This week has been the biggest embarrasment!

[jeffs]

I am speechless - I want to say so many things about what I think went wrong this week - I do not know where to begin. It is like this band lives in vaccuum. Even my 7 year old daughter asked me what is wrong with their voices and what is Stevie wearing and doing with her hands. They can't tell that Peacekeeper is a big bust and a horrible live song? Stevie doesn't have a VCR and can't see that her outfit looks like hell. Lindsey can't hear his voice? I've done nothing but talk about these people and this band every day, acting as their Central NJ PR officer since the Dance aired on VH1 and I have watched them erase a 30 year image in one week. Wow this sucks!!

[nae]

Originally posted by jeffs
I am speechless - I want to say so many things about what I think went wrong this week - I do not know where to begin. It is like this band lives in vaccuum. Even my 7 year old daughter asked me what is wrong with their voices and what is Stevie wearing and doing with her hands. They can't tell that Peacekeeper is a big bust and a horrible live song? Stevie doesn't have a VCR and can't see that her outfit looks like hell. Lindsey can't hear his voice? I've done nothing but talk about these people and this band every day, acting as their Central NJ PR officer since the Dance aired on VH1 and I have watched them erase a 30 year image in one week. Wow this sucks!!


Oh my gosh, your 7year old said that? I figured we were all being a bit too hard on them, but if your daughter said that then I guess it must be true (kids don't lie) Huh.

Renee

[sulamith]

If read what I wrote in "now we Know" thread, you see I feel the same way.

What is going on with them?

It's like something is really wrong.

And it's not the sound mix.

And it's not the acoustics.

And it's not the cold.

And it's not the back-up singers, or the wind, ortheir nerves.


What is going on? I do feel last night was better, but I still have an ever-increasing ball dread in the pit of my stomach.

I really want it to go away. I am not about to stop beleiveing they can blow us away, but the wait is killing me.

-Sharon

[Wayne2]

They're really starting to look their age. It's hard to believe this is the same group from The Dance.

It's a shame too, because the album has a lot of good material on it. (despite it being too long).

I really think Lindsey did a great job producing the album, but it seems a lot of it will go unnoticed because they keep performing these boring ass tracks live

[bootylicous]

At first I was really bummed that the Mac isn't coming to Canada again on this tour (Wayne maybe you'll agree with me), and I thought I'd just have to be happy with the album, but each time I see a TV performance I feel a little less like I'm going to be missing something great, and more like I'm missing out on a half-assed cash-grab by the band. I don't know what's wrong with them either, but something ain't right!

Evan (PS I hate Stevie's new dress too, LOL)

[gypsysara]

When my Dad told me my namesake was "sounding off" I knew they really werent sounding good. For my Dad to comment to me like that about the 'Mac... :( Well I sure hope things come 'round but.. :shrug:

[Wayne2]

Originally posted by bootylicous
At first I was really bummed that the Mac isn't coming to Canada again on this tour (Wayne maybe you'll agree with me), and I thought I'd just have to be happy with the album, but each time I see a TV performance I feel a little less like I'm going to be missing something great,

my thoughts exact

[John Run]

It is not a half assed cash grab. Yes, they are going to make money. However I remind you they spent in excess of 18 months recording a album of new material. A lot of new material. I laugh when they are being ridiculed for making an album too long. The more songs the better even if they are not all great. Most bands with their track record are living off greatest hits packages and reunion tours.

As for you Jeffs. You have NEVER posted a postive message about the band. You were quiet for a while when I exposed your LIE about NYC dj's bashing peacekeeper. Now you have started up again. Yeah, you don't like Peacekeeper. Fact is the song sits at #11 on the billboard AC chart this week and # 4 on the RR Adult Alternative Airplay charts. Fact is some people like it and it has given them more airplay than any song since Little Lies and that includes Silver Springs. Fine don't like Peacekeeper, but it seems obvious that you find little value in the truth and great enjoyment in creating an invisible army of others who support your the false venom you spout. I think you relish the negative and and cherish the thought of bringing others down to your dark place.


The performances this week have been okay. So many have built this band into some sort of giant demi-gog like entity. They play Rock and Roll. Sometimes they play great, sometimes okay once in a while they blow it. Enjoy it if you want to. The other choice is to ignore the current chapter in their career and listen to the parts that made you a fan.

