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Post by blindmelon333 on Nov 12, 2006 17:17:23 GMT -5
It is great to see the band back together again. After playing together for so long, I could imagine how hard it would have been for them to part ways and try other projects. Abandon Jalopy, Unified Theory, The Tender Trio, and The Meek were all amazing works and I would have loved to have heard more from each. But that is said and done. Here we now have the "NEW" Blind Melon. Like I said before, I am so glad to see the boys back together making music, but I feel compelled to point out one thing I have noticed with the new tunes. I hate to be the Devil's advocate, but has anyone noticed that this feels like a separate entity and not Blind Melon? I mean, that feeling when you get when listening to any of these guys play, whether together or in separate projects, seems to be missing. I know its hard to forecast what the final product will be like from a three song demo, but I felt like I should say something.
I hope this doesn't get taken off because this is not an attack on the band, it is just my personal opinion.
Do you guys think they should have stuck with the same name?
Regards,
Mr.Melonhead
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Deleted
Deleted Member
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Post by Deleted on Nov 12, 2006 17:39:53 GMT -5
Yes, I think they should keep the band name. The music has evolved. We can't expect the songs to sound like their past songs. Does Vernie sound like Soup? Does Change sound like Seed to a Tree? Does Rogers occassionally slap Brad in the ass? No... well, not really sure about that last one...
But, because they don't sound exactly like their older stuff, doesn't mean the atmosphere isn't "Blind Melon". Ya know?
Last time I chatted with Brad, he said that he, and Christopher, plan on releasing a 2nd Unified Theory album, consisting of unreleased tunes (never heard by anyone) and stuff from their Luma days. Brad also said that he had stuff ready for the 2nd Abandon Jalopy album... I'm not sure if he still plans to wrap that up. Who knows. He's signed up here. Maybe he'll let us all in!
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Post by kevino1975 on Nov 12, 2006 18:08:43 GMT -5
All you really have to do is listen to the first melon cd and then soup...they are completely different...both are amazing...and to be honest,i think these 3 songs they just released could fit right into that soup album...they are very much MELON...Rogers guitar has such a distinct sound,glens drumming...for me,you can't get more melon
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yakmusic
Porcupine
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Post by yakmusic on Nov 12, 2006 18:27:32 GMT -5
for me,you can't get more melon Agreed!
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greg
Holyman
[green]Beauty is in the eye of the Beer-Holder[/green]
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Post by greg on Nov 12, 2006 18:27:43 GMT -5
Exactly. Soup sounded nothing like the Blind Melon debut album. That's probably the reason why critics dogged Soup the way they did. The great thing about Blind Melon was that they never pinned themselves down to one particular sound...they were constantly evolving and I think the new songs represent a natural progression of Blind Melon, obviously minus Shannon. Shannon was a key songwriter and obviously the loss of his presence in the making of the music will be noticed. To me it still sounds like Blind Melon when you strip it down, especially For My Friends. I think if Shannon never passed away and Blind Melon made a 3rd album with him it most likely would have sounded different than the first and second. Lyrically I think Make a Difference is very Blind Melon and For My Friends sounds like it could be on the first album. Harmful Belly is the only thing that I think stands out as completely unique...but I think the great thing about Blind Melon is that they defined themselves as being completely unique. You can't pin them down to one song or style of songwriting.
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Post by charityholyfield on Nov 12, 2006 18:39:38 GMT -5
I agree that Soup was wayyyyy different from the first record... In my own personal preferences, I'll always love the first one the best. Songs like Deserted, Seed To a Tree, Drive, Time... all of em, really. To this day I listen to that particular album almost any time I want me some Melon. Those songs will always be my favorites. I love everything this band has ever put out there, though. I don't see that the differences between the old stuff and the new is any more drastic than the differences between the first two albums. That's a great example you guys used, and I'm totally with you. Yes, it's different now. But no more so than ever, when a new set of songs came around!
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Post by blindmelon333 on Nov 12, 2006 18:45:01 GMT -5
Ok, ok, ok....
I think I think you guys are misunderstanding what I'm trying to say or maybe I just said it wrong.
The music that was created before always accompanied a certain feel. I realize that its not all the same, but thats just it! The music sounds similar, the band is still jammin', but something is missing! Thats all I'm trying to say. Obviously bands are going to sound different at varous points in their careers, but I'm just trying to explain how that feel is not there.
Also, that picture of Shannon kissing Travis is unacceptable. I"m sorry, but why would you do that?
What an insult.
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greg
Holyman
[green]Beauty is in the eye of the Beer-Holder[/green]
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Post by greg on Nov 12, 2006 18:54:54 GMT -5
Yes...Yes you are correct, something is missing from the new sound that was there with the old sound...the element you are not hearing is SHANNON HOON!
I thought by now we had gotten past the fact that Travis T is not Shannon and is an entirely different individual providing his OWN contributions to the band.
