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Posted: Fri Jul 27, 2007 9:42 am
by ElfDude
Just listened to the whole thing from beginning to end.

"Give me the good news first"

As far as the music goes, this album really is a standout. New and fresh ideas. Great grooves and cool riffs. Might be my favorite musically since Roll The Bones.

But these lyrics, geez. When I contrast them to the high-spirited optimistic Earthshine, Sweet Miracle, Endlessly Rocking kind of stuff from the last album of original material from them... what a downer. Whine whine whine whine WHINE!

In the movie called Rocky Balboa, there's a scene where Rocky's son is getting kinda whiney and mopey. Rocky gives him a little speech that made me want to cheer. Maybe Rocky needs to pull Neil into the street and give him the same speech.

But again, fantastic music. I can't wait to see it live. And I hope Neil feels better soon. Carrie might be getting tired of all his complaining too. ;)

edit: The irony that I'm complaining about someone complaining is not lost on me. :-D

Posted: Sat Jul 28, 2007 9:07 am
by Big Blue Owl
Oppositely, I find the open-heart song writing approach to be refreshing. As the earth gets darker, colder, less of a place for a peaceful, thinking, loving person, how do you write about incense and peppermints?

Shiny happy people are great to be around until something serious happens. I know; I used to be one.

Carrie probably wishes she could hear his moaning (in person) much more often than she is able to.

Image

Posted: Sat Jul 28, 2007 11:15 am
by ElfDude
Big Blue Owl wrote:Oppositely, I find the open-heart song writing approach to be refreshing. As the earth gets darker, colder, less of a place for a peaceful, thinking, loving person, how do you write about incense and peppermints?

Shiny happy people are great to be around until something serious happens. I know; I used to be one.

Carrie probably wishes she could hear his moaning (in person) much more often than she is able to.
You are the yin to my yang, my friend (just leave my wang out of it). :-D

I know exactly what you mean in your second paragraph. I remember on one of my darkest days back in 2001 (same kind of a place that Slaine is in now, and I really empathize with him) someone had a conversation with me, asking how I was. I replied that I was surviving. He smiled and used that line that any day above ground is a good day. I wanted to slug him.

I did not begrudge Neil one bit of his gloominess during the Ghost Rider days. And I was so happy for him when he came out the other side. As I was so happy for me when I came out the other side of my own trial.

However, I have learned that optimism and hapiness are something we choose and into which we have to put put effort. Not something that simply come natural to some and not to others. Every day I have to choose whether to think about hurtful things of the past or present and depress myself, or if I want to count my blessings and be grateful and look forward. Though you folks sometimes see the frustration in me, I've been working hard on the latter for a few years. And it's been great.

One of the motivating factors was simply looking at the lives of a couple of other people I know. I'm sure everyone reading this knows someone who has been hurt in some way, and has chosen to make that event what defines them as a person. You can't be around them without feeling the bitterness and always hearing about how so-and-so did this to them and whatshername did that to them. They're just so miserable all the time and it's hard to be around. I didn't want to fall into that trap.

Rush hasn't ever really had songs about peppermint, etc. But they were never really the "stick it to the man" protest kinda rock band either (I see 2112 as being about standing up to oppression... not really about sticking it to the man). That was one of the things I loved about them. A lot of us got turned on to them during what Alex called the "sword and sorcerrer" days of their songwriting. That was so cool to this high-schooler. And Neil has written so many songs that inspired me... songs about cool things no one else wrote about. The wonders and moods of two different big cities in The Camera Eye. The pleasant feeling of waking up to a good radio show. The whole "go for it" message of Bravado. You know what I'm talkin' 'bout. :)

It's understood that no artist can make all their fans happy with anything they produce. So, while I LOVE the music on this album, a lot of the lyrics aren't for me. I'm trying my darndest to leave the "misery loves company" part of my life behind.

Now having said that, BBO my cherished friend, I'm publicly asking a favor of you. When Hillary Clinton is our next president, and I start getting angry on this forum about her antics, please remind me over and over that I'd better start mixing in some optimism and happiness posts with the bitter ones! :)

Posted: Sat Jul 28, 2007 1:53 pm
by Big Blue Owl
ElfDude wrote: It's understood that no artist can make all their fans happy with anything they produce. So, while I LOVE the music on this album, a lot of the lyrics aren't for me. I'm trying my darndest to leave the "misery loves company" part of my life behind.
Dig that, bro. :-)
ElfDude wrote: Now having said that, BBO my cherished friend, I'm publicly asking a favor of you. When Hillary Clinton is our next president, and I start getting angry on this forum about her antics, please remind me over and over that I'd better start mixing in some optimism and happiness posts with the bitter ones! :)


HA-HA! I'm sure I still owe you from Bush Round 2. You got it, buddy. I'll be there for ya with nudge and a laugh. Possibly a "curse jar" for all of those little 'slips of the type'... Wait...I don't want a Hillary world either...who'll console me? Fu__! :shock:

Posted: Sun Jul 29, 2007 6:23 pm
by awip2062
We can console each other? :-D

Posted: Sat Aug 11, 2007 11:09 am
by Mr. Potatoe Head
I said before "Snakes and Arrows" is there best work to date. Also I'd like to add; music is like a good painting it is appreciated more live, than recorded.

I do have a question too concerning "Malignant Narcissism" at 1:08 right smack dab in the middle of the track. I hear some sort of lyrics, does anyone know what it is?

Posted: Sat Aug 11, 2007 2:14 pm
by Sir Myghin
can't say I do pot, but I did learn that tune on my bass the other day, still undecided to which track is my favourite though it needs more listening

Posted: Sat Aug 11, 2007 3:40 pm
by CygnusX1
I guess I'm too old-school, but:

IMHO, I consider everything from PW back
as their best.

S&A has its good-tunes-and-such, but it's same ol'
same ol' for me.

**shields self from thrown debris and rotten veggies**

Posted: Sat Aug 11, 2007 7:37 pm
by awip2062
Awww...no worries, Siggy. People here have diverse opinions but we are all allowed our diverse opinions, eh? How horrid if we all had the same thoughts, same preferences, same favorites!


*gathers up all the organic debris and rotten veggies for her compost pile*

Posted: Sat Aug 11, 2007 7:39 pm
by ElfDude
CygnusX1 wrote: S&A has its good-tunes-and-such, but it's same ol'
same ol' for me.
No worries. I've got a friend here who says the same thing.

Posted: Sat Aug 11, 2007 7:44 pm
by awip2062
You do?!?!

On this board? Hmmm....I guess I was right.

Posted: Sat Aug 11, 2007 7:46 pm
by ElfDude
awip2062 wrote:You do?!?!

On this board? Hmmm....I guess I was right.
No, not on this board. Here where I live. :)

Posted: Sat Aug 11, 2007 7:55 pm
by awip2062
Ooooooooooooooooooooh! *hits forehead* Sorry, my mistake.

Snakes and Arrows

Posted: Sat Aug 11, 2007 10:57 pm
by Wendy
"S&A has its good-tunes-and-such, but it's same ol'
same ol' for me."


Sometimes, same ol' same ol' can be what
it takes to get you through the day.




***Dodges rats rooting through the compost***


:P

Posted: Sun Aug 12, 2007 7:21 am
by Mr. Potatoe Head
Throws a watermelon bomb, zing.....splat.... score!
I'll take the the big stuffed bunny, please :razz:

I still want to know about this...
I do have a question too concerning "Malignant Narcissism" at 1:08 right smack dab in the middle of the track. I hear some sort of lyrics, does anyone know what it is?

I didn't hear it live when they played it either? Sounds like they are saying something, it's not instrumental. :?