Interesting. Someone still needs to send me the album on aim.

From the live version that I heard, Love Shines may has decent radio potential and it sounds like a Pop song. The River WILL be a hit and Mystery should make a great second single. I'll have to hear the whole album before I comment on other singles, though.

Great post, man. I couldn't agree with you more. I spend most of my time seeing jam bands. I had the chance to talk to Chad T. about this once, and I don't think its something they will ever do.

As it has been mentioned, they are comfortable with where they are. They don't need to challenge themselves if they don't want to. It'd sure be nice, but they have lives, families, etc.. , and what they do now isn't necessarily broken.

I'm so on your train though, it would be my dream to see Vic Chestnutt come on stage and do a 20 minute Supernatural with them

What kind of artist ever reaches a point where they no longer desire to improve? Challenging yourself is what makes you an artist. Sounds to me like they've just lost their passion to create.

I guess it differs with each person. They have done a lot in the last 15 years, and have put out a lot of music to be proud of. Some, maybe not so proud But - they are older, and all have young children that not only want to be around, but are influenced by. I think that alone explains the sweeter, softer Ed, no?

Of course. As I've said, I don't mind the change in tone, I mind the change in effort. They don't seem to be trying to write good music anymore. Write happy songs, there's nothing wrong with that. There is, however, something wrong with writing nothing but the simplest bullshit ever. You can always find ways to add undertones of fear or insecurity, even to the happiest of songs. You can find creative ways of expressing the happiness that you feel. Shit, why don't they write a fucking instrumental song? Why don't they write an expansive track that begins hesitant and fearful, but concludes with huge, powerful, moving, positive chords? It's not really that difficult. They just don't seem to be trying anymore, and as an artist, that bothers me quite a bit.

Who says they are not challenging themselves? It isn't easy to make music that is marketable to the general population. How many bands get stuck in a time warp with their sound and just fade away. Throwing Copper was an alternative album that became famous based on a POP songs performance on the charts. Songs from Black Mountain is a different sounding POP album over 10 years later that has good songs with serious radio potential. Everyone may not like the new sound, but not everyone liked the old sound either. Songs from Black Mountain has as much/if not more appeal as Throwing Copper did depending on what audience you are trying to reach.

If it wan't challenging to make a good album with songs of mass appeal, every artist would have one. That just isn't the case.

This post has been edited by SJN1279: Mar 3 2006, 12:04 pm

lol.

Writing shit that people will like is easy as fuck. Look at "my humps", that fucking bananas song by gwen stefani, good charlotte, etc. The only difficulty is getting the financial support from a major record label to have enough marketing to get popular. That artistic effort itself is pretty fucking low. You obviously know jack fucking shit about music, so you should probably just stfu already. Sitting down and saying "ok, I'm gonna write songs that will get played on the radio and that the general public will like" is not a way of challenging yourself as a musician.


Now, if they were to get together and try to make an album that would both be radio friendly and challenge radio listeners (as I understand mike patton is attempting to do with his peeping tom project)...that could be a difficult task. However, I don't have any reason to believe that anything creative/complex/challening occurs anywhere on this album.

Exactly. Performing shit the masses will love IS easy. All you have to be is physically attractive. See McPheezy's previous post for some good examples. This is the music world where Jennifer Lopez can have a top-selling album. Although, I DO think she sang a note in tune once.

If you want to see how fucked up the music world is, just look at the majority of top-selling artists the last few years. Then, travel to New Orleans and listen to the countless musicians there who don't even make enough money to afford proper instruments. When I was on tour down there, I heard cats that would blow your mind. Half these guys can hear stuff once and play it back note-perfect without ever having a lesson in their lives. I have to listen with a different ear when I listen to pop and rock. McPheezy made a good point about liking something, but being able to understand its place objectively.

It is not easy to be a productive band make good music for over a decade. And it was so easy to make a hit album, where are Pheezy's gold records?

This is kind of what I was getting at in the first place. I will listen to the music whether it's considered shitty or not. If i like it, I'll listen to it. And you are absolutely right that people shouldn't be "afraid" to admit that they listen to music that other people think is crap. Hell, if you think most of Live's music is crap, that sure as hell won't stop me from listening to it.

I've been a fan of LIVE for about 7 years and over those years I have seen them adapt there sound. Although nothing compares to Throwing Copper, I feel that all the albums that they have put out after that have been just as strong and all have had songs on them that could potentially be hits. Also, for those of you who are complaining about how the music has become poppy and doesnt sound like Live, give them a break. I work in the industry and in my opinion it is honorable for an artist to experiment and change there sound. I don't think LIVE changed there sound to appeal to a new audience, but where they are in their lives is different then in the Throwing Copper era. Back then they were still kids who had nothing to lose and who wanted to get a point across. Today, they all have families and are happy with their lives. There sound has changed with every album. Mental Jewlery and Throwing Copper are complete opposites and Secret Samadhi was the heaviest they have ever been. TDTH is completly different too and V was a whole new level of creativity. BOP was a nice attempt to bring back the old days but it didnt work. LIVE is not going to make another Throwing Copper. It just isnt feasible and most likely wouldnt work. Pearl Jam was not able to make another Ten. Truthfully, I am looking foward to the new album. They have a new sound and a new approach to writing music and so far I like what I am hearing. So please stop living in the past and attempt to recieve this album with open arms. LIVE hasnt let me down yet and I dont think they will with Songs From Black Mountain.

i could use a copy myself.

regardless of my prior bitching, i'll be buying it, but hell, i'd love to hear the damned thing early.

I agree

That's too big a block of continous text. I can't read that. Write shorter.