Maybe it's an age thing

Black Diamond

So so far old farts like me like it more?

decides2dream

Black Diamond wrote:

So so far old farts like me like it more?

i think? i am older than you.....and while it's growing on me, i am not feeling this overwhelming LOVE that many of you are. so again, i really don't think the age correlation is *it*....there's more to it than that.



it's a very different album, which is cool....but for me anyway, in some ways, it's also an homage to a lot of music. i hear a lot of influences, a lot seems 'familiar' to me.....and that can be both good and bad. i hear some amazing things, and some....not so much, for me. so thus far, it's a mixed bag. i am curious to see the 'shelf-life' of this album for me, b/c there are a couple songs that are just gorgeous, a couple i find fun, but a few more that are just not connecting for me. i haven't listened to s/t in ages and ages.....so i wonder where this one will end up.

InMyTree4

im 19 and i love the new album...way better than avacado was

slightofjeff

decides2dream wrote:

Black Diamond wrote:

So so far old farts like me like it more?

i think? i am older than you.....and while it's growing on me, i am not feeling this overwhelming LOVE that many of you are. so again, i really don't think the age correlation is *it*....there's more to it than that.

I think where the old fart does have somewhat of a point is this: For the most part, in general, I think most people's opposition to this record is that it isn't as angst-ridden as previous releases. It certainly isn't nearly as angst ridden as the early albums that got most of us into this band.

And angst is such a teenager/20-something emotion. I think most of us ease into middle age, we get more comfortable in our own skin. We get married, we have kids, we start to settle into life. And we get content. I hear a strong sense of contentment on this record, and it matches where I am in life right now.

If I were 18 years old, and this were my first exposure to the band, I would probably hate it. Because I wouldn't get it.

I don't mean this to say old people can't hate it, too. I don't mean to say young people can't enjoy it, too. I just think IN GENERAL, age does have something to do with how one perceives and accepts these new songs.

I think, generally speaking, you need to have a certain amount of years under your belt to truly appreciate Backspacer.

I mean, the guy who I was once convinced was predicting his own suicide on Vitalogy is now talking out putting away his early grave. That's quite a sea change.

pearljamchris

Black Diamond wrote:

So so far old farts like me like it more?

well im 24 dont really consider myself as an old fart n i think its an amazing album, i cant actually stop listening to it. ive never took to an album as quick as ive taken to this one. much love for backspacer!

decides2dream

slightofjeff wrote:

decides2dream wrote:

Black Diamond wrote:

So so far old farts like me like it more?

i think? i am older than you.....and while it's growing on me, i am not feeling this overwhelming LOVE that many of you are. so again, i really don't think the age correlation is *it*....there's more to it than that.

I think where the old fart does have somewhat of a point is this: For the most part, in general, I think most people's opposition to this record is that it isn't as angst-ridden as previous releases. It certainly isn't nearly as angst ridden as the early albums that got most of us into this band.

And angst is such a teenager/20-something emotion. I think most of us ease into middle age, we get more comfortable in our own skin. We get married, we have kids, we start to settle into life. And we get content. I hear a strong sense of contentment on this record, and it matches where I am in life right now.

If I were 18 years old, and this were my first exposure to the band, I would probably hate it. Because I wouldn't get it.

I don't mean this to say old people can't hate it, too. I don't mean to say young people can't enjoy it, too. I just think IN GENERAL, age does have something to do with how one perceives and accepts these new songs.

I think, generally speaking, you need to have a certain amount of years under your belt to truly appreciate Backspacer.

I mean, the guy who I was once convinced was predicting his own suicide on Vitalogy is now talking out putting away his early grave. That's quite a sea change.

see, i addressed this earlier in this thread.....i think of that more as relating to mindset than age. and that mindset may or may not correlate with age. aso the contentment, i too definitely hear a lot of that on this album, and in some songs it is absolutely luminous and sparkling, others it is fun.....and yet, i still personally don't love how it is delivered in parts. i don't hate the album, but i don't love it either....and it seems there are many with extrme reactions in one direction or the other, and i am not one of em. it definitely is getting better with me each listen, b/c at first just breathe was the only tune to grab me from the get-go....but i still have my issues with a few that interferes with me being able to say i "love" it, as a whole.


