tideplaya, I GOT 'YO BACK. i couldn't agree with you more and i too have been a diehard fan for years. why does everyone here act like it's impossible for ozma to put out a mediocre album or a single song that's anything less than perfect. being a true fan doesn't mean you have to blindly force yourself to believe that every single one of your favorite band's songs are Samuel and GENIUS--some of them most definitely aren't. "fight the darkness" and "straight flush" are probably my most hated ozma songs of ALL TIME. yes, there are some winners(hvh, incarnation, underneath) but unfortunately for me, the bad tracks on this album outweigh the good. i don't know what any of these songs are ABOUT(where IS the emotion?) and the melodies(or lack thereof) frustrate the hell out of me. for a powerpop band, i think ozma succeeded in making one of the most unpoppy powerpop albums i've ever heard in my life.
Okay, okay, already.
I apologize on behalf of my fellow OFFers. However, please do understand this is the expected response in a situation like this. When I first started posting on the boards, it didn't matter how much I loved Ozma--I was getting shit for no reason. That's just the way the internet is. (Thanks Al Gore)
I do understand the malcontent replies in regards to topics stating "unbelievable disappointment" with Ozma. Of course Ozma fans are going to give you--or Tideplaya, or ANYONE--shit for disliking the new Ozma album. Especially if they DO like it.
I really get the vibe that people are saying it's bad only for the sake of saying it's bad. Why do you feel a need to prove that point? Like I said in my initial reply, I also was disappointed at first. But, it's grown on me remarkably well, and I agree with Tom in saying it's one of my top album picks of this year. Sure, it might be the most unpoppy powerpop album ever, but maybe it's not supposed to be a powerpop album. I know people had expectations for Ozma's musical direction, and all of those expectations can obviously not be satisfied. I was not expecting the album to be anything like this, but I've still put that behind me and fallen in love with the songs. I can understand being so disappointed in something, that you take out that disappointment on those who enjoy it, but that doesn't mean those who enjoy it are in need of a psychological analysis.
I truly don't believe the "hardcore fans" have fallen in love with this album solely because it's Ozma. If anything, I'm surprised that some of the people who say they like it, actually,
sincerely like it. I think people were wanting a reason to be over Ozma, but then they were blown away by this very different, but still very good record.
And of course, it all comes down to personal opinion. You either like it, or you don't. You either eventually will, or you eventually won't. But I believe the shit getting thrown around now is just in defense of Ozma, and in disdain for those "new to the boards" regardless of how long they've considered themselves fans.
Tide, I do understand your points, but solely because I felt the same way at first, I urge you to keep listening to it. "Ozma. Not." I understand your points as well, but I urge you to believe that these are NOT just fans who will love every Ozma song until their dying day "just because" it's Ozma. I happen to like Straight Flush. I don't really care to listen to Fight the Darkness, but I also never really cared to listen to the first half (first EP) of the DDD. Many of the fans here might be mega-assholes, but they really are thoughtful fans of Ozma who are here for the long-haul. They are going to say what they truly believe, and are not going to be blinded by featured MySpace ads or radio singles--OR the fact that it's Ozma.
If they say they like the songs, there's no ulterior motive or "blindness" behind it.Suggesting that people ONLY like it 'cause it's Ozma is NOT what's going on.
Calling for fans to hate the album doesn't--and shouldn't--sit well with us. This should be a discussion about the music, and not a personal analysis of Ozma fans.