Theory Of A Deadman: "No Surprise"

[EvanJ]

www2.allaccess.com/sounds/theoryno.ram

[Pipa]

They sound even more like Nickelback now.

[Matt4319]

picpak said:

They sound even more like Nickelback now.

I didn't even know that was possible.

[Ragin]

picpak said:

They sound even more like Nickelback now.

Well that's no surprise.

[Mega248]

At least it's not "How You Remind Me Part X". That being said, the song is still boring as hell.

[reception]

It's New & Active (Alternative) this week with 146 plays, 12 stations, and 2 adds.

[crash46]

"It ain't no surprise that the bitch is leaving me now"???

What a fucking joke of a band.

[Ragin]

Actually, I'm VERY surprised, that I kind of like this.

I kind of get sick of the lyric bashing. The worst thing that ever happened to rock music was Nirvana and the whole idea that the songs had to be "deep". That's the F'n joke. It's so funny, because when there is a good song it gets ignored by rock radio if it doesn't have that jack hammer driving beat. If that isn't cliche right now, I don't know what is.

And by the way, what idiot convinced all the rock critics that a song had to be depressing to have decent lyrics? That gets me too.

[friday]

Ragin said:

I kind of get sick of the lyric bashing.  The worst thing that ever happened to rock music was Nirvana and the whole idea that the songs had to be "deep".  That's the F'n joke.  It's so funny, because when there is a good song it gets ignored by rock radio if it doesn't have that jack hammer driving beat.  If that isn't cliche right now, I don't know what is.

Well, I'd rather not like a song because I can't connect to the lyrics than not like it because they're just generic. I would think people tend to like songs more when they can personally relate to them. And some artists tend to write songs that are the interpretation of personal experience. I haven't heard this song, so I can't say what these lyrics are.

Also, your last two sentences are awfully confusing. First you're saying that songs can only be hits if they have "deep" lyrics, and then you say they can only be hits if they have a great beat?

And by the way, what idiot convinced all the rock critics that a song had to be depressing to have decent lyrics?  That gets me too.

Who cares about the rock critics? I really don't, but that's just me.

[Ragin]

friday said:

Also, your last two sentences are awfully confusing. First you're saying that songs can only be hits if they have "deep" lyrics, and then you say they can only be hits if they have a great beat?



.

I'm saying SUPPOSEDLY they can only be hits if they have deep lyrics, but the fact that they have the same beat suggests it isn't the lyrics.

[Walking Contradiction]

And I'd say no more than 25% of the songs that have been Alternative hits in the last decade or so could really be considered lyrically "deep".

If you ask me, the most important factor for garnering hit singles on any format (except maybe the AC formats) is a catchy hook.

[Nicholas2.0]

Ragin said:

And by the way, what idiot convinced all the rock critics that a song had to be depressing to have decent lyrics?  That gets me too.

Then why isn't new-metal critically acclaimed? (Am I misunderstanding what you wrote?)

[Ragin]

Nicholas2.0 said:

Then why isn't new-metal critically acclaimed?  (Am I misunderstanding what you wrote?)

It is, if the lyrics are also DEEP.

[crash46]

Well, while radio definitely needs to get over Nirvana (to any extent whatsoever), I think it has gotten over the Nirvana depressive lyrics phase. Even though radio is in a current state of exception, with songs like "BOBD", "Scars", and "Save Me" in the top ten, if you look over the past three or four years of hits, the majority of the songs' lyrics represent a wide range of life experience and emotions (at Alternative, anyway). I just think that's one of the main reasons to really enjoy this format right now.

And also, I seldom (if ever) read anything from the paid critics, but when I do, it seems to me that they tend to pan all the overly depressing stuff anyway. Often just for being what it is, as Nick noted..

The lyric bashing is not something I do all the time, but this song just profoundly stands out to me as being awful. I enjoy "deep" lyrics, but there's also a middle ground between "deep" and "stupid" that I tend to like as well, and this song here even misses that.

[Ragin]

I overreacted Crash. I just get sick of the lyric bashing. There are obvious exceptions, such as LFO's horrid hit, but there are some really respected songs, that would be chewed up and spit out today by our "lyric critics". I know you don't do it all the time, I guess I just didn't see it the same way you do on this particular song.

I really didn't expect to like this song, I'll have you know. I've thought of this band in a poor light ever since their first album came out. They seemed okay live, but man, that album wasn't very good over time.

[Nicholas2.0]

Not to reheat anything, but I'll take "less-than-deep" depressive lyrics tenfold over immature chauvinism anyday.

"It ain't no surprise that the b**ch is leaving me now"
Yeah no kidding.  But not for the reason he's thinking.

BTW, WMFS just skipped this up to heavy rotation this past week. Big surprise. Haven't heard it yet.

[Matt4319]

I kinda like this.

In other news, I kinda hate myself.

[Nicholas2.0]

Matt4319 said:

I kinda like this.

In other news, I kinda hate myself.

Ha!

I heard this for the first time on WMFS today.  F f**king city.  And it seemed to me that, actually he kinda was surprised she was leaving him.  What an asshat.  And I sure as s**t can't take this song seriously with its shuffle rhythm, for some reason.  And to *pause* no surprise, the boorish DJ (who I won the Muse CD from) came on after and said, " 'The b**ch is leaving.'  'No surprise.' " (paraphrased) "The story of my life right there.  But it's okay.  I'm happy when she leaves: you just go out and get another one.  Variety is the spice of life, people."

I'm ashamed that this guy is a fellow "man."

Songs in contention for the worst of the year:
"Some Cut" by Trillville
"Sex in the Kitchen" by R. Kelly, which I also heard for the first time today.
And this.

[Matt4319]

Nicholas2.0 said:

Songs in contention for the worst of the year:
"Some Cut" by Trillville

Oh yeah, that one really sucks. What a tuneless piece of crap. I think it came out 2 or 3 months before the end of '04, though.

[Nicholas2.0]

Matt4319 said:

Oh yeah, that one really sucks.  What a tuneless piece of crap.  I think it came out 2 or 3 months before the end of '04, though.

I know, but I didn't "get to" hear it until '05, when it took off.

[reception]

Week ending 3/4/2005: #1 New & Active with 217 plays, 14 stations, and 1 add.

[reception]

Week ending 3/11/2005: At Alternative it debuted at #50.

[Matt4319]

Apparently this hasn't even gone for adds yet -- FMQB lists it for March 29th. That's got to be erroneous though. No way could ToaD (ha, I like that acronym) put a song in the top 50 on pre-release "hype" alone.

[Mega248]

Apparently this hasn't even gone for adds yet -- FMQB lists it for March 29th.  That's got to be erroneous though.  No way could ToaD (ha, I like that acronym) put a song in the top 50 on pre-release "hype" alone.

R&R lists this as going for adds next week. They must be re-releasing it or something, because I can't see this group making the top 50 from early airplay either.

[Hybrid0NE]

Surprised there isn't much buzz on this considering how much it's taken off, stats...

Alternative: #29 (+1), 502 spins [#29/556 spins on MB]
Active Rock: #10 (-1), 1141 spins [#9/1321 spins on MB]

I Just discovered this song after catching them on The Tonight Show. I'm considering Ituning it today :)

[bengino]

it's not entirely horrible, but it sounds like a vintage Kroeger penned tunes, the guy seems to never get what he wants.

i wouldn't mind if i heard it on occasion, just not necessarily often.

[reidster]

I really like this song!!!

[Pipa]

Their next single in Canada is Santa Monica, a MUCH better song