[sulamith]

And that is my concern exactly, that people will pass on the tour and CD because of what they are seeing on TV. It's all about perception, ya'll.

I am saying negative things because I think they are washed up, they are far from it!

They just are not putting their best foot forward, and they are going to have to be DELUXE top-notch to pull this off.

I am frustrated because I know how great they are, and i want to see it.

-Sharon

[sulamith]

CRAP MAJOR TYPO ABOVE!!

I meant to say i am saying negative thing NOT because i think they are washed up!

Shoot

[John Run]

I know they have performed better, but I do think it is not horrendous. Also people are not turning away from them.

The tour is 85% of capacity. Any two city site has one date at 95% capacity at least. Their new album debuted at #3 selling 20,000 more copies than the Dance did in its first week.

Sharon- I knew what you meant say even with the typo.....

[SmthngOfADreamr]

I think a lot of us are being hypercritical becasue we know they can do better, not because we have built them up to any status that they are not. I have about 50 + videos in my collection that offer concrete evidence that they are better than what we have seen this past week. It's not even so much that they're bad, for me it's more that they come accross as not even trying to do their best.

[bucklind17]

I'm hesitant in basing all my opinions on these few television appearances. Television can mess with performances, I know that some of my other favorite bands have choked on a live TV just because it's a weird and unnatural setting. I'm a huge fan of REM and their TV appearances were less than impressive in recent years, yet I saw them live and they kicked ass. The sad thing is that the public DOES base their opinions on what they see on television. I have a friend who is a Broadway actor, and... well, to put it nicely, his performance on national television over Thanksgiving was less than perfect. Despite the fact that he has proven himself on the stage, THAT performance is still brought up by some to prove some of his weaknesses. So it really is unfortunate that these FM appearances aren't living up to our expectations, because it is probably turning off people who don't follow the band that much. But hopefully they don't speak for how every live performance in a concert setting will be. I like to think of them more as live, concert people anyway and would think they are definitely more comfortable in front of a crowd than in front of a camera.

[chiliD]

The worse they sound on TV, the more people they'll turn off going to concerts, leaving seats open for ME to occupy. ;)

[Mad4stevie]

Originally posted by SmthngOfADreamr
I think a lot of us are being hypercritical becasue we know they can do better, not because we have built them up to any status that they are not. I have about 50 + videos in my collection that offer concrete evidence that they are better than what we have seen this past week. It's not even so much that they're bad, for me it's more that they come accross as not even trying to do their best.

Exactly!! I watched some of my old videos of their performances and was stunned by how much better they sounded. Even during their coked out days - so I don't know what to make of that! This morning I pulled out my 1975 tour video and was completely astounded at how tight their harmonies were then. Of course, you can't expect them to be the same now, but you can expect that Lindsey and Stevie should at least be able to harmonize with each other, which has been difficult for them lately.

[gypsysara]

I enjoy hearing everyones point of view, wether or not I agree!

[jwd]

The worse they sound on TV, the more people they'll turn off going to concerts, leaving seats open for ME to occupy.


Haha... exactly. I hope everyone turns out to hate the Mac based on their awful? television performances. I'd be sitting front and center for 10 bucks watching the Mac rock and roll me...uh huh uh huh uh huh!! :nod:



Joe

[Janet]

Stevie isn't stupid, this is why SHE was unhappy and said they needed more time.

Her outfit...no big deal.

Lindseys need for more voice lessons, yes a big deal. He has to understand he needs to sound like the record or somehow fix the songs to suit his lower voice.

Stevie has adjusted to her voice change a long time ago. I think TISL she sounded great for the tour!! She has had alot more practice than Lindsey.

They just need to take these next 2 weeks, really practice every single minute and she needs to take her millions and go on a little shopping spree..buy some pants outfits and a dress or two and get a hair cut..shes fine.

Don't freak out yet, they just need more practice!!!!!

[DownOnRodeo]

Originally posted by thewhitewingedd
I think Stevie sounded great vocally but the actual music is just awful to my ears and to be totally honest that is what I hate about the new album and why I have stopped listening to it. It just has a very dead sound to it...The absence of Christine and her keys means the group has been forced to find new footing with everything and I don't think they are capable of that...

I have no idea why LB isn't singing well anymore...So I'l leave it at that.


