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Post by gogonutz on Dec 8, 2012 12:30:57 GMT -5
Pins & Needles actually does get me excited. I really like that song, too bad it's only on the deluxe version. It is catchy, the lyrics may not be exactly what I had hoped for, but they're more than decent and there's a certain honesty and urgency in the song that I really like, gives it a little something extra.
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Post by klein on Dec 8, 2012 14:54:48 GMT -5
I'm wondering if they are under a contractual obligation to release x amount of albums by certain dates. If so, that would explain why many of the songs seem so uninspired. No it wouldn't explain anything. There are plenty of bands that manage to write good songs in an even shorter time span. Honestly, 2-3 years is a long freaking time to be working on an album. What we have here is a textbook case of a song writer who's lost his passion and inspiration and a producer who keeps driving them further into irrelevance. I hate to say it, but Jude is largely to blame for the direction the band has gone in recent years. I really don't see this album succeeding. Raindrops has already fallen off the VH1 Top20 after what, less than a week? It doesn't seem to be getting any traction in radio play and I don't really hear any other radio viable songs on the album that would put LH on people's music radar again. What this band needs is a break from music and a new producer with ideas that don't royally suck. |
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Post by gogonutz on Dec 8, 2012 15:10:48 GMT -5
The only song that I think has any chance to get decent airplay is Gotta Be Tonight, but apart from that, only Pins & Needles comes to mind, but I don't think radio would really embrace that either. So I think you're right about it not being an obvious commercial success.
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Post by escalibur on Dec 8, 2012 15:46:03 GMT -5
I'm wondering if they are under a contractual obligation to release x amount of albums by certain dates. If so, that would explain why many of the songs seem so uninspired. No it wouldn't explain anything. There are plenty of bands that manage to write good songs in an even shorter time span. Honestly, 2-3 years is a long freaking time to be working on an album. What we have here is a textbook case of a song writer who's lost his passion and inspiration and a producer who keeps driving them further into irrelevance. I hate to say it, but Jude is largely to blame for the direction the band has gone in recent years. I really don't see this album succeeding. Raindrops has already fallen off the VH1 Top20 after what, less than a week? It doesn't seem to be getting any traction in radio play and I don't really hear any other radio viable songs on the album that would put LH on people's music radar again. What this band needs is a break from music and a new producer with ideas that don't royally suck. It looks that I'm not the only one with exactly the same opinion about LH's direction, about Jude and so on. ps. Another keyword: Lifehouse-Almeria-(Deluxe_Edition)-2012-C4 |
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Post by Deleted on Dec 8, 2012 16:33:15 GMT -5
I still really like it, and like it even more now that I've heard the songs in their entirety (except for the bonus tracks)! I love the mix of styles and genres and the careful crafting of the songs are interesting to me. I hear chain gangs marching, and birds flying, and storm clouds rolling, and horses galloping throughout the songs. I definitely hear the cinematic influence. I love all the different percussion used and experimented with... I still feel as I've said before that it's ground breaking in many ways. I'm excited for the band and for the upcoming release date concert to hear some of these songs live. There's a lot of interesting things about these songs that I continue to discover. I think they are going to do "better than alright" with this record. I definitely hear what you guys are saying, but I don't agree. I love ya just the same, and hope you do find the kind of music that appeals to you. We all have different tastes in art. I care about the community part of being a Lifehouse fan and it makes me sad to see people that are not happy with the direction, but you've all explained your reasoning very well. Peace to all!  |
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Post by celticflower on Dec 8, 2012 16:33:39 GMT -5
Escalibur: be realistic here..you have no real clue what went down between Serge and Jase..you have no clue why Jason mentions this person, not that person..people meet, they help you evolve, but most people will not stay in your life forever..I think it's useless to name everyone of those in a thank you note..and Serge has nothing to do with where the band is now (he went away a long time ago and the band grew anew I think) . at Dissaray: how can you be THIS sure about them losing passion? have you talked to them personally? the album might give you that feeling, but as a wise friend  said to me, that does not mean that the album is without passion. |
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Post by celticflower on Dec 8, 2012 16:35:37 GMT -5
I am glad there is criticism, constructive criticism out here:d that is good..and it keeps us awake..but some things are just different tastes rather than an album failure or whatever
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Post by Deleted on Dec 8, 2012 16:38:56 GMT -5
