I Hate the Milwaukees!
So a while back we started getting hate mail from some dude who decided that we had sold out. He used to love us, but now he hates us. He wouldn’t tell us his name and he even set up an email account that was something like, “ihatethemilwaukees@yahoo.com”. He’s even made a myspace page. His complaints were based on our jeans getting tighter and, well, I’m really not sure what else.
I was reminded of this the other day replying to someone who had emailed a favorable review of our new American Anthems disc (he listened to it on the jukebox on this site). The truth is that we have pretty much always made a conscious decision NOT to chase the big record deal. Choosing instead to just keep following our muse wherever it might take us.
I am quite sure that five years ago we could have chosen to make Missile Command parts 2 or 3 more times. If we wanted to land a big record deal we probably could have cashed in on the “Next Jimmy Eat World” crown that kept being offered to us. But we didn’t. We made a kind of fucked up sounding EP that sounds to me like one part math and one part meth. Then we made a really dark and brooding LP with a giant chip on its shoulder.
Since then we have reconnected with our love of melody and song writing. We’ve taken some singing lessons, we’ve learned how to play our instruments much better and we’ve made a rock and roll record that we are very proud of. It doesn’t sound like anything we’ve done in the past, but then again, none of our records do, so in a sense it is totally par for the course.
Sometimes it seems like everything would have been easier if we had cashed in our chips and gotten taken for a ride. But I also know we would’ve been working under extreme pressure to recreate the past. And right now we’re very happy with what we’ve done.
So head over to the jukebox and give American Anthems vol. 1 a listen. The whole thing is there and it streams to your desktop for free. Then drop us a line and tell us what you think. It may seem like a guilty pleasure, but I bet you like it.
Posted on August 27th, 2007 by axewheelder
Filed under: Axewheelder
Jeff,
I think this is the third time I read something about you guys dissing Jimmy eat World and Lloyd Justin. What gives? First Lloyd Justin was excellent. The drumming was great along with the energy. I understand what you mean about This Is a Stickup but it still has some standout songs. As for Jimmy Eat World, they worked just as hard as you, dealt with label bullshit yet somehow have to be crapped on just because label guys wanted you on their label to add some credibility? Dude, any fans who mention you guys in the same sentence with Jimmy mean it as a compliment. It is synonymous with reaching an audience wider then the local scene yet retaining your integrity.
Not sure why anyone would hate you guys because you decided to make a different record than before. But I still don’t get the Jimmy Eat World chip that you have. I think you guys can let your music speak for itself. If people don’t get it then let them be.
Sorry, just need to drop you that line since I like both bands alot, and for a very long time.
C
Chris,
I really didn’t dis Jimmy Eat World. I was really commenting on the record label feeding frenzy that goes on after someone comes up with a surprise hit. After Jimmy Eat World worked as hard as they did and made an impact, labels were looking for “their Jimmy Eat World” or “the next Jimmy Eat World.”
People kept telling us we could / should be that. We just never wanted to. Not because they are bad. Just because it wasn’t what we wanted to do.
No disrespect to them.
Now if someone said, “you guys need to be the next Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers.” Then we would talk!