"The Right Stuff" Premier?

MindsOnLoan · Post by **MindsOnLoan** » 1/7/2009, 9:23 pm

I think I've stated this on here before, but oh well... When you look at great artists with large discographies, not every album is praised. They'll have several in a row that are loved, followed by maybe 1-3 albums that fans and critics alike panned. You can't expect a band to hit the nail on the head everytime... whether it be the band simply changing, searching for a sound, selling out, or personal things happening.

Followed by a slump, another great album usually comes out. It may be their only good album for awhile, or it may start another streak of great albums. You can never tell. OLP is possibly past their prime, or maybe they'll get a second chance to go through their prime. Maybe they'll rise again, maybe not. Yeah, we probably have already seen OLP at their best, but that doesn't mean future work won't be great as well. It may not be their best, but it could be better than what we've been hearing lately. Only time will tell.

Johnny · Post by **Johnny** » 1/7/2009, 10:58 pm

Are they ready for my pessimism?

Heavy Alibi · Post by **Heavy Alibi** » 1/7/2009, 11:15 pm

Well I'm glad we're all finally discussing this without limitations... I think it's good to get it all out, especially right before their next album is released...

I agree with the comments that OLP is past their prime, I think that's pretty obvious, and I don't think Raine's voice could handle much more "prime" anyway. I just finished showing my friend a comparison of "Starseed" (1994 recording) and the live version of "Starseed" from New Year 2009, and he laughed... he said "it doesn't even sound like (Raine's) trying!" I think he is trying... but just can't reach the notes.

Anyway I still look forward to their new album very much, because it will be my first album release experience as a hardcore OLP fan. Monkey Brains (aside from the intermission at about 2:30) is the one song so far that hasn't made me think this will be a complete Gravity/HIPT remake. 5 songs we've heard... 5 more to hear. I, for one, am still anticipating the album.

No, the lyrics are not as deep as they were before 2002, but Raine himself has said in interviews that he doesn't think "poetry works as music". That's his view, it's unfortunate, but it's his lyrics so his decision. I'm fine with the generic lyrics as long as the music is good. I'd love to hear more of the great catchy melodies from the earlier works.

Driven · Post by **Driven** » 1/8/2009, 12:36 am

A Strong Alibi wrote:Monkey Brains (aside from the intermission at about 2:30) is the one song so far that hasn't made me think this will be a complete Gravity/HIPT remake.

The bridge is the best part of the song and is giving me hope that they've still got some good stuff left...

The bridge is the most early-mid '90s alternative rock sounding thing they've written since Clumsy.

Very similar to some Pumpkins stuff.

I mean the verse is the same idea as World on the String, so I'm not sure how the rest of the song is that unique. The chorus is hard and has a sick bass riff.

Lando · Post by **Lando** » 1/8/2009, 12:56 am

the bridge is cliche with them now and from what i'm hearing used in another song too?

Lando · Post by **Lando** » 1/8/2009, 1:04 am

myownsatellite wrote: and the new pop-y fans are screaming that if OLP changes their sound "OMG I'D JUST DIIIIIIIIIE."

except that sales were stronger with the old material than the new stuff (however gravity fared well), so they had a more established fanbase with their older sound and were selling more albums too... oh and the fact that there really aren't going to be a lot of people who would say they'd die if olp changed their sound from the poppy mainstream style attempt, because the VAST majority of their fanbase prefers 1 of the first 4 albums as their favourite style/material.

NCdudeN2K4 · Post by **NCdudeN2K4** » 1/8/2009, 1:19 am

I think it's pretty clear they're past their prime. I'm not even saying this to stir up trouble, but I think it's pretty clear what combination worked the best for OLP. They're a complete different band post 2001.

Lando · Post by **Lando** » 1/8/2009, 2:22 am

you're not going to stir up trouble. you're entitled to your opinion.

