Is Ed working with producer Drew Money? Options

[Pokey]

my first instinct was that this was a joke - you just being sarcastic and funny and projecting your wishes...

it actually doesn't seem entirely impossible. so what's sad about that, especially if you just made it up to be funny, is that it makes so much sense.
Ed's plan was clearly not to play coffee shops. but that's where he's headed. I do think it's cool that he's managed to find a way to tour parts of the world LIVE's never been to... those places do have huge missionary establishments, and billed as a Christian rock artist, he should be able to do well. But in the US, he's pretty much a no hit wonder on his own.

I can't see him giving up touring though, if theres a chance to make a buck somehow, someway, Eddie K will be there. The thing is his fanbase might not grow anymore, but he's left with easily please people like Nick who just gobble up the same thing over and over. It's not been hard to please these people if they were excited about his solo tours.

The counter point Nick will make is saying the exact same thing about people who are loving Live right now, that we're easily please, I'm just going to jump in before he makes a comment (that i cant read) and say that we are not easily pleased, the proof of this are the years we spent being incredibly displeased with Live under Ed's solo rule.

[+Ed+]

He should sell used cars. He would be good at it. I would love to see YouTube clips of Ed selling used Dodge Caravans to christian soccer moms using a falsetto voice. In fact, that is the only thing that Ed could do right now that I would pay money to see.

Your caravaa hooohoooon
Keeps on turning me oooooon

[Opinechik]

In my opinion Ed has too big of an ego and is much too greedy to stop...eh, we'll see I guess.

[World Dreamer]

A little birdie told me there are rumors saying that 2012 will be Ed's last year of touring and has already decided to stop recording. The word is Ed is very bitter about Live is reuniting without him. That combined with the fact his records just aren't selling is allegedly causing him to just hang it up.

It makes sense. He can't tour off his solo music because it is trash. And now that Live is back he is no longer the "closest thing to Live" anymore.

Turns out he needed Live more than Live needs him.

[Opinechik]

It makes sense. He can't tour off his solo music because it is trash. And now that Live is back he is no longer the "closest thing to Live" anymore.

Turns out he needed Live more than Live needs him.

That's if they have it lyrically. I don't see fans being satisfied with new songs if the lyrics are crap, no matter how good they may sound musically.
Yeah, the old songs sound incredible done by Shinn, but we also want new stuff, new stuff that is quality.
Which is why I'm anxious(I know everyone is) to hear the new songs.

[Pokey]

That's if they have it lyrically. I don't see fans being satisfied with new songs if the lyrics are crap, no matter how good they may sound musically.
Yeah, the old songs sound incredible done by Shinn, but we also want new stuff, new stuff that is quality.
Which is why I'm anxious(I know everyone is) to hear the new songs.

Whatever they come up with lyrically has to be better than SFBM, it just couldn't get worse than that for them.

[Opinechik]

Whatever they come up with lyrically has to be better than SFBM, it just couldn't get worse than that for them.

That goes without saying.
I'm speaking of songs from the early years as far as expecting a lot from them comparatively... although, I can actually listen to The River.

[FishOutaWater]

That's if they have it lyrically. I don't see fans being satisfied with new songs if the lyrics are crap, no matter how good they may sound musically.
Yeah, the old songs sound incredible done by Shinn, but we also want new stuff, new stuff that is quality.
Which is why I'm anxious(I know everyone is) to hear the new songs.

I have no doubt in my mind whatsoever that Live will come up with new music that lyrically matches the lyrics on MJ through TDTH and far exceeds V, BoP and SFBM by a quantum leap. I know this because I have read everything that Chad Taylor has written in his tour diaries and blog entries and I have become convinced that he has every bit as much spiritual depth and influence and knowledge as Ed had in the 90's. Also, Chris Shinn seems to have a consistent, deep, rich, artistic, creative side to his song writing and lyrics that give me great hope in the future of Live. Finally, I will add that I am not at all disappointed in the music and lyrics on the TGF album and if that is any kind of reflection of what Live can do in the future, then we are in for a real treat.

