mewithoutYou Band • Page 13

That's very fair, the entire structure of the song is rooted in repetition of all those elements, especially by the end. I was honestly surprised that the crowd went so wild for that song when I saw it. I love it, but didn't know that it was a song that elicited freak outs live.

 

Yeah, it's weird for me too because I've been checking out their set lists a lot recently and it seems to be one of the songs they play pretty much every show and, to me, it's such a middle of the road song on their worst album so it's surprising. I guess a lot of people love it though.

But yeah, I feel like most of Crazy is built on repetition and that's just not something that really does much for me in music which is why I've never really got into it. I wish more of that album was the kind of storytelling they did on Cookie and King Beetle, the ending of Cookie is one of my favourite parts of their whole discography.

 

I actually think it's the "bah bah da daa bah da daa" bits at the beginning. I think it drags a little. I like it a bit more when it kicks in towards the two minute mark. In fact, listening again now, I do like the second half. The lyrics definitely make me laugh.

 

The thing I love about that song (and possibly why it was one of my favourite moments when I saw them earlier this year) was because the crowd joins together to sing "what a beautiful God there must be"... no matter what their beliefs, what their thoughts, what their background. To me it's a transcendent moment. Spiritual but not religious. It embraces doubt and unknowing but still offers a place for people to come together. I don't know... that's the emotion it conjures up for me.

That and I love when it kicks in a bit more for the final verse.

Oh and my wife seems to like it. Which is rare for mewithoutYou songs!

 

Yeah, I guess I just don't really connect with that sentiment. I do like how you look at it though, that is a cool thing.

Also my girlfriend hates mewithoutYou. The only things I'm not allowed to play in the car with her are mwY, Kanye and Babymetal, haha.

 

I guess I figure if you're gonna do something different, why not make it really different and such. Ooh, so do you have a soft spot for Ten Stories then, or nah?

This. That's how it felt when I saw it. Just people enjoying the fact they were all seeing something they loved together. It's a beautiful thing.

 

I do love Ten Stories a lot, haha.

 

ava luna rules, they were supposed to play a show in baltimore, but then the riots happened, so they cancelled that and joined a show i was putting on already, and all the bands decide to donate all proceeds to charity for that tour

really great performance on a really great lineup

 

This is a great post. It reminds me of when I nearly had a breakdown (in a good way) at one of their shows. It was the last song of their encore and they played "Allah, Allah, Allah" and even though that's one of their more straight forward and simpler songs, the energy from the band and the whole crowd singing along, regardless of everyone's religion or lack or religion, just got to me and I started crying. One of my favorite concert moments ever.

 

Growing up with MewithoutYou, the emo band bigger than the sum of its genre

 

Very interesting article.

 

Good article, always interesting to see how writers try to "define" mwY. I think it says more about the writers what angle they pursue than anything else. I enjoy how rather than disown old songs that he doesn't relate to, he'll write sequel songs as updates. Always been a cool part of this band.

 

yep. Love the spider 'interludes'. Short and sweet.

 

I've just ordered the new edition of All The Clever Words On Pages by Paul Matthew Harrison. I didn't manage to read the original edition but I am very much looking forward to this. The subtitle is "a portrait of my friendship with Aaron Weiss of mewithoutYou". Has anyone else read it? I'm really excited.

You can buy it directly from the author here or also from Amazon.

 

Dismemberment Plan, who I actually saw mwY open for a few years back.

 

I read the original when it came out and was let down because it was mainly about the author and not Aaron.

 

From the description I am expecting it to be from his perspective so that doesn't surprise or worry me. Happily, I've read elsewhere it's a must read for people interested in mewithoutYou so I'm excited.

 

Yeah, I mean the original was years and years ago. And wasn't very long. I'm sure this one will be better.

 

ah yeah, I actually have to get on the ball for this because I've been listening to Is Terrified for a couple of months now, and haven't moved on to Emergency and I. Really enjoy them though

 

Duuuuude lol Is Terrified is cool but Emergency & I, followed by Change, are in a completely different league from their earlier albums.

But honestly so long as you never listen to Uncanney Valley, you'll be good haha

 

i thought i smelled d-plan conversation in here

emergency and i is the greatest record of the 90s and one of the best of all time

 

You're not wrong

 

I go Back.....and forth between Change and E&I.

 

I saw their NPR tiny desk concert and it was just songs from Uncanny Valley and I actually liked them haha. So I plan to eventually give it a try. I have more than once liked albums that have a reputation for being not good. I'm gonna move on to Emergency & I...soon. Probably this week.

 

I know Emergency & I is maybe the consensus winner, but I have a more personal relationship with Change. Both are 10/10 perfect albums though haha