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Post by selbyandgriggs on Feb 20, 2009 8:44:11 GMT -5
, not just douchebags pounding Natty Lights. I drink Natty Light.
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Post by selbyandgriggs on Feb 20, 2009 8:57:20 GMT -5
This is not the first blow to my feeling about this band. This very well may be the final one. There are a lot of things at work here. A few people knew it all before, a few more asked and I was as open and honest as possible. I really do not like over half of the new album and my own personal opinion is that it's watered down THS, made for radio play and deals with themes in a way that I feel is offensive (Jamaica) or that I just don't relate to (Memphis). The seated/dry venues thing pissed me off. Why? Because those don't sound like choices the boys would make, those sound like chocies a shiny new fancy record company would make. I have a few other personal reasons for my waning feelings about the band as well. So, all of that coupled with the band caving to the shiny new fancy record company wanting them to play with a band they do not like (and, as I've said elsewhere on the boards, court people who hate me), I'm beginning to feel like these guys really aren't for me. XO WD WD, I don't completely agree with all of your points, but I mostly agree with quite a few of them. Thanks for posting this. I really, really, really thought that I was alone, especially re: being offended by a lot of the new record. Again, thanks for posting this. Nice to know that there's not (necessarily) anything wrong with me...! Yep, I am on the same page as both of you. Really only 2-3 songs that I listen to off of Stay Positive. (Really what drives me crazy is I believe that album is pretty freaking autobiograpical and people on this board think it's some kind of continuation of a myth of a made-up world.... anyhow.) BUT -- The #1 reason I am on this board is WD. (BTW send me your address again, I have some stuff for you.) And, the reason I remain on this board is all of you other freaks. (Blackbeard, still disappointed I missed you in Chicago.) I was talking to misterselby over the past few months and really this board, and this band, even, isn't even about the music anymore, it's this weird little association of friends we have. I think the band has changed how they feel about the entire touring situation too, but obviously, they are not here to chime in to support or deny my theory.
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Post by animobileaws on Feb 20, 2009 9:05:33 GMT -5
i dont understand the playing-big-venues argument! i could understand if they were touring with DMB-type acts at huge venues all the time, but (and i may be wrong, i cant go and havent looked too much into it) arent the venues on the april tour some of the smallest theyve ever played?
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seann
Clever Kid
Posts: 125
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Post by seann on Feb 20, 2009 9:06:20 GMT -5
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Post by Elwoodii on Feb 20, 2009 9:06:54 GMT -5
i saw the White Stripes at a giant arena and loved it saw Leonard Cohen in a souless corporate entertainment centre and had tears in my eyes. i wasn't the only one bigger audience = shittier venues but if the band is good the band is good any aussies going through this with Drones/Augie March now? tho Augie March did get douchebag crowds when they moved up to the Metro fuck it. we can rib the band about this but yeah good on them I get what you're saying thereTlon, i've seen some great shows in large venues, David Bowie and U2 on the Joshua Tree tour and Morrissey come to mind, it's just i like the little joints, maybe it's more intimate or whatever, it is what you make of it jiguess, i just like the intensity you get at smaller shows. I saw Slipknot at the Manchester Evening news arena and it was Iiiiiiiiintense. Marylin Manson as well for that matter. I love the big shows, it's a totally different vibe but I dont think they lack anything. I love little shows too, of course, all intimate and sweaty. Infact I even like the medium size show with the balconys and the sloping floors. Basically all size venues have something going for them I recon. Except the hotel california on the Wirral, there aint a lot going for that. No sir! If your gonna do an arena though, at least have the decency to have either a elevated revolving drum kit with a light up pentagram on it, or an androgenous circus clown in bondage leather, up on stilts with a big flash light. Other wise you might look silly on that big stage. EDITED: p.s. David Bowie and U2 on the Joshua Tree tour! Shiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiit must have been off the hook yo!
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Post by biblesalesman on Feb 20, 2009 9:28:53 GMT -5
Perosnally I love Stay Positive, not any more than any of the other albums and certainly not any less. I am NOT an audiophile by any means so all this talk of mastering and sound levels and all that other shit just crack me up. I listen loud and its all good. I have a unique way of dealing with the songs I dont like. Rather than make lists of them to help decide whether they are too fast or too slow or too naughty or too drug refrenced or promote alcoholism or misogyny, what I do is just skip them. It works every fucking time. The moment I skip them or dont listen to them, I dont hear them and then I can live my day to the fullest. As for the board, man, what a nice group of people. Smart, quickwitted, socially conscious, all good things. But without the music, well, we are just a bunch of smart, quickwitted, socially conscious people. Just like at a Dave Matthews band show. So for me its all about the music. Which I love. So far it hasnt let me down. Its been a great ride. It could end any day. I'm gonna make sure I have enough for a rainy day.