As for whether Live needs Ed more than Ed needs Live - I can say that there is a palpable, raw energy at these two Live shows that have happened, and an open, willing and eager acceptance by Live fans who have been longing for the Spirit of Live to wash over them again. Most fans of Ed are or were fans of Live - and therefore Ed fans are going to have some awareness of what Live is doing now. And when the two approaches are out in the public domain side-by-side, the contrast will be stark and the answers to any questions will be clear. If you take Ed at his word, then he clearly wants to rock. And if you take him at his actions and the music he has been making, then he clearly doesn't know how to do it anymore. And if Ed has eyes and ears and any musical taste and sense left in his brain, he is going to be kicking himself that he didn't ride the CCP train for the rest of his career. He said he hadn't heard TGF. I don't know if that was true then, and I don't know if it is still true today, but if he has heard TGF and he has seen and heard what Live is doing without him, then he has to know what his band of brothers have been capable of and what they could have offered when paired with Ed's talent, and regret is the only rational response he could possibly have.

[thefunkyredcaboose]

I find the lyrics discussion to be interesting because well, have people actually spent time listening to lyrics Chris has written? I rather like his lyrical style, and I imagine it will be influenced by the other guys in the band (much like the TGF record, which features a number of songs that don't sound like Kevin normally does lyrically).

I am curious like many, but I don't think it's a concern. Many of Ed's lyrics weren't as awesome as we want to remember them being, while some are quite good.

[Opinechik]

I have no doubt in my mind whatsoever that Live will come up with new music that lyrically matches the lyrics on MJ through TDTH and far exceeds V, BoP and SFBM by a quantum leap. I know this because I have read everything that Chad Taylor has written in his tour diaries and blog entries and I have become convinced that he has every bit as much spiritual depth and influence and knowledge as Ed had in the 90's. Also, Chris Shinn seems to have a consistent, deep, rich, artistic, creative side to his song writing and lyrics that give me great hope in the future of Live. Finally, I will add that I am not at all disappointed in the music and lyrics on the TGF album and if that is any kind of reflection of what Live can do in the future, then we are in for a real treat.

As for whether Live needs Ed more than Ed needs Live - I can say that there is a palpable, raw energy at these two Live shows that have happened, and an open, willing and eager acceptance by Live fans who have been longing for the Spirit of Live to wash over them again. Most fans of Ed are or were fans of Live - and therefore Ed fans are going to have some awareness of what Live is doing now. And when the two approaches are out in the public domain side-by-side, the contrast will be stark and the answers to any questions will be clear. If you take Ed at his word, then he clearly wants to rock. And if you take him at his actions and the music he has been making, then he clearly doesn't know how to do it anymore. And if Ed has eyes and ears and any musical taste and sense left in his brain, he is going to be kicking himself that he didn't ride the CCP train for the rest of his career. He said he hadn't heard TGF. I don't know if that was true then, and I don't know if it is still true today, but if he has heard TGF and he has seen and heard what Live is doing without him, then he has to know what his band of brothers have been capable of and what they could have offered when paired with Ed's talent, and regret is the only rational response he could possibly have.

Thank you Fish...being a new fan is a real disadvantage at times. I was honestly wondering just how much Ed was responsible for lyrically. I knew Chad wrote much of the music, I believe, but didn't know how much input he, Pat and Chad had with lyrics
I've tried to learn as much about them as time has allowed in the last six months, but still have a long way to go.
And I couldn't be happier that they will still bring it lyrically, I didn't want to be disappointed.
As for Ed, I can't judge... I think he should have stayed, but not if he wasn't going to be willing to do things as they should have been, they way most fans expected and wanted.

This post has been edited by Opinechik: Mar 21 2012, 2:24 pm

[Opinechik]

I find the lyrics discussion to be interesting because well, have people actually spent time listening to lyrics Chris has written? I rather like his lyrical style, and I imagine it will be influenced by the other guys in the band (much like the TGF record, which features a number of songs that don't sound like Kevin normally does lyrically).

I am curious like many, but I don't think it's a concern. Many of Ed's lyrics weren't as awesome as we want to remember them being, while some are quite good.

I haven't done my homework on Shinn no....my only excuse is being slightly obsessed with old Live lately.

