Camie
Midnight Hauler
Posts: 1,093
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Post by Camie on Apr 21, 2010 16:16:41 GMT -5
The sarcasm and snark in this thread is disappointing.
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Post by bloodystereos on Apr 21, 2010 16:24:07 GMT -5
I happen to like the whoa-oh-oh-ohs at live shows... they are quite fun! Yeah Camie , I like the whoa oh ohs okay , just a pet peeve of my girlfriend I guess. But we both had crazy fun at our last show ... whoa oh ohs and all hehehe. In fact I think when she saw her first show that was when she was finally , completely won over. Craigs dancing and clapping made her grin from ear to ear. I remember her saying is it like this every show ?? Lets hope it always is. Cheers !
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Camie
Midnight Hauler
Posts: 1,093
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Post by Camie on Apr 21, 2010 16:26:23 GMT -5
Yeah Camie , I like the whoa oh ohs okay , just a pet peeve of my girlfriend I guess. But we both had crazy fun at our last show ... whoa oh ohs and all hehehe. In fact I think when she saw her first show that was when she was finally , completely won over. Craigs dancing and clapping made her grin from ear to ear. I remember her saying is it like this every show ?? Lets hope it always is. Cheers ! HAHAHAHAHA. Craig's dancing makes my night every time. He gets so into performing. To continue the discussion about the reviews. I just did a search for "Heaven Is Whenever" on Twitter. Lots of posts.. but when you read through them, people are digging it.
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sml92
Cityscape Skin
Posts: 9
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Post by sml92 on Apr 21, 2010 18:31:09 GMT -5
It's funny, everyone I've played this record to so far has loved it, yet I'm seeing a lot of criticism on the net. I think it's a case of us being spoiled tbh (not that it's a bad thing).
I mean how many bands could make 4 albums in a row as amazing as Almost Killed Me, Separation Sunday, BAGIA and Stay Positive? They're only human!
I think HIW is a solid album, there honestly isn't one song I'd skip, although the production is a bit much at times (We Can Get Together). But I can't say I'm dissapointed!
Hi everyone btw
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MissL
Clever Kid
My Kids Rock!!!
Posts: 86
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Post by MissL on Apr 21, 2010 18:46:44 GMT -5
It's funny, everyone I've played this record to so far has loved it, yet I'm seeing a lot of criticism on the net. I think it's a case of us being spoiled tbh (not that it's a bad thing). I mean how many bands could make 4 albums in a row as amazing as Almost Killed Me, Separation Sunday, BAGIA and Stay Positive? They're only human! I think HIW is a solid album, there honestly isn't one song I'd skip, although the production is a bit much at times (We Can Get Together). But I can't say I'm dissapointed! Hi everyone btw I could not agree more. What an insightful first post.
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lee
Hoodrat
unified scene #503. that's portland, everyone.
Posts: 411
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Post by lee on Apr 21, 2010 18:49:06 GMT -5
I happen to like the whoa-oh-oh-ohs at live shows... they are quite fun! i think i saw too many afi shows as a teenager to agree with you on this matter.
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ng20
Cityscape Skin
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Post by ng20 on Apr 21, 2010 21:05:33 GMT -5
I think a lot of people are letting the "newness" of HiW affect their thoughts on both HiW and SP, and are knocking down SP to try to avoid admitting that HiW is probably the weakest THS album. (To me, it's a lot like Bruce's "Working on a Dream"- at the time of its release some people were calling it his best album in 25 years, now its generally accepted to be one of his weakest works now that its no longer brand new.) Do others think this may be true, or am I overrating what people thought of SP is the first place? I think its a tremendous album from beginning to end, Constructive Summer is a killer opener, Sequestered is exactly what I want in a THS single, and a lot of tracks like Joke About Jamaica and Yeah, Sapphire just blend in on the album when I think they would have been standouts on HiW. I really think that HIW is more consistant than SP. There aren't any total duds in my opinion, whereas SP had Cutters and Navy Sheets. I think it's a better album as a whole. And my views of SP haven't changed much in the time since it's release. When WOAD came out, I remember alot of people saying that it was his best since 1990, better than Magic and the rising, etc. Nobody is saying that HIW is better than SS or BAGIA or anything like that. I never liked WOAD, easily one of Bruce's worst albums, so I never fell into the trap of newness you mention. WOAD was so much worse for Bruce than HIW is for the THS, so I don't think they can really be compared.
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Post by doctoracula on Apr 21, 2010 21:29:53 GMT -5
i wasnt really sold on SP when it came out. i wondered if maybe they'd actually finally gone stagnant. but i kept listening because i have faith in this band, and i'm glad i did. now it's my second favorite record of theirs.
i will say right now that HIW is better than BAGIA!
