Alive, Only for those who have actually listened to it please! Options

[Hoodstock]

From Ed on Facebook:

Ed Kowalczyk (Ed K.) from Itunes review of my album, "Alive"..."the biggest, boldest music he's made since Throwing Copper." go and get you some :-)

[Merica]

But it's not. It's not, it's not, it's not!

Surely we can prove it with facts or something!?

[+Ed+]

But it's not. It's not, it's not, it's not!

Surely we can prove it with facts or something!?

Sure. The band has done it for us. Here are the facts:






And also V and SFBM which are better.

[LivesMeltdown]

Reviews are opinions. I wouldn't worry about them one way or the other.

[SinfulEyes]

Reviews are opinions. I wouldn't worry about them one way or the other.

The current tally is 29 votes for "it sucks" or "it's somewhere in between" versus 5 votes for "it's great!"

So far, it looks like Ed's solo effort is a stinker to most listeners?

[FishOutaWater]

I do get what you're saying and I think that is definitely one interprutation of the song but not the only one.

So taking the above though as the real meaning, Ed then changes the lyrics to say that Jesus means a hell of a lot to him today. He's is not then saying that Jesus himself now means something to him today, but the idea of what Jesus is and the prayer in his head.

It still would totally change the meaning of the song.

I agree that it is only one interpretation. Nick said that Ed states that Jesus means nothing to Ed today. That's not even what the lyrics say. They say "What a man was 2,000 years ago means nothing at all to me today." That is saying something different.

Ed used to do something in his lyrics that he doesn't really do anymore. It's a little more complex and hides the meaning a little more deeply. That's probably why he doesn't do it anymore and why he changed the lyrics of OS in concert. In order to simplify it for a more straightforward, explicit statement of what he is saying.

Ed used to shift perspective and the speaking voice from the first person to the adoption of a third person perspective which he is criticizing. One examnple of this that I have gotten into arguments about is Selling the Drama. Ed says "To Christ, the cross, and to me, a chair; I will sit and earn my ransom from up here." Here he is speaking from the perspective of the preacher, sitting in the big grand chair on the pulpit. Christ died by crucifixion on the cross in a profound act of compassion and love. The preacher sits on a pulpit in a chair. Gathering followers and collecting money in the collectoin plate from a "throne" on the pulpit. Gathering his "ransom" from up there. The preacher is not doing something nearly as profound and compassionate as Jesus did. But in the name of Jesus, the preacher is feeding his ego, collecting money and luring followers. It is the preacher that Ed is criticizing. The preacher that is "raping" his followers by leading them down a path of blind belief and judgment.

I've gotten into arguments with people who actually think that Ed used to be such a heathen because he was writing that he (Ed) will earn his ransom from a chair. They are so glad that Ed has finally turned to Jesus.



In OS, Ed says that he "heard alot of talk about this Jesus". Now it's not like he never heard of Jesus before and he is starting to hear some talk about this Jesus character. In the early, Krishnamurti-inspired days, the idea of "talk" and "teachings" were a negative thing. They condition and cloud the mind from pure direct experience. Ed is saying that he has heard alot of "talk" about this Jesus. The next line is what he heard. "A man of love, a man of strength."

Then it goes on. What a man was 2,000 years ago means nothing to Ed today. The way Jesus was presented to Ed, he only lives inside a prayer. Jesus, as taught by religious leaders, is not a transformative reality in the present moment to ease the pain and suffering of life.



Ed went from Krishnamurti to Ken Wilber to following some of the teachers in the stable of Ken Wilber's multi-religious faculty associated with Integral Spirituality. A few years ago, Ed was completely immersed in Genpo Roshi and the Big Mind zen technique. Ed has now latched onto finding Christianity again. He has written recently about "contemplative prayer" and he continues to follow other strains of spritual thought (as reflected in his book list). I think that Ed is now following Father Thomas Keating, who is in Ken Wilber's Integral Spirituality faculty. Father Keating teaches about contemplative prayer and a mystical form of Christianity. My guess is that after navigating around the world of religions, Ed has most recently rested at his starting place - Christianity - in the open-architecture "enlightened" form presented by Father Thomas Keating.

