interesting article

[Driven]

He never mentioned selling out. Can you cite what part led you to draw that conclusion?

Good article, though. Thanks for the link Christine.

It's pretty clear, between the article, Raine's solo album, Bob Rock leaving, steve's progression as the lead guitarist over the years, and the way OLP started to develop as a live and a fan oriented band in 2006, that they at the very least somewhat sold out or conformed to mainstream music's standards, and that they have moved on from that. The fact that Raine hasn't liked the last two albums should tell you that something was up. Joel was a nice addition as well.

Maida: Well, we've done that already. This record was the complete antithesis of what we've done on the last two records we made with Bob Rock in Maui, that just did not suit me at all. So with OLP, with my solo record and the negotiations for that, we managed to own most of our next record, our seventh record, for Sony. So in that we've decided to just kind of record the same way I did my record.

Every three months we get together and we take ten days and write a few songs, record them right away, to capture that instant thing where we haven't been able to find ourselves since our first record. Because your first record, even if you're signed to a major label, you don't know or give a shit about the business, you just care about the music. It isn't until you taste what the music business is, that it affects you on any level.

Unfortunately -- or fortunately now -- we're in a place where we feel really energized, where it's amazing to be making a record just the four of us in a room, no one hearing it again and not having to worry about expectations. Right now my expectations are: "Did that feel great? Is that a take? We just played the song live, are we proud of that? Is it good enough? Did it move us?" I'm not worried about radio and all that other bullshit.

Maida: No, what we lost sight of I think as a band is that, with the business of music, everything got more serious, with record sales declining. And a lot of bands will toe the line, a lot of bands on a major label -- I wont name names, but big names who everyone knows -- all of a sudden they're coming to outside songwriters for the first single. I'm still an artist first, I'm not some hired gun bullshit songwriter. So what happens is, and we fell victim to that as well, we had to keep writing and writing and writing for the last record because Columbia was like "we really don't hear a first single."

And we kind of lost sight of the fact that it was never about that at first. That's the damage that's done to a band once they do have a big single or a couple hits. You get that pressure, where if you're in the middle you're in trouble. If you're a band like the Chili Peppers, you're okay because you're going to sell a certain number of records regardless. But even for those bands the stakes are higher now. It's just a tough place to be when you're on a major label. I think ownership these days gives you a whole different perspective on your music. It feels like it's bringing it back to being about art again.

[xjsb125]

It's pretty clear, between the article, Raine's solo album, Bob Rock leaving, steve's progression as the lead guitarist over the years, and the way OLP started to develop as a live and a fan oriented band in 2006, that they at the very least somewhat sold out or conformed to mainstream music's standards, and that they have moved on from that. The fact that Raine hasn't liked the last two albums should tell you that something was up. Joel was a nice addition as well.

I think maybe we are reading the same thing and interpreting it differently, which is absolutely fine. When I read the article, I don't read that Raine is dissatisfied with the records themselves, I read that he isn't happy with the way they were recorded, and prefers the current method to the Maui one.

We all agree Bob not being involved on the album is a good thing.

Steve hasn't really made a ton of progression as lead guitarist. In fact, most of the 2005-2006 tours featured him playing less lead guitar on songs. Watch videos of them playing live and you'll see he did more of the rhythm guitar, and Joel playing more lead.

I also think that stating they have become more fan oriented is completely wrong. Less fan oriented would be a more appropriate statement. Visit any one of the olp.net threads for a dose of reality. They took their grass roots website that was centered around doing things all for the fans to a corporate team of web designers whose sole goal was to fuck people over. That's putting it nicely too. Did you enjoy this year's Holiday video to the fans? Probably not because there wasn't one. If you need me to cite more examples, please, let me know.

Joel was an excellent addition to the touring line-up. Outstanding people skills and one of the most talented people I've had a chance to see live.

I still don't see them selling out. I see them doing what they were contractually bound to do. That is, sell records and make money for a record label. They wanted to put out records to the world, Sony agreed to distribute and had stipulations on that. Just like I want to make money, and my job has stipulations around what I can and can't do. I have some freedom to make my own choices, but ultimately at the end of the day, just like OLP, I have to answer to the people who sign my checks.

Now they have managed to gain some more control over the direction of their next album and are running with that. Unless they create an exciting new sound, don't expect the Sony BMG marketing machine to run wild with it. 3 years ago their biggest supporters at Sony left the company, and all their stroke with the label was gone. Did you see tons of advertising for HIPT? Nope, probably not. It was tossed to the side with little marketing. I still don't see them being sell outs. I see them doing what they were legally bound to do and making the best they could of it.

[AnnieDreams]

I think the whole idea of selling out is bullshit anyway.
They wanna make a hit or two to attract listeners and to keep the company happy.
They're not starring in Gap ads and putting out Raine Maida perfume.
The Music business is still a business.

[Lando]

I think Raine just means he wants to start a boy band.

[xjsb125]

But they're all......

[Lando]

That doesn't make them a boy band!

[Random Name]

Gawd matt.. ur a sellout

[xjsb125]

It's true. I sell out of items at my store all the time.

[Dr. Hobo]

you're my hero