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Post by drownedsoldier on Dec 3, 2013 19:06:21 GMT -5
The thread to discuss Van's 2011 album What Were You Hoping For? |
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Post by dimplesinurbottom on Dec 7, 2013 6:31:45 GMT -5
It took some time for me to "get" this album, but once I did, it blew me away.
There are a few tracks that I'm not fussed on, I could live without Time Machine for example, but all in all it's a solid release.
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Post by giveitaway on Dec 9, 2013 4:05:24 GMT -5
Love it. Like others have said, it took me a while to get my head around what Van was trying to do with this record, but after three or four listens the music really began to resonate with me.
"North Hollywood" and "Falls (Violet)" are both right up their with his best songs imo.
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Post by Live Wire Admin on Dec 9, 2013 5:25:38 GMT -5
I can certainly see why folks have mixed opinions on this record.
As a music lover and a big fan of Van's songwriting, there is certainly a lot to appreciate on the album. It definately stands out in his catalogue as a bold statement. If Popular was too leftfield for Blue Note, then I don't think any label would touch WWYWF with a bargepole. It just isn't the kind of music that the industry wants to push, it's far too creative and experimental and all those other superlatives. The long instrumental sections and unusual song structures have alienated even some of his fanbase, so what chance is there of WWYHF picking up any new recruits to the fanbase?
It would be nice to see Van make a record that could have a wider appeal without having to compromise his artistry. But if that isn't possible, then screw the masses and make the music you dig, because it's sounding great to me.
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fiona
New Member
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Post by fiona on Dec 9, 2013 5:48:54 GMT -5
This is probably my least favourite of his albums. That's not to say I dislike it or anything, although I was disappointed when I first heard it. I feel he has let his frustrations and disappointments with the music industry effect the quality of his songwriting.
He said about being influenced by a punk ethos on this album, but I can help but feel that this attitude is reactionary to his perceived rejection from the major labels. Just because the industry fails to see his potential as an artist and songwriter it doesn't mean he has to go off on a tangent and make incomplete sounding, psychedelic punk rock.
Again, it's not that I don't like the album, it still has a few classic VH moments, such as Moving Targets and North Hollywood, but I feel this album as a whole is the sound of a beaten dog pissing on his owner after years of poor treatment.
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Post by drownedsoldier on Dec 11, 2013 4:10:10 GMT -5
Just because the industry fails to see his potential as an artist and songwriter it doesn't mean he has to go off on a tangent and make incomplete sounding, psychedelic punk rock. I feel this album as a whole is the sound of a beaten dog pissing on his owner after years of poor treatment. Well, that's your perception of it. Just because he's experimenting with a different sound and moving away from 3-4 minute conventional verse-chorus-verse song structure, it doesn't mean he's going "off on a tangent." The beaten dog analogy is interesting and perhaps true to some extent. But many an artist have produced their most honest and creative works at times of personal hardship. |
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fiona
New Member
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Post by fiona on Dec 11, 2013 4:58:04 GMT -5
Like I said, it's not that I dislike the album, I just feel it was a step down in quality from his previous releases. I'm completely open to an artist experimenting and expanding their sound, so long as the quality remains. Some of the material on WWYHF just sounded a little rushed and in-complete to me.
Each to their own, I guess.
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Post by Live Wire Admin on Dec 21, 2013 3:03:00 GMT -5
I can't put my finger on why I love Designer Jeans so much, maybe it's that relentless beat but there's a hypnotic quality to the song that I really dig. Am surprised to see no-one having mentioned it thus far.
And I also love Falls (Violet) - something about the vocal delivery and Van's phrasing reminds me of Sly circa Riot Goin' On.
The album is indeed a masterpiece. I love how Van continually evolves with every album and never makes the same record twice. When I first heard Popular I was disappointed it wasn't like OTJG, but I grew to love it even more than the latter. On my first listen of WWYWF I was disappointed it wasn't like Popular, but after repeated listens, the same thing is starting to happen.
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