This post has been edited by FishOutaWater: Jul 6 2010, 12:53 pm

[SJN1279]

The current tally is 29 votes for "it sucks" or "it's somewhere in between" versus 5 votes for "it's great!"

So far, it looks like Ed's solo effort is a stinker to most listeners?

Yes, because FansofLive polls are an exact science.

[OutToDry]

Can't believe Ed can make a statement like that and look himself in the face and not feel like a liar.

oh wait, he did.....

Ed Kowalczyk (Ed K.) from Itunes review of my album, "Alive"..."the biggest, boldest music he's made since Throwing Copper." go and get you some :-)

This post has been edited by OutToDry: Jul 6 2010, 1:05 pm

[Pokey]

Yes, because FansofLive polls are an exact science.

That's right, that's why it makes much more sense to judge music on the amount of sales and charting they do.

[VoodooLady]

That's right, that's why it makes much more sense to judge music on the amount of sales and charting they do - IN HOLLAND

fixed it for you

[PurdueSteve]

Yes, because FansofLive polls are an exact science.

Fanatics of the band live, which was fronted by Ed, are by far the most credible group of individuals to critique ed's solo endeavor.

[Infrequent Poster]

I'm going to be as fair as I can and try and think of this as a new band that just happens to have a singer that sounds like the former lead singer of my favorite band. I'm skipping the tracks I've heard before in full.

Drive: Catchy song, the lyrics don't do so much for me. I like the overall sound but the drumming is a negative on this song, it's just too bland. Ramy needed to spice it up a little, get a little more drive behind his drums to really push this song.

The Great Beyond: This is my least favorite song on the album by a mile. Ed's trying to do something a bit different with the beat and guitar work in the verses but it just doesn't jive with me. However, as a plus Ramy is better on this song then he is on many of the others. I think the "dance beat" Ed brought up in one of his interviews fits his contribution to this track well and is a good niche for him.

Stand: It's ok. The instrumental work at the beginning makes a promise that the chorus just can't live up to, which is a shame. I can see this being a radio single in the future depending on the success of Grace. It would fit well within the confines of the AC stations.

Drink: I've heard the full version acoustic, but not with the whole band. I have to say, the acoustic version was better, though I'm not a fan of either version. The song isn't for me, but I can see this becoming a favorite with Ed's fanbase.

In Your Light: After hearing the whole track I still think this is the most logical choice for Ed's second single. The lyrics are too schmaltzy for my tastes but I think it would do well on the AC radio or Christian rock radio. It's got a good beat, bright guitars, and Ed sounds convincing, albeit overly saccharine.

Just in Time: Second worst on the album. Just way too bland. The lyrics are trademark 2000s Ed but the instrumental work is just bland. I find myself forgetting this song very quickly when played alongside any of the other tracks on the album.

Rome: I had higher hopes for this song from the clip. It's better then most of the previous tracks, in my opinion, but the lyrics weigh it down. The bridge lyrics particularly are just odd, and not quirky fun odd. The guitars are much better in this song though then in most, props to the guys for that. The guitars and the chorus carry this song.

Soul Whispers: This song I still enjoy. Again, lyrics aren't quite my thing (sweet like a blackbird against the night sky...?) but it's musically distinct. The pacing alone makes you remember it amongst the other tracks but it's got a good drive behind it. Feels like it's building to something (much like many Live songs) and keeps you interested till the end. A solid song.

Fire on the Mountain: I think Ed wanted to have a nice chill song to end the album, and to an extent he gets what he wants. It's not exciting, or particularly memorable, it's just kind of there. It feels like it could have been stronger but I can't put my finger on what it's exactly missing. Perhaps if Ed hadn't been licking the sweat off the feverish girl's back the lyrics would have held better but I'm just not sure.

Overall I voted for somewhere between. This isn't an awful album by any means when viewed as it's own event (rather then an extension of Live) but it's certainly not great either. It has one awful song (TGB), a few "meh" songs (JIT, FotM), and many pleasant but otherwise forgettable tracks. I think Ed should lean on Drive, Grace and Stand for his live shows with the full band, they'd play well in concert. In Your Light would make a decent single, but I don't think it'd quite carry in most concert settings, though it would really depend on what venue he was at. This is an easy listening, psuedo christian rock CD and should be treated as such (which for some fans is disgusting and others exciting).

