littlefriend420 wrote:Grachi wrote:ok... first of all talent doesnt disappear, so don't throw around "talent" with the same words as "effort" and "changes". Talent doesn't just disappear or run out with age or something like that, but other things do. Obviously, effort is a big part of the equation if you ask me. Look at Stand Up then look at BTCS, which one obviously took more work and more time to produce?
Now as for the second, changes, perhaps the commercial success has gotten into some of their heads and the band doesn't think they need to be running on full cylinders in terms of studio work and newer material. But, the fact that they are an excellent live band won't ever leave them, unless they decide to slack in that area too, but that is what they love and if playing live is what they love they will give it their all (which I think they do).
I just really wanted to throw that out there and stress that. Talent is something more then the lesser forces of this world. My grandfather has been playing piano for 50 or 40 years and he plays beautifully still to this day, in fact he is seriously one of the better pianists I've ever heard. Just because he is old doesn't mean his talent at playing the piano as slowly run out or something. Just something to keep in mind when you try to make sense of the musical quality of DMB or any other musician or band for that matter.
Every song and album you produce isn't going to be your best piece of work. You can't always write or create an awesome song or album, it just doesn't work that way. More and more bands just write one or two OK songs and then the rest is crap. You have to think DMB has had multiple albums and unreleased material that they play live that is better then most musicians create in their life time.
I just think some of these comments are unfair in threads like this, and I felt like I needed to say something.
I'm not saying you should love DMB no matter what like your under mind control or something, but don't go as far to say they aren't talented or good anymore just because the past few albums haven't been spectacular or even very good. There are other reasons for it and it doesnt have anything to do with talent.
I agree with most of what you said and definitely the spirit in which it was said. But I will also point out that the band set the bar as high as they did, not the fans. The band showed us the quality of the material that they are capable of making, but recently has failed to even
put forth the effort to try to set new highs. That's my biggest issue. The apparent lack of effort in the studio.
Yea, and thats the problem. It's like they are dedicated to the live atmosphere which is great and they should never lose that, but they need to put that same... effort, or dedication, to the studio process as well. That's why I think a lot of the stuff dave writes on the road or outside the studio is pretty good stuff, because it hasn't been altered and dirtied by the hands of dmb's producers or the influences outside of the band themselves. Think of 2004 songs, only hello again made it out alive if I'm not mistaken, and it sounded weird on Stand Up and much different then when they played it in 2004. Hopefully the same thing wont happen with Idea of You, Shotgun (which I think are very good and unlike recent material), but you know recent history hasn't proven us wrong yet unfortunately.
There isn't much you can do... especially when the band doesn't mind not putting every little last bit of effort into their studio/new material. I think it is a nice breather for them after being together for 15 years or however long it's been now, but of course as fans we don't want that, we want what we know they are capable of.
They did set the bar, but its better that they set the bar that high then set it to some regular or low level, and I know your not saying thats bad that they set it that high because it isn't obviously... It just makes it more frustrating when we listen to BTCS, and then Stand Up and it makes us wonder whats going on.
I personally still like their newer stuff, including Stand Up songs. I dunno I guess I don't mind the easier, more simple stuff even if it isn't a testament to what they are capable of. Maybe it's because I know that they are still an amazing band and one of the most talented bands I've ever heard, or I'm just not really that anal about it. I don't know, but I guess whats important for me and for everyone else is this simple statement:
If you like 'em, listen
If you don't, don't
Really boils down to that I guess, but I can understand the frustration. For me as a fan, unless their music turns into something that I just don't like or is so radically different, and they don't preserve their live quality (which I don't think will happen), I will keep listening to them, following them, going to shows, and being a fan. If they don't, well I'm glad that the music they gave us is truely timeless and I'll have the pleasure of listening to those albums and countless live concerts I have on iTunes for a long, long time.
That's all I gotta say about that [in a forrest gump accent]
one of them just wont.
