Our Lady Peace on X92.9 Interview

[DG]

[Waiting to Exist]

[Heavy Alibi]

[MattCTUSA]

[RileyLewis]

I liked his cynical lyrics, but I don't mind if things are more upbeat.

I am more disappointed that the lyrics are much more obvious these days, although some of the songs we've seen so far on Burn, Burn have shown to be more cryptic.

The biggest problem I have with the singing is that it used to be his singing that set the melody, whereas now it's the guitar. I really think that set OLP apart before.

[Heavy Alibi]

Yeah, if you listen to the interview he actually mentions that... he calls it "maturity", he said something along the lines of "I used to sing over those guitar parts now I just let it be, you know?"

[Waiting to Exist]

I have to say--and I know they've discussed the process before--their method for recording this album was pretty smart, however annoying it may have been to my poor impatience. But whether or not they're making music I like (and they are, just not to the extent that they once did--and some of that, I'm sure, is nostalgia/sentimentality anyway), you can't disagree with coming back four months later and just listening to songs and deciding if you like them.

A little surprised that process turned out All You Did, but I guess OLP and I don't always have the same musical tastes. :p

[Heavy Alibi]

If you listen to a song like Middle of Yesterday, it's lyrics are not to far off from any other "ballad" out there, they're not even cryptic, but the entire musical structure of the song along with Raine's amazing voice is unique and makes the song undoubtedly amazing.

I just don't know how they can't see how that was the best way to make music. But nonetheless their new album will be great, I just think it will lack the punch and grab of the first 4 albums.

[Codes]

After hearing a good portion of the clips/live versions, it seems like AYD really is like the black sheep of the cd, I know its early to say since I haven't heard the cd, but ya lol.

[Waiting to Exist]

Oh, no doubt. Well, some doubt, but not much. If only for that reason, even, I'm surprised it made the CD. It doesn't fit in with the rest of what we've heard in either style or quality.

[Heavy Alibi]

Yes that is what it seems like... which makes me wonder... why did they pick it as a first single, much LESS even put it on the album in the first place? It could have a lot to do with the fact that it was a last-minute song that Raine wrote with someone else that they decided to tack onto the album? I don't know, but yeah.

[MindsOnLoan]

It seems OLP has it in their heads that if they release an poppy super-radio-friendly song, it will automaticlly become a hit (Where Are You, AYD), although they seem to fall below the hype.

As I've said before, OLP will have another massive long-lasting single when they stop trying to have one or write one. With past hits, they seem to be written and recorded just because it's a good song. Then after the recording they notice it's hooks and potential. Some of these newer lead singles seem to be written purely for, "Hey guys, let's write a hit."

But oh well, it sounds like the disappointment quite a few of us felt will be made up for with Time Bomb.

[Heavy Alibi]

[Waiting to Exist]

Well, TW posted it in the "favorite OLP songs" thread. Probably an exaggeration, but it seems he likes it a lot, anyway.

[gambit07]

[Heavy Alibi]

I dunno, "standing in the middle of yesterday, where it all went wrong, and we made mistakes, I'm sorry for the things I forgot to say, but it won't be long and it'll be okay... and I'll make it up to you... make it up to you.." isn't much different from "you're falling back to me, defying gravity, I know you're out there somewhere out there" in terms of just plain lyrics... Can you not picture Middle of Yesterday as a bad ballad if it would have been done differently? I was just pointing out that it's not just cryptic lyrics that made OLP what they were

[RileyLewis]

I agree. It was everything put together. So if you only changed one thing (lyrics, structure, crypticism, etc) it would be ok. But it's like they've changed everything.

They are an awesome band still, and that's because they are all so talented. And they've still got a knack for awesome hooks and catchy choruses. But that edge is gone. If they call it matirity, then so be it. But they seem to make formula songs now, whether they know it or not.

[todddowney]

In terms of making formula songs, I basically agree with respect to the last two albums.

[RileyLewis]

I agree with most of what you said. But it would be like being a fan of Michael Jordan when he played basketball, and then watching him play baseball. Sure, he's good at the new stuff. But it's not the same, and it's not what we want. Whether or not OLP's new stuff is good or not doesn't really matter to me. That's because there are hundreds of good bands. But there are only some that fit into the type I want to listen to over and over. I can recognize that say, Kanye West makes good music. But I don't like it that much.

So the new OLP sound is good, and I keep buying it because of some sense of loyalty and nastalgia. But it's not even half as close to the sound they had with Happiness or SM. It's probably because they just got older and lost their edge. Songs like Monkey Brains show they've still got it in them. And obviously it's their music to make, and I respect that. But it's different, and I liked the older style. The song structure was unique, the vocals were edgy and emotional where now they are emotionless and bland (generally, there are some standouts in the last few years). The guitar now seems to be all about a catchy hook rather than supporting everything else.

It's good, even great sometimes. But they are basically a completely different band.

[Heavy Alibi]

I'm mostly on Riley's side here. Yes, the band has changed their music and yes, we have to accept that. I'd even go so far to say that it's truly great music. But the truth is that this music is not them at their most creative and emotional, and is not distinct from any other random band.

Can you honestly say this album will be their best effort? Better than Spiritual Machines, Happiness, and Clumsy? Have you listened to The Wonderful Future, Car Crash or Stealing Babies lately? These songs are all completely 100% unique and different than anything I can think of.

For me, so far, almost all the songs on Burn Burn sound alike in some way. They're formulaic. From the 30 second clips we've heard, you can tell how they basically all start the same and follow the traditional verse, bridge, chorus, etcetera formula. Songs like Car Crash and Wonderful Future were the antithesis of this formulaic approach.

And I don't see how Raine's voice being used as an instrument can be seen as "immature"? Sure, it might sound whiney from a disconnected outside perspective but when you really listen to the songs and the music, it fits in perfectly and accents and brings to life the music to a degree I can't even put into words.

And like Riley has said, the guitar now seems to be all about catchy hooks rather than a good, solid support of the vocals and structure. The overall point I'm trying to drive is that yes, Burn Burn is great and all, but we could expect it from any other band. But you would be hard-pressed to find anything even remotely similar to OLP albums 2, 3 and 4 from any other source (I'm talking vocal structure, melody, lyrics, everything).

It's not that we're being overly demanding of the band, it's that we know what they're capable of — after all, why do you think we're such dedicated fans?