Wow. After reading some last messages in this thread, I feel sad and depressed. About to listen new album now. Hope it will make my mood a bit better. And I don't want LH to disband, like EVER. Lifehugs Olga! Even though many of the reactions here are not favorable, not all Lifehouse fans are feeling the way that is expressed here. I think each person should listen and just decide for themselves if the music appeals to them or not. And if you ever want to talk about songs in a positive way, I and many of my friends would love to talk about it more. |
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Post by Deleted on Dec 8, 2012 16:42:22 GMT -5
I am glad there is criticism, constructive criticism out here:d that is good..and it keeps us awake..but some things are just different tastes rather than an album failure or whatever Agree! <3 |
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Post by disarray on Dec 8, 2012 16:55:26 GMT -5
Escalibur: be realistic here..you have no real clue what went down between Serge and Jase..you have no clue why Jason mentions this person, not that person..people meet, they help you evolve, but most people will not stay in your life forever..I think it's useless to name everyone of those in a thank you note..and Serge has nothing to do with where the band is now (he went away a long time ago and the band grew anew I think) . at Dissaray: how can you be THIS sure about them losing passion? have you talked to them personally? the album might give you that feeling, but as a wise friend said to me, that does not mean that the album is without passion. I never said anything about them losing passion. That wasn't me. I said the songs seem uninspired. I would guess that LH is very passionate about what they are doing musically. Lyrically, it seems like Jason is stuck. Didn't he once say something along the lines of life going so smoothly for him personally, he tried writing from another person's perspective. NNF came from a place of pain. Broken, in his words, "the most inspired song on the record" also came from a place of pain. As for radio play, I think always somewhere close could be a single. |
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Post by gogonutz on Dec 8, 2012 16:58:35 GMT -5
Everyone is free to voice an opinion whether they think the album's brilliant or if it's a disaster. Regardless, these are opinions, they are based on taste, content and other things. These opinions are personal and don't mean someone else HAS to feel the same way. Either way!
So please remain respectful of the band and of your fellow forum members. I know this is a hectic time and everyone invested with Lifehouse and their music will have something to say about it. That's fine, but lets all get along. Regardless of our opinion about the new album we all wish Lifehouse, and eachother, the best.
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Post by escalibur on Dec 8, 2012 16:59:03 GMT -5
Escalibur: be realistic here..you have no real clue what went down between Serge and Jase..you have no clue why Jason mentions this person, not that person..people meet, they help you evolve, but most people will not stay in your life forever..I think it's useless to name everyone of those in a thank you note..and Serge has nothing to do with where the band is now (he went away a long time ago and the band grew anew I think) . "Assuming if there wasnt any 'hard feelings' in the first place." Hello?  ps. "Nice job Geffen, the title is mispelled on the spine." ;D |
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Post by klein on Dec 9, 2012 2:41:50 GMT -5
ps. "Nice job Geffen, the title is mispelled on the spine." ;D please let this be a joke |
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Post by celticflower on Dec 9, 2012 5:32:41 GMT -5
escalibur: I'm afraid I do not fully get what you are trying to say here:/ @dissaray: if I got that wrong I am sorry.. really, misspelled title? sloppy that..but also the lyrics are not complete in the digital booklet..why is that always so hard? it happens with a lot of bands..and I do not get it..how hard is it to type the correct lyrics?
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Post by City on Dec 9, 2012 9:25:53 GMT -5
wow, it's so funny seeing others experience their first musical breakup right on these boards. that happen to me when Who We Are came out. I feel like i should put up a disclaimer because I no longer consider myself a lifehouse fan so my opinion might not be the best set of "reactions" if you're looking for feedback. i didn't listen to any of the preview clips either. But I'm just one person and these are just my thoughts.
Gotta Be Tonight: right off the bat, why does jason's voice sound so bad? Something about it ticks me off. But it gets easier once the country flare kicks in. and then there's the background vocals that sounds like it came out of a radio/speaker. It's so odd, but I do like the chorus, but then again, I've always been a fan of music that soars. I just wish there was a proper bridge rather than a repeat of the verse/chorus. For an opener, I thought it did its job of welcoming in the listener and it did set the tone for me.
Between the Raindrops: This song is so underrated! and i know, i was one of the disbelievers. I think i said that there was nothing catchy about it, but the melodies grew on me, so i take that back. The way jason holds a bit longer to the phases of "left...tooooooo," "we knewwwwww" "walk......ing" while the music doesn't pause for it, there's a shot of panic inside of me that just needs to hear him finish the line.
Nobody Listen: oh, a futuristic song? i like the way it starts and i like the way it works itself towards the chorus. and i even like the "oooo" that present itself during the chorus, but man, i wish the chorus had real words besides "nobody listen. nobody listen. nobody listen." but what else can they do, not a lot of words rhyme with listen. Still, the melody works for me, but yeah, i can't really defend the lyrics. haha.
