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#1

The Music / Re: NEW ALBUM IS IN MASTERING ...

Last post by Mr. White - Yesterday at 09:16 PM

This reminds me of a combination of Brian Wilson's "I Just Wasn't Made for These Times" and something that the students from Young Authors Greenhouse would write. I think that Jim's Goethe-inspired reference to music being the architecture of the universe, and the thoughts that followed, were much more eloquent.

Personally, I think that maybe Jim is somewhere between Bob Marley and Alice Coltrane in his path right now...and what I mean by that is that he is somewhere between trying to convey a complex message in a simple way, and trying to transcend words altogether. Rick Rubin and Andre 3000 talk a lot about this in the creative process. In the past, I think Jim used his probative nature to mine the abstractions, so songs were mysterious and open to interpretation. That isn't necessarily who he is now/where he is at/what he is interested in/the message he feels is important. He (and Bo) are trying to move into more literal spaces.
Just because it isn't there yet, doesn't mean it won't get there. That is the artistic process we are all witnessing. Sometimes it feels cheesy and contrived to push in to new territories. Fake it til you make it.

Maybe... this is because a truly political message must be beyond politics to feel authentic...it has to strike at the heart of the human experience, not lofty ambition. The dreamer needs a plan. The poet needs to connect to the heartbeat of the streets. Alice was from Detroit. Bob grew up in Kingston.

But this is simply the opinion of a person who will never vote for one of the two major parties, and who lives in the middle-of-nowhere America.

#2

The Music / Re: NEW ALBUM IS IN MASTERING ...

Last post by walterfredo - Yesterday at 08:30 PM

beach boys-y sound/vibe with a classic Jim message. But yes I agree with what's been said above.

#3

The Music / Re: NEW ALBUM IS IN MASTERING ...

Last post by RobRoy286 - Yesterday at 05:08 PM

It's getting to the point where I could write an MMJ song.  Instead of making songs with generic "let's all get together and love" messages that are just vehicles for live jam sessions, I want some songs that actually make me feel something...not tell me to feel something.  Self titled had a few great tunes, but if this is indicative of what album 10 will be, I'm worried.

The more you give, the more you get...

Haha, I feel so bad and my message above came across as super mean.  In the age of Trump I do love songs with a positive message, but songs like Love x 3, In Color, and this just don't do it for me.  I feel like Eternally Even had the same subject matter but did it in a more interesting way.  Looks like it is confirmed as a stand-alone single, so I'll relax, but I just am ready to love an MMJ release again.

Hahah nah I totally agreed with you! Although I do love In Color. This new one does nothin for me.

#4

The Music / Re: NEW ALBUM IS IN MASTERING ...

Last post by MusicofMyMindfulness - Yesterday at 02:59 PM

This reminds me of a combination of Brian Wilson's "I Just Wasn't Made for These Times" and something that the students from Young Authors Greenhouse would write. I think that Jim's Goethe-inspired reference to music being the architecture of the universe, and the thoughts that followed, were much more eloquent.

Personally, I think that maybe Jim is somewhere between Bob Marley and Alice Coltrane in his path right now...and what I mean by that is that he is somewhere between trying to convey a complex message in a simple way, and trying to transcend words altogether. Rick Rubin and Andre 3000 talk a lot about this in the creative process. In the past, I think Jim used his probative nature to mine the abstractions, so songs were mysterious and open to interpretation. That isn't necessarily who he is now/where he is at/what he is interested in/the message he feels is important. He (and Bo) are trying to move into more literal spaces.
Just because it isn't there yet, doesn't mean it won't get there. That is the artistic process we are all witnessing. Sometimes it feels cheesy and contrived to push in to new territories. Fake it til you make it.

Maybe... this is because a truly political message must be beyond politics to feel authentic...it has to strike at the heart of the human experience, not lofty ambition. The dreamer needs a plan. The poet needs to connect to the heartbeat of the streets. Alice was from Detroit. Bob grew up in Kingston.

But this is simply the opinion of a person who will never vote for one of the two major parties, and who lives in the middle-of-nowhere America.

#5

The Music / Re: NEW ALBUM IS IN MASTERING ...

Last post by Nikkogino - Yesterday at 02:50 PM

It's getting to the point where I could write an MMJ song.  Instead of making songs with generic "let's all get together and love" messages that are just vehicles for live jam sessions, I want some songs that actually make me feel something...not tell me to feel something.  Self titled had a few great tunes, but if this is indicative of what album 10 will be, I'm worried.

The more you give, the more you get...

Haha, I feel so bad and my message above came across as super mean.  In the age of Trump I do love songs with a positive message, but songs like Love x 3, In Color, and this just don't do it for me.  I feel like Eternally Even had the same subject matter but did it in a more interesting way.  Looks like it is confirmed as a stand-alone single, so I'll relax, but I just am ready to love an MMJ release again.

#6

The Music / Re: NEW ALBUM IS IN MASTERING ...

Last post by RobRoy286 - Yesterday at 12:48 PM

It's getting to the point where I could write an MMJ song.  Instead of making songs with generic "let's all get together and love" messages that are just vehicles for live jam sessions, I want some songs that actually make me feel something...not tell me to feel something.  Self titled had a few great tunes, but if this is indicative of what album 10 will be, I'm worried.

The more you give, the more you get...

#7

The Music / Re: NEW ALBUM IS IN MASTERING ...

Last post by Nikkogino - Yesterday at 12:15 PM

It's getting to the point where I could write an MMJ song.  Instead of making songs with generic "let's all get together and love" messages that are just vehicles for live jam sessions, I want some songs that actually make me feel something...not tell me to feel something.  Self titled had a few great tunes, but if this is indicative of what album 10 will be, I'm worried.

#8

The Music / Re: NEW ALBUM IS IN MASTERING ...

Last post by RobRoy286 - Yesterday at 11:14 AM

agreed, i love jim's positivity and speaking out but when the majority of their songs are now all about it it's getting a little stale to me. Seems like an easy way out of songwriting

Yup exactly. Just kinda tired of the preachy stuff. I'm totally on Jim's side in worldview, politics, etc, but these songs are just unoriginal and getting kinda old. Hope the new album has songs that explore other topics.

#9

The Music / Re: NEW ALBUM IS IN MASTERING ...

Last post by MMJTX - Yesterday at 09:55 AM

agreed, i love jim's positivity and speaking out but when the majority of their songs are now all about it it's getting a little stale to me. Seems like an easy way out of songwriting

#10

The Band / Carl Broemel | Cultural Manife...

Last post by CC - Yesterday at 08:55 AM

"This week on Cultural Manifesto, hear Broemel discuss his roots in the Indianapolis music scene."