Can I just add my unwanted 2 cents and say I understand how you don't like the new rawer, folk-oriented sound, but I'd just like to add I really do like it a lot. And the fact is that although I really love the exciting, refreshing folk arrangement of Smile At You, Stevie's vocals take a bit of getting used to for me on that one - she hits great notes but it can get gratingly raspy in the process.

Oh and by the way - everyones saying Stevie's singing great and Lindsey isn't. Well i hate to break it to you but when you're singing within a range of three notes, of course you're gonna hit them spot on, whereas poor ol Lindsey's trying to carry the whole vocal element of the band. And yes - it's not working at all - he sounded really weird. BUT did you all read what Cour said in another thread about the mixing levels, and how they improved towards the end of the song? He/she had a great and heartening point there...

[gldstwmn]

Maybe Lindsey needs an ear monitor.

[strandinthewind]

Originally posted by DownOnRodeo
Can Oh and by the way - everyones saying Stevie's singing great and Lindsey isn't. Well i hate to break it to you but when you're singing within a range of three notes, of course you're gonna hit them spot on, whereas poor ol Lindsey's trying to carry the whole vocal element of the band. And yes - it's not working at all - he sounded really weird. BUT did you all read what Cour said in another thread about the mixing levels, and how they improved towards the end of the song? He/she had a great and heartening point there...

While I think you were waxing to hyperbole, let me just say Stevie's live harmony on Peacekeeper is in about two octaves (or at least one and one-half e.g. "don't tell why") and has many more notes than three. All of these notes were on key to my ears. Stevie's lead on SYW is in one octave and is far more than three notes.

I think LB just needs some frank vocal coaching. Also, is hee wearing an ear monitor like Stevie. These can really help alleviate the natural tendacy to sing louder than required during a live performance, which it appears LB is doing.

Note: I am not bashing LB. Like Stevie, I would attend a live phone book reading by LB as long as he played guitar while reading :]

[dissention]

Originally posted by gldstwmn
Maybe Lindsey needs an ear monitor.

Only if he knows how to use it properly. Stevie didn't know her arse from her elbow when she used one on the TISL; that's why she sounded so bad. Even Waddy himself admitted it! :laugh:

[strandinthewind]

Originally posted by dissention
Only if he knows how to use it properly. Stevie didn't know her arse from her elbow when she used one on the TISL; that's why she sounded so bad. Even Waddy himself admitted it! :laugh:

I know, he mentioned something about it. She was, however, using one since at least The Dance tour. So, Dizzy Dora should have figured it out by then!!!!:laugh:

[gldstwmn]

Originally posted by dissention
Only if he knows how to use it properly. Stevie didn't know her arse from her elbow when she used one on the TISL; that's why she sounded so bad. Even Waddy himself admitted it! :laugh:

She used one on the Enchanted tour as well. I'm not sure about the Dance. Waddy said the problem was it was too loud, which if you listen to Sanctuary and some of the other Bella Donna masters seems to be a recurring thing for Stevie.:nod:

[SmthngOfADreamr]

I was actually kind of impressed with Stevie's overall vocal range on the album. I know that some songs might be a little monotonal, but overall, I was very impressed.

And I don't think it's fair to say that Lindsey has lost his voice either. Everybody has their bad days, and I think last week might have not been the best for Lindsey, but he'll come around, I know he won't let us down! :D

[Rainman]

I've posted some negative comments here of late, mainly because of the TV performances. The ticket prices and fan club fiasco burned my butt, too. :distress:

My hope is this:

They'll blow everyone away in the first several concerts, and get better as they go. Concert reviews will be gushing (as most were for The Dance), and everyone will forget all about The Today Show and Leno. FM concert tickets will be as scarce as Buckingham Nicks CDs and we'll all go back to being the happy, glowing fans that we were the day the new album came out.

This is my hope, anyway. Right now I'm not so impressed.

Anyone else feeling this way?

[sodascouts]

Originally posted by SmthngOfADreamr
I know that some songs might be a little monotonal

I agree totally with your sentiment, but I just wanted to say that "monotonal" is only a word in Stevie-land! lol

[PollyThePenguin]

Originally posted by chiliD
The worse they sound on TV, the more people they'll turn off going to concerts, leaving seats open for ME to occupy. ;)

You must be a huge fan! How many seats do you NEED?? :lol: