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

[FishOutaWater]

Damn, Fish, you are a worse Ed fanboy than me! Wahah!

Just you wait, I am getting my first car in about a week.... we'll see what I spin behind the wheel

Yeah. I'm embarassed that I am so weak. Ed is like heroin to me. I have no reason to like this album. He has been a jerk to me personally. He "allegedly" screwed over three great guys and musicians I admire. He caused the break-up of my favorite band. He stopped writing deep, introspective lyrics and uses rehashed, unimaginative, express concepts and uses the word "like" and "lord" and "child" and "ooh" ten times in every song. He abandoned inspriring spiritual concepts that make me think and explore, and attached himself to proselytizing Christianity, which is something that makes me recoil. He sold out to commercialism on his website. His tweets and video blogs make me cringe and embarass me for looking at them. Yet here I am. Enjoying the anthems. Singing along. Getting a little uplifted. Wondering what makes Ed so happy with these religious thoughts and whether there is something to it. And definitely apreciating his voice.

I like all types of music. I've seen The Who and Van Halen and Barry Manilow and Elton John. My all-time favorite (besides Live) is classic Metallica. I am one of the few that enjoyed SFBM. I am also REALLY excited about The Gracious Few.

But hey. My age, geography, family and spiritual side are all similar to Ed. So Ed's stuff seems to have it's place in my repetoire. I'm just saying that this album has started to get through to me. I know that I risk being cast from the inner sanctum of Ed haters and TGF worshipers for this. I should probably just turn in my badge now and save the captain (OutToDry) the inconvenience of calling me into his office. But I'm just giving my opinion.

[OutToDry]

....then the other question is..........check your messages

[OutToDry]

see my review of the album......it's probably far from what most people think I would give it.

[Pokey]

Yet here I am. Enjoying the anthems. Singing along. Getting a little uplifted. Wondering what makes Ed so happy with these religious thoughts and whether there is something to it. And definitely apreciating his voice.

I wonder how long this will last. As in genuinely wondering if it's an album you'd still be spinning a year from now, or 5 years from now. Even I can admit the thing it has going for it most is that it's catchy, but I think that would wear after time.

I find it funny you can look beyond the christian themes given the insight and views you've given on it. Like I said once before, if the music was just as is, but the lyrics wern't so god/jesus/bread/wine/gospel/lord/child etc.. I'd probably be able to enjoy it slightly more.

I don't dislike pop as a genre which is what this is. But most of the pop I like isn't trying to say anything too deep or tackle anything too serious. Even though Ed is not being serious about it in a serious tone, it's still obviously a serious subject, more so than a lot of pop out there. But because of that, because he's trying to say something, I can't ignore it. I can ignore Gaga singing about disco sticks because, well it's just not demanding my attention away from the song like Ed's lyrics are.

I also find it funny that you had the thought about "is there actually something to it to make Ed so happy?" ... maybe I'm just so much more cynical, that thought just doesn't compute with me. Ed has money and an easier life than me, makes sense he'd be singing happier songs than I would if I was still writing now. Then there is also the voice inside my head going "it wouldn't even surprise me if Ed didn't give a damn about becoming a christian because he's using it to tap into a market for easy cash" ... I know it's not as black and white as that and it's not what he's doing .. but to me, Ed's character in my eyes has just taken such a nose dive over the years, such a fall from grace (lol pun) that these are my automatic thoughts compared to your less cynical ones.

Just interesting to hear someone's views I guess

I know that I risk being cast from the inner sanctum of Ed haters and TGF worshipers for this. I should probably just turn in my badge now and save the captain (OutToDry) the inconvenience of calling me into his office. But I'm just giving my opinion.

haha I think it's all good, if Nick had your attitude towards it he'd not half as much annoy me. It's Nick's steadfast refusal to see that Ed could ever possibly do anything wrong ever and that the music is the absolute peak of what music can be after hundreds or thousands of years humans have been making music. He's ignorant about it, you're not.