Heavy Alibi · Post by **Heavy Alibi** » 1/8/2009, 2:35 am

I'm with Lando when it comes to the poppy mainstream attempt... I don't even think they have many die-hard fans of this part of their career... maybe a few young girls who were mad over Raine for a bit, and some who liked the anthems like "Somewhere Out There" and "Innocent", but the true fans are surely those that appreciate their earlier work. And I have a feeling that they know this, and that they want to reconnect with the older fans (Raine has commented a lot about that).

myownsatellite · Post by **myownsatellite** » 1/8/2009, 7:12 am

Lando wrote:
myownsatellite wrote: and the new pop-y fans are screaming that if OLP changes their sound "OMG I'D JUST DIIIIIIIIIE."

except that sales were stronger with the old material than the new stuff (however gravity fared well), so they had a more established fanbase with their older sound and were selling more albums too... oh and the fact that there really aren't going to be a lot of people who would say they'd die if olp changed their sound from the poppy mainstream style attempt, because the VAST majority of their fanbase prefers 1 of the first 4 albums as their favourite style/material.

I'm just using that as an example of how newer fans tend to react to any change in the music they love. I'm not saying that's how their new fans will all react.

Codes · Post by **Codes** » 1/8/2009, 5:14 pm

Can someone please upload monkey brains on like yousendit or megaupload or something? i tried d/l the torrent but it is taking forever, I just want to hear the song

Kicker774 · Post by **Kicker774** » 1/8/2009, 5:22 pm

Uploading MB (Flac) to rapidshare now

Codes · Post by **Codes** » 1/8/2009, 5:30 pm

^ thanks so much!

crustine · Post by **crustine** » 1/8/2009, 5:35 pm

i am not sure that comparing anything let alone a studio version of a song, to an outdoor concert of -15c is fair. I am not suggesting that Raine has the vocal range that he once had, but there are limitations given the environment. I know that the cool fall days of busking were almost too much for his californian climatized body so i can only image the pain he was feeling NYE.

Kicker774 · Post by **Kicker774** » 1/8/2009, 6:12 pm

Codes wrote:^ thanks so much!

Here is Monkey Brains

Shanae · Post by **Shanae** » 1/8/2009, 9:51 pm

After I though about it, I remembered seeing a few youtube clips of them busking in Toronto and realized that Raine's voice seemed just fine then. Throughout the NY concert, his voice generally improved as he got more warmed up. The first song I heard from all of the torrent of the concert was "Naveed," and that was one of their weaker songs of the night, so maybe that biased everything for me.

Hopefully they're not entirely "past their prime." I really, really hope they'll catch a second wind and really stump all of us with this new record.

Also, I admit, The Right Stuff has been in my head so much... I've been listening to it more than Waiting For Something to Happen or Monkey Brains. *Gasp!* It's just so damn catchy, and I try listening to the actual song when it's in my head.

Lando · Post by **Lando** » 1/9/2009, 3:10 am

Kicker774 wrote:Uploading MB (Flac) to rapidshare now

you're a horrible person. I suggest mediafire in a different thread because rapidshare is a piece of shit site.

Lando · Post by **Lando** » 1/9/2009, 3:10 am

myownsatellite wrote:
Lando wrote:
myownsatellite wrote: and the new pop-y fans are screaming that if OLP changes their sound "OMG I'D JUST DIIIIIIIIIE."

except that sales were stronger with the old material than the new stuff (however gravity fared well), so they had a more established fanbase with their older sound and were selling more albums too... oh and the fact that there really aren't going to be a lot of people who would say they'd die if olp changed their sound from the poppy mainstream style attempt, because the VAST majority of their fanbase prefers 1 of the first 4 albums as their favourite style/material.

I'm just using that as an example of how newer fans tend to react to any change in the music they love. I'm not saying that's how their new fans will all react.

ahhh ok, gotcha

Lando · Post by **Lando** » 1/9/2009, 3:18 am

A Strong Alibi wrote:I don't even think they have many die-hard fans of this part of their career... maybe a few young girls who were mad over Raine for a bit

Raine's not nearly at the level of canadian music male sex symbol that he used to be when he was younger, not that he ever promoted himself that way, but he was considered to be hotter in his younger days and i don't see teens and tweens or female fans in general (with the exception of Johnny) going through that with him anymore like they used to. I mean he's pushing 40, he's going to be 39 in feb, and back in the days of their high popularity with tours like Summersault he was late 20s/early 30s... So I'd say most of those days are behind him.

MindsOnLoan · Post by **MindsOnLoan** » 1/9/2009, 3:24 pm

As far as his voice goes, I'm not even sure if it's completely gone... I noticed he can sing newer songs perfectly fine, but he seems to be trying to sing with his newer style during the old songs. It just doesn't sound good that way though... Although his falsetto is fading during concerts, but it appears he can still do it in the studio, as he broke it out a few times during Healthy.