If I were Ed, for the next album I'd push more towards the AC side and less towards the Christian Rock side. Surprising as it may sound, I think he has stiffer airplay competition on the latter side. Amongst the likes of "Hey Soul Sister" and "September" he's got a shot at finding a steady spot whereas Skillet would kick his ass and steal his lunch money (which is kind of sad in it's own way).

[Badman]

Ed has very different views towards religion now than he did in the mid-90's. Operation Spirits lyrics were changed because Ed wouldn't sing lyrics that were against his beliefs.

SPIR-AT!!

[Merica]

SPIR-AT!!

*shudders* Don't remind us you sick, sick bastard.

[ItchyTriggerFinger]

I'm going to be as fair as I can and try and think of this as a new band that just happens to have a singer that sounds like the former lead singer of my favorite band. I'm skipping the tracks I've heard before in full.

Drive: Catchy song, the lyrics don't do so much for me. I like the overall sound but the drumming is a negative on this song, it's just too bland. Ramy needed to spice it up a little, get a little more drive behind his drums to really push this song.

The Great Beyond: This is my least favorite song on the album by a mile. Ed's trying to do something a bit different with the beat and guitar work in the verses but it just doesn't jive with me. However, as a plus Ramy is better on this song then he is on many of the others. I think the "dance beat" Ed brought up in one of his interviews fits his contribution to this track well and is a good niche for him.

Stand: It's ok. The instrumental work at the beginning makes a promise that the chorus just can't live up to, which is a shame. I can see this being a radio single in the future depending on the success of Grace. It would fit well within the confines of the AC stations.

Drink: I've heard the full version acoustic, but not with the whole band. I have to say, the acoustic version was better, though I'm not a fan of either version. The song isn't for me, but I can see this becoming a favorite with Ed's fanbase.

In Your Light: After hearing the whole track I still think this is the most logical choice for Ed's second single. The lyrics are too schmaltzy for my tastes but I think it would do well on the AC radio or Christian rock radio. It's got a good beat, bright guitars, and Ed sounds convincing, albeit overly saccharine.

Just in Time: Second worst on the album. Just way too bland. The lyrics are trademark 2000s Ed but the instrumental work is just bland. I find myself forgetting this song very quickly when played alongside any of the other tracks on the album.

Rome: I had higher hopes for this song from the clip. It's better then most of the previous tracks, in my opinion, but the lyrics weigh it down. The bridge lyrics particularly are just odd, and not quirky fun odd. The guitars are much better in this song though then in most, props to the guys for that. The guitars and the chorus carry this song.

Soul Whispers: This song I still enjoy. Again, lyrics aren't quite my thing (sweet like a blackbird against the night sky...?) but it's musically distinct. The pacing alone makes you remember it amongst the other tracks but it's got a good drive behind it. Feels like it's building to something (much like many Live songs) and keeps you interested till the end. A solid song.

Fire on the Mountain: I think Ed wanted to have a nice chill song to end the album, and to an extent he gets what he wants. It's not exciting, or particularly memorable, it's just kind of there. It feels like it could have been stronger but I can't put my finger on what it's exactly missing. Perhaps if Ed hadn't been licking the sweat off the feverish girl's back the lyrics would have held better but I'm just not sure.

Overall I voted for somewhere between. This isn't an awful album by any means when viewed as it's own event (rather then an extension of Live) but it's certainly not great either. It has one awful song (TGB), a few "meh" songs (JIT, FotM), and many pleasant but otherwise forgettable tracks. I think Ed should lean on Drive, Grace and Stand for his live shows with the full band, they'd play well in concert. In Your Light would make a decent single, but I don't think it'd quite carry in most concert settings, though it would really depend on what venue he was at. This is an easy listening, psuedo christian rock CD and should be treated as such (which for some fans is disgusting and others exciting).

If I were Ed, for the next album I'd push more towards the AC side and less towards the Christian Rock side. Surprising as it may sound, I think he has stiffer airplay competition on the latter side. Amongst the likes of "Hey Soul Sister" and "September" he's got a shot at finding a steady spot whereas Skillet would kick his ass and steal his lunch money (which is kind of sad in it's own way).

Your experience seems to have meshed pretty well with my own.