Doesn't anyone like Empire State???

[ricohv]

I was just reading the thread about Mirage, and how most people find it bland, and no one seems to like Empire State (which is something I have read over and over for soooo long). I also read that everyone thinks Stevie and Chris steal that album. Chris is at her most mediocre to me, Stevie is inconsistent (That's Alright , well, it's ok, but it's not alright in context to the rest of the album, too country sounding IMO for that album). I love how Lindsey kind of did a slight 50's doo-wop sound to the album, and Empire State is one of my favorites by him. I love to crank it up! I think it's totally energetic, creatively produced and manages to make the best use of Lindsey's somewhat manic energy of just about any one of his songs! Won't anyone agree with me?!? I f*cking love it...LOUD!!!

[greatdarkwing]

I *LOVE* Empire State...I'm surprised more people cant get into it.

~Alex

[strandinthewind]

Originally Posted by greatdarkwing

I *LOVE* Empire State...I'm surprised more people cant get into it.

~Alex

I like it - I remember first hearing it and thinking "LB wrote a song about Manhattan" I like his stuff, even the fluff, which this sort of is. I mean not everything has to be this complicated dissertation

[greatdarkwing]

Originally Posted by strandinthewind

I like it - I remember first hearing it and thinking "LB wrote a song about Manhattan" I like his stuff, even the fluff, which this sort of is. I mean not everything has to be this complicated dissertation

Its a wierd sound, but looking at Mirage, all of it has a wierd, vintage feel to it.

~Alex

[strandinthewind]

Originally Posted by greatdarkwing

Its a wierd sound, but looking at Mirage, all of it has a wierd, vintage feel to it.

~Alex

I LOVE Mirage. I think it is brilliant - perhaps even more so than Tusk - which was stellar I know this is not a popular opinion, but I do not care

[greatdarkwing]

Originally Posted by strandinthewind

I know this is not a popular opinion, but I do not care

Way to not care!

~Alex

[sodascouts]

Originally Posted by ricohv

I was just reading the thread about Mirage, and how most people find it bland, and no one seems to like Empire State (which is something I have read over and over for soooo long). I also read that everyone thinks Stevie and Chris steal that album. Chris is at her most mediocre to me, Stevie is inconsistent (That's Alright , well, it's ok, but it's not alright in context to the rest of the album, too country sounding IMO for that album). I love how Lindsey kind of did a slight 50's doo-wop sound to the album, and Empire State is one of my favorites by him. I love to crank it up! I think it's totally energetic, creatively produced and manages to make the best use of Lindsey's somewhat manic energy of just about any one of his songs! Won't anyone agree with me?!? I f*cking love it...LOUD!!!

To each his/her own. I find Empire State gimmicky and annoying. One of his worst - EVER! Nancy's scientific analysis: EMPIRE STATE BLOWS.

Now, Oh Diane, there's an underappreciated song. Pleasant melody, a fun unoffensive little ditty in the tradition of old-style pop - yet some people loathe it.

Gypsy is one of Stevie's - and FM's - best. It's brilliant. And Lindsey contributed so heavily to the final sound of that song it's almost a collaboration. I adore it.

Hold Me is another terrific song off that album.

The rest? Eh. I find Love In Store, That's Alright, Can't Go Back, and Straight Back pleasant enough. Book of Love and its "ha ha ha ha" background vocals are majorly annoying, and Eyes of the world - ugh, the monotonous repetition of "Eyes" ruins the song (live, it takes on a new spirit, though). Only Over You and Wish You Were Here - good music to put on if you're having a hard time getting to sleep. Otherwise not so hot.

So, Mirage is not my favorite, but it's not as terrible as Lindsey and some others make it out to be. But yes, his material is weaker on there.

And yes, Empire State IS that terrible. And then some. lol

[greatdarkwing]

Originally Posted by sodascouts

And yes, Empire State IS that terrible. And then some. lol

I cant get mad at you...you're Republican

~Alex

[sodascouts]

Originally Posted by greatdarkwing

I cant get mad at you...you're Republican

~Alex

But I thought YOU were the only Republican on the Ledge.

[greatdarkwing]

Originally Posted by sodascouts

But I thought YOU were the only Republican on the Ledge.

In some of those Chit chat threads it feels like it

~Alex

[Johnny Stew]

I like to teasingly mention the likes of "Empire State," "Oh Diane" and "Family Man," when the opinion is expressed that Lindsey can do no wrong in Fleetwood Mac... but the truth of the matter is that I really love all of those songs.

They're just so fun, how could I not?

[HomerMcvie]

I too, love Empire State! The music is enough to overcome any lyrical deficit.

[GateandGarden]

Originally Posted by sodascouts

Now, Oh Diane, there's an underappreciated song. Pleasant melody, a fun unoffensive little ditty in the tradition of old-style pop - yet some people loathe it. ...

...and its "ha ha ha ha" background vocals are majorly annoying, and Eyes of the world - ugh, the monotonous repetition of "Eyes" ruins the song (live, it takes on a new spirit, though).

I totally agree about "Oh Diane"!!! And those are the exact reasons I can't take "Eyes" and "Book of Love." I thought I was the only one.

I was just talking to a new friend of mine (big FM fan) about this CD. It's one of the few she doesn't have, and she's heard such awful things about it that she's loath to buy it. She's a really big Lindsey fan over all the others, and she heard that his material on it sucks. I told her I love "Oh Diane" and that she might also like some of the others. I don't know about "Empire State." That one is the hardest for me to take. All things considered, Lindsey's Mirage songs don't seem to be his best by any means.

But as for the first comment about "That's Alright," maybe it is kind of weird for the album, being so country and all, but I think it's so brilliant that I don't care! I know I've said this many times before, but it's one of my all-time favorite Fleetwood Mac songs.

Hillary

[sodascouts]

Originally Posted by GateandGarden

It's one of the few she doesn't have, and she's heard such awful things about it that she's loath to buy it.

This is off-topic, but kudos to you Hillary for using "loath" correctly. It is one of my pet peeves how many people will say "she's loathe to buy it" when loathe=hate and loath=reluctant. Just HAD to say that. lol

[Les]

"Empire State" was a grower for me. I don't think I warmed to it very much on the first listens, but I quite like it now, which is also how I felt about the Mirage album as a whole. "Eyes" and "Gypsy" and "Hold Me" were immediate favorites, but the others initially struck me as a little cold, which is strange because I now think of Mirage as a sunny, warm, summertime album. But anyway, as for "Empire State", any rock song that finds a way to make good use of a harp is okay in my book.

There's his song on Law & Order (one of those solo albums that apparently no one hears ) - called "That's How We Do It In L.A" - where he jokingly pokes at L.A. a little bit, feeling restless and a little distressed about his town. Feeling lonely, but compelled to stay there because it's the "only place" he can conceive of being. But in "Empire State" he seems to be flirting with New York, appreciating its energy and differences from L.A., and wondering if he could feel comfortable there.

I've always imagined that he wrote these two songs at about the same time or maybe when he was in a very similar state of mind, because "Empire State" just seems like the continuation of the thought he started with his L.A. song. He indirectly quotes from his L.A. song in "Empire State" with the line about how life in N.Y. is "not like we do in L.A." I know I always associate the two when I play one or the other.