ATTENTION HATERS: please do read. Options

[LiveRoCkS77]

I dunno, I seem to remember A LOT of you who were bitching quite hastily about CT putting up or shutting up. How we shouldn't be expected to be uber excited about this music the way he was, with only hearing a bit of it. I remember a lot of trashing going on by a lot of you, the same ones who are band wagon leaders as we speak.

Not that we shouldn't have had some doubt, but I think it went a bit far in some cases. CT after all, has never ever done anything that may lead us to think his taste in music sucks.

I just think that after all the years we've all followed Live, that some of these people might have had some faith in the fucking guy. Yet all I heard were pansy ass bitches complaining and doubting.

I had the benefit of hearing this record long before any of you, so I knew it was fucking great. I tried to tell you and I tried not to jump all over the naysayers. I tried to explain how magnificent KM was on lead vocals, but I kinew you'd all have to see for yourself. I knew that this area was more subjective. I see that now anybody who has got to see him perform "live", knows what a fucking beast he is on the mic. His passion, ad libs, screams, angst, aggression, presence and powerful voice are making believers out of everyone. I think he might just be the best I've ever seen.

I'm still in fucking awe of this album...and I think next time CT tells us that we are going to be blasted with wicked fucking rock, we all believe him and have a little respect for the man. I told you all straight off that this album was a fucking masterpiece, and that it is.

[NiTRO]

I fail to see the relevance or necessity of the original post and have no interest in flinging crap but I think the topic has turned into a fascinating discussion.

Trust has nothing to do with any of this. Of course CT is going to suggest that his music is going to be compelling. Do artists ever release anything but suggest that they are not proud of their accomplishments before the release? Of course not. It is their job to promote themselves! Art of any kind is subjective. There is nothing factual about it regardless of the artist's track record of success. Example - See Chris Cornell's "Scream". ugh - what a piece of shit IMO and his track record for amazing music is solid. It is in our individual hands to determine whether the music speaks to each of us. I happen to think TGF rocks but that's just my opinion. So, there is no right, wrong or "I told you so" that applies here.

I don't get the "bandwagon" comparison between sports and music. People discover music as it comes to them and it may speak to them at different times and for different reasons. Sports is all about wins and losses and it is a fact that as a team piles up wins, the fan support swells and stadiums fill. A fan may like the Buffalo Bills this year but it is a fact that they SUCK. With music obviously more exposure (radio, etc...) will help a band gain fans/sales but it's not the same thing.

As far as KM goes, of course there were going to be skeptics. Their favorite singer was just essentially replaced with someone who was unknown to many and had a style vastly different from Ed. Kevin is tops as a singer and performer but people had to discover that for themselves by experiencing him. You can't just be told. And, there are still those that are going to prefer Ed and that's okay.

My piece...