Is Live a gimmick band? Options

[Pokey]

I was thinking about this before .. I don't really count pre TDTH Live and post TDTH Live as the same band .. so I'm talking about the year 2000 onwards .. has Live become a bit of a gimmick bands?
"Here comes Lordi, they wear monster suits!" "Here come Live, they sing about Love and Water!"

To me it sort of seems like they've settled into a groove now where they have taken on the role of "well the world isn't a very nice place so lets just sing about happy things and try to inject a little bit of happiness into it!"
Some people would say that is fair enough as well ... but to me it doesn't seem like a group of guys who are singing about their lives and their ups and their downs .. it feels like they're in the groove now that they make music about love because .. it's just what they do.

Just a thought I had today .. maybe I'm way off because it's really hot today

This heat is making me crazy

[ShowalittleLove]

I think pre TDTH displayed a search for something, lyrically and musically for the guys. They had more of an edge towards the negativity of life along with the angst of being younger and it showed in the music. TDTH and after seemed like the search was over, something was found. They focused on the positive aspect of life while they were maturing and it is reflected in the music. I don't think of it as a gimmick, just a progression to more mature, self confident polished group who knows now what they clearly want to provide to the listener.

[Eickelman0767]

I think pre TDTH displayed a search for something, lyrically and musically for the guys. They had more of an edge towards the negativity of life along with the angst of being younger and it showed in the music. TDTH and after seemed like the search was over, something was found. They focused on the positive aspect of life while they were maturing and it is reflected in the music. I don't think of it as a gimmick, just a progression to more mature, self confident polished group who knows now what they clearly want to provide to the listener.

I agree , it is just the natural progression of life in general. All are now married and 3 of the 4 have children. Having children is a HUGE , life changing experience. It is something that one cannot describe. It is something that has to be experienced to understand. I think that alone has a lot to do with this more mellow Live - just my opinion ! I am not sure what the average age is for this board ?? Maybe it's just that some don't understand because they have not come to that stage in their life yet ?

[sellingthdrama]

I agree , it is just the natural progression of life in general. All are now married and 3 of the 4 have children. Having children is a HUGE , life changing experience. It is something that one cannot describe. It is something that has to be experienced to understand. I think that alone has a lot to do with this more mellow Live - just my opinion ! I am not sure what the average age is for this board ?? Maybe it's just that some don't understand because they have not come to that stage in their life yet ?

I agree here, too. I don't have any children, but I know that when I was more pessimistic and cynical 10 years ago, I would not have enjoyed their newer music at all. I'd have seen it as "fake" or said that Live has sold out.

"It's the way we sing that makes 'em dream" is one of my absolute favorite Live lines.