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Post by selbyandgriggs on Feb 20, 2009 9:43:11 GMT -5
and? And it's fucking awesome! Well, let's face it, I'll drink pretty much anything. But if I am drinking Natty, I'm probably already drunk. Or, planning to be drinking Natty (and anything else handed to me, can't be bothered to get off the lawn chair) for the coming 48 hours. AND! best of all, I NEVER buy Natty so I am drinking someone else's beer. And there is a good possibility some guy is going to grill some meat soon. See? Natty drinking = good day, all around
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stevedave
True Scene Leader
Makin' meals out of marzipan
Posts: 747
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Post by stevedave on Feb 20, 2009 10:20:23 GMT -5
Did I ever tell you how I feel about their sleeves? And the Stay Positive Video?
Great music though... Except Southtown Girls
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Post by gushingblood on Feb 20, 2009 10:33:35 GMT -5
Did I ever tell you how I feel about their sleeves? And the Stay Positive Video? Great music though... Except Southtown GirlsSouthtown Girls>Killer Parties>Slapped Actress *runs away*
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Post by motörben on Feb 20, 2009 11:43:34 GMT -5
Yup, I was juh-okin'. Plz no more thread locking. you may take our threads, but you can never take OUR FREEDOM! By the way, did you guys hear that THS is touring with GWAR? I think Ben is doing merch and working the blood gun. He may even don the nazi pope outfit. Give this kid a nazi pope outfit and you better believe it's getting worn.
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Post by Elwoodii on Feb 20, 2009 12:04:20 GMT -5
Ah the old nazi pope outfit.
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Post by mhetrick14 on Feb 20, 2009 14:28:20 GMT -5
Alright... so that's settled. Now back to WD's comment... Genuinely curious... I really wanna know what is so offensive about Joke about Jamaica. Fuck this DMB nonsense.... THAT'S the conversation I wanna see happen (or "happened"? Someone point me in the right direction if I missed it.) yea srsly that shit makes no sense.
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Post by wealdstone on Feb 20, 2009 16:16:46 GMT -5
you may take our threads, but you can never take OUR FREEDOM! By the way, did you guys hear that THS is touring with GWAR? I think Ben is doing merch and working the blood gun. He may even don the nazi pope outfit. Give this kid a nazi pope outfit and you better believe it's getting worn. but this kid'll wear anything
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Post by mashablues on Feb 20, 2009 16:54:09 GMT -5
I really don't know what to make of all this other than it's surely normal for people to express and discuss different opinions and for bands to make decisions that don't live up to some fans expectations.
However part of me can't help feeling sad that the sell out accusations have arrived so soon when to me the band seem to be in full flight. On the recent UK tour they seemed to be top of their game, exuberant, tight and on fire and they are undoubtedly some of the best gigs I've ever been to.
I however totally understand why some people feel the way they do and I guess it's simply because everybody's relationship with a band is different. I learnt to except this after endless, and ultimately pointless, discussions on message boards trying to convince die-hard REM fans that no band can surely be expected to be the same raw edged band that they were 25 years ago. However I unfortunately wasn't at those early gigs or getting my hands on those early recordings so who knows how I would feel if that was the case.
Anyway not sure if any on that makes sense or is relevant but just wanted to add my two pennies worth.
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Post by confessionbooth on Feb 20, 2009 17:14:41 GMT -5
Ok, you kids out there...Hold Steady! As any band gets more popular, the feelings that "they've sold out" become more prevelant. These guys aer just trying to get their music out there. ...don't like Dave Matthews? doesn't matter. Like The Hold Steady because their music makes you happy. Don't like "Stay Positive? Don't listen to it. I bet you have another Hold Steady record that you love. Go listen to it and enjoy. We don't have any say in what THS does just as much as they don't have any say in what we do with our professional lives. (Can you imagine the smart-ass crap Tad could say about any aspect of what any of us do?) Get over it. Enjoy THS or don't. We all don't have to agree...we are all beautiful and...we are all The Hold Steady. BTW: I am pretty sure I posted a similar message when the same debate came up over the DBT tour last year. Hang in there, guys. You are all awesome!
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Bruce Bender
Cityscape Skin
I never took to calling it espionage
Posts: 9
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Post by Bruce Bender on Feb 20, 2009 18:25:16 GMT -5
I'm still trying to figure out why half of Stay Positive and Jamaica in particular are so offensive...it's not like Craig Finn has spent his career singing about fluffy clouds and the responsible consumption of alcohol...