however, sure...absolute agreement that the perspective change for ed is vast and obvious, and i actually love that (even while still loving his angst/anger from the past too)....it's simply....delivery. and thus why i personally just don't correlate loving/hating, or whatever...for this album...with age alone.

comebackgirl

decides2dream wrote:

see, i addressed this earlier in this thread.....i think of that more as relating to mindset than age. and that mindset may or may not correlate with age. aso the contentment, i too definitely hear a lot of that on this album,

I agree...not sure that it's an age thing, but maybe more of a stage of life thing and contentment. I LOVE this album...love the lyrics...just cannot get enough of it. I don't think it would have struck the same chord with me 10 years ago.

decides2dream

comebackgirl wrote:

decides2dream wrote:

see, i addressed this earlier in this thread.....i think of that more as relating to mindset than age. and that mindset may or may not correlate with age. aso the contentment, i too definitely hear a lot of that on this album,

I agree...not sure that it's an age thing, but maybe more of a stage of life thing and contentment. I LOVE this album...love the lyrics...just cannot get enough of it. I don't think it would have struck the same chord with me 10 years ago.

thing is, i am very content.....and yet, i am just not loving this album as a WHOLE. i love SOME songs, SOME lyrics.....SOME i see such love/contentment....others fun....and sure, i hear/see some fun in others, but it's fun i just don't get. i think perhaps 10 years ago i might've liked it more actually, mostly for the music......i am far tougher on lyrics, and on this band, than with other bands, and at other times in life....but hey, whateva.....i;m the old fart who apparently jis in the minority. that's ok too. just breathe, in and of itself.....makes it ALL worthwhile. the fact that there are a few others i really like, it's all good. 8-)

comebackgirl

decides2dream wrote:

comebackgirl wrote:

decides2dream wrote:

see, i addressed this earlier in this thread.....i think of that more as relating to mindset than age. and that mindset may or may not correlate with age. aso the contentment, i too definitely hear a lot of that on this album,

I agree...not sure that it's an age thing, but maybe more of a stage of life thing and contentment. I LOVE this album...love the lyrics...just cannot get enough of it. I don't think it would have struck the same chord with me 10 years ago.

thing is, i am very content.....and yet, i am just not loving this album as a WHOLE. i love SOME songs, SOME lyrics.....SOME i see such love/contentment....others fun....and sure, i hear/see some fun in others, but it's fun i just don't get. i think perhaps 10 years ago i might've liked it more actually, mostly for the music......i am far tougher on lyrics, and on this band, than with other bands, and at other times in life....but hey, whateva.....i;m the old fart who apparently jis in the minority. that's ok too. just breathe, in and of itself.....makes it ALL worthwhile. the fact that there are a few others i really like, it's all good. 8-)

LOVE Just Breathe. Unthought Known, Force of Nature, Amongst the Waves and Got Some are my other favorites.

Music is such an individual thing. So is contentment...stage of life, etc. Zoso loves the album too...but I don't think it would have struck the same chord for me at 25 that it has for him or that it does for me now. I say just take what you love and enjoy!

slightofjeff

decides2dream wrote:

thing is, i am very content.....and yet, i am just not loving this album as a WHOLE.

Like I said, the age/contentment thing is just a generalization. Doesn't neccesarily apply to everyone. It could just be that you are a weird old fart

Bathgate66

age is a state of mind

slightofjeff

Bathgate66 wrote:

age is a state of mind

That's what I told the bartender on my 18th birthday. It didn't work.

curmudgeoness

I think it is an age thing, but it's more about the band's age, or the band's maturity, than it is about my age or anyone else's age.

I just came back from my run, and one of the songs that popped up on my iPod (amidst all of the PJ and Paul Weller) was Blink-182's "What's My Age Again." Now, even though I am a 40-year-old soccer mom, I always have found Blink-182 to be pretty entertaining. For a while, I really hoped they would become the next Ramones. Today, I found myself thinking about how what might sound amusing and entertaining coming from a guy in his early- to mid-twenties usually seems pretty immature coming from a 40-ish guy, and downright creepy when coming from the mouth of a man in his 60's.

I like the fast songs and the slow songs (and the mid-tempo songs) on Backspacer. I can relate to the slow songs more now than I would have been able to twenty-odd years ago, but then again I have been a fan of Lloyd Cole for nearly twenty years, so I have always had a soft spot for the singer-songwriter style.

