Rough Times Ahead For Our Lady Peace?
I don't know what to think. My all time favorite band released a new single, quite frankly, I'm not digging it. We've all had this scenario where our band of choice shows their new stuff and we go, "Ew, I'm not sure where I'm liking where they are headed."
Normally I wouldn't be so concerned because Heavyweight, the first single from the last album Curve, wasn't a knockout by any means. In fact, it may be one of my least favorite songs on that CD. But, they just lost their original drummer, Jeremy Taggart as well.
Speculation is running wild that he left due to creative differences. And after hearing Won't Turn Back, I wouldn't blame him. If this does set the tone for the new album direction, then I suppose you can count me out. Again, this is all rumor at this point, the dude may have just been burnt out and ready for a change. (CM Punk anyone?)
The OLP cynics can just use this for more fuel for their fire. When OLP became "sellouts" with '02's Gravity, they can seemingly do no right in the eyes of the alleged "true fans" of the band. I'll be the first to admit, their sound did change from Spirtual Machines to Gravity. That change was due to mainly Raine's new more "radio-friendly" vocals, and the switch from lead guitarist Mike Turner to Steve Mazur. The also had their biggest radio single in Canada and the US (by far) in Somewhere out There.
I came in as a fan at this point, then followed the band retroactively, so I don't have the same perception of the band that the Naveed crowd does. I do get their point though. We don't like dramatic change in our music. Subtle ones are fine (not for everyone, but definitely for me.), like incorporating more ballads if you were a hard rock band isn't always a bad thing regardless of what the metalheads will have you believe. But, if all you do is jump to the ballads from that point on, (Think Theory of a Deadman) then they definitely have a valid point to bitch about. You can call it band "evolution" but if it's not your thing, then it's not your thing. They may not be selling out, but maybe they just don't care as much as when they were starving artists.
OLP always seemed like they cared. Maybe they have gotten too political in some of their songs (they have, but it's not blatant like Green Day; it's more abstract for the most part.), and some of the poppy tendencies are creeping in more and more, but they don't seem to be phoning it in-yet.
This new song is just... eh. There's no emotion behind it. It's easily the most pop song they've ever done in my opinion. And it's not even a good pop song! I don't know who their trying to sound like, but it's not OLP. I personally loved Curve, with it's variety of sound, and lots and lots of emotion. It was to me, the best bridge from old OLP to new OLP, with a little of something for both. I want this new album is to be like that!!! Maybe it still will be, and I'm just jumping the gun. The Taggart scenario does worry me though.
I'm interested to hear what other OLP fans think?
Normally I wouldn't be so concerned because Heavyweight, the first single from the last album Curve, wasn't a knockout by any means. In fact, it may be one of my least favorite songs on that CD. But, they just lost their original drummer, Jeremy Taggart as well.
Speculation is running wild that he left due to creative differences. And after hearing Won't Turn Back, I wouldn't blame him. If this does set the tone for the new album direction, then I suppose you can count me out. Again, this is all rumor at this point, the dude may have just been burnt out and ready for a change. (CM Punk anyone?)
The OLP cynics can just use this for more fuel for their fire. When OLP became "sellouts" with '02's Gravity, they can seemingly do no right in the eyes of the alleged "true fans" of the band. I'll be the first to admit, their sound did change from Spirtual Machines to Gravity. That change was due to mainly Raine's new more "radio-friendly" vocals, and the switch from lead guitarist Mike Turner to Steve Mazur. The also had their biggest radio single in Canada and the US (by far) in Somewhere out There.
I came in as a fan at this point, then followed the band retroactively, so I don't have the same perception of the band that the Naveed crowd does. I do get their point though. We don't like dramatic change in our music. Subtle ones are fine (not for everyone, but definitely for me.), like incorporating more ballads if you were a hard rock band isn't always a bad thing regardless of what the metalheads will have you believe. But, if all you do is jump to the ballads from that point on, (Think Theory of a Deadman) then they definitely have a valid point to bitch about. You can call it band "evolution" but if it's not your thing, then it's not your thing. They may not be selling out, but maybe they just don't care as much as when they were starving artists. OLP always seemed like they cared. Maybe they have gotten too political in some of their songs (they have, but it's not blatant like Green Day; it's more abstract for the most part.), and some of the poppy tendencies are creeping in more and more, but they don't seem to be phoning it in-yet.
This new song is just... eh. There's no emotion behind it. It's easily the most pop song they've ever done in my opinion. And it's not even a good pop song! I don't know who their trying to sound like, but it's not OLP. I personally loved Curve, with it's variety of sound, and lots and lots of emotion. It was to me, the best bridge from old OLP to new OLP, with a little of something for both. I want this new album is to be like that!!! Maybe it still will be, and I'm just jumping the gun. The Taggart scenario does worry me though.
I'm interested to hear what other OLP fans think?
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