Board index » Watched from the Window, with a Red Mosquito... » Pearl Jam




Post new topic Reply to topic  [ 26 posts ]  Go to page 1, 2  Next

Rate Santa Cruz
5 Stars: I'm moving to Santa Cruz because of this song 9%  9%  [ 5 ]
4 Stars: I'm visiting Santa Cruz becuase of this song 23%  23%  [ 13 ]
3 Stars: Average 36%  36%  [ 20 ]
2 Stars: Kinda there 23%  23%  [ 13 ]
1 Star: This sucks guys 7%  7%  [ 4 ]
0 Stars: This song makes me hate the band 0%  0%  [ 0 ]
Total votes : 55
Author Message
 Post subject: SOTM#148: I need the water to wash my soul...
PostPosted: Thu Aug 06, 2009 2:53 pm 
Offline
User avatar
Global Moderator
 Profile

Joined: Tue Nov 30, 2004 4:02 am
Posts: 44183
Location: New York
Gender: Male
Santa Cruz

Heading South a compass reads
Look at our speed, we're going sixty-three
Look out the window as the trees go green
I look at them and they look at me

Got Neil Young on the stereo
He comes along whenever I go
Something different as I hear him now
Heading south on a familiar route

I can feel the lifting of my blues
I can see a white horizon loom
Got the feeling that I just can’t lose
Rolling into Santa Cruz


I've got an old friend he remembers me
From way back when we were seventeen
We got kids and we're older now
But when I see him, we're still seventeen

I need the beach to set me free
I need the wind to make me breathe
I need the water to wash my soul
I need my loved ones to let me go

I can feel the lifting of my blues
I can see a white horizon loom
Got the feeling that I just can’t lose
Rolling into Santa Cruz

Up in the North West, we got it good
Little soggy, but we've got it good
Can't help thinking that I wish i would
Move my ass down to Santa Cruz

I got the feeling that I just can't lose
Pulling into Santa Cruz
I got a feeling that I just can't lose
Pulling into Santa Cruz

I got a feeling I don't want to lose
Pulling into Cruz
I got a feeling I just can't lose
Pulling into Santa Cruz


Santa Cruz is meant to be a tossed off, casual on-the-road song. It doesn’t take itself seriously and it doesn’t aspire to do much other than convey a sense of unencumbered freedom. It’s like a more fleshed out version of drifting in that way, although I think Drifting pulls this off more effectively in the end.

Musically Santa Cruz is pleasant and forgettable. I can’t imagine this being a song I ever seek out, and there is little to keep me here, but it’s such an amiable and good natured tune that it’s hard to dislike the song. I don’t think PJ does this kind of alt-country rock all that well, but I also don’t’ like the genre so others may be a better judge of this than me.

Eddie sounds like he’s singing a Christmas single here, albeit one he likes. It’s hardly a killer vocal performance but he’s not mailing it in either. What is really interesting about this performance (and that bodes well for the future) is the way he adds vocalizations at the end of the song. The most important legacy of Eddie’s Into The Wild project may be that he’s rediscovered just how effective his voice is as an instrument, how much he can convey and how much depth it adds to his songs. It may be misplaced depth here, since there is so little at stake in this song, but it’s nice to hear anyway.

Lyrically this reads like the tossed off song it was. The verses are a pretty basic and uninteresting narrative (I’m going this fast, I’m listening to this song—although I’m sure Neil Young fans like the name-drop). It’s hard to write those sorts of mundane details effectively, and he doesn’t quite get it here. The second verse and the references to an old friend making him feel young again express a nice sentiment we can all relate to, but they’re not worded in a particularly compelling way.

The verse that follows is no doubt the highpoint of the song.

I need the beach to set me free
I need the wind to make me breathe
I need the water to wash my soul
I need my loved ones to let me go

Here is the only real place in the song where Eddie manages to convey that sense of freedom, of getting away, that is supposed to be motivating the song. It’s almost out of place in this song given how low key the rest of this number is, but it’s a nice verse nevertheless, and one of Eddie’s better celebrations of the water/surfing as a place of purification

Of course he follows this up with the ‘yeah Seattle is nice but sometimes I get tired of the rain and want to go elsewhere’ which brings the song back down to the level of the rest of the song
So in the end Santa Cruz is what is. Pleasant a
nd inoffensive, but hardly inspiring. It’s a hard song to end up feeling that strongly about either way.

