Disappointed? ...or not

[dmbchick78]

Originally Posted by idontknow1899

I applaud your self-restraint. I know I couldn't wait to get a taste of the new tracks.

Thank you

[jasonab73]

2008 was a ROUGH year for this band. Butch leaving just before the tour, Stefan's house burning to the ground, then Roi?!?!? God knows what else.

I'm happy they are touring and putting out an album at all!!!

[popliteus]

First of all I love this band and everything they do. i think the album will be great, but not as great as the 90's, here's my reason-starts a long time ago.
I think there definitely was a change that happened with the band after the lillywhite sessions. Just listen at how they were progressing with their albums -

Remember two things - the birth of the band, gritty, rough around the edges, honest music. This album proved that they had complete freedom with their artistic creativity.

UTTAD - a little glossy, but most were dave's songs where the band added their parts and because of that dave's style was heavily brought out on this ablum. This album proved that they were incredible musicians. DMB was really developing their own sound.

crash - Now starting to hear the influences of the rest of the band on the songwriting aspect and sound. The structure and feel of the songs were maturing as well as their sound.

BTCS - Absolutely epic. The songs were not road tested and all were written in the studio. These songs radiated honesty and maturity. Again, complete freedom with their artistic creativity.

Lillywhite sessions - Same undeniable honesty and maturity as BTCS. again, complete artistic freedom.

Note - Steve lillywhite produced all the above albums(minus rtt)

Then something happened.

Articles and interviews make the specifics unclear, but the jist of it was that execs at the record company wanted something happier, something snappier than the lillywhite sessions. The songs were just to dark and the execs felt that wouldn't make the album a great seller. lillywhite and dmb and some tensions. Maybe lillywhite pushed the glossy snappyness too much on the band, and they didn't like it. Maybe the band pushed it on lillywhite, but I like to think it was the former that happened.

And here lies the great decline (I like to call it)of the honesty and maturity in DMB's music:

So the execs sent Dave off with hit producer Glen Ballard, who specializes in making glossed over pop records i.e taking away all freedom of artistic expression and creativity. Of course Dave didn't like that idea, but the execs probably had dave by the balls, so what was he to do? He made the best record he could with Glen Ballard, that's what, sacrificing the honest and mature musicianship of the band's sound to a glossed over radio friendly version of DMB (which I still think is great music) I mean, no collaboration with the band????? I don't know if it was a creative block or what, but I believe it was the record company's fault of wanting them to change their sound.

Then of course they redid lillywhite sessions with steve harris (who worked with lillywhite on dmb's first three albums) and that was brilliant because it was older music from before the great decline.

Then Stand Up came with a producer who specializes in music that eminem and 50 make. Carter was restrained on this album, that alone makes it unworthy to be called a dmb album. again, record company grabbing dave by the balls or creative block? Balls with a little bit of creative block as a side effect to the grabbing of the balls.

Now here we are with a new album almost coming out with songs from it being played live. Does the record company still have dmb by the balls? is the creative block still there? OR maybe they are breaking through that creative block at a steady pace, growing balls of steel that the record company can't get a hold of anymore. The great decline hurt the band, but i feel they are on their way to rising to the level they were at before the great decline. of course that will never happen without roi, but they will get close.

DMB has done their best on every album they have made given the curcumstances. I believe this new album will be a step up from stand up and everyday. It is a shame that a poisoned record company could affect a great band like DMB, causing the great decline. But I think they are now looking up and starting the great ascension.

p.s. None of the hinderences described above have affected DMB's live music.


my two cents

[jmsb]

^ thanks for you insight, you make some interesting points. But independently from Record company execs/creative block, I think some songs on BW, were highly influenced by Tim and Cavallo

[oddizeboy]

Also, on Busted Stuff, you can't deny how good You Never Know is...and that came after the Lillywhite Sessions.

[greystreetfour20]

all i know is from what ive heard, every song is better than what was on standup. The studio versions of Why i am and spaceman have me counting down the days for the new album. im officially done listening to new material until June 2nd. This will give the boys plenty of time to practice more and to get these Four new album songs we've heard down to perfection.

[melicious]

The new material has made me even more hungry for June 2nd.....I think it's terrific! It's wild there are so many varying opinions about an album we haven't been able to listen to from start to finish yet! Guess I'm old enough to remember the feeling of listening to a great album, not just the singles. Let's all hold off on our judgements until we start with track 1 and listen to the end on June 2nd.

[emswally]

I don't know what to think yet. I listened to Beach Ball and was like what the hell. Lyrics-- Dis jointed. Music -- plodding from one section to another. It just seems like something big has been lost. I understand going in a new direction but it seems the band has lost something , beyond the loss of Leroi.

I still love DMB.

Just don't know.

[tceliot]

After 16 years, I can say with absolute certainty that I will rock this album until the windows break on June 2. Losing 'Roi was like losing an old friend for me, and if this band came together and made an album that they say is for his memory, I will play it so loud the speakers blow, and buy another set to celebrate the man and the music. I, for one, am feeling it every time I hear the opening notes of Shake Me Like a Monkey or Why I Am.

[DCWalker]

I love all the new songs. I've noticed that the first time they play a song live they rush through a bit. It's a survival trip, everybody does their part to get through it with no mistakes. The second time its played live there is significantly less stress and the improvement is amazing. Its a good idea to wait before passing judgement. What will these already great songs evolve into by the end of this summer?