This post has been edited by Opinechik: Mar 21 2012, 2:20 pm

[FishOutaWater]

Thank you Fish...being a new fan is a real disadvantage at times. I was honestly wondering just how much Ed was responsible for lyrically. I knew Chad wrote much of the music, I believe but didn't know how much input he had with lyrics.
I've tried to learn as much about them as time has allowed in the last six months, but still have a long way to go.
And I couldn't be happier that they will still bring it lyrically, I didn't want to be disappointed.
As for Ed, I can't judge... I think he should have stayed, but not if he wasn't going to be willing to do things as they should have been, they way most fans expected and wanted.

I wish that I had the ability to re-present some of the tour diary entries that Chad posted about spirituality. It was very deep. Dan always seems to have a skill for finding things that have vanished from public sight. Chad wrote stuff that could have been written by Ed or the spiritual philosophers that inspired Ed and the other members of the band as teenagers. I do not think that Ed was the only one on a spiritual journey.

Chad also wrote about the virtues of vegetarianism and eating blue berries and bar fights and suicidal thoughts. He wrote that he has dyslexia. I learned what pogonology is because he wrote a whole blog entry on it. That's right. A blog entry about the study of beards. He wrote about the masacre in the Amish school near Lancaster. Great stuff. Over the years, following the lead guitarist of Live has been like having our own private reality sho because he let you into his thoughts.

Years ago, Chad Taylor became my favorite member of Live. Because of his stage presence. His stomping. His writing. His creative ability to make a simple guitar chord or series of guitar chords or notes hit just the right spot in a song. His honesty. And perhaps most of all, because I have met the man dozens of times and he has been the most gracious, honest, compassionate, integrity-filled and generous person you could ever want to meet.

Here is a tidbit that I always found very telling about Chad's place in Live. That remake of I Walk The Line that Daughtry did on American Idol and it got so much attention. Chad Taylor was behind the brilliant way that song was re-interpretted and produced. And have you heard Chad Taylor's song that he wrote, performed and sang called Ain't No Use under his alter ego Georgie Case and the Flatline Drummers? It's brilliant. It's all Chad Taylor. And at the same time he was creating a TV sitcom based on his life. And producing movies. Producing other music. Running a recording studio in Lancaster. And working with upstart bands in Lancaster like Century. Being a father and husband and being supportive of his busy wife's own small business. And now making real estate re-development projects to re-gentrify the inner cities in local towns like York and Reading which used to be working class, blue collar towns that were hit hard by the economy and crime.

I don't care that he poured his heart out about Ed and talked some trash. It was all true. Ed desrved it. And doing stuff like that is a part of who Chad Taylor is.

I guess this post turned into my ode to Chad Taylor. The man is larger than life. He is a force of nature. I have immense respect for him.

This post has been edited by FishOutaWater: Mar 21 2012, 2:43 pm

[Opinechik]

I wish that I had the ability to re-present some of the tour diary entries that Chad posted about spirituality. It was very deep. Dan always seems to have a skill for finding things that have vanished from public sight. Chad wrote stuff that could have been written by Ed or the spiritual philosophers that inspired Ed and the other members of the band as teenagers. I do not think that Ed was the only one on a spiritual journey.

Chad also wrote about the virtues of vegetarianism and eating blue berries and bar fights and suicidal thoughts. He wrote that he has dyslexia. I learned what pogonology is because he wrote a whole blog entry on it. He wrote about the masacre in the Amish school near Lancaster. Great stuff. Over the years, following the lead guitarist of Live has been like having our own private reality sho because he let you into his thoughts.

Years ago, Chad Taylor became my favorite member of Live. Because of his stage presence. His stomping. His writing. His creative ability to make a simple guitar chord or series of guitar chords or notes hit just the right spot in a song. His honesty. And perhaps most of all, because I have met the man dozens of times and he has been the most gracious, honest, compassionate, integrity-filled and generous person you could ever want to meet.