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vagabondking
Clever Kid
I'll watch over the bones in your back like the stations of the cross
Posts: 106
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Post by vagabondking on Feb 20, 2009 19:35:01 GMT -5
, not just douchebags pounding Natty Lights. I drink Natty Light. Hey, the tour with DBT brought some fans along! Alright!
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Post by katieee on Feb 20, 2009 20:51:25 GMT -5
, not just douchebags pounding Natty Lights. I drink Natty Light. Sometimes I shotgun Natty Light in my bathtub, oops.
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Admin
Midnight Hauler
Posts: 2,434
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Post by Admin on Feb 20, 2009 21:15:51 GMT -5
Sometimes I shotgun Natty Light in my bathtub, oops. HAHAHA! Incredible. I love it.
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Post by misterselby on Feb 20, 2009 21:39:58 GMT -5
and? And it's fucking awesome! Well, let's face it, I'll drink pretty much anything. But if I am drinking Natty, I'm probably already drunk. Or, planning to be drinking Natty (and anything else handed to me, can't be bothered to get off the lawn chair) for the coming 48 hours. AND! best of all, I NEVER buy Natty so I am drinking someone else's beer. And there is a good possibility some guy is going to grill some meat soon. See? Natty drinking = good day, all around Truth be told, if we're down to pounding Nattys it means that it's 3 a.m. and we're in our neighbors' backyard laughing our asses off. They're the only people we know who will actually go out and buy Nattys for a party.
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Post by theblondette on Feb 20, 2009 22:16:32 GMT -5
Perosnally I love Stay Positive, not any more than any of the other albums and certainly not any less. I am NOT an audiophile by any means so all this talk of mastering and sound levels and all that other shit just crack me up. I listen loud and its all good. I have a unique way of dealing with the songs I dont like. Rather than make lists of them to help decide whether they are too fast or too slow or too naughty or too drug refrenced or promote alcoholism or misogyny, what I do is just skip them. It works every fucking time. The moment I skip them or dont listen to them, I dont hear them and then I can live my day to the fullest. As for the board, man, what a nice group of people. Smart, quickwitted, socially conscious, all good things. But without the music, well, we are just a bunch of smart, quickwitted, socially conscious people. Just like at a Dave Matthews band show. So for me its all about the music. Which I love. So far it hasnt let me down. Its been a great ride. It could end any day. I'm gonna make sure I have enough for a rainy day. I'm very fond of bible salesman.
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Post by frannyglass on Feb 20, 2009 22:34:40 GMT -5
Perosnally I love Stay Positive, not any more than any of the other albums and certainly not any less. I am NOT an audiophile by any means so all this talk of mastering and sound levels and all that other shit just crack me up. I listen loud and its all good. I have a unique way of dealing with the songs I dont like. Rather than make lists of them to help decide whether they are too fast or too slow or too naughty or too drug refrenced or promote alcoholism or misogyny, what I do is just skip them. It works every fucking time. The moment I skip them or dont listen to them, I dont hear them and then I can live my day to the fullest. As for the board, man, what a nice group of people. Smart, quickwitted, socially conscious, all good things. But without the music, well, we are just a bunch of smart, quickwitted, socially conscious people. Just like at a Dave Matthews band show. So for me its all about the music. Which I love. So far it hasnt let me down. Its been a great ride. It could end any day. I'm gonna make sure I have enough for a rainy day. I'm very fond of bible salesman. me too.
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Post by mike on Feb 21, 2009 5:09:08 GMT -5
I'm very fond of bible salesman. me too. and me, curiously enough.
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Post by muzzleofbees on Feb 21, 2009 5:53:25 GMT -5
my guess would be that it has something to do with the fact that there are people dissing his favourite band, who also happen to be his friends, on their own message board. i personally think this thread has been a long time coming, though, and i hope it means that in the future we'll be able to discuss hold steady records without having to filter out everything that might look like criticism. i'm certainly not going to be the guy to lock it. after all, in ben's words: "we're all considerate and polite and respectful of each other but for fuck's sake if people want to complain, let them. Locking threads because they get a bit negative is far out, dudes! Stop acting like babies." Where some sees dissing, others sees discussion. T can't think of a better place to bring THS criticism than the one message borad entirely dedicated to people who are interested in the band. Bens words seems to sum it all up. I agree with him.
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Post by biblesalesman on Feb 21, 2009 8:32:00 GMT -5
Gee Mike, that warms my heart.
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