I think people tend to think of me as someone who doesn't like anything. And I guess that's not entirely unfounded. But I'm also someone who generally likes things. If it's something I want to like, more often than not, I'll find something to enjoy about it. I like new Alkaline Trio. I like Angels & Airwaves. I like the Fantastic Four movies. I'm not saying they're great, I'm just saying I enjoyed them. I liked Spider-Man 3. Everyone else seems to hate that one too. The point is, I usually like stuff, so that's why it's so weird to me that 3 times in the last week or so I've disliked (or at least been very disappointed in) something that everyone else seem to love.
Example 1: Man Overboard's new album, HEART ATTACK. It's not bad, but it's going to have to grow on me. Not like their self titled album which completely blew me away. So I was pretty shocked when in the new issue of Alternative Press they write an article about MAN OVERBOARD being a ho-hum record that paled in comparison to what The Wonder Years were doing at the time. I've never liked The Wonder Years (they rub me the wrong way) and have never talked to anyone who preferred them over Man Overboard. They also write about how the new album will give The Wonder Years a run for their money because it's immediately captivating. Who are these people who didn't like MAN OVERBOARD? Who are these people who prefer The Wonder Years? And how is HEART ATTACK in any way better than MAN OVERBOARD? Or even BEFORE WE MET, which was all old songs!? Dumb.
Example 2: Jimmy Eat World's new album, DAMAGE. To be honest, I haven't liked a new Jimmy Eat World album when in was first released since... Ever. They always have to grow on me and then I end up loving them. But I cannot imagine this one growing on me. It's boring. There's nothing as poppy and fun as A Praise Chorus or Pain. There's nothing as dark and moody as Polaris, Goodbye Sky Harbor or Disintegration. It's all just mid tempo, bland rock songs. So I look up some reviews of it, expecting everyone to feel the same way I do about it and instead they love it! Allmusic.com gave it 4 1/2 stars, better than any album since BLEED AMERICAN. AP gave it 4 stars, on par with FUTURES and CLARITY. There is no way it is that good. I'll keep listening to it (and hopefully end up eating my words again), but I just do not understand how anyone could be that pumped about this album. Also dumb.
Example 3: Man Of Steel. (There may be some spoilers below, continue at your own risk) I wanted to love this movie. I really did. The trailers would give me the chills. Zack Snyder always showed promise as a director and a story by David S. Goyer and Christopher Nolan should have been amazing! Reviews were good, word of mouth was good, I'd read good things about test screenings, all signs pointed to amazing. Now I didn't hate it, but I certainly didn't love it. There were a couple issues early. I didn't like how Lois immediately figured out Superman's identity, and the first half was kind of disjointed and had some weird flow issues, but I could look past all that pretty easily. But then I kept noticing all sorts of awkward product placement that completely pulled me out of the story. Did they really need to fight inside both an IHOP and a Sears? And most of the fight scenes were really cool, but the collateral damage seemed a bit out of hand. I understand that it was Superman's first fight as Superman, but even then, he should have been a lot more concerned about how many innocents were hurt or killed when he went flying through a gas station, blowing it up. Do you realize how many innocent people had to have been killed during their fight? I feel like Superman would never have allowed that. Then at the end, one family is in danger and suddenly he cares so much about innocents that he has to snap Zod's neck to stop him? Superman doesn't kill. It wasn't enough to make me grind my teeth (X3 was), but it still didn't follow the spirit of what a Superman story should be. So again I checked reviews, expecting others to agree with me. Instead Harry at aintitcool.com called it the best super hero movie ever made, everyone else I've talked to loved it, and even the City Pages, who hate EVERYTHING, liked it! Dumb.
Of course I don't think I'm the only person to ever disagree with popular opinions of things, it just struck me odd how it happened three times over the course of about a week. And even more odd that I was the one who didn't like said things while popular opinion did.
Currently reading: A Game Of Thrones by George R. R. Martin
Currently reading: Silver Surfer (2003)
In the stereo: Yeezus by Kanye West
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