In light of Wilson's latest releases of singles from his upcoming album, I feel like I'm off the band wagon I've been firmly seated upon for over 20 years. I've only missed one tour since Stupid Dream. HCE I saw 3 times. But this new direction...I'm not feeling at all.
I know Wilson is a huge pop fan, he's made no secret of that fact. He's admittedly been working hard on song construction since Stupid Dream. I felt after hearing and seeing the HCE tour, it was his solo break out album and the chances of seeing him in smaller venues was very likely to be a thing of the past, he had broken through to a new wider audience, and I thought it was going to be different for him after that. And for me. His new tour is apparently selling out and the album isn't out yet.
Yet with this new work, it's not on my auto buy list and I've no interest in seeing the tour, though I may change my tune if Ninet is on it! I became frustrated with his lineup changes in North America and have become less excited about seeing him as a result.
All that being said, I started to think about other musicians who's next album I eagerly look forward to knowing it's going to be a surprise, a new direction, a new sound, a new band. Maybe a completely different genre like Joe Jacksons Sympnony #1, anything by Ryuichi Sakamoto, Eno, Rundgrens With A Twist, Zappas, well almost anything. Among this group there are hundreds and hundreds of additional examples.
I'm wondering why I'm so intolerant of Wilsons new direction? Sakamoto has always bounced around with musical genres, all sorts of musicians and styles. I buy his work expecting it to be different! I welcome the challenge even though it may not be the style I listen to or be all that interested in, his Heartbeat album with Deee Lite for example. He did it, I listen to it openly, and accept it differently.
Why not with this one of Wilsons?
I made a snarky comment that maybe he's trying to win a spot as opener on Adele's next tour. Good on him if he does! I'm not begrudging him success, if I were wish it upon anyone it would be him.
I'm wondering what others here think. It seems like he's lost some of us and retained and/or gained others.
Any thoughts??
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