New Stryper is complete!

messiaen77 wrote:

Staybrite wrote:

messiaen77 wrote:

Through The Dark Radio wrote:

messiaen77 wrote:

I've finally listened to the album and am pretty underwhelmed.  I mean aurally it all sounds good, but the songs just don't grab me and make me want to keep listening.

ZOMG!!! Y U B HATIN!!!1! 

Cuz I'm a heathen holier than thou uptight religious Pharisee type who wouldn't (expletive) know good music if it (expletive) knocked me on my (expletive)(expletive). STRYPER ROXXXX!!!!!
(At least that's what I've learned from reading GDE-related Facebook posts).

I thought your therapist told you to stop reading those? (Or was that my therapist who told me that?)

It was actually muh wife.  She keeps telling me nothing good comes from reading the comments.

Wise lady.

So I have been listening to the new album once a day for the last few weeks.  I will say I have mixed feelings about it.  There are some really cool songs on the album that I quite like (Sorry, Lost, The Valley, Can't Live Without Your Love).  But there are some songs I'm just not at all a fan of (Sea of Thieves, The Devil Doesn't Live Here), and I absolutely cannot stand "Take It to the Cross"...it has become a skip song for me.  Really conflicted about the title track GDE, it has a great hook, but for the life of me I cannot sing along with that part in the chorus.  Like someone already mentioned I could not bring myself to play that song for a non-believer....I just think it sends the wrong message despite what the band intended.  Overall not a bad album at all, but I certainly wouldn't rank it near the top of my favorites either.

It's better than I originally thought, but still nowhere near the top half of the Stryper list of my favorite records. I haven't listened to it in weeks now and I don't anticipate pulling it out again for a long time. When I want Stryper, I go to several other records first.

I also got a little Michael Sweet-ed out. He's been cranking out new music in various forms for the last several years and I've enjoyed several of the projects. But I know I'm getting tired of a guy when I hear his voice and it's like nails on a chalkboard. Time for a break!  

Follower of Jesus wrote:

....

I also got a little Michael Sweet-ed out. He's been cranking out new music in various forms for the last several years and I've enjoyed several of the projects. But I know I'm getting tired of a guy when I hear his voice and it's like nails on a chalkboard. Time for a break!  

That's one of those "blessing and curse" sort of deals.  It's great that he is being so prolific (because you know it won't last forever), but it can get a little tiring to hear yet another new song/album.  I almost wish he would write the 20+ songs each year he is writing and put out an album every three years just containing the best 12-14 of them. (Hmm maybe Joshua Perahia was on to something there....lol).

OK.  Here is a funny comparison.  Just looking at the last 18 years (2000 to 2018)

Joshua Perahia has released two albums (just 2 albums in 18 years).
Michael Sweet has release four solo albums, two Sweet Lynch albums, and  seven Stryper albums (a whopping 13 albums in 18 years).
There is an interesting contrast.

Staybrite wrote:

There is an interesting contrast.

One is making music for a living and the other is selling cars.

Xid wrote:

Staybrite wrote:

There is an interesting contrast.

One is making music for a living and the other is selling cars.

I understand that.  And would expect at least some descrepancy.  But you, Alldat and Evans and Stokes all work at nonmusician jobs yet you have all managed to put out more music than Perahia has.
Just kind of pointing out the "feast or famine" contrast.  Personally I think Sweet may have over extended himself to the point where his output has suffered ( at least a little), and Perahia has done far too little to appease any kind of fan base.

Balance in everything.

Staybrite wrote:

Xid wrote:

Staybrite wrote:

There is an interesting contrast.

One is making music for a living and the other is selling cars.

I understand that.  And would expect at least some descrepancy.  But you, Alldat and Evans and Stokes all work at nonmusician jobs yet you have all managed to put out more music than Perahia has.
Just kind of pointing out the "feast or famine" contrast.  Personally I think Sweet may have over extended himself to the point where his output has suffered ( at least a little), and Perahia has done far too little to appease any kind of fan base.

Perahia spends too much time thinking he was bigger in music than he really was while trash talking Michael Sweet.  If he'd work more on his music instead of resting on the laurels of one "intense" album and hating on Michael, he'd have dozens of albums out!

