Never got into him until this week but I'm loving the songs that have already been released from this album and his last album. What's the reason for people hating him?
Most of what he says in interviews/press stuff in general is over the top smartest guy in the room stuff from way out in left field; he wears this very specific brand of quirkiness like a badge of honor and it comes across (for some, myself included) annoying at best and condescendingly at worst. If it's all a joke he's kinda just overdoing it and if it's what he actually thinks it's a bit self aggrandizing. I think his music's fine but the people I know that love him reaally love him and fair or not for me that just makes the whole above more off putting.
I'll touch on this more in a longform review, but I do feel like the snarkiness of it all is largely more absent here than it was on I Love You, Honeybear. Like, people either love or hate that album for the same reason. And there's still humorous lines here, the flowery imagery and language is there, but to me, this album feels a lot more serious and a lot less mean-spirited at other peoples' expenses. But I also don't think that's enough to change minds as his public persona has remained virtually the same.
I worry that because of his other albums and the persona that went with them people won't see this album as sincere though.
I still haven't listened to this, I probably will this week, but he's not doing much to squash the snark persona when the lead single is Pure Comedy and contains lines like: Oh, their religions are the best They worship themselves yet they're totally obsessed With risen zombies, celestial virgins, magic tricks, these unbelievable outfits And they get terribly upset When you question their sacred texts Written by woman-hating epileptics I get what he's going for, fine, but I don't fully bite on most of his commentary. The "zombie" line is straight off of a Hot Topic shirt or a hack comedian's first draft.
I like him as a songwriter, find his persona a little obnoxious, but mostly I find his writing has become a little too theatric. I really enjoyed the vibe of Fear Fun, but since this his songs have become too elaborate and long-winded to really catch my ear. I was really rooting for his SNL performance but it just seemed out of place.
He's got a very strong-headed personality, and also used to be a little overboard with his social network commentary. But personally, more than half the time I don't disagree with his views so it effects me, and some like me, none.
I will never forget the meme I saw that just said "FJM is just Michael Buble for people who shop at Trader Joe's"
This is accurate, I got in trouble once in (Catholic) high school for saying Jesus was a zombie during a religion class.
Isn't that the point though? To break it down to basic, stupid terms and question how someone could believe in something so unbelievable? It's not supposed to be some biting critique.
Thought the Paste interview was great. What he's doing for this tour cycle seems like it's gonna rule
Love his schtick He is unabashedly outrageous and it's refreshing....even if I don't agree with most of what he says. ha
The Paste piece is definitely a better interview. It actually gets to the human beneath the character.