Long time listener, first time caller, SFBM, Live & evolution Options

[pizan0]

Hey all,

I don't post here much, but I've been reading all of the posts lately regarding the new album and Live's sound. I thought I'd share my 2 cents.

To be objective is almost impossible, especially for a follower of a band that I've literally grown up with (their music is the soundtrack of my life). For this reason, its hard for us to objectively judge their music. But in a very strange way, we are the best critiques of Live's music because we know them so well. How can someone who never gives Live a read chance, be a good judge of their music? For that, I say, fuck all of the big name reviews you see.

I was watching a video from back in early 1994 when Live played in Sao Paolo, Brazil. They were terribly young, but there was such a raw energy coming from their hearts, it was impossible not to notice this band. They fuckin' kicked ass; as simple as their music was, it was so powerful. There was a "raw" nature about Ed's voice. It was deeper, had more grit, and cut through you like the sharpest knife. God, I miss that sound of Live...I can't deny that I do.

As Live evolved, and as their music evolved, its evident that things have changed from those early days. They're more refined, more talented musically, and perhaps they no longer have to prove anything to anyone. Up until TDTH, Live, to me, was nothing short of ground-breaking and inspirational. Those 1st 4 albums...jesus, man, they constantly play in my head...non-stop. They are a part of who I am. It was at V that I got worried. Truthfully, save about 3 songs off that album...the rest was pure garbage in my opinion. Live's sound (mainly the lyrics, to be honest) became overly produced, almost forced, and plain corny.

That didn't stop me from listening to Live all the time. I took the album for what it was, dissected it, took from it what I enjoyed and what was the essence of Live, and I moved on, waiting for more. Then, BOP: At this point, I was one of the only people I knew still listening to Live. Is this Live's best album? No. But it had sparks of genius that reaffirmed for me that this band was right for me. For those of you that don't agree, take one good listen to "Lighthouse" and you'll know what I mean. After V, I was weary, but that song alone made me realize that this band makes me feel emotions inside that I can't describe...that no other music does. No other band can make a rock song like that...period.

Its obvious that Live's gradual move towards a more laid-back, poppier sound is going to be even more pronounced in SFBM. But god damn, even if it sounds a bit poppier than what I usually listen to, no one else in music does it like Live. They just have a "sound" that can't be understood fully...you just feel it. Again, if you don't believe me, take a listen to the pre-chorus in "mystery," when ed sings, "oh, how it deepens"....that is Live. That pre-chorus is Live; that sound is the sound of the band that still inspires me to this day - they aren't afraid to talk about seemingly "corny" topics like love, they are positive, spiritual, and deep. (even if the lyrics don't seem that way sometimes) If that doesn't make sense to you, then perhaps Live is not the band that plays in your soul.

Do I think SFBM will be Live's best album? No, throwing copper is #1 for me. But do I think that I'd rather listen to anything Live puts out over 98% of the music out there? Yes, almost always. Because I have evolved and grown to love their change of sound, and I appreciate it for what it is. We'll never get another Throwing Copper - that was a stepping stone for 4 young guys; that's what came out of them in 1994....SFBM is from the same guys 12 years later. And somehow, they still find a way to blow my mind album after album...even if its just a few songs....

Sorry for the long post, kids. I needed to get that out. Enjoy the music.

[mfitz804]

But do I think that I'd rather listen to anything Live puts out over 98% of the music out there? Yes, almost always.

Nicely stated. I'll take a mediocre Live album over the best album of 98% of the "popular" artists out there, without a doubt. I could live with a little less of Ed's falsetto, but I look forward to the new album and what it brings to the table. It will not be Throwing Copper II and the boys will not sound like they did twelve years ago (that's right, it was 12 damn years ago).

12 years ago I was 17 and WAY different than I am at 29...in my musical tastes, viewpoints, intelligence, and expression. I don't understand why some folks are pissed that Live has done the same. Its just the natural way things go in life.

I guess the answer is, if you don't like it, nobody is forcing you to listen. Go buy the new Beyonce CD or something.

