I don't feel it's necessary to gush over everything he does just because it's him.
Who is doing that?
Zoom, Kade, and Deveira thought it was cool. I thought it had some nice playing, especially towards the ending. That's hardly gushing. Kade and Stadler are on record here as saying the last album stunk.
I know this is primarily a thread for fans and I probably should keep my negative comments to myself,
It's my thread, and I certainly don't have an issue with negative comments. I appreciate your opinion, honestly. This is a Listening Party and discussion thread. We have a new album coming out soon, and we'll discuss it. If it stinks, then it stinks. It's fine. I consider us all sitting having a beer talking music.
Michael shitting on his own legacy by putting out substandard crap,
I'd argue that he's spent the last 10 years RESTORING his legacy. This will be Michael's EIGTH album in the last 11 years. If I take 1974-1984 and consider that his 10 BEST years, then I'm taking 2012-2022 as the next 10 best years of his career. He put out a lot of crap for a long time. He's been clean and creative for the last decade.
The way he writes is when he has 10 songs, he records an album. He doesn't write 20 to find the 10 best. He has mentioned that. I'd rather get 8 albums with mixed results than 2 albums of all excellent songs. I can easily make a playlist of 20 excellent songs, and more, over these last 8 albums. I know how the new one will be. Same as all of them. 3 songs I love, 2 songs I hate, 3 that are pretty decent, and 2 that I don't go either way on.
After 2 listens, I can't say I love the new song. I'm not happy that Ronnie Romero is the lead singer on the album either. But I am sure as hell looking forward to it.