Home » SK6ERS Talk

1. 
   paiste13
   (45 Posts)

   It seems that as I listen to the newer stuff the guys write, the lyrics get deeper and deeper (at least on a level they'll tell us about!) I remember almost crying listening to GB for the first time and trying to imagine what he was going through when he wrote each song. I get the same feeling from The Bear; very emotional.

   Like most of you, I have an sk6ers "megamix" that I listen to in the car almost daily as well as what I give out to my friends who ask me "Who is this band you're always talking about". Every song is beautiful but for some reason I keep going back to the same songs over and over again. With the exception of 4th of July and (I'm assuming) Shady Esperanto, all of those songs are on older albums. Thirteen, Days, Pre-disposition, Anthem (that one that starts with the echos...) Uninspired Gambling, Money Isn't Love, BE, Fading In, Take me Into Town, are the ones I return to more than others. All are more upbeat. Do you think their style of music is changing as life changes or am I just over-analyzing it?

   I burned down the church to atone for my transgressions.

   Posted 2 years ago on September 8, 2009    LINK
2. 
   sdonovan
   (159 Posts)

   I think this album is a combination of South of Stephen and Bulletproof Heart. I love it! Yes, lyrically it is in the same vein as GJB but that's a good thing in my mind.

   Sarah

   Posted 2 years ago on September 8, 2009    LINK
3. 
   ang2797
   (240 Posts)

   I'm very much the opposite when think of this album. To me all the past records were very focused. Songs were different sounding and have different meanings, but all were headed in the same direction as a whole. This album was, imo, so unfocused. It is hard to listen to all at once. Some songs had me thinking "wait did I miss something? I don't get this. Is that a metaphor or something?" Some songs have almost no production at all then some songs have a lot of production. Some songs are written with so much emotion and precision, and then some songs sound like the words are there only cause they rhyme with the previous word.

   I get they are evolving as a band, but maybe, just maybe, they haven't found the perfect balance yet. Good for them for trying new things. They get bonus points in my book for that. I just think it didn't work very well here, imo. Maybe with more explanation of what the title means or where songs came from then I'd "get it", but as is it just didn't work as a whole for me. Its not like I've decided that they aren't my favorite band or anyhing lol.

   A side note: If I was going to give an album to someone to give them an idea of what the Sixers are as a band I'd suggest Glassjaw Boxer or Self-Titled and even Luck 11 before this album.

   I hope more people comment in this thread to say what they think. It's fun to read how different we all are as fans.

   Angela ~ Fan Since 04 (November 7th, 2004 To Be Exact) 34 Shows And Counting

   Posted 2 years ago on September 8, 2009    LINK
4. 
   paiste13
   (45 Posts)

   I didn't realize it until you said it, but this album does seem very unfocused. I wouldn't mind it as much if all the songs were upbeat and had great rhythms but to hear Shady as the first taste of the album is kind of misleading. It is the only "poppy" one on the album and after hearing the whole thing I wish they were all Shadys with one sad song instead of the other way around.

   I burned down the church to atone for my transgressions.

   Posted 2 years ago on September 8, 2009    LINK
5. 
   Steph
   (31 Posts)

   I don't think The Bear sounds like SK6ERS. At all. I mean, I still love it, but it's such a departure from their other albums. I agree that Shady is in such a different vein from the other songs; perhaps it should have been omitted? I love that song too, but it doesn't flow with the others.

   Posted 2 years ago on September 8, 2009    LINK
6. 
   eliseyac
   (418 Posts)

   Unfocused might be the word i've been looking for. While I love Shady, it's a poor representation of the album. Satisfied Man in the middle of the album REALLY bothers me. It should've been the last track. The album is kind of all over the place. I love almost every song separately, but when you throw em all together, it confuses me.

   -elise

   Posted 2 years ago on September 8, 2009    LINK
7. 
   Marissa
   (397 Posts)

   I do believe that collectively their lives are changing, and those changes are reflected in the subject matter and tone of this latest album. We've all seen Stephen state on the DVD the idea that if if he was to be sent off to a war that undoubtedly the music would change. Stephen also said recently in an interview on WTTS in Indy that The Bear is about bridging the gap between being your parents' child to be a parent of children. I recently became a mom, and let me tell you, absolutely nothing can prepare you for the metamorphosis that occurs in your life. Every relationship in your life is in flux while you adjust to this new center of your universe.

   One thing that definitely stood out to me on first listen was how Brian's role on this album seems so great, which made me smile. He is definitely growing as a songwriter, and I think that he and Stephen collaborating gave this album a new twist. I guess that in my opinion, there are certain songs that there will never quite be replicated.

   For instance, there will never be another Thirteen or Fourth of July. Look at Stephen's favorite band, Bon Jovi , for them there will never be another "Livin' on a Prayer," even though the band tried to recapture the magic by name-checking Tommy and Gina in their 2001 song, "It's My Life." Nice try, BJ, not going to happen, at least not on the same scale as the original. Personally, I'd rather see a complete departure, than to see the guys try to replicate the crowd favorites every album. Furthermore, look at how different Thirteen and Fourth of July are as songs. Yet, they are relevant to fans for different reasons, and loved just the same.

   As far as the flow of the album, yeah, it's a little jumpy, but so is life.

   By the way, LOVE this thread!

   http://www.facebook.com/marissaskaggs

   Posted 2 years ago on September 8, 2009    LINK
8. 
   essenceandart
   (204 Posts)

   Satisfied Man in the middle of the album REALLY bothers me. It should've been the last track.

   elise, while i totally resepct your opinion, i disagree. i think satisfied man is the total crux of the album. it's the point when you feel like you have the world in total balance, then something sneaks in and blows the whole thing off kilter. then you have to pick up those pieces, and deal with the new hand life gives you. life isn't neat and tidy and doesn't end happily. the end of life is, as gruesome as the reality is, death. if the song had been at the end, i would miss that feeling of "where are we headed next?" that i get when i listen to born in the spring. maybe i've over-thought this, but i think satisfied man is exactly where it belongs.

   < bethany >

   Posted 2 years ago on September 9, 2009    LINK
9. 
   ang2797
   (240 Posts)

   so they purposely picked these songs to not flow well together to run with idea that life is filled with ups and downs? that's a metaphor gone awry! doesn't seem like a good idea to me to purposely make a record hard to listen to. on glassjaw boxer the songs were about life being bad/good and up/down but at least from track to track they fit well together as a collective, which is what a cd is, right? idk, i guess i just don't get what they apparently were trying to do.

   Angela ~ Fan Since 04 (November 7th, 2004 To Be Exact) 34 Shows And Counting

   Posted 2 years ago on September 9, 2009    LINK
10. 
    Marissa
    (397 Posts)

    I think that it is safe to say that this album is a collection of songs that are directly related to their lives at this moment. I believe this album reflects the varied emotions associated with issues such as fatherhood, watching your parents grow old, and the struggles to maintain other relationships. I'm not saying that they intentionally didn't make the album flow like some may have expected, but I am saying that I feel there is more flow to the album once you get over the vast tempo changes and changes in tone. I think that lyrically, most of the songs are cut from the same vein. Maybe we need to split this discussion up between lyrics and the production of the tracks. Production wise, I agree that it seems like there is zero production on some tracks, and enough to make a Lady GaGa track on others! Just kidding! Trying to keep things light around here!

    http://www.facebook.com/marissaskaggs

    Posted 2 years ago on September 9, 2009    LINK

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