Soft Porn Lyrics, No climax from this writing Options

[Gilgamesh]

The lyrics are insulting and soft as the pornography of the olympic ice skating competition's tv camera coverage. On scene of something really graceful, yet really just pimp'in out crotch shots and cleavage for ratings and a contrived fanbase. That sums up this attempt of writing on "Songs From A Black Mountain."

If the topic/theme is gonna be the run of the mill sex & love & war then let's get hard core about it instead of turning out adolescent pg pop corn and candy bs!

One thing I notice about live's lyrics is that the topic/theme etc. has become so watered down, thoughtless and weak in comparison with their strongest messages and in comparison to bands that have picked up where live left off years ago (somewhere in the mix of V and B.O.P.). Bands like Coldplay for one. As I read the lyrics for this new album, I cannot help but think of the critics ripping it for being a great soundtrack for "Brokeback Mountain" - it's that light in the loafers lyrically. Loafing ... the words are juvenile, as are the morals to the stories. Dig into the archives and listen to "Born Branded" and then try, just try to digest "The River" and you know something has been lost. A lot rather. Their fanbase. It's as if the band is trying to target a new generation, and to our misfortune, Live has chosen to write songs that will stimulate the passions of 12 year old girls, and other fans of American Idol, but even Simon would call out this commercial crap. And don't get me wrong, I love this band, but I am no longer a blind fan. Their material has really gone soft. The closest attempt to sincerity on the album appears to be "You're Not Alone" which to me, just reminds me of a bad remake of an old R.E.M. song (Everyone Hurts). I have not heard the music to the songs other than the River, so maybe the musicianship can overcome the trite writing again... I hope.

This post has been edited by Gilgamesh: Mar 18 2006, 3:01 pm

[Pokey]

Yeah Gilgamesh is on the money here ... I know everyone goes BUT THIS IS THE MUSIC LIVE WANTS TO MAKE!!! ED IS COMFORTABLE WITH HIS NEW STYLE OF LYRIC WRITING!

Yeah, that may be but that doesn't make it better than the writing of his early days .. Ed might be more comfortable writing sappy, crappy love songs that as Gilgamesh put it almost sound juvenile .. it's just very very basic and unengaging ... it's like he's settling for second best because it's easier.
Sometimes I wonder if Ed has been through a "regarding Henry" situation where he is having to learn everything right from the start again .. I've said it before, his new writing is like the type of writing to expect from 18yr olds, his writing from age 18 sounds like it should be written by a 34yr old.

From MJ to TDTH you could see his song writing develope .. yeah MJ had that angsty side to it, but it was articulated and powerful, it wasn't the crap 18yr old emo kids that are angsty right now write. He moved on to TC which seemed to be less about the world and more about songs to do with him or specific people .. it's like he grew to make the music a bit more personal. What set TC apart was that whilst there were other bands out there making that sound, their lyrics wern't half as awesome to go along with it.
SS whilst sometimes seems to have some silly lyrics, it's like he was further advancing and becoming more abstract and experimenting. TDTH was like taking everything Ed has learnt and putting his spin on modern day love songs .. it was powerful and again articulated.


V, BOP and SFMB is like a massive step back .. it's like after everything he had become he wiped the slate clean and started from the start again with V .. and it stayed the same for BOP .. and it stayed the same for SFBM. It's like there is no imagination put into it at all ... "I know, I'll write a love song! about loving a girl! I haven't written one of those since just after breakfast! .. AND IT'S NEARLY LUNCH!"
That to me is the most disappointing part ... a guy you know has talent and potential wasting it by neglecting it.

I guess I still hold out hope that maybe Ed will snap out of it and get back to writing something really profound and moving, something that will stand the test of time (which is why I still listen to their first 4 albums today, but probably haven't listend to BOP in about a year). It doesn't mean they gotta make TC or SS #2 .. just, rediscover the talent that made those albums.

[brandedwendy]

I've said it before, his new writing is like the type of writing to expect from 18yr olds, his writing from age 18 sounds like it should be written by a 34yr old.

God please no...!!!!! That would mean album #10+ will contain "row your boat" and "twinkle little star"

*vomids...


Nonetheless you got a point, but whenever I feel like some mature tracks of em I indeed play SS, MJ and TDTH