Disappointment

It's late and I should be going to bed as I have to be in the office at 8:30. But, on the way home, something bugged me. And sharing 2 bottles of red wine with my sis didn't help. Live. Bitterly disappoint me on a regular basis. They're one of those eponymous bands – a huge part of my history. They provided *the song* that my 1st girlfriend and I got together over ("I Alone", from Throwing Copper). Throwing Copper is a brilliant, brilliant album (thankfully, Allmusic.com give it 4.5/5 stars so we agree there :) ). It starts with mysterious, ominous tones set by "Dam at Otter Creek", proceeds through heart-wrenching metaphorical pain ("Lightning Crashes"), then beautiful, honest romantic poetry ("I alone") and later through moral, life-assessing wranglings ("Pillars of Davidson", "white, discussion"). So just what the fuck happened? I own every album of theirs and this is the only one that hits it. Secret Samadhi gets slammed on allmusic.com. I don't think it's as bad as they make out but it's certainly no Throwing Copper. When I got hold of "V" a few years back I thought they'd at least rediscovered a sound. Shame the lyrics were awful. Mental Jewelry (sic) is precocious by nature but has always struck a chord with me. Granted, it sounds dated now – like a bad R.E.M. cover band but they've always stuck true to their guns (be them obsessions with Aldous Huxley and various religious beliefs, for better or worse). At the very least, I'm glad I like what I do of theirs. I've never been one for mainstream and I would have gone off them if they'd taken a ride on it. As it is, I just wish they'd been better overall and more consistent. I think production has a lot to do with it (they ditched their "Throwing Copper" producer), and this might be best proved by their latest album which is woeful (sorry boys). As people, they'd annoy the piss out of me. Since day 1, they've battled with a Christian upbringing, utilising their music to assess whether Eastern philosophies hold more water (no pun intended) for them. As such, they're often in danger of just preaching to all and sundry. And that's just not my bag. But, I do respect that they've always done it. It's not a giant bandwagon-jumping exercise. It's the most likely reason for them not being mainstream (at least in the UK) but they've done little to avoid it. So, if anything, they're honest and out to make a point over a dollar sign. Amazingly for me, they're most often compared to U2. The R.E.M. comparison I can get. But U2? Just a really bad choice for me as I pathalogically hate U2. Although, if the comparisons are for reasons of lyrical social conscience then at least there I can see a similarity. Bono's still a dick though :)