LP4?

[Phantasthma]

Has John mentioned very much about his plans for his next album? I know I heard somewhere that he wasn't very satisfied with WMBtPCoO, and that he was hoping to reach another level, or something like that. Which makes me very excited for whatever he's going to do next. I know some of you guys communicate with him, to at least some extent, sometimes? right? I don't know. Has he said much? Do we know if he's writing or recording at the moment?

[LadyLazarus]

In his recent Impose interview (anybody got the link?), John said he had some things to finish first (presumably Phd work) and that he'd start the next album in the new year. He did also emphasise the agony of the creative process, saying it's like staring into a void and wresting something from nothing. In true John fashion, he stressed whatever he makes is going to be the best it can be, so he may be 100 years old when the record comes out, but it will be worth it.

[dean]

I think he beat himself up about the last album, when I last saw him live he said to me that his 'new' album will be a return to Songs. He seemed genuinely excited about it too!

[travis]

He needs to do more of that twelve tone stuff and some microtonal shit like harry partch. I'm sick of his lyrics, and if he completely left them out and released an album full of some of the scores he's written and some new experiments i'd be more interested. Also sick of vintagesynth sounds. SIck of necromancing motherfucking bullshit all around. Songs is one of the most perverted albums that's hot in the indie network. He's perverted his talent and teachings. When he first started performing i thought he was going to be improving on each performance but he hasn't as far as i can see from a computer. I had hoped he would have a band and play keys, but he hasn't. Despite all this, I will probably have interest in what he does as a musician until I am not longer interested in music. Same with ariel. and btw, geneva has been looking and actin like a crazy bitch witch.

http://youtu.be/rl5DGWn-utk
http://youtu.be/adx6N6qGEjE

[LadyLazarus]

I have a lifelong, devastating affection for pop music and I feel strongly that pop needs artists like John Maus more than ever. As much as I'd encourage any sort of left field experimentation (and I would be thrilled to hear a full on orchestral score from him), I would be sad to see him abandon the humble pop format completely. It is because his influences are so entrenched in baroque classical that he brings such rich complexities to his compositions. He seems to be the only one applying a new context to pop, not only by what he creates, but how he approaches discussion around it.
I really don't need to see another band, either, although perhaps something will have to change to minimise his sustained injuries on stage.

[travis]

Yeah, my affection for pop music is devastating too. What sustained injuries? i heard him say something about needing to change his live show because he couldn't endure it or something like that and I thought, what the fuck does he do?, he just yells and fist pumps, how could that hurt him?

[LadyLazarus]

Well he does punch himself in the face a lot, too. I've seen photos of him actually black-eyed after a show.

[PaulPettinger]

I wish he would stop hitting himself and, writing as a big fan of his music and a political theory postgraduate, I wish he would get out of academia when he hands in his thesis, and concentrate on his pop, because it seems clear (to me) that that is where he will be remembered, and where his greater contribution can be made.

[LadyLazarus]

I selfishly incline that way at times, but then I think if you were a student of his you may feel differently. I can easily see him changing someone's life completely as a teacher. He has remarked several times he couldn't really reconcile himself with making a living from art: that much is obvious when you try to buy a CD or other merch from him. A few here have said you've got to basically force the ten bucks or whatever onto him. Anyway I like that he's multi-faceted and has other areas of interest. Keeps the music 'pure' in a way if he's only doing it because he wants to as well.

[travis]

has anyone gone through all his demonstration bootleg blog posts. if you dig around you can find more than featured on the page of the link. this was in a pitchfork interview. a lot of the ideas for songs is beginning at this time. i think he was living with ariel.

http://web.archive.org/web/200402140502 ... UGUST.html

[LadyLazarus]

Thanks for the link, Travis. I'd seen some of his old writing on demoboot, but those blogs were new to me. I'm not sure he has gotten any less hard on himself (or popular music) over the years. I'd be interested to know if any of those score compositions ever got recorded and uploaded anywhere.

[possiblegrenade]

what a troubled soul.

[pinkspoons]

I think he beat himself up about the last album, when I last saw him live he said to me that his 'new' album will be a return to Songs. He seemed genuinely excited about it too!