[ItchyTriggerFinger]

Yeah. I'm embarassed that I am so weak. Ed is like heroin to me. I have no reason to like this album. He has been a jerk to me personally. He "allegedly" screwed over three great guys and musicians I admire. He caused the break-up of my favorite band. He stopped writing deep, introspective lyrics and uses rehashed, unimaginative, express concepts and uses the word "like" and "lord" and "child" and "ooh" ten times in every song. He abandoned inspriring spiritual concepts that make me think and explore, and attached himself to proselytizing Christianity, which is something that makes me recoil. He sold out to commercialism on his website. His tweets and video blogs make me cringe and embarass me for looking at them. Yet here I am. Enjoying the anthems. Singing along. Getting a little uplifted. Wondering what makes Ed so happy with these religious thoughts and whether there is something to it. And definitely apreciating his voice.

Fish, no reason to be embarrassed. If the music speaks to you, it doesn't matter what anyone thinks. Despite hearing it once, I will probably still end up buying the CD. There are at least 3 songs that I openly enjoyed and a few more that may yet grow on me. I do still enjoy Ed's voice so maybe my opinion of it all may change as time goes on. It wouldn't be the first time I've bought an album with little more than a couple of tracks I liked in advance.

I like all types of music. I've seen The Who and Van Halen and Barry Manilow and Elton John. My all-time favorite (besides Live) is classic Metallica. I am one of the few that enjoyed SFBM. I am also REALLY excited about The Gracious Few.

Like you, I have a wide range of tastes in music. I can appreciate a well done song from just about any genre ranging from the classic rock standards to the extremely eclectic. Tori Amos, anyone? Music has always spoken to me in a way that few things do. If I find a song that I truly love, I don't get sick of it, I don't care how many times I listen to it. I've probably played Honest Man, Tredecim, and Appetite at least 30 times each now.

But hey. My age, geography, family and spiritual side are all similar to Ed. So Ed's stuff seems to have it's place in my repetoire. I'm just saying that this album has started to get through to me. I know that I risk being cast from the inner sanctum of Ed haters and TGF worshipers for this. I should probably just turn in my badge now and save the captain (OutToDry) the inconvenience of calling me into his office. But I'm just giving my opinion.

Your likes and dislikes are your own. SFBM is not my favorite +Live+ album. But I'm also on record as being one who doesn't hate it. My opinion was formed before I became aware of all the politics and drama surrounding the album. I took it at the time as them trying something different. While the view was incorrect, I still loved hearing songs like Sofia in concert, screaming the chorus at the top of my lungs. Where I've found Ed's lyrics lacking at times, I think the chorus of Sofia has the perfect visceral level of need to it. Others can mock the song and the album if they want. That's their prerogative.

[+Ed+]

Once again, Fish, you are brilliant. I am even spinning Alive now, after reading your post

[+Ed+]

Tori Amos, anyone?

My gal But she wisely stays away from FansOL with too many posts each day here, she is not that good at English

[ItchyTriggerFinger]

I find it funny you can look beyond the christian themes given the insight and views you've given on it. Like I said once before, if the music was just as is, but the lyrics wern't so god/jesus/bread/wine/gospel/lord/child etc.. I'd probably be able to enjoy it slightly more.

I think this may be the problem I'll end up having with the album. I just don't understand the reviews that find the lyrics to be subtle in this department. Well maybe if they have no understanding of Christianity, I could believe it. I'm Catholic. I'm not ashamed of it. But outright Christian rock has just never appealed to me for whatever reason.

[ItchyTriggerFinger]

My gal But she wisely stays away from FansOL with too many posts each day here, she is not that good at English

Huh?

[+Ed+]

Huh?

What.

You asked: Tori Amos anyone?
I answred: MY GAL

MY GAL is into Tori Amos.
My girlfriend likes Tori Amos.
The one I love listens to Tori Amos

But she does not post here, at this board, although she used to be posting for a couple of months on WFT.

She is not posting here as there are too many new posts daily and she is not very good at speaking English.

Although she is quite a big fan of Live and is well aware of what is going on.

