Born and raised
kenneth gossard
Posts: 70
I'm sure I will take a verbal beating for my opinion but fuck it.....this whole album is amazing...he was always a talented guitar player but he finally grew up and wrote something special here
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EV Solo: 7/11/11 11/12/12 11/13/12
http://www.collegehumor.com/video/67731 ... s-hologram is an awesome new sketch btw
http://www.kevinviner.net
that said I don't know much of his music but after a couple concerts he can play live and has a tremendous fan following especially women.
Peace
*MUSIC IS the expression of EMOTION.....and that POLITICS IS merely the DECOY of PERCEPTION*
.....song_Music & Politics....Michael Franti
*The scientists of today think deeply instead of clearly. One must be sane to think clearly, but one can think deeply and be quite INSANE*....Nikola Tesla(a man who shaped our world of electricity with his futuristic inventions)
My favorites are the title track, Age of Worry and Walt Grace's Submarine.
I've known John for about 20 years (became friends in 6th grade) and have been around him quite a bit during his career.... think he's really grown as an artist and a person.
and g under p, whats michael's frame of mind nowadays? i got into him in 2000, when stay human came out and he primarily was thought of a social activist, jam band/hippie type. the crowd he played to in my hometown couldnt have been more than a few hundred.
Nowadays, he writes love songs, has hits on pop radio, goes on tour with john and santana, and plays to huge crowds.
certainly its his perogative to change his music style, but how has he changed, or has he changed from the disposable heroes of hiphopracy to 2012?
i first got into michael via a teacher in high school who was suggesting i might like his music because it was hip hop and political. nowadays, while he still makes great music, i dont think he's as overtly political nor is it necessarily hip hop either
Met up with Michael and the band in DC then Philly on that tour....Michael took the time to introduce me to John who was very welcomong and gracious. We walked all through the Verizon Center and talked about the staging and the performance to come. I had a hard time believing JM was going to fill the large arena but it turned out he did so with ease. We ate food and talked about music...I was mostly quiet in that I knew none of his music i just knew I think he went out with a movie actress I can't remember.
Michael Franti was the perfect opening act for such a lage audience in that he got the crowd in s frenzy who appeared to be rather laid back. He went out and around this huge place and played his new songs at the time from the stands to the Sound Of Sunshine album. JM was great in inviting Micheal back out on stage to do a couple of his songs which by then packed house was glad to have Micheal back....the combo was great and mesmerizing to see. This was the frist time in 60+ concerts of Michael's that he played to such a large audience and it wasn't a festival. He Michael played and made that venue like it was the 9:30 Club in DC which holds maybe 1500.
I saw Michael and the band couple weeks ago at the Sunfest Festival here in S Florida and he was in great form in the mid day heat and sunshine. We talked about the new album and was there going to be more of a political side to it and he said he would like to go in that direction as he collaborates now with J and Carl the guitar and bass players. He ended with A NEW SONG which I can't remember the name but it struck me like how Yell Fire did when I first heard it in London days after he had just come back from Iraq and Isarel.
After so many years of writing lyrics and poetry from the political side after Stay Human he went in the direct of Rebel Rockers which produced a big radio hit then SOS album he maybe ready to go back to the political we shall see. It all depends on what inspires him and that I believe will drive his writngs and music. Oh let me add after touring with him many years ago...a band that toured 9 months a year to make ends meet. i don't blame them to allowing their songs and music to be used for commercials life on the road IS brutal as much as they toured. It made for Michael and the band members personal life to become a miserable state...far too many broken relationships. so i hope they can settle down a bit and make good music far into the future.
He did ask me what was my secret to dropping 45 lbs I told him I gave up meat and exercising he cracked *you gave it up AGAIN*
Peace
*MUSIC IS the expression of EMOTION.....and that POLITICS IS merely the DECOY of PERCEPTION*
.....song_Music & Politics....Michael Franti
*The scientists of today think deeply instead of clearly. One must be sane to think clearly, but one can think deeply and be quite INSANE*....Nikola Tesla(a man who shaped our world of electricity with his futuristic inventions)
John's a good guy. He's a really unique person, I mean when we were 15 or 16, he KNEW he was going to be a professional musician, truly believed it. The one thing that I think people don't really get to see is how dedicated he is to his craft. The guy would (and probably still does) practice for hours upon hours. He was not your typical high school kid, really was so focused on such a bigger picture, just an incredibly driven person. Very unique and talented individual.
