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Wow! My record is making the 2011 lists big time.

#3
Dude, what a coincidence...you get named on all these best of 2011 lists, and I got my Baba Booey parody of Emerson, Lake And Palmer's "Nutrocker" played on Howard Stern last week. That's about equal, right?

:D

Seriously, that's gigantic...your thing, that is. Congratulations!
 
#9
Ack.

Confession time:
With all due respect, I didn't know this was your band.
My wife played it the other night cuz her co-workers love it.

I dissed it as an 80's pop rehash soundtrack.
It gets the sound right by ripping hard from the New Order fakebook, but ultimately it's un-compelling songwriting behind slightly familiar and easily digestible mood pop. I went on ranting about how it works because it's tapping into nostalgia for one fanbase, yet sounds fresh to the younger folks who don't have deeper pop music history references.

So now I'll have to give it another listen with adjusted-bias ears, knowing this was music made by a very cool, humble and talented musician.

Is it kinda lame that my opinion could be swayed by something other than the music itself?
Why, yes.. yes it is.

But hey, all's fair in pop music.. and this IS a confession after all.

:hiding:
 
#12
Well, it's not "my" band, but I produced, co-wrote, and played the lion's share of instruments.

I can dig that you would think that about it....certainly no offense taken. Feel free to try another listen....the surface-level "derivations" (or influences as I like to call them) you perceive are no secret. But there are other layers there that I do believe make the album a worthwhile journey. If you try it and still find it trite and derivative, I certainly won't blame you! Don't let our association here sway you one way or the other.

Best,
JMJ


Queg said:
Ack.

Confession time:
With all due respect, I didn't know this was your band.
My wife played it the other night cuz her co-workers love it.

I dissed it as an 80's pop rehash soundtrack.
It gets the sound right by ripping hard from the New Order fakebook, but ultimately it's un-compelling songwriting behind slightly familiar and easily digestible mood pop. I went on ranting about how it works because it's tapping into nostalgia for one fanbase, yet sounds fresh to the younger folks who don't have deeper pop music history references.

So now I'll have to give it another listen with adjusted-bias ears, knowing this was music made by a very cool, humble and talented musician.

Is it kinda lame that my opinion could be swayed by something other than the music itself?
Why, yes.. yes it is.

But hey, all's fair in pop music.. and this IS a confession after all.

:hiding:
Click to expand...
 
#15
It's really cool to see you doing so well, Justin. I don't post much, more of a lurker, but nonetheless it's good to see someone as passionate about what they do as you really making it.

And it's opening me up to all kinds of music I wouldn't have otherwise listened to! :)
 
#16
Thanks, all! Most kind. Yeah, I think the things for me with this record which make it unique in my life are:

- The work for it began straight out of the trauma of my mother dying, my divorce, and NIN ending. So more personal emotion and investment than ever before was put into a very cathartic experience.

- The musical landscape of M83 is the type that I find most interesting down to a very core level.

- It was hard to make, and took a long time.

- The record became, over time, increasingly saddled with a feeling of precarious risk and danger. This was our fault, and really just due to the scope of its size and ambition, then eventually a deadline. This all caused considerable stress and more than a few sleepless nights. But somehow, never doubt. We just kind of forged ahead in this blithe manner.

Hence: vindication.

:)

Best,
JMJ

-
 
#17
Ya, that's an awful lot to go through all at once. But it really must feel awesome to make an album that's so well accepted both critically and commercially, especially since you produced it and co-wrote it. I read where Trent said he's about ready to start working on a NIN project again...that would be great if you were in on it but I hope he can still afford you ;)
 
#18
Re: NIN, who knows? Trent will do what Trent will do, and none of us that have been in his orbit can ever predict his creative direction. I respect his liberty and freedom immensely, so however he wants to get on with it is great.

J
 
#19
Congrats, JMJ! Definitely deserve all the praise, with the scope of this double-album I think you deserve a nice winter vacation before working on Beck's next album (let me dream/hope!)

I hope 2012 treats you better than 2011 did, and you get a few more Starfires for Christmas :)
 
#20
When my wife's uber-cool friend Ash - the guy who always had the obscure, up-and-coming next thing - mentioned on FB that he was listening constantly to Hurry Up We're Dreaming...I was able to say, "Oh yeah, I know that. Sure. Great album. Been listening to it for weeks." Priceless... thanks JMJ...
 

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