My review of the new album Options

[MetsOwnYou]

That's too big a block of continous text. I can't read that. Write shorter.

I agree. We're on the internet here buddy and reading 21953252 words of text just doesn't work. Maybe the 40 year old broads have the attention span and time to read it though

[swamiscott]

Great post, man. I couldn't agree with you more. I spend most of my time seeing jam bands. I had the chance to talk to Chad T. about this once, and I don't think its something they will ever do.

As it has been mentioned, they are comfortable with where they are. They don't need to challenge themselves if they don't want to. It'd sure be nice, but they have lives, families, etc.. , and what they do now isn't necessarily broken.

I'm so on your train though, it would be my dream to see Vic Chestnutt come on stage and do a 20 minute Supernatural with them

Thanks! Glad someone else sees the light. As for Chad not being keen on it - I believe it, and I'm sure Ed isn't too crazy about it, either. You see, that would require a little less frontman and a little more group jamming.

Anyone think Ed is getting LSD? Lead singer disorder?

[swamiscott]

I agree. We're on the internet here buddy and reading 21953252 words of text just doesn't work. Maybe the 40 year old broads have the attention span and time to read it though

Actually, he only wrote 304 words, which is not that much. I was referring to the unappeasing way the post read as one big chunky paragraph.

Graphically, your eyes glaze over and it doesn't matter what you just wrote. Presentation counts just as much as content. It's a lesson Live would do well to learn.

[Pokey]

I've been a fan of LIVE for about 7 years and over those years I have seen them adapt there sound. Although nothing compares to Throwing Copper, I feel that all the albums that they have put out after that have been just as strong and all have had songs on them that could potentially be hits. Also, for those of you who are complaining about how the music has become poppy and doesnt sound like Live, give them a break. I work in the industry and in my opinion it is honorable for an artist to experiment and change there sound. I don't think LIVE changed there sound to appeal to a new audience, but where they are in their lives is different then in the Throwing Copper era. Back then they were still kids who had nothing to lose and who wanted to get a point across. Today, they all have families and are happy with their lives. There sound has changed with every album. Mental Jewlery and Throwing Copper are complete opposites and Secret Samadhi was the heaviest they have ever been. TDTH is completly different too and V was a whole new level of creativity. BOP was a nice attempt to bring back the old days but it didnt work. LIVE is not going to make another Throwing Copper. It just isnt feasible and most likely wouldnt work. Pearl Jam was not able to make another Ten. Truthfully, I am looking foward to the new album. They have a new sound and a new approach to writing music and so far I like what I am hearing. So please stop living in the past and attempt to recieve this album with open arms. LIVE hasnt let me down yet and I dont think they will with Songs From Black Mountain.

See this is something people can't seem to get their heads around .. by disliking the new material is not saying "WE WANT THROWING COPPER 2!!" it's got nothing to do with living in the past .. sure their older material was heaps better but part of moving on as an artist is going into what Mcpheezy has been saying in challenging yourself .. SFBM just seems like a major step back for Live, something they could do with their eyes closed and if they continue doing it then that's going nowhere. You can argue saying they've found the style they like and are sticking to it .. that's fine I guess, but it's not pushing yourself and showing your creativity to it's full extent.
It's like playing a video game that you really like .. do you keep on playing the same level over and over just because it's easy or do you have a shot at the next level that gets a bit more challenging and makes you use your mind a bit more.

How is it a new way of writing songs? For the past 3 albums it seems to be Ed and those 3 other guys that keep following him around.

You're saying that it's great that Live is changing and trying new stuff .. the problem is that the new stuff they're trying is falling in with the most common of stuff in the music industry. They're changing from a standout band into a generic band .. sure it's change, but not in a good way. I'm all for change but something that will really show of their talents and let them stand out from the rest .. it doesn't have to mean Throwing Copper 2.

But then again, if they were to go down the "stick with what works" road then I'd pick Throwing Copper 2 over SFBM any day.

[slainte]

it would be my dream to see Vic Chestnutt come on stage and do a 20 minute Supernatural with them

that would sooooo rock, sista!!!!!

can you imagine if LiVE would jam like the dead or phish!?!?!??! i would give it up for that!!!

p.s. how the hell are ya, K!?!?!

[Wambangalang]

it would be really interesting to hear what ed would have to say in response to this debate. Keep in mind he has maintained that he is writing the songs he wants to write without thinking of what people want him to write; that he isnt worried about commercial success.

but how to ask him...

