LIVE vs. the perception of SFBM Options

[flaterik]

There is a lot of talk going on about pop or not pop, old vs. new LIVE, etc. I for one am a bit disappointed in the finished product of the SFBM album, but now I realize why. I had heard some early versions of some of the new songs (don't know where ) and saw the boyz play some of the new stuff in New Jersey last November and I was stoked. Then I got my hands on the disk and...well... it tasted like a British Ale...flat and warm! Now on the weekend I saw the Rockpalast broadcast and WHAMO!! It was clear. I always knew the new songs were good (ok, average by LIVE standards, but still light years ahead of standard radio trash ), but the production on the album and the overzealous "accoustic version" marketing just killed them. Made them flat. The songs have their moments but just don't go anywhere. When you see the new songs played in concert you will know what I mean. Totally different energy!!!!

Any thoughts!?

[Alex]

Alex says Dave Navarro was better in the Chili Peppers than John Frusciante... the record sales say EH-UURH!

What we all need to bear in mind is that people really can't be bothered writing a disclaimer of IMHO every 5 seconds. The fact that we almost all have a different opinion, whatever it may be, is what makes things interesting. There are no wrong opinions with music... apart from Alex's about John Frusciante...

Only joking Alex. If I add that I'm a hardcore fan of Frusciante's solo stuff, you'll probably realize what strange creature I am.

I'm half kidding bout the John Frusciante thing, but I think One Hot Minute is an extrememly under-rated album. Its alternative rock, not funk rock. Probably in my top 10 albums.. but then I've been listening to it since it came out when I was 7.

I really like John Frusciantes solo stuff as well, got three of his cds... just out of curiousity, what do you think of BTW?

If SFBM says one thing to me, it is the following (and this is going to get pretty deep, so I'm sorry for going off the deep end)... These beautiful songs are an artistic expression of the realization that the present moment is all there is, and the full potential of the present moment, as realized through the undiscriminating awareness of pure consciousness, is pefect and vast and one with everything, and is that from which springs infinite love and compassion.

If you read and listen to the interviews with the band, and you yourself read and listen to the wisdom teachings of all religions from which Ed and the band have drawn (which they have spoken about in interviews), then the lyrics to SFBM will not be trite or shallow. They may actually mean more to you than a person who is unaware (or ignorant) of this background and wisdom.

Likewise, I could point to the guitar chords in any song and say "look at those guitar chords, they are simple guitar chords". But I have found layers of music and creativity in SFBM, certainly much more than that in BoP. There is much more there than any one isolated guitar chord sequence you can point to. I think the musical compositions on SFBM compare favorable to TDTH.

Please point me to these layers of creativity. I cannot find a single moment on the album. I do not see how knowledge of these 'wisdom teachings' would affect your perception of lyrics on this album. No matter what way you look at them, they're simple, cheesy, and actually quite embarrasing to listen to.

At least V was fun.