The O.A.R. Appreciation Thread

[ibeheath]

recently o.a.r. has different management/touring schedules, and has even mentioned that they wanted radio hits. they hired a pop radio producer, and whala, o.a.r. is no where better than where they used to be at.

if i were them, i would wait three or four years to release an album, get lilywhite to do the album, and they should become big again.

[mja271]

Originally Posted by ibeheath

recently o.a.r. has different management/touring schedules, and has even mentioned that they wanted radio hits. they hired a pop radio producer, and whala, o.a.r. is no where better than where they used to be at.

if i were them, i would wait three or four years to release an album, get lilywhite to do the album, and they should become big again.

they did all that stuff to get big. They are probably more recognized now than they ever were. Too bad their music lately is so generic and lame.

[ComeNFrmTheCold]

LOL u in a frat?

[ovationman240]

Originally Posted by Whiteyxc514

I saw O.A.R. @ SPAC last night and let me just say they put on a great show. I think the band won me back as a fan last night. Maybe I was listening too much to the bashing of that band that goes on on this website, but they were starting to fall out of my listening selection. They aren't the most musically complex, and they drawn an obnoxious crowd (I'm 20 and I felt like I was old ), but they put on a fun show.

A couple of highlights from last night:

- About 5 songs into the set, the crew set up a curtain and the band played 3.5 acoustic songs (they finished the last one, 'On My Way,' normal full band)...I wish DMB would do something like this. It was awesome and I think it would work out well for DMB too.
- 'War Song' is awesome.
- Poker is to O.A.R. what Ants is to DMB. It never gets old when you are at a show.
-Matt Nathanson was awesome. He's hilarious and he's a great live performer IMO.

I know many would disagree, but anyone else enjoy BrO.A.R.?

This is what Incubus has been doing this year on their tour. About halfway through the set they all come right up to the front of the stage. Mike (guitarist) Ben (bassist) and Brandon (singer) play Drive, Talk Shows on Mute and Dig acoustically. It's an awesome break in the set, and especially great because they normally play a very heavy tune right after (Redefine normally.)

[Dehalo212]

Originally Posted by ibeheath

recently o.a.r. has different management/touring schedules, and has even mentioned that they wanted radio hits. they hired a pop radio producer, and whala, o.a.r. is no where better than where they used to be at.

if i were them, i would wait three or four years to release an album, get lilywhite to do the album, and they should become big again.

I think Mike Alvarez (could be the wrong person) produced Any Time Now. He also did some work on DMB's live releases. I really think if they went to Lillywhite and tried to expand their sound, they could have some very good results. They have tried to experiment with the sound but all the new stuff boils down to a simple basic outline. I really wish they would try and improve themselves as musicians (they may have, just wish they would show it).

I would recommend people look up Mikel Paris (keyboardist, O.A.R.) on Youtube. Interesting way to play guitar.

Here is a sample: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MVL5xOmTvRc

[grace2]

I'm seeing them again at Minnesota State Fair. The show I saw last summer in Sioux Falls was better than DMB at Alpine N2. Probably because I had third row to OAR and lawn at DMB, but still, they were really fucking good.

[Dehalo212]

Originally Posted by grace2

I'm seeing them again at Minnesota State Fair. The show I saw last summer in Sioux Falls was better than DMB at Alpine N2. Probably because I had third row to OAR and lawn at DMB, but still, they were really fucking good.

I was hoping to catch them when they came to Columbus, but missed out. Have a good time in Minnesota.

[jkrue22]

Are they anywhere near as talented as DMB? Hell no. But that's not the point of the thread. If you can't simply relax and enjoy some good reggae-roots rock, instead of worrying about its technical merits, then I don't know what else to tell you. Check out Any Time Now, 34th & 8th, and In Between and Then and you should at least be able to appreciate them.

Also Shattered might be the worst, most generic pop song ever - can't believe they lowered themselves to that level, especially after the aforementioned great albums.

[kl116]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=axnrzjKICRw

that has to be tough to completely lose your voice..

[magicrat405]

Any Time Now is decent, though the lyrics have got to be some of the worst ever written. Also, I keep it under "Paddle," so nobody browsing my library will realize I have OAR in it.

[NextMovement41]

They are a fun live band, even now with very generic material out there. They lost me with their last two albums. I used to be a pretty big fan, not so much now. In Between Now and Then is their best work, IMO of course.

Hopefully they'll ditch this pop sound and get back to their roots.

[TheTallOne]

A few years ago I bought tickets to a show, but when the night came I decided it would be easier to burn the $50 than to have to drive an hour to see them. I haven't really looked back since. One show was enough for me.

