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McCready's quote in Spin concerns me....
Hugh Freaking Dillon
Posts: 14,010
About halfway through the article, he is being asked about how PJ basically sabotaged their own career with no videos, the TM fiasco, etc, and this is a direct quote:
"We've always tried to subvert the business, But now that we're putting out a record on our own, we're taking on the responsibility of sinking or swimming ourselves. If that means writing a song that sounds like a mainstream radio hit, we're going to do that. And if it means going on TV to promote ourselves, we're going to do that too".
I have nothing against them promoting themselves. I'm not one of those nutjob Pearl Jam "purists" that judge all their decisions at every turn. The only part that didn't sit well with me was "...If that means writing a song that sounds like a mainstream radio hit, we're going to do that.".
Am I reading that wrong? I am taking that as they have no problem deliberately writing a song so it gets on the radio. Or is he just saying if they write a song that HAPPENS to sound mainstream, they won't purposely shelve it for Lost Dogs 2 like they did in the past?
I sure hope he meant the latter. Obviously, it's their band, and their career. I am not going to stand up on my soapbox and tell them what they should or shouldn't do. I just hopefully got the wrong impression that they would have no problem pandering to the masses if they felt like it.
"We've always tried to subvert the business, But now that we're putting out a record on our own, we're taking on the responsibility of sinking or swimming ourselves. If that means writing a song that sounds like a mainstream radio hit, we're going to do that. And if it means going on TV to promote ourselves, we're going to do that too".
I have nothing against them promoting themselves. I'm not one of those nutjob Pearl Jam "purists" that judge all their decisions at every turn. The only part that didn't sit well with me was "...If that means writing a song that sounds like a mainstream radio hit, we're going to do that.".
Am I reading that wrong? I am taking that as they have no problem deliberately writing a song so it gets on the radio. Or is he just saying if they write a song that HAPPENS to sound mainstream, they won't purposely shelve it for Lost Dogs 2 like they did in the past?
I sure hope he meant the latter. Obviously, it's their band, and their career. I am not going to stand up on my soapbox and tell them what they should or shouldn't do. I just hopefully got the wrong impression that they would have no problem pandering to the masses if they felt like it.
Gimli 1993
Fargo 2003
Winnipeg 2005
Winnipeg 2011
St. Paul 2014
Fargo 2003
Winnipeg 2005
Winnipeg 2011
St. Paul 2014
Post edited by Unknown User on
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8/7/08, 6/9/09
that has nothing to do with it. there is a massive difference, IMHO, if they decided to write a song simply to get on the radio, as opposed to writing a song that happened to sound radio-friendly, you'd be ok with that?
doesn't that reek of Nickleback-itis?
anyway, I had a question. Did I misread the quote?
Fargo 2003
Winnipeg 2005
Winnipeg 2011
St. Paul 2014
so you think it was written SPECIFICALLY for the radio? or that it was written, and later decided "hey, that would probably work on radio".
completely different.
Fargo 2003
Winnipeg 2005
Winnipeg 2011
St. Paul 2014
To me, it sounds like they put up certain barriers and deliberately wrote (and released) songs that they knew wouldn't be seen as mainstream songs. I like Nothing As It Seems as much as the next guy, but releasing it as the first single? Really?
They have songs that could have been considered mainstream in their catalog, but chose not to release them as singles.
They're different people and have different priorities now.
I also think they took an online class through The University of Phoenix on effective marketing strategies.
PBM
Wishlist Foundation: http://wishlistfoundation.org
It was definitely written for the radio. I dont care what the band has said about it (or if they even said anything about it being a radio song). They 100% made that song for radio, the production on it alone just gives it away. I mean, it was in that cheesy target commercial. My friend who doesnt care for pearl jam kept singing the chrous to the song and told me he loves the song.
I honestly could care less what they do. if they wanna make a radio song (the fixer), then let them. Sure that target commercial is flat out cheesy but it doesnt bother me one bit.
edit: and I have that article and loved reading that part. I think they should become popular with the youth again, they deserve it. Hell they could put their song in a mtv show and it wouldnt even bother me. The whole "sellout" thing is so incredibly stupid to me.
8/7/08, 6/9/09
THAT...made me laugh!
as to the rest of your post, i agree. i think what mike is saying is they purposely self-sabotaged in the past, and they are no longer choosing to actively do that. ince now they are 100% in control of their work, they're going to do it all on their own terms...and sure, that includes releasing music that is radio-friendly, b/c sure...why not? it is entirely their careers, their work, their control.
Let's just breathe...
I am myself like you somehow
:shock:
D2D agrees with my post? I have to write this date down!
PBM
Wishlist Foundation: http://wishlistfoundation.org
I just thought it would be weird to think that PJ would write a song with radio in mind. That was all.
Fargo 2003
Winnipeg 2005
Winnipeg 2011
St. Paul 2014
I agree, and have stated many times myself, that the whole "sellout" thing is non-existent. It is their livelihood. If they "sold out", then I sell out every day I come to work. All of us do.
Their promotion of Backspacer doesn't bother me at all either.
Fargo 2003
Winnipeg 2005
Winnipeg 2011
St. Paul 2014
i think 'alarms me' sounds a lot more freaky than 'concerns me'...personally.
at most, i would think 'surprises me' the most fitting, but that's just me. and also, for me, it really doesn't even surprise me. it's close to 20 years since they've started out. i think they've remained pretty true to their basic ideals, but sure....we all gorw and change. i know i have. i expect nothing less or more from pj.
and i agree with you entirely about the whole 'sellout' bs.
Let's just breathe...
I am myself like you somehow
It's a valid question. I say that because I bought into the mystical "us against them" philosophy in the early years. When, in fact, I bought into an illusion.
If they didn't want radio to play their songs, they would release an album and sell copies out of the trunk of their car. They don't and never have.
They've always released singles and promoted albums...they're just doing it more openly now.
Did it rub me the wrong way? Yeah, for a while. It was like realizing that Santa Claus is, in fact, my dad. I don't hate my dad. Well, maybe I do, but for different reasons.
PBM
Wishlist Foundation: http://wishlistfoundation.org
have i really been that disagreeable all these years?
i honestly thought that more often than not...we were in agreement. tho no code trumps yield for me.
eh well, the beauty of a convenient memory i guess...;)
Let's just breathe...
I am myself like you somehow
just let them keep doing what they do for whatever reason
Yes.
No.
PBM
Wishlist Foundation: http://wishlistfoundation.org
it better not, you have BONO as your avatar.
8/7/08, 6/9/09
eh well then...... :evil:
bring it!
:twisted:
Let's just breathe...
I am myself like you somehow
BONO??? It's Hugh Dillon!!!
Fargo 2003
Winnipeg 2005
Winnipeg 2011
St. Paul 2014
oops, the glasses and pose looks like bono to me.
8/7/08, 6/9/09
bullshit. that's fuckin' Bono.
and, they have been going on tv to promote new records for years
none of that matters as long as they keep writing good music and put on kick ass shows-the rest is just window dressing IMHO
when they start playing crappy shows, then I will be concerned
Pearl Jam was happy screwing over Epic when Pearl Jam was getting guaranteed money and preaching about the art of music, but now they are going to become radio friendly when it is their butts on the line and not Epic's.
I wonder how many people who will read this agree, but won't say so...
This theory should appeal to many! Screw over the corporate rock label, then cash in like a mom and pop store.
PBM
Wishlist Foundation: http://wishlistfoundation.org
:roll:
Fargo 2003
Winnipeg 2005
Winnipeg 2011
St. Paul 2014