Music has to be a priority.  Xid and I release music when we can considering we don't have full bands, unlimited time, etc.  We make music because we love it--not because we are getting rich.

alldatndensum wrote:

Staybrite wrote:

Xid wrote:

Staybrite wrote:

There is an interesting contrast.

One is making music for a living and the other is selling cars.

I understand that.  And would expect at least some descrepancy.  But you, Alldat and Evans and Stokes all work at nonmusician jobs yet you have all managed to put out more music than Perahia has.
Just kind of pointing out the "feast or famine" contrast.  Personally I think Sweet may have over extended himself to the point where his output has suffered ( at least a little), and Perahia has done far too little to appease any kind of fan base.

Perahia spends too much time thinking he was bigger in music than he really was while trash talking Michael Sweet.  If he'd work more on his music instead of resting on the laurels of one "intense" album and hating on Michael, he'd have dozens of albums out!

Music has to be a priority.  Xid and I release music when we can considering we don't have full bands, unlimited time, etc.  We make music because we love it--not because we are getting rich.

+1 trillion

Staybrite wrote:

Follower of Jesus wrote:

....

I also got a little Michael Sweet-ed out. He's been cranking out new music in various forms for the last several years and I've enjoyed several of the projects. But I know I'm getting tired of a guy when I hear his voice and it's like nails on a chalkboard. Time for a break!  

That's one of those "blessing and curse" sort of deals.  It's great that he is being so prolific (because you know it won't last forever), but it can get a little tiring to hear yet another new song/album.  I almost wish he would write the 20+ songs each year he is writing and put out an album every three years just containing the best 12-14 of them. (Hmm maybe Joshua Perahia was on to something there....lol).

Something tells me MS's OCD factors into his plenteous output.  Just my $.02.

alldatndensum wrote:

Music has to be a priority.  Xid and I release music when we can considering we don't have full bands, unlimited time, etc.  We make music because we love it--not because we are getting rich.

Took the words right out of my mouth.  Though being rich might be kind of fun for a while.

Medieval Torture Device wrote:

Staybrite wrote:

Follower of Jesus wrote:

....

I also got a little Michael Sweet-ed out. He's been cranking out new music in various forms for the last several years and I've enjoyed several of the projects. But I know I'm getting tired of a guy when I hear his voice and it's like nails on a chalkboard. Time for a break!  

That's one of those "blessing and curse" sort of deals.  It's great that he is being so prolific (because you know it won't last forever), but it can get a little tiring to hear yet another new song/album.  I almost wish he would write the 20+ songs each year he is writing and put out an album every three years just containing the best 12-14 of them. (Hmm maybe Joshua Perahia was on to something there....lol).

Something tells me MS's OCD factors into his plenteous output.  Just my $.02.

You just might have something there.

Speaking from personal experience (I believe I have a mild form of OCD), there's a fine line between drivenness and Obsessive Compulsive Disorder.  

So after a few weeks I really enjoy this release. To me it is no better or worse than the last two and they fit nicely as a trilogy. I usually skip over the slow stuff but I never did care for Stryper ballads.

Medieval Torture Device wrote:

Speaking from personal experience (I believe I have a mild form of OCD), there's a fine line between drivenness and Obsessive Compulsive Disorder.  

We would have so much fun together!  You think you have OCD, and I am diagnosed with ADD.  My former pastor was OCD to the point that he had to line his shoes up a certain way when we went on a mission trip to Cincinnati together.  I left my side of the room in total disarray and messed his shoes up for fun.  I had a blast and he would never room with me again. 

Wow, I couldn't believe my ears tonight! The local classic rock station (which never plays anything new) was talking about the new Stryper album and how Walmart didn't carry it. Then they played the title track! Was a bit odd hearing GDE on the radio and cool at the same time!

MikeInFla wrote:

Wow, I couldn't believe my ears tonight! The local classic rock station (which never plays anything new) was talking about the new Stryper album and how Walmart didn't carry it. Then they played the title track! Was a bit odd hearing GDE on the radio and cool at the same time!

Oh wow, wish they would have picked a different track...bu bthat is fantastic exposure for the band.

Xid wrote:

Balance in everything.

Star Wars is everywhere

http://bravewords.com/news/stryper-frontman-michael-sweet-when-you-sing-about-god-in-a-metal-band-the-odds-are-against-you-instantly

Soundcloud link here

Cool!  Thanks for posting that Mike.