This post has been edited by Wambangalang: Mar 3 2006, 10:48 pm

[andthelettuce]

Nice review, Lang.

[MetsOwnYou]

Nice review, Lang.

Lang? WHERE?

[Pokey]

it would be really interesting to hear what ed would have to say in response to this debate. Keep in mind he has maintained that he is writing the songs he wants to write without thinking of what people want him to write; that he isnt worried about commercial success.

but how to ask him...

You know what his answer would be to it though "I'm doing what I want and if you don't believe me then too bad" which is fair enough, I mean what else would he say? Still doesn't mean it's the truth though.

To some extent I do believe that Live is writing this stuff because they truely want to .. but that's the troubling part .. they really want to

[lakinis_juice]

ah this will never stop being debated. Which is only human i suppose, it all comes down to comparity would you say? if thats a word.

It's what we do as fans, its what i guess makes a great album and makes a horrible album. we couldnt have the kick ass albums of yesterday if we didnt compare them with the albums they bring out today or what other musicians are doing at the same time. Live's new music isn't satisfying some of the older fans, BUT it is satisfying new ones. Is that what most of the bands these days want?

[@ndyT]

That's so disheartening to read (Dan's review)

I'll wait until it comes out and form my own opinions, but I'm not holding onto any hope.

If it's as bad as how Dan put it, I am giving up on LiVE. I've been to see them every time they've come to Australia since the SS Tour in '97 - often 2-3 shows each tour. Done my fair share of supporting them, buying their CD's, merchandise, sharing files, spreading their name to my friends... blah

[mrmcpheezy]

It is not easy to be a productive band make good music for over a decade. And it was so easy to make a hit album, where are Pheezy's gold records?

Again, writing music that the general public will not like it easy, it's getting the support of a major record label, the marketing, and the name recognition that's difficult. This usually does not happen because of the music a band writes, but because of who they know and how marketable they are as people. Deal with it and shut the fuck up.

[mrmcpheezy]

And you are absolutely right that people shouldn't be "afraid" to admit that they listen to music that other people think is crap.

No, that's not really what I said.

What I said, was that people shouldn't be afraid to listen to music that is crap. You're making it out to be a subjective issue, which it is not. Some music is crap, but I'll still listen to it if I enjoy it. People shouldn't be afraid to admit this, yet it seems as though many are, from the fear to even consider that music they like might not be amazing.

[mrmcpheezy]

See this is something people can't seem to get their heads around .. by disliking the new material is not saying "WE WANT THROWING COPPER 2!!" it's got nothing to do with living in the past .. sure their older material was heaps better but part of moving on as an artist is going into what Mcpheezy has been saying in challenging yourself .. SFBM just seems like a major step back for Live, something they could do with their eyes closed and if they continue doing it then that's going nowhere. You can argue saying they've found the style they like and are sticking to it .. that's fine I guess, but it's not pushing yourself and showing your creativity to it's full extent.
It's like playing a video game that you really like .. do you keep on playing the same level over and over just because it's easy or do you have a shot at the next level that gets a bit more challenging and makes you use your mind a bit more.

How is it a new way of writing songs? For the past 3 albums it seems to be Ed and those 3 other guys that keep following him around.

You're saying that it's great that Live is changing and trying new stuff .. the problem is that the new stuff they're trying is falling in with the most common of stuff in the music industry. They're changing from a standout band into a generic band .. sure it's change, but not in a good way. I'm all for change but something that will really show of their talents and let them stand out from the rest .. it doesn't have to mean Throwing Copper 2.

But then again, if they were to go down the "stick with what works" road then I'd pick Throwing Copper 2 over SFBM any day.

Hella.

[Alex]

ah this will never stop being debated. Which is only human i suppose, it all comes down to comparity would you say? if thats a word.

It's what we do as fans, its what i guess makes a great album and makes a horrible album. we couldnt have the kick ass albums of yesterday if we didnt compare them with the albums they bring out today or what other musicians are doing at the same time. Live's new music isn't satisfying some of the older fans, BUT it is satisfying new ones. Is that what most of the bands these days want?

Nothing to do with anything but nice signature!!! Galapogos is one of my favourite SP songs... I've always loved the part you have quoted in your sig.

Yeah.

Carry on.