The raw anger and emotion on Ten and Vs. is awesome, and makes for some amazing rock music. I think I would find it disturbing if Ed was channeling the same sort of rage now as he was 15-20 years ago, although frankly I am not sure if it is even possible to sustain that level of rage for so long. I can tell you that what I admire most about the band is its collective intelligence. When I look at the band and its music and things have progressed over the years, I see men who had the intelligence and creativity to tackle rage, fame, etc., deal with them in a reasonably healthy (if counter-intuitive to the media) manner, and find a way to survive, thrive and grow up. I see the same sort of maturation that I see in my husband and in other decent, mature men of a certain age. I don't know, maybe I am just babbling, but what I am trying to say is, I think I get it.

Cheers.

decides2dream

slightofjeff wrote:

decides2dream wrote:

thing is, i am very content.....and yet, i am just not loving this album as a WHOLE.

Like I said, the age/contentment thing is just a generalization. Doesn't neccesarily apply to everyone. It could just be that you are a weird old fart

the weirdness is entirely possible....;)
however, i don't think i am weird over my thoughts on backspacer.



and curmudgeoness, excellent post! really good points. i definitely see it as natural progression as well. if you can't reach happiness/contentment by middle age....yikes! and yes, let's face it.....the 40s ARe middle age, tho certainly not being 'middle-aged'....;). and i AM very glad they don;t just stick to the formula 'that worked before'....b/c that would be utterly.......boring. i far rather have an album that i don't love start to finish, or that i may see as a bit uneven, but that takes chances, has some new things to say, AND still has some amazing music on it, than the safe route of doing the same old, same old. so while i see the maturity/progression/contentment related to age (tho still not entirely dependent on it )...i still also don't use that age to account for all that occurs on the album, nor the fans, young and old, reaction to it.

fanch75

Flagg wrote:

fanch75 wrote:

The new solo album from Ace Frehley is far better.

Please tell me you are kidding my friend. I figured this would be right up youR alley.

Well this statement (that I like Ace's album better) isn't a huge stretch for me, given my fandom. But at this point, yeah I do like Ace's better. Doesn't mean I don't like Backspacer though. I think Backspacer is decent after 3 listens. I need to hear it more truthfully before passing judgment and possibly reviewing it properly.

Seattle1974

curmudgeoness wrote:

When I look at the band and its music and things have progressed over the years, I see men who had the intelligence and creativity to tackle rage, fame, etc., deal with them in a reasonably healthy (if counter-intuitive to the media) manner, and find a way to survive, thrive and grow up. I see the same sort of maturation that I see in my husband and in other decent, mature men of a certain age.

Well said.

EddieLedBetter

Black Diamond wrote:

I am right around the Median age of the band and maybe after years of angst and the Bush Administration and other things to throw stones at, perhaps like me, it's time to reflect on the good things in life like having kids and family. I hear a lot of that in here. Mortality too which is something on my mind as well. They still rock it out but in a more refined way. Kind of like a fine wine.

Curious to see if those that don't like it as much fall into a younger age bracket.

Maybe he just realized that politics weren't the way to change the world

dimitrispearljam

this is happening couse when the years pass u dream and think of what u didnt do and the fears are getting bigger

pjalive21

curmudgeoness wrote:

The raw anger and emotion on Ten and Vs. is awesome, and makes for some amazing rock music. I think I would find it disturbing if Ed was channeling the same sort of rage now as he was 15-20 years ago, although frankly I am not sure if it is even possible to sustain that level of rage for so long. I can tell you that what I admire most about the band is its collective intelligence. When I look at the band and its music and things have progressed over the years, I see men who had the intelligence and creativity to tackle rage, fame, etc., deal with them in a reasonably healthy (if counter-intuitive to the media) manner, and find a way to survive, thrive and grow up. I see the same sort of maturation that I see in my husband and in other decent, mature men of a certain age. I don't know, maybe I am just babbling, but what I am trying to say is, I think I get it.

Cheers.

perfectly said!

slightofjeff

fanch75 wrote:

Well this statement (that I like Ace's album better) isn't a huge stretch for me, given my fandom.

To each his own.

That being said: Holy Christ.