McCready's quote in Spin concerns me....

B-Rye · November 2009

Johnny Sitar wrote:

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.

I don't know if this sentiment has been echoed already or not (I'm fully admitting my laziness with reading the full 6 pages of responses - I'm at work) but I feel like what was meant with the quote would be that they WON'T filter themselves. I'm sure I've heard previous interviews before where they said they sabatoged any song that they thought sounded too "mainstream". I take it this just means they won't go out of their way to stop a song from sounding radio friendly. I think I'd like this. Not that I want radio friendly songs, I just think it sounds better when the songs are organic. I think for the most part that's what they've always done with the exception of a few odd songs they included in records (and a few "radio" songs they decided to shelve)

PissBottleMan · November 2009

Parksy wrote:

I understand having to promote the music and such. But the quote, to me, suggests that they are willing to sacrifice even a little of their creativity to satisfy a general public.

Not really though. It may be the selection process on which songs to release as singles...I can concede that.

Save You would have been a better Mainstream Rock Format single than I Am Mine. They didn't want to go that route.

I don't think they are sacrificing creativity, they are just marketing themselves better.

Regardless of their motives, I think they just want their music to be heard. And, as a musician, isn't that really the point?

Do I agree with all they do? No. But, then again, it's not my band.

I am free to form the PissBottledMen™, play shows at venues where the capacity is 300 people, sell home-made copies of my CD, beg my local rock radio program director to play my song at 2:30am on a Tuesday (which he probably won't do anyway) and drive from town to town in my 1976 Chevette.

But, in the end, if I have written a powerful song that might inspire and motivate others...I want it to be heard. How it's delivered is up to the artist.

PBM

decides2dream · November 2009

PissBottleMan wrote:

Parksy wrote:

I understand having to promote the music and such. But the quote, to me, suggests that they are willing to sacrifice even a little of their creativity to satisfy a general public.

Not really though. It may be the selection process on which songs to release as singles...I can concede that.

Save You would have been a better Mainstream Rock Format single than I Am Mine. They didn't want to go that route.

I don't think they are sacrificing creativity, they are just marketing themselves better.

Regardless of their motives, I think they just want their music to be heard. And, as a musician, isn't that really the point?

Do I agree with all they do? No. But, then again, it's not my band.

I am free to form the PissBottledMen™, play shows at venues where the capacity is 300 people, sell home-made copies of my CD, beg my local rock radio program director to play my song at 2:30am on a Tuesday (which he probably won't do anyway) and drive from town to town in my 1976 Chevette.

But, in the end, if I have written a powerful song that might inspire and motivate others...I want it to be heard. How it's delivered is up to the artist.

PBM

seriously PBM, bizarro day it is i guess.

well said.

blondieblue227 · November 2009

funny because i think even if they do radio friendly songs, my station STILL won't play them.
they never play new pj for very long.

U R A Crazy Breed · November 2009

soulsinging wrote:

im definitely grateful they stopped playing that song, it's so bad.

maybe it comes and goes in waves. but i dont think anyone can say they dont care anymore. sometimes they're more vocal onstage, sometimes less. it's always been that way. he went on mtv and wrote pro-choice on his arm, but you listen to any boots of the shows they did around the same time, 90% of them have no political comment whatsoever. they do a good job of speaking out when it's needed and of directing their energy into smarter directions when it's not. running around the country saying 'dont vote bush' didnt work for them and alienated people. it was ineffective, as most stage preaching is. so now they've opted to do things like post food inc and the gitmo thing on their website. they're changing, and constantly trying to find new ways to balance their politics and their art. overall, i'd say they've been pretty successful at it.

we def don't see eye to eye on a lot of your "points"

1 i liked No More..it was a good anti-war song for our modern age and something severely lacking in modern music!! you look at the Vietnam era of rock n roll and there were a lot of bands who spoke out against the war..now a days you can count them on one hand! and one of those fingers used to be Pearl Jam.

2 i don't see it as "stage preaching"...there are a lot of people out there caught up in there own little world and can't/don't see what's going on in this one!! Ed reaches a lot of ears, and if only a few of the many really listen...it can change things...activism is always better than apathy!

but now Ed seems to be just another sheep caught up in the wolf's scam..never thought i'd see it!...but from a few recent interviews and shit i heard him say in Philly about us having a good president made me realize he is fucking clueless right now! and that shit breaks my heart! i wish i could just get him in a room and talk to him about it...see where his mind is really at....just as 2 patriotic men...not as fan and rock star...i know his heart is always in the right place, even if his mind isn't.

Johnnyguitarwatson · November 2009

U R A Crazy Breed wrote:

soulsinging wrote:

im definitely grateful they stopped playing that song, it's so bad.

maybe it comes and goes in waves. but i dont think anyone can say they dont care anymore. sometimes they're more vocal onstage, sometimes less. it's always been that way. he went on mtv and wrote pro-choice on his arm, but you listen to any boots of the shows they did around the same time, 90% of them have no political comment whatsoever. they do a good job of speaking out when it's needed and of directing their energy into smarter directions when it's not. running around the country saying 'dont vote bush' didnt work for them and alienated people. it was ineffective, as most stage preaching is. so now they've opted to do things like post food inc and the gitmo thing on their website. they're changing, and constantly trying to find new ways to balance their politics and their art. overall, i'd say they've been pretty successful at it.

we def don't see eye to eye on a lot of your "points"

1 i liked No More..it was a good anti-war song for our modern age and something severely lacking in modern music!! you look at the Vietnam era of rock n roll and there were a lot of bands who spoke out against the war..now a days you can count them on one hand! and one of those fingers used to be Pearl Jam.

