headnugg wrote:
I in no way do I think the Slip sucks. I think you need to go back to all my posts and really read more carefully.
I was referring to your opinion on these guys now, not before. It's quite obvious you think that their new material "sucks."
I think the songs I saw them play at Somerville all sounded the same and were boring as hell.
How did they sound the same...I listen to the set now and I don't see the similarities in song structure, lyrics, melodies, or anything. The only thing I can think of is that a lot of these songs share the same key signature. Perhaps you should explain this to me.
I know they are three of the most talented musicians around......that's why it bothers me that they're wasting their talents with feedback and distortion and Brad singing so much, which is clearly not his strong suit.
Distortion doesn't make something suck. There really wasn't any of this said feedback at the show. If you were hearing feedback, it was because of his ring modulator that apparently has a bad connection through either the input jack or the adapter (but I think the EHX Frequency Analyzers are utilizing plugs, instead of inputs for 9v/18v power). And I agree that Brad's singing isn't always the best, but I think you have to realize that all of the band members probably have wanted some lyrical exploration that they were obviously deprived of through jazz. And can you really blame them?
And guess what? I don't like Modest Mouse, and I sure as shit don't like Edge and U2, so if they're are starting to be some similarities between them and the Slip, that's bad news to me.
That's great, but Brad just so happens to like Modest Mouse, or again, from what I've read on their site he was listening to Modest Mouse for a while. And even if you don't like them he is taking what HE likes about them, or the Edge's tone or improvisational style for rock and incorporating it into his own writing. You'll notice that none of their songs sound like a Modest Mouse song or like a U2 song (save Sorry>With or Without You>Sorry, of course). And that's because they aren't those bands. But what's more important is that each of the band members are picking up on things that they like ABOUT those bands's styles of improvisation or song writing. So if you don't like it, maybe you do need to wait around for new material to come out from these guys that you will like. Give them a rest for a while and put something else on the stereo, or go to a different show.
And I don't have to compare what they're doing to anyone else out there, or to the music improvisationally, or whatever, I only have to decide whether or not I like the music. I can honestly say that recently I have not liked the music.
Well then you shouldn't be making a musical critique if you ask me. How do you compare music? How do you say this music is bad without comparing it to something already written? Just because you don't flat out like it doesn't make it "bad." It just makes it your opinion. But I don't see any justification for your claims, and I don't see why anyone else should believe what you have to say about the music being mediocre or subpar of a band when you can't say anything about it besides the fact that you don't like it.
I think it's fine that you don't like the new music. But to come out here and say the music is boring without any real reason for it is pretty much outlandish. And then to tell me that i don't know the real Slip energy that they had years ago, and then say that you needn't compare the band to anyone else or even themselves? That's pretty contradictory, if you ask me.
And no offense, I'm not trying to "snip" here, but someone who's only been seing the Slip for two years doesn't know what they're missing. You never saw the Slip when they used to play their sick jazz oriented shows. Sure, you've heard From the Gecko on your home stereo. But in terms of a live performance, it would be impossible for you to know what you're missing, what I'm talking about, because you never witnessed it for yourself.
Sure, I understand what you are saying, and that's my loss. I'd heard of this band before that time, I just put off listening to them. In turn I missed out on seeing them at the Somerville show in 2003 because of it. My fault. Oh well. But even so, I have some of their older shows recorded, and I have listened to them and I did like them. Doesn't necessarily make me less knowledgable on the band. It actually just makes me less fortunate.
And as far as playing an instrument makes you're post more valid or whatever, dude, half the people on this site, including me, play the guitar, so that doesn't make you able to "listen" better than anyone.
Yeah, I realize a lot of people play drums, bass and guitar. But, there's a big difference between just playing it and actually studying into it. I won't get into that, because that's a whole different debate. But if you want to sometime test my knowledge on music or guitar related stuff, be my guest. It'd be fun anyways.
Beauty is in the eyes of the beholder, and I just didn't see any beauty in the set they played at Somerville. If the Slip wants to sound like Modest Mouse, that's awesome, I'm just not going to listen. Obviously bands have to change, I don't begrudge them that, it's just that what they've changed into I don't particularly care for, and I'm venting that opinion on this here discussion board, along with a bunch of other people.
Fair enough. My only complaint of the band would be that they're not mixing in the old with the new, and that for the past 4 shows I've seen them play, the set lists have been way too similar.