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Camie
Midnight Hauler
Posts: 1,093
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Post by Camie on Apr 21, 2010 21:55:08 GMT -5
i will say right now that HIW is better than BAGIA! I can't agree with you on that.
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Post by 99rockproblems on Apr 21, 2010 22:02:18 GMT -5
I'm pretty sure there was only ONE review of Working on a Dream that was overly positive, and that was Rolling Stone's 5 star review. Coming from a huge Bruce fan, that was unwarranted.
Also, all this talk about HiW being clearly the worst of their 5 albums makes me wonder about the musical knowledge that people have on this board. You people are being really, really reactionary. They've made 5 home-run efforts in a row, why not TRY and love an album on its own terms instead of griping that it isn't what you wanted?
Yes, music is subjective blah blah blah. But seriously, as John Cage once put it, "Stand up and use your ears like a man!"
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ng20
Cityscape Skin
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Post by ng20 on Apr 21, 2010 22:09:58 GMT -5
I'm pretty sure there was only ONE review of Working on a Dream that was overly positive, and that was Rolling Stone's 5 star review. Coming from a huge Bruce fan, that was unwarranted. I was talking about fan reactions, like on message boards and such, rather than "official" reviews.
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Post by doctoracula on Apr 21, 2010 22:11:00 GMT -5
i will say right now that HIW is better than BAGIA! I can't agree with you on that. i'm sure its an unpopular opinion around here, but BAGIA is my least favorite. i like it, i don't think its necessarily BAD, but it's the last album i go to when i want to listen to THS.
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cre618
True Scene Leader
Posts: 714
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Post by cre618 on Apr 21, 2010 22:17:57 GMT -5
Coming from a huge Bruce fan, that was unwarranted. I'm a huge Springsteen fan from back in the day. Travelled everywhere to see him live. I hated WOAD when it came out. The Rolling Stone review was bullshit. A lot of the other reviews were spot on. And the most telling review was from Bruce himself, he pretty much abandoned the album on tour. As far as HIW goes. I don't let reviews change my opinion of the record. I know that opinion will vary as time goes on. I don't pretend to know where it will rate for me 6 months from now. But, I'm interested in the reviews. I think they'll be more polarized for this one....which isn't what THS usually gets. That's all.
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Post by 99rockproblems on Apr 21, 2010 22:20:23 GMT -5
I'm pretty sure there was only ONE review of Working on a Dream that was overly positive, and that was Rolling Stone's 5 star review. Coming from a huge Bruce fan, that was unwarranted. I was talking about fan reactions, like on message boards and such, rather than "official" reviews. This is a good point: fans are often reactionary with new music by bands they love. Look at this board. "HiW is brilliant!" "HiW is clearly the worst of their 5 albums and is mediocre at best." You basically can't trust a fan's opinion until a few months have passed on these issues. Now, well-tempered bloggers and music critics are more likely to give you a step-by-step analysis that's actually worth something,even if it's necessary to take a grain of salt with them, too...but fans require a lot more salt, especially given their extremely reactionary tendencies. The album hasn't even been released for sale, and people are hailing it as a masterpiece or tearing it down completely and everything in between. I'm not just a fan of THS, I'm a fan of music and of music as art. So when I see people shouting off their opinions as if they were established facts, I can't help but roll my eyes.
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Post by barryjive on Apr 21, 2010 22:33:18 GMT -5
just for the record, Working on a Dream got a 72 on Metacritic, a 100 from Entertainment Weekly (which is much better at music reviews than it might sound) and RS, one 90, and six 80s. that's not bad. just means it was extremely mixed. by comparison, Magic was a 73, The Rising was an 82, We Shall Overcome was an 82 and Devils & Dust was an 81. Bruce does pretty well with most critics.
as a question: Why would anyone look at HIW as a gift? It's an album. It's a piece of art. It's a piece of business. I'll probably buy it. I've bought tickets to every THS show I've had a chance to see, and I'll continue to do that at least in the near future. How much effort was put into it has nothing to do with how it should be received, because as fans of the band we should assume they put everything they have into every album. And when we judge the album, it should be based on their output and the output of their peers.