I think like most normal people, he's had his struggles with fame and everything that comes with it, but he seems like he's in a good place so I'm happy for him.
i agree. ive always been a fan and think most people just remember Wonderland and dont realize he's truly a blues player and guitarist at heart, not some pop star that he was marketed as for years.
Seems to me, although you could tell us better than anyone, he's in a good place now. seems like the new recrod is quiet, understated, and subtle but good. Ive heard he's moved to Montana, and seems to just want to focus on music now, isnt into the fame, and star thing anymore, if he ever was. I think maybe for awhile he got a thrill out of the being famous thing, but now he's settled down, and realized that fame and money isnt where its at.
First, the Beatlesque influence (it's a bit folksy, too, but I think the sound is more Beatles influenced than folk as some people have been saying).
But, the lyrics are just... well.. Incredible. The way he uses language in this one is beyond compare. I actually thought is was a sad song the first time I heard it, but it is clearly a celebration of the best kind. I also know there is some sentiment that it actually is a sad song ---- It is not. It is basically saying - sometimes you have to take chances against everyone's well meaning advice, put your nose to the grind stone and succeed beyond everyone's wildest imagination.
Anyone that thinks this is a sad song, there's 2 dead (sorry for the pun) giveaways - "The call she planned on receiving...... The news she never expected." (His wife knew she'd be getting a call, but that he died, not that he succeeded) and "...as they SPEAK of a man...." The drunkards take their sad lives and mention how they once knew this guy that succeeded so greatly (i.e. living vicariously through their friend's success as drunkards will do). You TOAST a dead man (a word which would have fit within the beat as easily as SPEAK). You SPEAK of those you admire.
There's more, and sorry if I played spoiler. But, this song is just SOOOOOOOOO good lyrically I couldn't help myself.
(I also don't think he necessarily left his family which is another brilliant turn of the language on his part. And that adds to the fascination of the lyrics. I can definitely see that interpretation, but I think it's a matter of the wife wants to play it safe and live their lives, and he does something so incredible that changes their life so enormously. I don't think there's a line in here that is NOT a metaphor. Taking anything literal should go out the window with the title of the song.)
Not ashamed to say this is a great album, and this is the center piece to me.
i ordered the cd with some presale cds(grace potter) and they all ship together
had tickets for his spring tour until he had to cancel re his throat(again)
hope he gets well soon and after reading this thread i can't wait to spin the new cd
he's got IT
~not a dude~
2010: MSGx2
2012: Made In America
2013: Pittsburgh, Brooklynx2, Hartford, Baltimore
2014: Leeds, Milton Keynes, Detroit
2015: Global Citizen Festival
2016: Phillyx2, MSGx2, Fenwayx2
2018: Barcelona, Wrigleyx2
while i agree that this album is superior to battle studies, I view both Heavier Things and Continuum as grown up albums. I dont think this is his only album in that vein.
I dont think you view him this way, but its bizaare how 5 albums deep, a ton of people still view him as this bubblegum pop heartthrob who sings songs like Your Body is A Wonderland. He certainly makes pop music, but its funny how people think they know what an artist is all about, even after that artist has moved on. Even if John was once that guy, i think its clear he's changed quite a bit since 2002, musically and personally. I think he's done alot of things to try and make it clear he isnt some top 40 guy who wants to be on the cover of magazines. Everything from being one of the best guitarists of our generation, to forming a blues band, to making music that wont neccesarily appeal to the pop music audience or at least the younger pop audience. Yet, he still seems to be viewed by most people as the "run through the halls of my high school guy"
take a good look
this could be the day
hold my hand
lie beside me
i just need to say
On another listen of the album now...can't get enough!
~not a dude~
2010: MSGx2
2012: Made In America
2013: Pittsburgh, Brooklynx2, Hartford, Baltimore
2014: Leeds, Milton Keynes, Detroit
2015: Global Citizen Festival
2016: Phillyx2, MSGx2, Fenwayx2
2018: Barcelona, Wrigleyx2