justin Timberlake?
Think Jerry Garcia does an album of Justin Timberlake covers while tripping on some seriously rondo acid?
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Think Jerry Garcia plays R&B
If you've ever heard the JGB then you don't have to imagine this.
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It's like Prince because everyone, for some reason, has to constantly compare music to others. Someone else was complimenting the album but said "think Jerry Garcia does R&B". There is R&B all over this thing but why not say "think MMJ does R&B."
This album is fully MMJ. That's why I said they traipse along the edge. They are really pushing the envelope with this one. That is why it is so confusing on your first listen - you've never heard anything like it. But, then, that is why you love it... because there is nothing else like it. Every band has influences.
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Think Jerry Garcia plays R&B with plenty of falsetto.
If you've ever heard the JGB then you don't have to imagine this.
Yeah, but you DO have to imagine Jerry singing falsetto. He didn't do much of that while pumping out R&B grooves.
QuoteI think the music itself is disappointing, not necessarily their intentions. It feels like MMJ is breaking the credo I love so much in "Wordless Chorus" - "we are the innovators/they are the imitators..."
...On EU, MMJ is doing a lot of mimicry. "Highly Suspicious" is a clear reference to Prince or Rick James, "Two Halves" is straight out of 1964 Ronettes record, and "Remnants" sounds like a sub-par Pearl Jam cut from Vs. I love and appreciate the band's willingness to try new things - they have my complete respect - but what I loved so much about MMJ is that they are so unique, even if you can see a direct line between their songs and the American tradition. No band sounds like MMJ did on "At Dawn," "It Still Moves," or "Z." I feel like that singularity is lost in EU because Jim James and company are trying too hard to distance themselves from their past sound, but the past sound is what made this group MMJ in the first place.
Does that make any sense?
im pretty certain when jim sat down and wrote these songs he wasnt plotting out what artists he could make the song sound like....just a hunch
evan's right.
i consider myself a big fan but i guess it doesn't count because i don't spend all day on the boards racking up posts.
i gave this shit up years ago because of people like tracy (you're a dumbass). i will admit i do cruise by once in a while to hit up the gossip, but shit, this is insane.
beginning and end are awesome. middle is a little light, mostly throwaways. BUT could grow on me.
to bad i don't have a 1000 posts. poor me, no one will think i'm message board cool, or listen to me. and the band, THE BAND, will know. they will. Guess i won't get the MMJ gold medal for best fan. Because, you know, that shit does exist. it's real. they care how many posts you have.
Goddammit, i gotta leave now. stupid fucking people piss me off.
I apologize for being a dumb ass
sorry
Quoteevan's right.
i consider myself a big fan but i guess it doesn't count because i don't spend all day on the boards racking up posts.
i gave this shit up years ago because of people like tracy (you're a dumbass). i will admit i do cruise by once in a while to hit up the gossip, but shit, this is insane.
beginning and end are awesome. middle is a little light, mostly throwaways. BUT could grow on me.
to bad i don't have a 1000 posts. poor me, no one will think i'm message board cool, or listen to me. and the band, THE BAND, will know. they will. Guess i won't get the MMJ gold medal for best fan. Because, you know, that shit does exist. it's real. they care how many posts you have.
Goddammit, i gotta leave now. stupid fucking people piss me off.
duuuuude. just, dude.
easy.
Everyone is entitled to their opinions. No need to piss all over someone.
I was initially confused by the new material too. I havent yet listened to the studio version besides what has been released. But from what Ive heard live Im becoming eager to see how it will grow on me. Z took time for me to understand, and I imagine EU will be the same.
But i still have a hard time refraining from laughter everytime I hear Highly Suspicious.
Wait, Cease to Begin isn't even close to Evil Urges!
have alot of people heard other tunes besides the title track?
I'm absolutely obsessed with this new tune. I'm a long time fan (well, about 4 years), and I'm thrilled with their sound. This song is so sick...
yes alot of people have heard the new cd....it leaked already....
i can't really get into Evil Urges. i want to like it. i guess i'll just have to wait for the next album.