Question regarding Mastodon, and selling out, in general...?!
Question: Question regarding Mastodon, and selling out, in general!.!.!.!?
I read the latest update available on Mastodon's upcoming release!. They basically were revealing that the album was going to be a sellout type of album, as it would appeal to the masses!. Of all bands, I thought that they wouldn't be selling out!.
But it seems that over 90% of musical acts eventually succumb to the temptation to sell as many records as possible, even if it means writing music purposefully to appeal to a wider range of popular culture!.
Even Slipknot seems to be totally selling out (not that I'm a fan of theirs or anything)!. But has anyone else noticed the extreme amount of bands being watered-down these days!? Especially bands that you'd never suspect of ever wanting to sell out!?Www@Enter-QA@Com
But it seems that over 90% of musical acts eventually succumb to the temptation to sell as many records as possible, even if it means writing music purposefully to appeal to a wider range of popular culture!.
Even Slipknot seems to be totally selling out (not that I'm a fan of theirs or anything)!. But has anyone else noticed the extreme amount of bands being watered-down these days!? Especially bands that you'd never suspect of ever wanting to sell out!?Www@Enter-QA@Com
Answers:
I always thought they were kinda Cannibal Corpse kinda mainstream anyhow!.
(You know, not radio friendly, but the "Brutal" Band everyone knew, and that all teh Spencer's kids had T-Shits for)
Anyhow!.!.is it selling out!? Selling Out, IMO is when you sacrifice your quality and expirementaltion to water things down for the masses!.
If they still play top quality music, but maybe less heavy, are they selling out!? Some artists get tired of recording the same stuff over and over (and some like CC do not) and want to experiment and grow as muscians!. It seems somewhat judgemental and hypocritical for us to call them sell outs before we even HEAR the album!.
Did Opeth sell out by making Aucoustic Tracks!? Honestly!.!.I am not a huge fan to begin with, but give them the benefit of the doubt!.
As for Slipknot!.!.how can they sell out!? They have ALWAYS been directly pointed at the Mall Metal Crowd (sorry Adam), so whether it is acoustic, or their definiton of "HEAVY" (being as they are, in their own words the heaviest band EVER) it was always mainstream and meant for mass marketing!. Lets face it!.!.Slipknot is the SAFE :Scary Brutal" band, the one 13 year olds can wear t-shirts (as opposed to Burzum or Ancient or some crazy Grindcore band)for!.!.kinda like Marilyn Manson was the "Safe" scary band a decade ago!.
I gotta say!.!.we as the listeners spend too much time trying to define what the band should play!.!.!. if we are fans!.!.we will listen!. If we like it, we will buy it, if we don't, we wont!. But when a band starts worrying specifically what will appeal to their core audience!.!.or to the mainstream, instead of tjust playing the music that is in their heads and hearts!.!.!. then and only then have they sold out!.
With Mastadon!.!.are they selling out!.!.or just realizing they didn't write as heavy an album as normal and just making the statement that it is going to have more mass market appeal BEACAUSE of that fact!?
Lastly!.!.if a band can stay true to their sound!.!.but make themselves more marketable!.!.!.why is that a bad thing!? Honestly!? Once you get out of your 20s!.!.touring 320 days a year is no longer fun!. you want to tour a bit less, and market a bit more!.!.!.because the gruelling tour schedule can also rob you of you creativity and the fun in making music!. Sometime, it directly hurts a band!.
I can tell you for a fact!.!.alot of the Load and Reload fiasco form Metallica stemmed directly from 3 years of intense touring after the Black album!. also listen to 7dust interviews!. Almost NO band has toured as extensively as they did in their earlier years!.!.and it actually ended up costing them sales (along with at least one marriage)!. So!.!.if they want to be albel to SELL more albums, sell more merchandise!.!.and maybe tour just a little less!.!. I cannot begrudge a band that!.
Heck!.!.I don't know about the guys in Mastadon!.!.but a lot of these Sub-Metallica bands have to actually hold down day jpbs still just to make ends meet!.
Especially if we don't want to hear about them breaking up in the near future!.Www@Enter-QA@Com
(You know, not radio friendly, but the "Brutal" Band everyone knew, and that all teh Spencer's kids had T-Shits for)
Anyhow!.!.is it selling out!? Selling Out, IMO is when you sacrifice your quality and expirementaltion to water things down for the masses!.
If they still play top quality music, but maybe less heavy, are they selling out!? Some artists get tired of recording the same stuff over and over (and some like CC do not) and want to experiment and grow as muscians!. It seems somewhat judgemental and hypocritical for us to call them sell outs before we even HEAR the album!.
Did Opeth sell out by making Aucoustic Tracks!? Honestly!.!.I am not a huge fan to begin with, but give them the benefit of the doubt!.
