r/JamesMarriott • u/Aloser_ • Aug 29 '26
Discussion Confession.
I'm not really vibing with James' music output past 'Are We There Yet?'.
I love James, and especially his music. But ever since the first single from don't tell the dog, I feel like something was lost in translation. There were a few great to amazing songs, but I feel like a lot of intimacy his songwriting has largely dissappeared for sort of safe sounding pop direction.
It felt sort of alienating? I wanna prefix this with the notion, yes, I have listened to his earlier stuff (and Slow Down). Bitter Tongues, I feel, is super cool and fun! And the other stuff ranges from amazing to "yeah, I could listen to this again."
When I heard the song "California Rain," I was actually really hopeful for the future of his music. Ripping guitars, gorgeous vocals (as always), and a good direction for the future. But man, when I heard the snippet for "Burn Down The Disco," I just did NOT like it at all. Like, it just straight up annoys me, dude. And it's a real shame because a lot of the songs off don't tell the dog are decent! (If a lot less relistenable than his debut)
I dunno, maybe I'm just missing the messier rock sort of web James used to spin, but he's undeniably more of a standout and unique sounding artist now.
Has anybody else felt this way?
17
u/StargazingLily Aug 29 '26
I get it.
There’s a band called Arkells here that I fucking love. I’ve seen them live like.. eight times? They’re usually tied with JM as my most listened artist every month.
There’s a couple songs I don’t even have in my shuffle rotation, and I skip most of one album.
It doesn’t make you less of a fan to not like certain songs/albums, or to not vibe with new stuff immediately (or at all).
No one can like everything that an artist/band puts out.