I do not know how else to explain my point to you mate

[FishOutaWater]

I wonder how long this will last. As in genuinely wondering if it's an album you'd still be spinning a year from now, or 5 years from now. Even I can admit the thing it has going for it most is that it's catchy, but I think that would wear after time.

I find it funny you can look beyond the christian themes given the insight and views you've given on it. Like I said once before, if the music was just as is, but the lyrics wern't so god/jesus/bread/wine/gospel/lord/child etc.. I'd probably be able to enjoy it slightly more.

I don't dislike pop as a genre which is what this is. But most of the pop I like isn't trying to say anything too deep or tackle anything too serious. Even though Ed is not being serious about it in a serious tone, it's still obviously a serious subject, more so than a lot of pop out there. But because of that, because he's trying to say something, I can't ignore it. I can ignore Gaga singing about disco sticks because, well it's just not demanding my attention away from the song like Ed's lyrics are.

I also find it funny that you had the thought about "is there actually something to it to make Ed so happy?" ... maybe I'm just so much more cynical, that thought just doesn't compute with me. Ed has money and an easier life than me, makes sense he'd be singing happier songs than I would if I was still writing now. Then there is also the voice inside my head going "it wouldn't even surprise me if Ed didn't give a damn about becoming a christian because he's using it to tap into a market for easy cash" ... I know it's not as black and white as that and it's not what he's doing .. but to me, Ed's character in my eyes has just taken such a nose dive over the years, such a fall from grace (lol pun) that these are my automatic thoughts compared to your less cynical ones.

Just interesting to hear someone's views I guess
haha I think it's all good, if Nick had your attitude towards it he'd not half as much annoy me. It's Nick's steadfast refusal to see that Ed could ever possibly do anything wrong ever and that the music is the absolute peak of what music can be after hundreds or thousands of years humans have been making music. He's ignorant about it, you're not.

If I start to dislike this album, I'll be the first to tell everyone (who else would or could? ).

One thing about why I like this album is this. It sounds a lot like SFBM and BoP. For one thing, Ed really did just plagarize some of his own previous lyrics and repeat themes and he even uses some of the same or similar music and production techniques. So if you heard a new band come out with an album that sounds almost exactly like the last 2 albums of your favorite band, and the lead singer (who's vocals you love) is actually the same lead singer of your favorite band - there is a good chance that you'll enjoy the familiar sound.

As for "is there actually something to it to make Ed so happy?". I am actually coming at that from the perspective of the meditative, contemplative prayer philosophy of Father Thomas Keating, which I believe is where Ed is coming from. I don't think he has gone evangelical. I think he is following a non-literalistic, non-exclusivistic approach, somewhat based in mysticism and meditation. Christianity is a familiar framework or structure for many people. And even with its shortcomings (in my view), if there is a way to gain awakening or enlightenment from a philosophy that is grounded in Christian-centric terminology and stories and myths, then perhaps that makes the spiritual path a little more accessible. You're right, based on my views (as expressed) I wouldn't give credence to a literal, exclusive, belief-requiring, salvation-oriented Christianity.

[+Ed+]

Fuck, Eat Your Love is starting to fit the gap of brilliance in my head.

[ItchyTriggerFinger]

What.

You asked: Tori Amos anyone?
I answred: MY GAL

MY GAL is into Tori Amos.
My girlfriend likes Tori Amos.
The one I love listens to Tori Amos

But she does not post here, at this board, although she used to be posting for a couple of months on WFT.

She is not posting here as there are too many new posts daily and she is not very good at speaking English.

Although she is quite a big fan of Live and is well aware of what is going on.

I do not know how else to explain my point to you mate

LOL, ok, that makes a lot more sense. When you first said it, I took it to mean that you were a big fan because of the emphasis. Thus, you can imagine how the rest of it sounded.

[+Ed+]

bgghhhhhhhhhegheee

[Pokey]

Fuck, Eat Your Love is starting to fit the gap of brilliance in my head.

You have a problem with your brain, report this to Dr Ex immediately in the new thread!