As for Slipknot!.!.how can they sell out!? They have ALWAYS been directly pointed at the Mall Metal Crowd (sorry Adam), so whether it is acoustic, or their definiton of "HEAVY" (being as they are, in their own words the heaviest band EVER) it was always mainstream and meant for mass marketing!. Lets face it!.!.Slipknot is the SAFE :Scary Brutal" band, the one 13 year olds can wear t-shirts (as opposed to Burzum or Ancient or some crazy Grindcore band)for!.!.kinda like Marilyn Manson was the "Safe" scary band a decade ago!.
I gotta say!.!.we as the listeners spend too much time trying to define what the band should play!.!.!. if we are fans!.!.we will listen!. If we like it, we will buy it, if we don't, we wont!. But when a band starts worrying specifically what will appeal to their core audience!.!.or to the mainstream, instead of tjust playing the music that is in their heads and hearts!.!.!. then and only then have they sold out!.
With Mastadon!.!.are they selling out!.!.or just realizing they didn't write as heavy an album as normal and just making the statement that it is going to have more mass market appeal BEACAUSE of that fact!?
Lastly!.!.if a band can stay true to their sound!.!.but make themselves more marketable!.!.!.why is that a bad thing!? Honestly!? Once you get out of your 20s!.!.touring 320 days a year is no longer fun!. you want to tour a bit less, and market a bit more!.!.!.because the gruelling tour schedule can also rob you of you creativity and the fun in making music!. Sometime, it directly hurts a band!.
I can tell you for a fact!.!.alot of the Load and Reload fiasco form Metallica stemmed directly from 3 years of intense touring after the Black album!. also listen to 7dust interviews!. Almost NO band has toured as extensively as they did in their earlier years!.!.and it actually ended up costing them sales (along with at least one marriage)!. So!.!.if they want to be albel to SELL more albums, sell more merchandise!.!.and maybe tour just a little less!.!. I cannot begrudge a band that!.
Heck!.!.I don't know about the guys in Mastadon!.!.but a lot of these Sub-Metallica bands have to actually hold down day jpbs still just to make ends meet!.
Especially if we don't want to hear about them breaking up in the near future!.Www@Enter-QA@Com
Wow, I love Mastodon and have always respected them for sticking to their roots and writing kick a$$ music that doesn't always appeal to the masses!. But yeah I read a similar article about the next album, I also heard that they wrote a lot of the stuff on acoustic guitar, which isn't a bad thing but I always associate Mastodon's music with heaviness and intensity w/a hint of melody!.!.!.not exactly acoustic friendly stuff for the most part!. Regardless!.!.I'm sure the next album will be good!.!.!.Www@Enter-QA@Com
The Record Company "Suits" run it all Leech!. And with the godlike amounts of Money they can throw around for stuff like American Fail, errr Idol!.!.and the travelling Disney Chimpanzee Show, errrr The JoBlows they can make just about any artist succumb to the almighty dollar!.
Just another reason why the modern music industry, and just the mind boggling greed of American Society in general just makes Me physically sick!.Www@Enter-QA@Com
Just another reason why the modern music industry, and just the mind boggling greed of American Society in general just makes Me physically sick!.Www@Enter-QA@Com
One thing I've learned, when a band has been a while for a while, theyre in a catch 22 situation!.!.!.heres what I mean!.!.
If a band stays true to their sound and refuses to expand or experiment, then they are accused of having all their records sound the same,thus why buy the new one if it sounds like all their other releases!. Some may even accuse the band of being lazy
Now, lets say a band does experiment with a new sound or decide to venyure in a different direction musically, NOW they're sell outs,they are not being true to themselves or to the sound that made them famous!.
Www@Enter-QA@Com
If a band stays true to their sound and refuses to expand or experiment, then they are accused of having all their records sound the same,thus why buy the new one if it sounds like all their other releases!. Some may even accuse the band of being lazy
Now, lets say a band does experiment with a new sound or decide to venyure in a different direction musically, NOW they're sell outs,they are not being true to themselves or to the sound that made them famous!.
Www@Enter-QA@Com
I will have to hear the new Mastodon album to believe it!. They are wicked goofy and I could definitely see them posting that just to be funny!. I really hope they don't sell out because they are one of my favorites!.
And also, being a slipknot fan, I agree that they have sold out!. They used to be heavy but they have gone to even putting acousitc on there new album!.Www@Enter-QA@Com
And also, being a slipknot fan, I agree that they have sold out!. They used to be heavy but they have gone to even putting acousitc on there new album!.Www@Enter-QA@Com
It think Mastodon hinted at that direction with their last album Blood Mountain, it was alot more accesable than Leviathan!. I read that article alright and was kinda disappointed too but some bands do still keep their rep in tact like Meagdeth, Queens Of The Stone Age, Children Of Bodom, etc!.
It is a trend I hope is curbed and not explolited :(Www@Enter-QA@Com
It is a trend I hope is curbed and not explolited :(Www@Enter-QA@Com