[courtzdmb]

Originally Posted by jkrue22

Are they anywhere near as talented as DMB? Hell no. But that's not the point of the thread. If you can't simply relax and enjoy some good reggae-roots rock, instead of worrying about its technical merits, then I don't know what else to tell you. Check out Any Time Now, 34th & 8th, and In Between and Then and you should at least be able to appreciate them.

Also Shattered might be the worst, most generic pop song ever - can't believe they lowered themselves to that level, especially after the aforementioned great albums.

Good good stuff, especially Any Time Now.

[Whiteyxc514]

To the people who kept with the theme of the thread

To everyone else: Not sure why everyone has to be so critical. Give the guys a break. They've got a similar background story to DMB, just playing tons and tons of shows for college kids, working hard and then finally making it. Stories of a Stranger and All Sides were nothing great, but there are some enjoyable tunes on there. Even with these weaker albums, the band still puts on great shows with many of their older tunes. They didn't play anything off of AS until the 7th song of the set on Sunday.

1. Set 1:
   1. About An Hour Ago ->
   2. On Top The Cage
   3. Hey Girl
   4. Conquering Fools
   5. Patiently
   6. Lay Down * ->
   7. What Is Mine *
   8. Love And Memories *
   9. On My Way *
   10. This Town
   11. About Mr. Brown
   12. Black Rock (What I Am Tag)
   13. Love Is Worth The Fall
   14. Shattered (Turn The Car Around)
   15. War Song
2. Encore:
   1. With A Little Help From My Friends $
   2. That Was A Crazy Game Of Poker
   3. Night Shift

It was a fun time, they're fun to listen to, and to me, that's one of the most important things when it comes to music. Oh, and Any Time Now and 34th & 8th are great live albums.

[ovationman240]

Originally Posted by NextMovement41

They are a fun live band, even now with very generic material out there. They lost me with their last two albums. I used to be a pretty big fan, not so much now. In Between Now and Then is their best work, IMO of course.

Hopefully they'll ditch this pop sound and get back to their roots.

Then how would they make all t3h muneeezz?

[Dehalo212]

Originally Posted by kl116

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=axnrzjKICRw

that has to be tough to completely lose your voice..

Yeah heard about that. There was 40,000 in attendance after a baseball game, and Marc lost his voice. Mikel Paris picked up on singing most of the songs, but man, in front of that many people and you lose your voice? Must of sucked...

[Revolution36]

Originally Posted by lockman21

I used to be big into the band. I haven't seen them live in about 3 years though.

Stories of a Stranger was a pretty big letdown outside of Heard the World and 52-50, and All Sides was just awful. I haven't really even listened to them in about a year or 2.

I came here to say the exact same thing. I've seen them 7 times, the last time being 2 years ago. I'll never see them again.

[Whiteyxc514]

New single released on iTunes at midnight. Check it out here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W-yValw_UbE

I haven't listened to it yet, but I'm going to as soon as I finish the episode of The Office that I'm watching on Netflix

[AtlasDMB714]

that shit seriously sucks

[ledvedderman]

Whoa...new single is a total turd. I mean a big, steaming and coiled turd.

[lockman21]

Sounds like contemporary christian music.

Good work taking the verse/chorus/verse/chorus/bridge/chorus formula O.A.R.

Good God that was awful.

[JRS1386]

I only listen to OAR when it pops up on my pandora. I don't like it, but I don't hate it. I really like Shattered though

[proppenator]

I rarely actually say this...but that new single is actually offensive to my ears. Seriously, the vocals on the chorus are unlistenable...why would they release this? I mean, at least get a good recording in the studio.

[lockman21]

Funny thing is, the O.A.R. fans love it.

http://oar.yuku.com/topic/14235/The-New-Single-Heaven

[doesmusicbest]

I love how that is the official video. That means they made the conscious decision that the lyrics were all that needed to be featured.

[GLR87]

I feel bad for these guys... I used to really enjoy them saw bunch of shows. Wow I really wasted my time.

[Richard Belding]

Unbelievable. Can't believe they went from my 2nd favorite band to this in a 5-7 year span.

What happened to this?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AXVpS...eature=related

[proppenator]

Originally Posted by lockman21

Funny thing is, the O.A.R. fans love it.

http://oar.yuku.com/topic/14235/The-New-Single-Heaven

Marc's voice is so strong in this song

This guy must be listening to a different version than I am...

The lyrics are SO good. I don't wanna go to heaven if I can't get in!

[Richard Belding]

Originally Posted by GLR87

I feel bad for these guys... I used to really enjoy them saw bunch of shows. Wow I really wasted my time.

You bite your tongue! That was not a waste of your time!

[GLR87]

Originally Posted by Richard Belding

You bite your tongue! That was not a waste of your time!

We did get to see JBT open that one show at 'Nova that was pretty heady

Plus our black rock jamz were tiiiight