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RE: new album by Wheat | from ChrisDec 12 2003 - 09:25

Herrel -

I saw the garden theory explained in a classic Musician magazine meet-up between Eno and John Cage. This might be 7 or 8 years ago. I'm sure it's posted somewhere.

In brief, the theory says we should celebrate the kind of pop that Wheat has chosen to make, because while it may not compare to their past work, it's still an improvement over the pop that's in the "garden" now. Call it a better crop. Much of Bowie's work falls in this category -- it's not that great on its own, but when you put it in context of the other music of its time, it takes on an excellence, a transcendence, even, that is undeniable. In turn, that material, added like compost to the garden, makes for a better harvest down the line. In the article, Eno praised Madonna because she was doing work that would eventually be improved upon. True music lovers benefit -- and the dollar-driven Christinas and Britneys go home to cry.

As for dismissing Wheat, Sylvan, and calling Radiohead "pop" music -- wow, what a point of view. I suspect you're in the minority on that one.

RE: new album by Wheat | from gesDec 11 2003 - 11:17

Maybe I'm deluded but I really like the new Wheat album, 'These are Things' is a wonderful track. Perhaps I'm just easily impressed because it's only the second CD in my collection which makes use of my CD player's CD Text facility.

RE: new album by Wheat | from stemsDec 06 2003 - 11:47

I saw these guys a few nights ago. Nice guys but I was 50/50 on the show just like I am on the band. I LOVE the song "Raised Ranch Revolution" but it really rings of an old Pavement tune.

I read a review of Hope and Adams that said they might as well have called it "Bryan Adams"...thought that was worth a giggle.

Eh, who cares...a band doesn't have to be indie/underground to be good. It's just a rule of thumb it seems that the deeper you have to dig for music the better it gets.

I don't fault Wheat for wanting to do arena pop. I'm not a big fan of Wheezer or Fountains of Wayne either, but they all manage to turn out a good melody now and then. THey are like Cheap Trick for the 21st century or something. It still beats teenybopper crap or that angst-ridden faux-metal and shopping mall punk

RE: new album by Wheat | from dewheatedDec 05 2003 - 11:33

i only base my opinion on my opinion. i actually like a few toad the wet sprocket songs. i don't like christina aguilera and the ilk but i do like a couple of justin timberlake songs. go figure. and in my opinion i don't like per second whatsoever.

RE: new album by Wheat | from sylvanDec 05 2003 - 07:50

sorry...

britney spears is a good dancer, as far as ressurecting pop, we allready had radiohead. Anyways, hate to break it to ya, but wheat wasn't really that great to begin with. I mean, don't get me wrong i liked hope and adams, medieros was good too. But they never struck my as being that great. Funny that toad the wetsprocket gets mentioned, cause it seems like a big influence of theirs. Not that i have anything against them, i believe someone coined the term wuss rock, but then idaho might fall into that category. Of course far be it for me to compare toad the wet sprocket with idaho. nayways, anybody heard the new Kozelek album, sun kil moon....amazing.

do good

RE: new album by Wheat | from sylvanDec 05 2003 - 07:40

RE: new album by Wheat | from HerrelDec 04 2003 - 16:59

where can we read this "garden theory chris?

RE: new album by Wheat | from ChrisDec 04 2003 - 12:48

I'm a big Wheat fan and I must admit I was taken aback by it.
However, I understand why they went
this route and I can even support
them in it.

Look, "pop music" as a genre is in an extremely sorry state -- this is the age of American Idol, after all. The law of diminishing returns can be applied to pretty much everything that has major marketing oomph behind it. It's like that fallow period between Elvis and the Beatles, only far less about craft and finesse. (At least we had the Brill Building back then, rather than some anti-music landfill in Orlando....)

Pop music in 2003 is a blunt instrument -- it doesn't even possess the subtlelty of a flying hammer. So, if Wheat choose to enter that arena, and they plan to compete, then they're under intense market pressure to modify their sound. For better or worse, that's what they've done.

I, for one, can honestly say that I would rather hear a busy, blanded-out Wheat song than some galaxy-destroying shit by Christina, Britney and their ilk. At least Wheat come from the realm of art.

Read Brian Eno and John Cage about the "garden" theory of pop music, and you'll re-learn to support our boys in their current guise. Whether it's a hit or not, or even worthy of the band's brilliant catalog, this new music is bringing pop back to a (slightly) better state of health.

RE: new album by Wheat | from nobodyNov 25 2003 - 10:19

believe me after this last crappy album I mistakenly paid 13$ for I'm not spending any time tracking down so called good versions of songs. i've totally lost respect for them.

RE: new album by Wheat | from jayNov 25 2003 - 07:06

I think the CDs pretty solid for what they are going for -- a great pop album w/radio play potential. And to alienate their indie audience -- didn't opening for Toad the Wet Sprocket seal that one!? It's pop. I like it, but I can't love it.

Interesting though... they rerecorded most of the songs after the Nude deal went under. Track down the "naked" version of "Can't Wash it Off." It's the most perfect song they've ever done. A shame they had to mess w/it for the final release on Aware, which is a joke. Demos are floating around for the entire Nude recordings. Very Hope & Adams... a nice extension of that sound, if that's your thing.

RE: new album by Wheat | from gpNov 20 2003 - 08:19

i think it is terrible. i'm sorely disappointed.

RE: new album by Wheat | from cNov 19 2003 - 05:23

yeah, maybe i am. from all the glowing reviews i've read, i must be listening to the wrong album. or maybe everyone else is in denial.

i've tried so hard to like it - actually, "i met a girl" is great and catchy in a maddening way... i can't get it out of my head for better or worse... but the rest of the album, with the exception of "closer to mercury" sounds like matchbox 20/john mayer schlock to me. i guess i'm just jaded.

RE: new album by Wheat | from Jeff B.Nov 18 2003 - 18:31

yr nuts.
it's great!


i already said it | from cNov 09 2003 - 06:33

Has anyone heard "Per second..."? what an absolute atrocity. it sounds just like Matchbox 20 to me.

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