Here is a tidbit that I always found very telling about Chad's place in Live. That remake of I Walk The Line that Daughtry did on American Idol and it got so much attention. Chad Taylor was behind the brilliant way that song was re-interpretted and produced. And have you heard Chad Taylor's song that he wrote, performed and sang called Ain't No Use under his alter ego Georgie Case and the Flatline Drummers? It's brilliant. It's all Chad Taylor. And at the same time he was creating a TV sitcom based on his life. And producing movies. Producing other music. Running a recording studio in Lancaster. And working with upstart bands in Lancaster like Century. Being a father and husband and being supportive of his busy wife's own small business. And now making real estate re-development projects to re-gentrify the inner cities in local towns like York and Reading which used to be working class, blue collar towns that were hit hard by the economy and crime.

I don't care that he poured his heart out about Ed and talked some trash. It was all true. Ed desrved it. And doing stuff like that is a part of who Chad Taylor is.

I guess this post turned into my ode to Chad Taylor. The man is larger than life. He is a force of nature. I have immense respect for him.

I can't thank you enough for this post, truly. You're giving me precious insight into people that have resoundingly piqued my interest.
I won't touch on every point, but I read all of it...eagerly, I might add. If you don't write for a living, you should, lol.
I have to admit to not knowing of any member of Live before six months ago. So I'm not yet familiar with anything done by any of them recently, be it Ed or CCP. I've listened to Great Houses and love it, but will admit that my free time has been spent mostly listening to/watching old Live.
I already had great respect for Chad as a musician, based on Live performances, but now I do as a person too.

[Opinechik]

Damn, I was gonna rep you for your patience/willingness to share with me, but I gave you some for your concert pics so it won't let me. :|

[FishOutaWater]

I can't thank you enough for this post, truly. You're giving me precious insight into people that have resoundingly piqued my interest.
I won't touch on every point, but I read all of it...eagerly, I might add. If you don't write for a living, you should, lol.
I have to admit to not knowing of any member of Live before six months ago. So I'm not yet familiar with anything done by any of them recently, be it Ed or CCP. I've listened to Great Houses and love it, but will admit that my free time has been spent mostly listening to/watching old Live.
I already had great respect for Chad as a musician, based on Live performances, but now I do as a person too.

That is so cool that you are just getting into Live. I think that one of the coolest journeys into Live's music that you can take, is to really listen to Mental Jewelry and read the lyrics. They were all inspired by the philosophy and teachings of Eastern spiritualist Jiddu Krishnamurti. You Are the World is the name of one of his books. Ed has said in interviews that it blew his mind and shifted his world view. He was a sheltered, white, Catholic boy growing up in a rural, blue collar town, and his spirituality had no meaning to him. And he read this book and it was a total paradigm shift. And that exuberant awakening is reflected on Mental Jewelry. There are literally dozens of his books and many are just transcripts of Krishnamurti's talks. There are websites where you can download free pdf's of his writings and teachings. I was curious about it when I heard that it influenced Ed so I studied it some. So when you start to dig into the philosphy of those teachings and then you go back and listen to the album again and read the lyrics, they take on a much deeper and richer meaning. I mean like genious, masterpiece-like meaning.

And the cool thing is that the music, the guitar and drums and bass on Mental Jewlry all perfectly compliment the message of the lyrics. Like that explosive moment in Good Pain. The "He said... He said" stuff is referring to Krishnamurti. Then you get to the part of the song where he exclaims his realization and awakening, and Ed yells "Hey!" and the drums and guitars all explode. And there is a shift in what the lyrics are saying. It all works together music and lyrics. There is abunch of that on Throwing Copper.

The "Aloneness" in I Alone has a lot of meaning in the Krishnamurti teachings. It is not about not physically being near anyone else. The lyric "It's easier not to be wise, and measure these things by your brains" is not some line to be dismissed lightly. He is saying that to measure things using your brain is NOT wise. It is an expression of the Krishnamurti philosophy that only a totally clear "alone" mind, that is totally free from all conditioning and bias and judging and weighing, can truly know the truth.

I am not some Eastern spiritual freak or anything. I just find it fascinating and very inspirational. And I think it is awe inspiring that 4 teenagers from York Pennsylvania came up with such masterpieces that have a depth that is not even apparent to the ordinary listener who might just hear a cool Live song on the radio.

This post has been edited by FishOutaWater: Mar 21 2012, 3:22 pm