Not ashamed anymore.

[Violet]

Violet, they didn't suck, they had great voices and the guys were awesome musicians. I do understand the backlash and I never claimed their lyrics were deep.

Actually, their voices are pretty meh (and the only reason I listen to them is their lyrics. I don't care that they aren't all super-deep: they are understandable, or at least somewhat so)... and the music itself is often cringe-worthy, but with cute little idiosyncrasies that are actually well done (just not enough of them).

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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xFrGuyw1V8s I mean, you'll notice one of them right after "friday and the lights are low"... and the piano is solid... the transitions are well played... and the rest is absolute shit. I can enjoy it once in a while, but I don't pretend I enjoy it as a result of it being good... it makes ears bleed.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-crgQGdpZR0 Here's another example of a song I'll listen to that simply isn't good, now I like what they tried to do, and they DID do well at certain parts (when all of the overlaps are together at the start, it's good... until that it is horrid, and this is where ABBA shows its talent: overlapping tracks, well timed background music (every time she says magic, you'll see), and again... transitions). They are not good musicians, they are decent music theorists.

You can see it again here...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BWI2bTckbgc
Their transitions are fucking genious, every time they have multiple instruments (and preferably vocals) going at once: it sounds great (as in the chorus). Every time it's reduced to 1-2 tracks... shit. But I said that they deliver on music theory: THIS IS INTENTIONAL SUCKNATION so that they can bring you the satisfying *resolution* that is coming in their chorus. This is what makes them popular, and it doesn't take a lick of musical talent (none of which they have)... it is clever observance to musical theory. Try 3:55 on that track, leaving people on a 'this is great' note.

Even the song I declare to be flatly their best work ever:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=92cwKCU8Z5c
Well no... here they decided to do a better job with the music itself, though there is very slight a cringe start. But this song stands by itself, if they did this well in their other songs, I wouldn't think of them as shit. However, as all actually good music: it spends its whole time being good, and doesn't give a cheap thrill via clash-resolve (also, it's why I will forever dislike Bach, and despise the ending to many classical works).

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dQsjAbZDx-4
Wouldn't it be great if the lyrics weren't worthless on this track? It's one of those songs I flatly wish was in another language, and that's why I don't listen to it. Sure, I know what they were trying with the lyrics, and exactly what they mean... they are still shit.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p6-M63HVR2g
Starts out rather annoying, quickly becomes the best musical track they've ever made, being at once their most creative, most observant of musical theory, and generally being well played by all the actors. Sure, I prefer the meaning behind The Winner Takes it All, but if the massive clash-break was about 10 seconds shorter (cut from the starting portion), this would be my favorite track of theirs.

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But I do understand stuff being overplayed. I hate Jimmy Buffet precisely because of two guys I went to college with loading up the juke box every time I was at that bar. Same damned 4 Buffet songs over and over and over and over and over.

But that does not mean Buffet sucked. Just means I don't like him.

Asha hates that I love a few of Buffet's songs... Brian: I don't have to think an artist is amazing to enjoy their music

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OJi4bln-hHQ

Fuck yes.