The Starting Line Band • Page 45

Interesting! That’s one of those songs I wish I wrote, the sentiment so thoughtful and sweet without being cheesy. The maturity in the lyrics really amazes me, given the misogyny that can be found in other parts of the scene at the time, it’s insane that Kenny was only 16 or so when he wrote it. And the chorus is one of their catchiest! Those overlapping vocals! I also like how it comes in and gets out real quick, no plodding around

 

I don't hate Hello Houston, but it's probably my least favorite from SILYMI. My second least played song is probably Saddest Girl Story, only because I was so used to the EP version that the sped up album version always feels off to me. Love the song itself though, still keep the EP version on rotation.

 

I'm curious to see how everyone would rank the songs off BOATS..

 

Absolutely mind boggling to me that bedroom talk was the single from that record. The world, stay where I can see you, artistic license, surprise surprise, and they went with bedroom talk

 

Honestly I think Bedroom Talk is a great choice for a lead single. The World and Stay Right Where I Can See You are good single choices as well. Surprise Surprise and Artistic License might be a bit too heavy? I’m not sure, they’re some of my favourite songs on the album but don’t seem as radio friendly. Had the label supported the album better, maybe by choosing a different single or even pushing Bedroom Talk more, who knows how different things could’ve been

 

It’s not a bad chorus! The whole part with the main riff feels really undercooked and amateurish to me though. It’s one of the only TSL songs that feels like could’ve just come from a more one dimensional pop punk band like Allister or something imo. But I also understand that’s how some people feel about SILYMI in general, an album I still love, so I know I’m just being kinda nitpicky haha

 

I don’t think that super off the wall rhythm section and time signature of Stay Where I Can See You would’ve done well for a pop punk single in 2005. Great track tho. And Artistic License is one of their best

 

Haha yeah I still have a tough time playing Stay Right Where I Can See You on drums

 

That's interesting. I think the syncopated pattern makes it groove a little bit, but maybe that blend would have been too odd of a combo for a pop punk single like you said. I always liked it because it seems like his attempt at being Travis Barker or Chad Sexton.

 

This is the first time I’ve heard this! That’s a fucking nice bass line.

 

For sure, I actually agree! I think especially in following years it might have done better, but coming off a single like Best Of Me in a time where pop punk fans traditionally reacted poorly to bands changing like at all, it makes sense why they/their label didn’t want to rock the boat

 

Which Howard Benson live stream was this?

 

Maybe I'm totally misremembering, but wasn't Surprise Surprise released as a promotional single before Bedroom Talk?

I was also watching an interview with Kenny from last year where he says he has no intentions of playing Bedroom Talk ever again, and was embarrassed he was into that type of humor. It'll be interesting to see him dust it off next week and how he prefaces it.

 

On the Direction live stream at one point they play a clip of Howard Benson reflecting on his time making the album.

 

There was a podcast that I listened to recently where they reviewed 'Based On...', and one person took a particular dislike for the lyrics in 'Bedroom Talk', and I must agree. For me it's not a line that has aged well, and I feel uncomfortable when I hear it.

 

Oh interesting, what were the cliff notes?

 

I don't think he said anything too major. Just that he was impressed with their evolution and he really liked working with Kenny. The big takeaway for me was when he said he produced those two songs from BOATS, since I never knew that.

 

Bedroom talk completely destroyed that CD cycle. I was a naive edge overmoral emo kid at the time and I thought the song was filth. Didn't even give the album a chance after hearing it. There were a lot of people who felt in a similar way. That shouldn't have been the first thing people heard off the album. I don't oppose it in the same way now, but I still find it pretty cringeworthy and problematic, and there are a lot of songs I enjoy on there a lot. Direction brought me back in, and now TSL year after year is one of my most listened to bands.

 

I’ll never forget watching a Surf & Skate Fest live dvd and my mom walking in the room right when Kenny announced “this song is about intercourse” before playing Bedroom Talk. I was 13 maybe? Long story short, mom didn’t like that one.

Also yeah, super cringe song.

 

haha yea i was at that skate and surf! and it was just as cringe for me. Luckily my Mom was not with me.

 

Fair enough, I guess something more emotional would’ve been the way to go! What do you think would’ve hooked you as a lead single back then?

 

When BOATS came out, we weren’t even a year separated from a Senses Fail record where Buddy screeched about hurting women and literally opened with the line “so love me gently with a chainsaw” and most people didn’t bat an eye, hah. The Bedroom Talk lyric is corny as hell but I’m surprised to hear that anyone near my age had the foresight to identify it as cringeworthy or problematic back then. Genuinely, good on you, but I certainly don’t know how you survived the scene if that’s where your head was going lol

 

I actually like Bedroom Talk and the Tim O’Heir demo of it is actually better than what we got if you ask me...

... but yeah that one line is still cringe 16 years later. Gotta admire Ken for swinging for the fences though!

 

This.

 

I didn't dislike it cause of misogyny but more the crudeness sexuality of it I was uncomfortable with. I don't agree with my old self really from that perspective, but it's how i felt at the time and others did too. Yea half the crap I listened to is problematic now and you can bet I was belting those Senses Fails lyrics. I'm not trying to make some moral point, I'm saying it was objectively damaging as a point of entry into the album for some.

As for what the single should have been, Surprise is possibly their best song IMO but Stay Where I Can See You would have been a good choice too. I mean the ballads on there are sensational.