the point that Mike and I are trying to make is that we think the band are coasting at the moment. We both have recordings of when they weren't afriad to take chances and played a lot more varied set list than they do.

Yes, there could be an element of familiarity breeding contempt here. If I hadn't seen them 14 times, didn't own draws full of bootlegs I might just want to turn up and not mind what they play- but because we do own lots of this type of thing we have seen and heard the band perform a lot better than they currently are, lets be honest, than they have since These Days.

The Faith and Days tours were great because the band felt they had something to prove - and boy, they did. Nowadays they have nothing to prove and in my opinion have became a corporate entity rather than a bunch of talented musicians, challenging and extending themselves. There is nothing on the last two CD's that is in anyway challenging when compared to songs on Faith and These Days and that also extends to the live set.

Its because we care so much that we have these opinions - we aren't narrow minded, we aren't tunnel visioned about this band - we just know that they are capable of doing a lot more.