My intention is not to be insulting with that photo. It is MY personal belief that Shannon would and DOES approve of the reformation with a new singer. I would like to think that Blind Melon (to include Travis) has Shannon's blessing.
You are entitled to your opinion as I am to mine....Cause you know what they say about opinions
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yakmusic
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Very Limited Copies of Twenty Stories Below available! Found a small stash back in New Zealand!
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Post by yakmusic on Nov 12, 2006 18:58:43 GMT -5
I'm sure once an album is released, it will have it's own feel to it and usually albums (if done right), accompany a certain theme. These 3 songs to me are great, but this is just the beginning. These songs will likely accompany singles as bsides...unless the guys have other plans....
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brett
The Pusher
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Post by brett on Nov 12, 2006 18:59:59 GMT -5
I don't see how that picture is unacceptable I think it's kind of touching. Shannon was a big influence to Travis and if you are thinking it's something homosexual I think you are not seeing it for it's intent. And I can see where you are coming from in saying that the feeling is not the same. In my opinion the feeling is still there it has just changed into something a little different. I've had the new songs stuck in my head for 3 days now and I'm starting to get a feel from them like the old songs the more I listen to them, the emotions are just different. More up beat ;D
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Post by glengraham on Nov 12, 2006 19:06:37 GMT -5
Good point, these three new songs have more in common with older material where the lyrics and music were written by one person such as Change, No Rain, (Brad wrote that one by the way), Mouthful of Cavities, St. Andrews Fall, and a few others. With very few exceptions we wrote songs two ways. 1.Using the following formula; jam, revise repeat. The bulk of our material was written this way. Shannon was usually given a tape of finished material to write to and we did tweaking where necessary to accommodate his finished vocal. 2.someone would bring in a song structure that would then get Melonized into a form that bore little resemblence to the original usually resulting in the author becoming quite upset often found later curled up in a corner in the fetal position. Anyway, Travis wrote Harmful Belly and we fucked it up, I think nicely, for him. I think Brad wrote the music for Make A Difference, and on my end I tried to give it a sort of Keith Moonish treatment. Rogers wrote the music for For My Friends. These songs were really thrown together rather quickly, and as we currently have no management, we felt it would probably be best if we avoided presenting ourselves with an armload of Lemonades and Car Seats. We do want a career. Think of it this way, we have three songs, one in 1st gear, one in second gear, and one in third. This project will evolve quite a bit during the coming months.?? If you knew how many songs we used to throw away you would be shocked. The first two albums took months to write, we whipped these ditties up in about five days. I see it this way, we cannot possibly recreate the past, but this project is about growth and the future. From now on, this is the only Blind Melon there is, so enjoy it for what it is. Also keep in mind that in the last 10 years, we have played together less than 10 days. Good things come to those who wait, Glen Graham
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yakmusic
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Very Limited Copies of Twenty Stories Below available! Found a small stash back in New Zealand!
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Post by yakmusic on Nov 12, 2006 19:13:01 GMT -5
Thanks for that insight into a Melon Song creation, Glen It blows me away that you guys haven't played for 10 or so years together - the magic is def still there, my friend. Look forward to what the future beholds.......
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Post by *Sonya* on Nov 12, 2006 19:24:54 GMT -5
Thanks Glen, I personally find it fascinating to learn how you all write songs together and I know other people do too. This is a piece of the pie that fans have never had privy to as far as I know. By the way...I absolutely LOVE the picture you posted...at first glance I didn't have my glasses on and I thought it was Rogers. It's obviously not him now that I see it but it made it that much funnier at first. Because you obviously have a great sense of humor I wanted to refer you to this thread blindmelons.proboards19.com/index.cgi?board=general&action=display&thread=1160615702 . I think you'll giggle like a little girl when you see some of the stuff that we've posted in it.
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Post by *Sonya* on Nov 12, 2006 19:28:20 GMT -5
Oh yeah, I also have to add that I can't wait to hear what you guys come up with when you've had the time to jam together some more. I was telling my husband the other day that it would be cool if you all holed yourselves up together in a house somewhere in the middle of nowhere and see what came out of it (i.e. something like the Sleepyhouse or like how Medeski, Martin & Wood recorded Shack Man).
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Post by blindmelon333 on Nov 12, 2006 19:31:08 GMT -5
First off, love the pic Glen!
I'm not trying to be a bad guy here.. I swear, I'm not! I just want to ask some questions that no one else will....
I realize that you guys threw the songs together in no time.. Thats admirable. I will be listening in and seeing what else you guys give to the public. Maybe I shouldn't judge so soon yet, but all I"m doing is saying what I feel!
Oh yeah BRETT..... Honestly, do you really think I thought there was some sort of homsexual undertone to that picture of Travis and Shannon??!?! I dont even know what to to say to that!! Thats funny though. Ladies and gentlemen, would you like some more proof of how someone can be misunderstood??
One more thing,
I'm still unsure why they kept the name Blind Melon....
Regards,
Mr.Melonhead
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