Really interesting comments and food for thought here. I'm so excited!!!
Think about how goddamn long its been. Six years; think back to where you were in your life six years ago and how much you have changed since then. Chances are most of us have changed a fair amount, the members of BoC wouldn't be immune to that. I'm not saying that we're all going to be radically different, but there is no denying that life has a way of throwing things in one's path that forces one to change their perspective, mentality, and overall sense of purpose. This begs the question "how will this period of change affect their music." I don't think we're going to see a vastly different approach in their musical style, although they have proven themselves to be competent in any direction they wish to pursue- the nostalgic, the lighthearted, the emotional, the apocalyptic, and so many other areas in between. I think we're going to see BoC returning stronger than ever, something like a boxer that has trained his heart out for an upcoming match. I think they're going to come out fucking swinging.
In the past six years, there has not been a moment akin to this. Like someone mentioned above on this thread (or maybe the speculation thread, I can't recall), it is funny how long waiting one week seems to be even after waiting all this time. If the waiting period was one big wave we were all surfing, then we're just about at the tippy-top of the crest about to start the thrill of picking up momentum. Sometimes I wonder if I'm just a crazy music fan, for it is the biggest passion in my life. Hell, I have been weird enough to listen to "I Will Get It Tattooed" while getting a BoC related tattoo. I'm sure WATMM would definitely brand me as an eccentric, off-the-wall fan, lol. I would be among the first to argue they'd be correct in that assumption, I definitely seem to be a little bit too "poetic" (a professor ripped on me for exactly this once back in university for my responses to open-ended questions) and perhaps I read a bit too far into matters. So take what I say with a grain of salt. But it cannot be denied that whether or not one is an extreme fan like me or a casual listener, that there is going to be something for all types of fans to enjoy during this event.
The more I think about it, the less likely I am to believe that this is going to be an underwhelming event. BoC wouldn't have agreed to this event in the first place if they were just going to "wing it" or put forth a bunch of things we've heard before. They're going to have done their homework and they know full well that they are about to step up to the plate, ready to blast out a home-run. They know what they've signed up for. When they come out of the shadows, they know damn well that all eyes will be on them. They are the type that meticulously plan each and every move. I feel like we're all in a phase where we dropped some metaphorical LSD and we're all in a strange, antsy come-up phase. As soon as the 21st starts is when it kicks in and we're tripping. Until then, we're unsure of what to expect, and that is normal. Trust the process. BoC knows very well that their music is bigger than them. It's very powerful. It's art. They've said before that they'd be "making music even if no one was listening" but I think by now they know the impact they've had on people all around the globe- people from all walks of life; people like you and me. This is their time to give a voice to yet another musical translation of "the inevitable stage that lies in front of us." If you're still reading this, then I thank you for taking the time out of your day to sift through my often bizarre thoughts.
Ready? Let's go.