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Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
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Post by Deleted on Apr 21, 2010 22:37:34 GMT -5
Pitchfork will give it around a 7-8, especially since they rated their last album so highly Uncut will love it and yeah, i say wait a bit. i don't like it as much as their other albums (yet) and a good review will explain why
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Post by shakerheights on Apr 21, 2010 23:05:44 GMT -5
Also, all this talk about HiW being clearly the worst of their 5 albums makes me wonder about the musical knowledge that people have on this board. You people are being really, really reactionary. They've made 5 home-run efforts in a row, why not TRY and love an album on its own terms instead of griping that it isn't what you wanted? I'm sorry, but I'm just not getting this. Just because I think HiW is their worst album means I suffer from a lack of musical knowledge? And I'm the one being reactionary because I've listened to the album 10-12 times and still don't really hear anything which grabbed me like stuff off the other 4 albums, but the people who are claiming that "80% of it is the best stuff they've ever released" and "its better than BAGIA" (not to pick on those people's opinions) aren't reactionary? And believe me, I'm trying to like this album, I apologize for not forcing myself to love it, and actually offering some constructive criticism. I'm really appreciative of the hard work the guys put into this album and I still can't wait to scream my lungs out and go crazy July 14th in Columbus... but, man, if I think it's a mediocre album, I think it's a mediocre album. No need to question my "musical knowledge" or whatever.
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Post by 99rockproblems on Apr 21, 2010 23:08:52 GMT -5
but the people who are claiming that "80% of it is the best stuff they've ever released" and "its better than BAGIA" (not to pick on those people's opinions) aren't reactionary? I did say that those people were reactionary...if you weren't so busy defending yourself you might have noticed that.
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Post by shakerheights on Apr 21, 2010 23:15:38 GMT -5
but the people who are claiming that "80% of it is the best stuff they've ever released" and "its better than BAGIA" (not to pick on those people's opinions) aren't reactionary? I did say that those people were reactionary...if you weren't so busy defending yourself you might have noticed that. Whatever. It's not worth fighting over. I guess where we differ is you think I'm absolutely killing the album when I'm just saying it's decent, but I don't really think it stacks up with the other 4. Nothing wrong with that, I think it's a pretty level-headed opinion based on numerous open-minded listens. If calling me reactionary makes you feel better, though, continue to do so.
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Post by barryjive on Apr 21, 2010 23:22:52 GMT -5
quit defending yourself, dude.
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Deleted
Deleted Member
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Post by Deleted on Apr 21, 2010 23:32:32 GMT -5
when you're writing a review, you kinda want a narrative or a hook or something. like 'I saw this band i'd never heard of at a festival and they were better then the headliners' OR 'this band that just released 4 awesome albums released a dud' kinda a backlash thing
i dunno... videogame fans focus alot on review scores but they're only good in a 'my band is better then your band' kinda way. which can be fun but eh
and everyone's entitled to their opinions. we might end up harsher, 'cause we've got so much invested in the band emotionally that if they're not amazing it kinda hurts. whereas your average reviewer just wants a good record
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Post by doctoracula on Apr 21, 2010 23:44:14 GMT -5
wait, how is thinking HIW is better than BAGIA reactionary? BAGIA has been my least favorite record of theirs for like 3 years, it's not like i JUST decided this
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Post by mja271 on Apr 21, 2010 23:45:41 GMT -5
I don't love the album, but it's solid and it does nothing to diminish my love for THS. I think sometimes people misconstrue all criticism as overly negative. I'll definitely continue to listen to this one, I just don't like it as much, or think it's as good as the first four. I still love the band and look at this as another strong effort, just not as good as the other ones.
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Post by barryjive on Apr 22, 2010 0:13:23 GMT -5
wait, how is thinking HIW is better than BAGIA reactionary? BAGIA has been my least favorite record of theirs for like 3 years, it's not like i JUST decided this i think the point is, your opinion of "HIW over BAGIA" is no different than "all four THS albums before this" > HIW and as for reviewers, having been one, i think while some may be trying to make a name or whatever, a lot of publications only give reviewing privileges to writers/reporters who have already proven themselves. in fact, i'm sure that's how they work. everyone wants to review. so it's tough as hell to get those spots. once you get there, you've got too much invested in the work you've done to date to bullshit about your own opinions. you want people to believe what you believe.
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Post by doctoracula on Apr 22, 2010 0:16:36 GMT -5
wait, how is thinking HIW is better than BAGIA reactionary? BAGIA has been my least favorite record of theirs for like 3 years, it's not like i JUST decided this i think the point is, your opinion of "HIW over BAGIA" is no different than "all four THS albums before this" > HIW well yeah, in that it's just everyone's individual opinion. but i don't see it as being reactionary. as i've already said in here, i'm not the biggest fan of BAGIA. it's not like BAGIA is my #1 favorite record ever and now i think HIW is EVEN BETTER.
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