Moveonday: this song is terrible. Couldn't they just have Ben sing the "move on" parts with his guitar instead of having jason sing those words. This song seems to gear towards the live sound or the "hard" rock sound so i think it would have worked. But based on what this song is, it just doesn't work for me. Maybe they can tweak it during the tour, but i can't get pass the "move on move on move on yeah" parts. It sounds forced. It sounds fake. the melody is boring.
Slow Motion: Why does this track remind me of the 60s? maybe psychedelic? I'm not sure if i'll like this song 2 months from now because the adjective my mind keeps throwing at me are "slow, safe, and steady." but as of now, it's one of my standouts because the melodies aren't thrown at my face so when i'm listening to it, i feel isolated. i feel lost. But it's a song that forces me to daydream and really question/wonder about life. I know the best songs are usually the ones that take you somewhere, but sometimes the middle of the road songs like this allow you to pause.
Only You're The One: hahah, Yes Yes. this song is awesome! I wanted to be spoiler free, but i did see that comment saying that it sounded like a darren hayes song and ohmygod, it totally does. reading the lyrics, yeah, this song is crap, but i have fun listening to it despite being utterly predicable. It's funny to me. and Jason, you never seem to capture a good yelling-style of singing in a song. stop doing it.
Where I Come From: I'm so conflicted about this song because it has this amazing progression towards the 2nd chorus, the one where the drums with that taste of country that are present on the rest of the album. but why oh why does jason have to sound like a robot! AHHH. I'm so sad. I guess it fits because (i can't confirm but) they are using a computer. i dont know. i really like the build up and i can get into that "march" towards the end, but the production on this track makes me wonder if i have hearing problems or are they using too much filters.
Right Back Home: who the hell is peter frampton? Maybe i'm bored of writing, but i don't have much to write about this song. I guess it's because it's inoffensive? if i told you this song was a 6 out of 10, that's exactly what it would sound like. the guitars are groovy, the guest vocals don't feel out of place. I'm not sure who is responsible for that guitar riff/solo (you'll know what i mean), but it does have a personality, it sounds alive.
Barricade: hmm, again, maybe i'm bored of writing, but nothing is coming out now. It sound like it belongs towards the end of the album, so good job on that! I feel lame for doing this, but all i want to write is that this song is "whatever." but it's not good nor bad. It actually does remind me of Lifehouse, the band. not new or old. It just sounds like them, but literally nothing is coming to me. It's just a "whatever" song. but again, maybe i'm bored of writing.
Aftermath: how come jason's voice sounds so good here? is it because it's a lullaby? no no, it must be that choir! okay, but gosh, can you imagine if every song on this album sounded this rich? but focusing on the song, yeah man. maybe lifehouse should just become a piano rock band. haha. It's pretty right? But i can't let that blind me. Lots of albums end with some somber stripped down tune. On my first listen, this was the only song that i considered "good," but the more i listen to it, it's not that special other than how clean it sounds.
So overall, clearly they use computers to aid them with recording, but with the western/country theme, it would just make more sense to have it stripped down as possible. I admit on my first listen, i felt so depressed at how shitty this album was. Because with album #4 and #5, there was still that feeling of, "well i don't like it, but i can see why someone else would." With album #6, I'm so happy that they understand that they needed to grow. and i think what went wrong with my first listen was that i unintentionally was looking for that one track that that could make me feel proud again. but sadly, none of these songs are it. there is no "centerpiece" on Almeria. And even when i feel like i adjusted to jason's "vocals," it still makes me cringe. There's potential in these songs, but the words are so empty. And the scary part of all, it makes me wonder how on earth their record label agreed to releasing this album because there are no "radio friendly" songs on this album. Maybe 2013 will prove me wrong. or maybe it's just me. It's a strange feeling and i sense others are going through the same process. "lifehouse for life!" right? and i know it's only been what, 2-3 days since the leak, but look at the bright side. lifehouse is the only band on this planet that can make me feel betrayed. and unlike album #4 and #5, at least Almeria got me talking. I don't know how others are going to react, but i'm going to put the album away for a while, read other people's comments. and hope to revisit it at a later time.
on a side note, Always Somewhere Close is a really good song. It's probably the only song i would share with people. haha.
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said to me, that does not mean that the album is without passion.
. I'd also like to know if anybody has an HD copy of Lifehouse at Pinkpop 2003. BY far their best concert ever