Healthy discussion ; absorbing the album ; 9.99 vs 13.99 ; crossing lines....

[O'Neal, Kevin W.]

>From: "Martin Bailey" <mobailey at ntlworld.com>
>Subject: Re: Endless Wire
>
>>> I simply don't know what motivates a person to make disparaging 
>>> comments when you see your fellow listers enjoying the shit out of
the 
>>> new music
>>>and
>>> sharing their emotional reactions.  I'm not saying you should stifle

>>> your opinion, but there is a time when silence is a good path.
>
>Sorry Kevin, but I think you're wrong here.

Whot???!!
Meeeeee????
Never!

>If Jim (or anyone else) doesn't like something about Endless Wire, then
they're perfectly entitled (and should be 
>encouraged) to say so on this list.

Agreed.
But is is appropriate to make generalized disparaging remarks?
Entitled to?  Yes.
Is it in good taste?  I don't think so.
If I hated this album my post (if I posted at all) would be something
benign like "man, I don't get it.  I wish I did like the rest of you.
But, I don't.  Sorry."
But, I wouldn't come out and lay a stink bomb after reading my fellow
listers' emotional reactions.
It shows disrespect.
Doh!  There's that word again....respect....for the list....for the
people on the list.....etc. 

I don't know.
I'm looking at our friend Schrade in Akron.
I know from his reaction to the new shows that he was feeling left
out....not quite getting it.
I also know that Jim M. asked him directly here on list if he liked the
new album.
His silence is speaking volumes.  I fear he's not into it.
But, I also know that he has the utmost respect for this list and the
people on it.
He doesn't want to offend.

>My reaction to Jim's original post went something like:
<- OK, I can see where he's coming from.

That it's on par with FD and IH?
Really?
You can see where he's coming from with that?
I can't.
At all.

>- I can see how it may seem uneven on first listen.

As can I.

>- maybe Jim didn't hear many of the downloadable or Encore versions of
songs first.  Maybe he's hearing all the songs for >the first time.
Maybe he just needs a bit of time to catch up.

Maybe.  I know I did.  
But I focused in my post on what was bothering me, as sharing the
process.
I didn't characterize the album negatively...or even positively.

>- my conclusion was: he'll come round to our way of thinking after a
few
>(loud) listens.

My conclusion was "more of the same knee-jerk negativity."

>Even though Endless Wire is, you know, A TRIUMPH, there are a few songs
that I'm not still not sure about.

See!  *THIS* is good healthy discussion that provides everyone an
opportunity to discuss.

>Namely: In the Ether

Me too.  Although, it's starting to grow on me...a bit.  I've learned
that the voice is what is distracting me.  When I listen to the *song*
and *words*, it's really a fine piece of art.
I'm sure most press reviewers are also distracted by the first
impression of the voice Pete used.

>Trilby's Piano

This one I'm still not comfortable with. 
Who (or what?) the hell is Tribly, and why is Pete excited by
him??????????
Are we looking at another Rough Boys???  
!

>Fragments of Fragments.  These songs could go either way: I could still
end up loving or hating these songs.

I absolutely *LOVE* Fragments and also Fragments of Fragments.  And, I
haven't listened to them with headphones yet!
Thanks to JIM M. for pointing out to me that the chorus harmony is
saying "falling snow flakes".
I didn't get that at first (still haven't been able to sit down with the
cd cover and lyric book), but now it is indeed very special to me, given
that we're now waiting for them to start falling (snow flakes) and the
growing excitement in VT of another season of mountain snow adventure.

>> Am I right?? !!!!   :-D
>
>Not this time.  :-D

Says you!  ;-)

The more I listen to this album, the more the flow makes sense to me.
Pete had some things to say to us.
He needed to remind us about the power of music and the 'one note'
(Fragments).
He needed to spell out for us his spirituality (2000 years ; Fragments -
notice the twang behind the B'Or synth...reminds me of the movie The
Last Emperor and Buddhist monks) yet denounce organized religion (Man in
a purple dress).  He needed to lash out at those that denounced him
after his Pedi thang (Man in Purple dress), and then finally say thank
you to those that stood by his side (Roger, Rachel, and fans).
Once the administrative duties were complete, jump right into the
work....Wire and Glass.
Brilliant.
Job well done.

>From: JimTheWhoFan at aol.com
>Subject: Re: 3 cd version
>
>Damn, guess I'll have to get this at Best Buy this weekend, thus making
the  
>purchase I made at Borders completely irrelevant.

I've been bummin' (not really but...) that I paid 13.99 when everyone
else paid 9.99 at BB.
Driving with my wife last night she asked why the new cd with bonus cd's
was so cheap at 9.99.
???
She saw the receipt and told me I only paid 9.99 (I also picked up a
Little Einsteins DVD for my kid.  What do I know, I just sign the little
box).
But, the price on the CD was $13.99.
According to the little shelf marker that I snagged, the skew number is
valid only through 11/4.  You better go Saturday to save $4 .
 
>Oh, are you looking for a sycophants list? The kind of list where it's
all  
>agreement and rosy hearts and flowers?

Not at all.
Just tired of having the parade rained on.
This is an exciting time.
At times like this, I don't have time for the chronically disgruntled
and negative.

>Good look on finding that, Kev.
 
Already found.

>If you feel that my only-slightly negative comments about EW detract
from  
>your enjoyment of the record, then, man, your own sense of self is for
shit.

Excuse me???
There's a line behind you.....

Kevin in VT


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