2 Stars.

_________________
"Better the occasional faults of a Government that lives in a spirit of charity than the consistent omissions of a Government frozen in the ice of its own indifference."--FDR

The perfect gift for certain occasions


Top
 
 Post subject: Re: SOTM#148: I need the water to wash my soul...
PostPosted: Thu Aug 06, 2009 3:03 pm 
Offline
User avatar
Yeah Yeah Yeah
 Profile

Joined: Tue May 30, 2006 2:48 pm
Posts: 3115
Location: Edinburgh/Lincoln, UK
I think you're right in saying the song doens't take itself too seriously. I think the vocal melodies are really catchy, and not far from some old Motown-styled tunes ('Don't Know Much About History'?). The chord progressions aren't groundbreaking, but they are pleasant. I enjoy listening to this, it's light hearted and good fun, and PJ don't do enough songs (well) like that.

I think it's a 3 star song, but on a good day maybe a 4.


Top
 
 Post subject: Re: SOTM#148: I need the water to wash my soul...
PostPosted: Thu Aug 06, 2009 3:07 pm 
Offline
User avatar
Got Some
 Profile

Joined: Tue Oct 19, 2004 11:50 pm
Posts: 1645
Location: Tijuana, Mexico.
IMO the song is great at what its supposed to do (or be).
Just a very loose, happy, bare bones, Neil Youngish tune.
That alone is worth a listen.

_________________
Image


Top
 
 Post subject: Re: SOTM#148: I need the water to wash my soul...
PostPosted: Thu Aug 06, 2009 5:00 pm 
Offline
User avatar
Force of Nature
 Profile

Joined: Sat Oct 16, 2004 11:36 pm
Posts: 578
Location: Canada
Agreed Buby.

As far as Christmas single songs go, i think this one is above average. It's a fun summer song and something that i think i would throw into the odd Pearl Jam mix.

3 stars for me.
I

_________________
Montreal - 98,00,03,05
Barrie - 98
Ottawa - 05, 11
Toronto - 06, 09
New York - 08 (x2)
EV Solo - Vancouver (08) x2, Montreal (08), Toronto (08), Hartford (11)


Top
 
 Post subject: Re: SOTM#148: I need the water to wash my soul...
PostPosted: Thu Aug 06, 2009 5:28 pm 
Offline
User avatar
Former PJ Drummer
 Profile

Joined: Thu Nov 25, 2004 3:00 pm
Posts: 19826
Location: Alone in a corridor
i have never heard of this song


Top
 
 Post subject: Re: SOTM#148: I need the water to wash my soul...
PostPosted: Thu Aug 06, 2009 5:30 pm 
Offline
User avatar
Red Mosquito, my libido
 Profile

Joined: Sun May 21, 2006 2:02 am
Posts: 91597
Location: Sector 7-G
Well it sure beats the fixer.

_________________
It takes a big man to make a threat on the internet.


Top
 
 Post subject: Re: SOTM#148: I need the water to wash my soul...
PostPosted: Thu Aug 06, 2009 5:45 pm 
Offline
User avatar
Stone's Bitch
 Profile

Joined: Sun Apr 09, 2006 1:53 am
Posts: 1435
Location: in fashion, the soft drinks, expansion
Gender: Male
"nice b-side" sums it up.

_________________
I like rhythmic things
that butt up against each other
in a cool kind of way.


Top
 
 Post subject: Re: SOTM#148: I need the water to wash my soul...
PostPosted: Thu Aug 06, 2009 9:46 pm 
Offline
User avatar
Global Moderator
 Profile

Joined: Tue Nov 30, 2004 4:02 am
Posts: 44183
Location: New York
Gender: Male
cutuphalfdead wrote:
Well it sure beats the fixer.


not in a million years

_________________
"Better the occasional faults of a Government that lives in a spirit of charity than the consistent omissions of a Government frozen in the ice of its own indifference."--FDR

The perfect gift for certain occasions


Top
 
 Post subject: Re: SOTM#148: I need the water to wash my soul...
PostPosted: Thu Aug 06, 2009 9:46 pm 
Offline
User avatar
Global Moderator
 Profile

Joined: Tue Nov 30, 2004 4:02 am
Posts: 44183
Location: New York
Gender: Male
cutuphalfdead wrote:
Well it sure beats the fixer.