[Pokey]

12 years ago I was 17 and WAY different than I am at 29...in my musical tastes, viewpoints, intelligence, and expression. I don't understand why some folks are pissed that Live has done the same. Its just the natural way things go in life.

I guess mostly because the songs they're writing now is the stuff you'd expect from 18yr olds, and Mental Jewlry was more the word of guys in their mid 30s .. so that's part of it.

[LiveRoCkS77]

I guess mostly because the songs they're writing now is the stuff you'd expect from 18yr olds, and Mental Jewlry was more the word of guys in their mid 30s .. so that's part of it.

I completely disagree with you here. I think it's the exact opposite as well. Mental Jewelry is mature in a sense, but fits in perfectly with a group of intelligent young men searching for the answers to some of the things that confuse them.

It seems to me that you judge some of the new lyrics as if you have an exact interpretation for them. I gotta laugh at that.....sorry. what you interpret them as aren't necessarily what they mean. I agree that I'm not too fond of some of the lyrics from V or BOP as Mcpheezy pointed out to me in another thread. Some are simple and boring to come straight to the point.

But it seems thats the way things go as you get on with age. Things become simplified. You're not searching for those answers anymore. Many things that confused you before are much clearer 15 years later. Life becomes more about accepting what you've found to be an unchangeable reality.

Although many of you may view it as soft, Ed seems to be stuck in a place that involve the love he feels for his wife and children. They are what matters to him and many different aspects of love seem to be stemming from it. So he writes about what matters to him. It sounds simple because it is simple to him I guess. He's not about to write songs to appease you or me.

So I think it really comes down to one thing although it sounds kind of harsh.

Don't identify with it? Too bad, fuck off. Think it's gay? Find music that isn't....and fuck off. Can't respect his choice as an artist to write about what matters most to him......fuck off, twice.

Quit fucking whining already even. Yes, freedom of speech....blah blah blah blah blah. But have your say all you want and then....FUCK OFF. What's the sense in hanging around and discussing crap that doesn't appeal to you anymore? Get a life and let it go already. It's called growing up, take part.

If you don't like a particular car, do you stand around at the dealership for weeks on end, bitching at them to make a model resembling one they did 10 years ago? NO, you'd look like an idiot. And that's exactly what you whiners here look like now. People like me are laughing at how utterly stupid you are. Just can't move on and let it go. It's really very sad and pathetic. I'm not trying to insult you with that statement, it's fact. If you opened your eyes and were honest with yourselves, you'd see it plain as day.

[mrmcpheezy]

I completely disagree with you here. I think it's the exact opposite as well. Mental Jewelry is mature in a sense, but fits in perfectly with a group of intelligent young men searching for the answers to some of the things that confuse them.

It seems to me that you judge some of the new lyrics as if you have an exact interpretation for them. I gotta laugh at that.....sorry. what you interpret them as aren't necessarily what they mean. I agree that I'm not too fond of some of the lyrics from V or BOP as Mcpheezy pointed out to me in another thread. Some are simple and boring to come straight to the point.

But it seems thats the way things go as you get on with age. Things become simplified. You're not searching for those answers anymore. Many things that confused you before are much clearer 15 years later. Life becomes more about accepting what you've found to be an unchangeable reality.

Although many of you may view it as soft, Ed seems to be stuck in a place that involve the love he feels for his wife and children. They are what matters to him and many different aspects of love seem to be stemming from it. So he writes about what matters to him. It sounds simple because it is simple to him I guess. He's not about to write songs to appease you or me.

Sometimes I wonder if you're just not paying attention, or if you're just an idiot. I have asolutely no problem with the change in subject matter or the change in tone. None. At all. The problem I have is with the quality of the writing. If they want to write soft love songs, then that's fine. But fuck man, that in no way implies that the songs you write have to be completel void of creativity. Do you not understand what most of us who are complaining are actually complaining about? You and others keep coming back to the "well they're writing about what matters to them now" and "we're never going to get a throwing copper II" arguments. So often that it appears as though you're not even reading our posts that explicitly state that we don't mind the topics they're currently writing about and that we don't fucking want a throwing copper II. What you need to start doing is actually reading our posts and responding to the points we fucking make, not the points you wish we were making because they're easier to argue against.

