http://www.nydailynews.com/entertainment/story/312397p-267255c.html In a Durst-case scenario, Limp sales for new Bizkit disk Monday, May 23rd, 2005 Here's a novel approach to marketing an album: 1. Tell as few people about it as possible. 2. Don't tour. 3. Don't go on TV to blab about it. 4. Don't encourage radio stations to play it. 5. Don't talk to the press or even mail out copies to anyone who could possibly spread the message about your baby. Sound like a five-step formula for success? Fred Durst of Limp Bizkit thought so. It was his Einstein of an idea to shoot the seven-song EP "The Unquestionable Truth (Part 1)" into stores this month while barely whispering a word to anyone outside his record company and his official Web site. The philosophy, according to a knowledgeable source, was to build a buzz through the fan site to prove the power of Durst's connection to "the people." Media, be damned. Unfortunately for the band, it hasn't quite worked out that way. The stealth CD opened on the Billboard charts at an awful No. 24 with flaccid sales of 37,083. In this, its second week, it free-fell to No. 82 and is sure to dive-bomb further from there. Of course, Durst was right to try an end run around music scribes. To the press, he's the step beyond Saddam Hussein. Recently, the Internet site Allmusicguide.com referred to him as "the most singularly unpleasant, absurd front man in rock." And that was one of the nicer comments. But, as far as certain fans go, this could have been a sweet moment. "Unquestionable Truth" reunites Durst with key guitarist Wes Borland. The front man's folly came in grossly misunderstanding the character of the people who bought the band's hit CDs. Most were conformists by nature, coming more from the culture of jocks than music. They're not the sorts to seek out CDs on their own, the way cultish or more serious fans would. Neither does this demo remain loyal once the crowd has moved on. And it had started to abandon Limp Bizkit several years before Durst's hara-kiri moves. The band's peak CD, 2000's "Chocolate Starfish," sold 6.6 million copies. Its next one, 2003's "Results May Vary," sunk to 1.4 million. If ever there was a time to get on the megaphone and make your presence known, this was it. But, again, Durst seems not to know his place in youth culture. For a band whose image befits the macho mainstream, not the arty margins, it's a little late to try to build yourself back up on grassroots "street cred."
Well said. Your average LB fan is too stupid to actually seek out music. They're too busy making sure their backwards baseball caps are fitted correctly. WTF was Durst thinking??? But, I've said it before and I'll say it again...I like LB's drummer John Otto. The guy can groove. He should really move on to a different project. What a waste of talent.
He's too busy playing devil worshippers in mini-series about the End of Days (NBC's "Revelations") to worry about actually trying promote that tripe his "band" calls music. Hopefully he slinks back into the netherworld of white trash heaven known as Jacksonville, FL where he belongs.
Damn right. Dude is REALLY knowledgable too. Every interview I've read, he talks about how much guys like Phillie Joe Jones influenced him. Otto is one of my favorite hard rockers out there. One of my friends bought this album because, to quote him, "it was only $9." I heard one song and it was Durst waxing intillectual over the Catholic church's problems. Possibly the most unintentionally funny three minutes of my life. I highly recommend everyone check out the track. I think it's called "The Priest" or "The Father". Something like that. Oh, and if you haven't yet, check out allmusic.com's review of the album. It is one of the greatest things I have ever read.
Yeah, the marketing of the CD was pretty stupid. The CD is 7 tracks, but was 14.99 at Best Buy the week of release. I heard the CD, and it seemed like they were trying to be Rage Against The Machine more than LB. I actually wouldn't mind if they went back to a 'Nookie' sound again. But Fred is just too cool for that, I am sure.
I didn't think Durst still had a music job. I thought his only job now was to try and bang famous chics.
I remember reading a Steely Dan interview from five years ago that asked how SD compared to current bands like Limp Bizkit. Walter Becker said something along the lines of, "I think all you have to do is compare the names 'Steely Dan' and 'Limp Bizkit,' and you have your answer right there." Off to AMG, I hope Stephen Thomas Erlewine wrote it. That cat rocks.
I did it all for the nookie, all for the nookie so you can take that cookie and stick it up your ...yeah! stick it up your ...yeah! stick it up your ...yeah! stick it up your ...yeah!
He did - he along with Rob Sheffield of Rolling Stone is one of my favorite music critics/reviewers because of their sense of humor. Check this excerpt out for his review on this latest Limp Bizkit album: "Not that Limp Bizkit have ever been all that fun to listen to in the first place; there's something about their plodding, jerky rhythms, hook-deficient riffs, and Fred Durst's rage-addled, chipmunk squeak that seems contemptuous of the very notion of a good time, even if Significant Other provided the soundtrack to many frat keggers at the turn of the century."
Showing my age (25) here, but I asked for a RS subscription back in 1993 just for Jancee Dunn's smart-aleck copy. Enjoyed Erlewine's review, he's easily my favorite out there, now that Christgau has entered his "angry old man" stage.
