Not to stick my nose into someone else's argument, but a few random thoughts...
This a Sylvian forum, but that does not mean that everyone is going to love everything David does....frankly, if we were all in lock step and agreeing on everything, what would be the point?
I seem to recall posting about something David had released a while back and I had some folks jump all over me...like I wasn't a true fan or how dare I post on a Sylvian forum something negative....I said then that I retain the right to my own opinion and will share it when and how I see fit...if that wrinkles "true" Sylvian fans the wrong way..so be it. I agree w Chad about Manafon to an extent.....I am not a huge fan, although I did quite like a couple of the tracks (Small Metal Gods, Emily Dickinson, Snow white in Appalachia I think are brilliant) and would like for him to go back to a more structured song-based approach....if it doesn't happen i will still listen, but I am hopeful.
That said, it does seem like you have kind've already driven the nail home about Sylvian's latest work Chad. We all know that you don't care for it....which is fine and cool...however if you belabor the point to such an extent, i think folks start to think that you are messing with them or attacking them personally. Not saying you are, but it may appear that way to some....obliviously there is no need for that. If someone really digs Manafon, they have different taste than you...not WRONG tastes...just different. I would agree with you that in my world Beehive is wayyy better than Manafon and it does surprise me that there are some that would disagree, but nevertheless art is in the ear/eye of the beholder. I love Jackson Pollock and Mark Rothko paintings...I like them better than Monet....many think Pollock paintings look like a three year old spilled paint on the floor...it is what it is...
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Have to add, it also surpises me that a Sylvian fan would not like Sufjan Stevens....again it is what it is...but I just see a lot of similarities....introspective third person lyrics, odd time signatures, strings...etc....
Anyway....I've been through this in so many other arenas...the idea of solid truth vs relativism....as much as it pains me, when it comes to music and art (and probably everything else), truth is relative. Revolver is not the "best" Beatles album (yes it is!), Ringo was not light years better than Pete Best (yes he was!), Secrets of the Beehive is not a better album than Manafon (yes it is!)....
When I cannot sing my heart...I can only speak my mind...