I completely respect your point of view and reference points. I can understand why many folks have been disheartened in the last year as they've heard their favorite live songs morph and grow under the care of their creators. I know plenty of people adored the rough jangle of Charm School BA and the tours that followed. Maybe, from your perspective, the band is still suffering from the Clementines saga. Taking songs and reworking them, trying to find perfection, for two years and then taking it from square one with the EPs has obviously been a long process of which BA fans have heard many steps. I will definitely still have aplace in my heart for the first "Corazon," and what it represented. But I think that in relation to The Broken String it's cohesive. The whole album works together quite nicely. The production and instrumentation is different, and apparently nothing near what you hoped for. But, in terms of busting into the indie mainstream, I think this album will find Bishop Allen many new ears.

I'd go on, but I'm in between classes right now. I'm sure we'll continue this conversation and more folks will chime in.

For now, I can't help but want to bring up The Format. I know that they may not have fans in this forum, or this seems like a random comparison, but their first album was just radio pop rock, albeit better than most in that category. Several label and band member problems later they came out with last years' Dog Problems. And much like The Broken String it was ripe with horns, strings and an altogether new feel. You didn't have to be a fan of their first album to love it, and vice versa.

I love Bishop Allen's roots. I love the growth, and I love the new album. I wasn't trying to be condescending when I said I wish you felt the same.
Different strokes for different folks.

Alright, I've really got to go now. I wish I could rewrite all this and flesh it out and improve on it. This post is my 2006 EP project to my Broken String of arguments, reviews, and decent conversation.