2 i don't see it as "stage preaching"...there are a lot of people out there caught up in there own little world and can't/don't see what's going on in this one!! Ed reaches a lot of ears, and if only a few of the many really listen...it can change things...activism is always better than apathy!

but now Ed seems to be just another sheep caught up in the wolf's scam..never thought i'd see it!...but from a few recent interviews and shit i heard him say in Philly about us having a good president made me realize he is fucking clueless right now! and that shit breaks my heart! i wish i could just get him in a room and talk to him about it...see where his mind is really at....just as 2 patriotic men...not as fan and rock star...i know his heart is always in the right place, even if his mind isn't.

eddie actually said we have a good president eh ? thats amazing being that obama is no better than bush and as it stands now he is running the country into the ground.... now i know he was given a bad hand but you can only blamb bush for so much. President's are nothing but pawns any way...who the hell is behind the curtain ?? i have not a clue. The Fed ?

to get back to what i really wanted to reply to. I'm so thankful that all that anti war talk and bush bashing bs is done...it was hard to enjoy concerts hearing eddie ranting and raving for 5-10 min at a time. people will make up their own mind about the war and our president.... oh well . Pearl jam rocks so that all that matters

wvukeads · November 2009

I agree with everyone who says this is no big deal. It is their music, careers and choices. The target commercial was unexpected, but I'm glad they're promoting themselves and their new music. It will open many people young and "old" up to their music. I was actually surprised at how well the new music was received by the crowds in philly on the 28th, 30th, and 31st. No surprise that everyone knew every word to every song from 10, but the majority knew most of the words to the new songs. Not bad for such a new CD. I think that either speaks alot about the music or the marketing one, either way it's working. Even "former fans" have called me to tell me how much the enjoyed the new CD, another credit to the music and the marketing.

PS.... Thanks to the guys for making the philly shows so special. I have no ties to the area or the building just as you guys as well, but I do appreciate the history and your dedication making the closing shows something special. Devo was great, and you were right we didn't need those other people who do actually have "connections" to the area. :twisted:

Hugh Freaking Dillon · November 2009

U R A Crazy Breed wrote:

look......you have a Bono avatar so you are ther last person i expect to understand where i am coming from...(no diss intended)

ONCE AND FOR ALL. MY AVATAR IS NOT BONO. IT'S HUGH DILLON FROM THE HEADSTONES. GET IT?

Newch91 · November 2009

U R A Crazy Breed wrote:

Newch91 wrote:

What was the reason we all came to love this band in the first place? The MUSIC! That's the reason I love this band. I don't know how many of you agree with me, but it's the music that made me love them. And they always perform great shows that we all love to talk about and share our experiences. Pearl Jam have always made music for them. Sorry if they can't make everyone happy. Maybe that's why they released No Code to test the audiences and find the true fans and that is us.

I'm sorry if Pearl Jam wants to be happy for once in their lives and not be pissed off. I'm also sorry that they want to have personal lives and have families to support and bills to pay. I didn't know that was against the rules of Pearl Jam. "The first rule of Pearl Jam is is to not be happy, have personal lives, have families to support, and bills to pay." Enough with the sell out bullshit.

How about all of you Obama haters leave him alone. It takes time. You just have to give him time. He's in a very tough spot in America's history and he has to fix (no pun intended) everything that Bush did wrong. Obama is not a magician and can magically make everything better.

So, just think about it and start getting judemental.

hahahahaha...yeah, i'm sure they'd all starve if Backspacer doesn't sell well..LMAO!!!

and you don't seem to know much about what has been going on in the past year if you think Obama is trying to fix things!!

haha yeah. it's just that i'm tired of hearing people complain about them, especially about them selling out. i don't know if people realize that the band members have families to support.

just give Obama time...that's all.

Hugh Freaking Dillon · November 2009

lostdognamedsnax wrote:

I'm so thankful that all that anti war talk and bush bashing bs is done...it was hard to enjoy concerts hearing eddie ranting and raving for 5-10 min at a time.

this is one thing I actually enjoyed. I'm Canadian, but listening to Ed talk about something he was so passionate about actualy made people think, whether they agreed with him or not.

elevation622 · November 2009

if the song sounds good to the group, they're gonna let it rip on the radio, nothing more, no need for this many pages of discussion.
LET"S GO YANKS!

Hugh Freaking Dillon · November 2009

elevation622 wrote:

if the song sounds good to the group, they're gonna let it rip on the radio, nothing more, no need for this many pages of discussion.
LET"S GO YANKS!

everyone here loves someone who tells everyone else what is a worthwhile discussion and what isn't. :roll:

McCready's quote in Spin concerns me....

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