“A journey will have pain and failure. It is not only the steps forward that we must accept. It is the stumbles. The trials. The knowledge that we will fail. That we will hurt those around us.
But if we stop, if we accept the person we are when we fail, the journey ends. That failure becomes our destination.”
I used to think Static-X was the heaviest, most badass band out there. I loved all of their stuff and bumped it daily up through high school. It’s funny, because there was like a ten year gap where they were very un-cool to everyone after that, but now they seem to be having a kind of resurgence with a new front man. Saw them live a few months ago and the venue was packed with a 50/50 split of zoomers and old farts
I wish men wearing speedos weren’t considered gay, I know how unpopular this idea is but try swimming in them just once and you’ll hate going back to those clumsy board shorts.
I can only speak from personal experience, but I feel much the same way you do. However, novelty still does it for me. And I think that’s the explanation for the gradual drop-off. When you’re young, everything is new. By the time you’re older, you’ve seen it all, and so those little spikes of novelty are few and far between.
A7X imo was great up through Nightmare. I’ve The Rev died, the sound changed too much and I really dislike their new stuff. I get it’s not everyone’s cup of tea, but I’m not sure what makes it “embarrassing”.
I used to absolutely love Little Piece of Heaven in middle school, that song makes me cringe so fucking bad now. I wouldn’t say everything they made was embarrassing (Shepard of Fire will always kick ass) but goddamn they have a few songs that just make you cringe.
I love A Little Piece of Heaven. Lyrics aside, I really enjoy the beat and sound scape of the song. In some songs the lyrics are the focal point, like So Far Away, but usually, I just think of lyrics as another instrument. If it sounds good and they aren’t saying some bigoted shit or something like that, I don’t really care too much.
I’ve been getting into the band Dayseeker recently and I love their sound, but lyrically, it’s a lot a sad boi, break-up drama. To me that’s a little worse than a song about jilted lovers stabbing each other, “50 fucking times”, necrophilia, and undead marriage. Neither embarrass me though. If others around me find it cringy, which is reasonable, it doesn’t make the song any less of a banger.
I won’t criticize a band for changing their sound. It’s their music, their creativity, and their choice. That doesn’t mean I have to like it though. A7X and All That Remains both took a similar trajectory where they got less hard over the years. A7X took it to the extreme with their last two albums. Waking the Fallen, City of Evil, Self Titled, and Nightmare, I could listen to start to finish and enjoy every minute. Hail to the King felt uninspired, and the Stage and Life is But a Dream are to abstract for my tastes. In the case with ATR, The Fall of Ideals is imo their best work.
“Everyday is somebody’s first day.” I think of it like a more generous Hanlon’s Razor “Never attribute to malice that which is adequately explained by stupidity.” Especially when an employee is perhaps not doing a good job or is slow. If it was my first day on the job, I’d like a little consideration.
God you guys have way less cringey pics than mine. Mine for sure has to be Blood On The Dancefloor. Loved them in early middle school, but the other day I looked up a song and it’s completely unlistenable. Also, this well known internet clip came from a member of the group grooming a 12 year old and sending their rabid fan base after said 12 year old after she talks about it. Also released a FUCKING DISS TRACK AGAINST HER in response to the grooming allegations.
Here's one out of my many "what was I thinking?" moments, this one from the eighties: A friend had this album that I taped and often listened to for at least a few months.
Andreas Vollenweider... "New Age" music with a harp at the front and center.
But now if I want to feel the spiritual and connectedness, I much prefer something like Van Morrison's Astral Weeks (I see your username and salute!), or John Coltrane's A Love Supreme. Stuff that challenges as it illuminates.
Musically, I've always been an enthusiastic searcher and have yet to stop delving, decades later.
One album that was tagged as New Age in the 80s that I still listen to every day - I use it for stretching before meditation - is Brian Eno's Music For Airports.
In the 80s, Ambient and New Age were clumped together uneasily but we didn't know better, until Techno came along and Ambient instantly found its' proper, logical home.
For a taste of some of the sound of groups like Wyndham Hill or Mannheim Steamroller - every element of rock n roll completely absent, a bit of medieval vibe wafting throughout - I now prefer a band like Pentangle.
There's one song I'd like to recommend to you at this moment - I can't get it out of my mind right now as I write - I discovered it about a year ago thanks to fantastic UK music monthly Uncut Magazine, it is closer in spirit to Brian Eno and it may have shot all the way to my #1 favorite piece of music ever. Listen to it in a quiet place, or with headphones. Often. This piece has a way of unfurling differently every time you hear it.
This is great, I so rarely talk to anyone else who’s a fan of this music! Actually received a vinyl copy of Music for Airports as a gift a couple years ago, it’s a classic for certain. Also a big fan of Another Green World from Eno, but very different vibe. I will definitely give that song you recommended a listen here today!
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