Live's earlier work was more creative and challenging than their newer work. For a lot of us, it's been disappointing to see them go from one of the most creative and respectable bands around to what they are today: pop stars that are more focused on writing music that 14 year old girls will like than challenging themselve and their listeners artistically.

[LiveRoCkS77]

Sometimes I wonder if you're just not paying attention, or if you're just an idiot. I have asolutely no problem with the change in subject matter or the change in tone. None. At all. The problem I have is with the quality of the writing. If they want to write soft love songs, then that's fine. But fuck man, that in no way implies that the songs you write have to be completel void of creativity. Do you not understand what most of us who are complaining are actually complaining about? You and others keep coming back to the "well they're writing about what matters to them now" and "we're never going to get a throwing copper II" arguments. So often that it appears as though you're not even reading our posts that explicitly state that we don't mind the topics they're currently writing about and that we don't fucking want a throwing copper II. What you need to start doing is actually reading our posts and responding to the points we fucking make, not the points you wish we were making because they're easier to argue against.

Live's earlier work was more creative and challenging than their newer work. For a lot of us, it's been disappointing to see them go from one of the most creative and respectable bands around to what they are today: pop stars that are more focused on writing music that 14 year old girls will like than challenging themselve and their listeners artistically.

LMAO.......4 consecutive posts to say what? Who gives a flying fuck what you think? FYI, I responded directly to a comment that was made, a specific one. I read, your posts and it's all the same whiny bullshit....which in turn, I responded to as well, if you'd bothered to open your eyes and actually read my post.

Which is, I don't think creativity is much of an issue here. The point i made is that I see things being simplified here. If in your mind, that compromises the quality of writing, good for fucking you!!! You're my hero!!!!!!

That's LIVE's perogative, another point you seem to have missed. You seem to be stuck on the creativity thing, which I guess your hero Maynard posesses to a great degree. Looking for the contrived metaphors to lead the zombie masses to search for hidden meaning inside of their drug hazed, warped minds. That's all good buddy!!!

BUT YET ANOTHER point you seem to miss is that you're not going to get that here.....are you? How many albums has it been since you've felt the creativity has been gone? 3? 4? AND STILL you are hanging around and complaining like a little girl about a lack of creativity?

Do you apply these methods to all aspects of your life? Go to movies from a particualr director whose movies you once liked? Although the last five have sucked, you keep paying your money to see another one, then commence to sit there and bitch at the lack of creativity and artistic relevance? What kind of crack are you smoking? I actually can't believe you have the gall to sit there and wonder if I'm an idiot and not reading your posts.

Have you looked in the mirror lately. Tried to make sense out of anything you say? Because your argument is utterly ridiculous to me. Which goes back to YET ANOTHER point I made in a post that supposedly didn't adress anything relevant. If you truly feel that all these albums lack creativity and any kind of artistic challenge to the listener.....FUCK OFF. Does it truly piss you off that much that you have to come here day in and day out to argue your nonsense?

"BOOOOOOHOOOOOOO, Live isn't creative anymore! I'm angry!!!!!! I'm gonna bitch likke a 5 year old girl on their fansite!!!!"

I'm not arguing that their writing doesn't lack creativity. I'm not arguing that their new music is good based on any kind of subjective reasoning. I'm saying, what's the use of getting so riled up about what makes some Live fans think this shit is good?

"What makes them tick? I need to understand this!!!!! I can't just leave!!! I've got a point to prove!!!!!"

What a pathetic slice of shit layered between two mouldy ass slices of bread. Get the fuck out already and find what makes other people tick based on their thinking of RELEVANT issues in today's society. Instead of sitting in here under the pretense of some overwhelming urge to understand something trivial. Dumb bastard.