[quote="Thinliine"]Seriously, they need to take the time to make something good. They can't pop out an album a year with the same extraordinary quality they did in the mid-late 90's.

It would also help if Sawao had the mindset, "let's make something that will blow their socks off" instead of "let's have fun." And also if he ditched that stupid Cyclone for a Telecaster. Manabe too.[/quote]

I agree that they should really take their time, since there got hundreds of songs already to tie us over till then. I'm not sure what they were thinking when they made the old, classic albums but I hope they do blow our socks off, and have fun while doing it.
I [b]can[/b] wait!

[quote="Thinliine"]Seriously, they need to take the time to make something good. They can't pop out an album a year with the same extraordinary quality they did in the mid-late 90's.

It would also help if Sawao had the mindset, "let's make something that will blow their socks off" instead of "let's have fun." And also if he ditched that stupid Cyclone for a Telecaster. Manabe too.[/quote]

I really hope so, but I don't realistically see that happening. I wonder if they can still write music like they did in the 90's.

just last night I listened to smile little, busters, and PML. it was so amazing my head exploded in a burst of fire and I died.

[quote="Overburn"]just last night I listened to smile and I died.[/quote]

I think I've said this before, but recent albums like Smile, TYMT, and hell, even the first half of PL give me hope that the pillows still have something left in them. Never have a seen a band of their age that is so youthful. Their music truly keeps them young.

That kind of talent and passion does not fade over time, they just need to focus. I almost get the feeling that Sawao is a little full of himself. He feels that he can do no wrong.

They just need to make more music from the heart.
I like the songs where you can feel it more than just hear it.
And I agree that they have made a good amount of new songs that still hold their own. They can still perform their old songs live like they used to, so I don't see why they can't make music like they used to.
(But they can still make great music without having to copy their old stuff)

[quote="Initial B"]They just need to make more music from the heart.[/quote]

sono mirai wa ima
new year's eve
good dreams
nonfiction
my girl (fiction version)
the third eye
slow down
wakare no uta
sayonara UNIBAASU
gazelle city

i'd say those are from the heart. the pillows, like every other (good) band, moves on in life and in music; they progress by trying new things stylistically. some things are going to be hits, some won't. it happens. and yes, the new albums ARE different. many people have said "the last three albums suck" or "PL and GD suck" and said that they were stuck in some crappy style. however, each album has it's own style and feel, JUST LIKE ALL THEIR OTHER ONES. whether that album hits with you or not is no real way to say whether or not it is good. some love Please Mr. Lostman more than Kool Spice, some love Penalty Life more than Smile. the point is, different people connnect with different songs for different reasons, and i feel that almost ALL of the pillows's songs come from the heart. if it doesn't resonate with you, cool. but this "the pillows really suck recently" thing is as old as jun-bashing. and just as retarded.

[quote="Marekenshin"]<snip, and...> i feel that almost ALL of the pillows's songs come from the heart. if it doesn't resonate with you, cool. but this "the pillows really suck recently" thing is as old as jun-bashing. and just as retarded.[/quote]


I agree entirely with that post. Thank you. This is important, everyone read it again please.

[quote="Marekenshin"]wise post[/quote]

Major props to you. This thread can end here.

[quote="Marekenshin"][quote="Initial B"]They just need to make more music from the heart.[/quote]

sono mirai wa ima
new year's eve
good dreams
nonfiction
my girl (fiction version)
the third eye
slow down
wakare no uta
sayonara UNIBAASU
gazelle city

i'd say those are from the heart. the pillows, like every other (good) band, moves on in life and in music; they progress by trying new things stylistically. some things are going to be hits, some won't. it happens. and yes, the new albums ARE different. many people have said "the last three albums suck" or "PL and GD suck" and said that they were stuck in some crappy style. however, each album has it's own style and feel, JUST LIKE ALL THEIR OTHER ONES. whether that album hits with you or not is no real way to say whether or not it is good. some love Please Mr. Lostman more than Kool Spice, some love Penalty Life more than Smile. the point is, different people connnect with different songs for different reasons, and i feel that almost ALL of the pillows's songs come from the heart. if it doesn't resonate with you, cool. but this "the pillows really suck recently" thing is as old as jun-bashing. and just as retarded.[/quote]

I didnt mean that they haven't been making music from the heart; and I do love a lot of the new music.
I'm just bad with words is all, because I know all of the music is from the heart, as it is with almost all bands.
The pillows haven't done anything wrong and have always made (and continue to make) great music. As long as you can tell that they put the [b]effort[/b] into it (which is a better word than heart) that they have always had in their music than I'll be happy.
And you are right that we all have different views on what is good and what is bad when it comes to their albums. All they need to do make music that is their own which I know they will do.

And with that I think I realize that I have gotten completely off-topic, and its way too early to be worrying about new pillows music!

[quote]It would also help if Sawao had the mindset, "let's make something that will blow their socks off" instead of "let's have fun." And also if he ditched that stupid Cyclone for a Telecaster. Manabe too.[/quote]

my post was aimed more at this sort of stuff than at you specifically. hey guys, guess what? writing music to "blow their socks off" is the exact opposite of writing from the heart.

EDIT: well, to an extent. you can work a song to the point that it becomes amazing, but if your goal is to impress people, you fail as a musician.

let's not worry about that stuff now

[quote="Marekenshin"]you can work a song to the point that it becomes amazing, but if your goal is to impress people, you fail as a musician.[/quote]
WE HAVE A WINNER LADIES AND GENTLEMEN.

it seems like the pillows are finally getting a bit more of deserved recognition. the third eye PV could be seen on those huge TV screens in Shibuya, right? That seems like a really good indicator.

So if they're getting more recognition, I really hope Sawao and the gang aren't going down this "let's make easy and generic music, so more people will like us and buy our albums" path.

In this day and age, it's a lot easier to hook teenagers on the My Foot polished-pop rock sound, than the more complex and layered Little Busters/PML sound.

I'd like to think they have more integrity than that...but I really do wonder. I hope this is just a phase.

[quote="Marekenshin"][quote="Initial B"]They just need to make more music from the heart.[/quote]
-snip-[/quote]

Gazelle city is a VERY important song for Manabe.

[quote="GoldenRhino"]it seems like the pillows are finally getting a bit more of deserved recognition. the third eye PV could be seen on those huge TV screens in Shibuya, right? That seems like a really good indicator.

So if they're getting more recognition, I really hope Sawao and the gang aren't going down this "let's make easy and generic music, so more people will like us and buy our albums" path.

In this day and age, it's a lot easier to hook teenagers on the My Foot polished-pop rock sound, than the more complex and layered Little Busters/PML sound.

I'd like to think they have more integrity than that...but I really do wonder. I hope this is just a phase.[/quote]

I don't mean to say that they aren't making music from the heart because I know they always have and always will. What I was trying to say was more along the lines of what Goldenrhino mentioned. I just want them to stay true to themselves, and I don't have any doubts that they won't

I wish Steven had a comment about this. I can make music from my heart. It would probably be pretty shitty. Just because you put feeling into music it doesn't make it good. Screamo bands can be making songs from the heart. But they aren't good musicians for the most part so the music loses quality. My Foot had shitty drums and boring recycled rhythm. It wasn't as good as older albums. Even if they hadn't been "from the heart".