not in a million years

_________________
"Better the occasional faults of a Government that lives in a spirit of charity than the consistent omissions of a Government frozen in the ice of its own indifference."--FDR

The perfect gift for certain occasions


Top
 
 Post subject: Re: SOTM#148: I need the water to wash my soul...
PostPosted: Thu Aug 06, 2009 10:41 pm 
Offline
User avatar
Reissued
 WWW  Profile

Joined: Sun Oct 24, 2004 3:38 pm
Posts: 20059
Gender: Male
stip wrote:
cutuphalfdead wrote:
Well it sure beats the fixer.


not in a million years

i'd definitely take it, drifting, strangest tribe, ahead of the fixer (i only mention them because they're similar acoustic laid back xmas singles). 4 stars for this one, pleasant and enjoyable.

_________________
stop light plays its part, so I would say you've got a part


Top
 
 Post subject: Re: SOTM#148: I need the water to wash my soul...
PostPosted: Thu Aug 06, 2009 11:49 pm 
Offline
User avatar
Red Mosquito, my libido
 Profile

Joined: Sun May 21, 2006 2:02 am
Posts: 91597
Location: Sector 7-G
dkfan9 wrote:
stip wrote:
cutuphalfdead wrote:
Well it sure beats the fixer.


not in a million years

i'd definitely take it, drifting, strangest tribe, ahead of the fixer (i only mention them because they're similar acoustic laid back xmas singles). 4 stars for this one, pleasant and enjoyable.

the put a little exitement line on the fixer is more awkward the rhyming 17 with 17.

_________________
It takes a big man to make a threat on the internet.


Top
 
 Post subject: Re: SOTM#148: I need the water to wash my soul...
PostPosted: Thu Aug 06, 2009 11:51 pm 
Offline
User avatar
Global Moderator
 Profile

Joined: Tue Nov 30, 2004 4:02 am
Posts: 44183
Location: New York
Gender: Male
cutuphalfdead wrote:
dkfan9 wrote:
stip wrote:
cutuphalfdead wrote:
Well it sure beats the fixer.


not in a million years

i'd definitely take it, drifting, strangest tribe, ahead of the fixer (i only mention them because they're similar acoustic laid back xmas singles). 4 stars for this one, pleasant and enjoyable.

the put a little exitement line on the fixer is more awkward the rhyming 17 with 17.


agreed

_________________
"Better the occasional faults of a Government that lives in a spirit of charity than the consistent omissions of a Government frozen in the ice of its own indifference."--FDR

The perfect gift for certain occasions


Top
 
 Post subject: Re: SOTM#148: I need the water to wash my soul...
PostPosted: Fri Aug 07, 2009 8:06 pm 
Offline
Banned from the Pit
 Profile

Joined: Sun Oct 17, 2004 12:41 am
Posts: 60
This tune has been getting airplay on my local indie radio station here in Westchester County, NY.

I like it better than Santa God.


Top
 
 Post subject: Re: SOTM#148: I need the water to wash my soul...
PostPosted: Sat Aug 08, 2009 6:37 am 
Offline
User avatar
Banned from the Pit
 WWW  Profile

Joined: Sun Feb 26, 2006 12:04 pm
Posts: 91
Location: Tucson, AZ
Gender: Male
dkfan9 wrote:
stip wrote:
cutuphalfdead wrote:
Well it sure beats the fixer.


not in a million years

i'd definitely take it, drifting, strangest tribe, ahead of the fixer (i only mention them because they're similar acoustic laid back xmas singles). 4 stars for this one, pleasant and enjoyable.


Strangest Tribe, yes. Drifting, no...

_________________
My old bands:
http://www.myspace.com/sleepingvioletmusic
http://www.myspace.com/flashingamberlights
http://www.myspace.com/daysunfold


Top
 
 Post subject: Re: SOTM#148: I need the water to wash my soul...
PostPosted: Sat Aug 08, 2009 12:02 pm 
Offline
User avatar
Cameron's Stallion
 WWW  Profile

Joined: Thu Oct 20, 2005 3:53 am
Posts: 6704
Location: Tasmania, Australia
Gender: Male
cutuphalfdead wrote:
Well it sure beats the fixer.

easily :thumbsup:

_________________
Harmless wrote:
'Isn't this weird? We're looking down on PJ's music, only.... that's not PJ's music. Isn't that weird?'

13/11/06 Melbourne, 20/11/09 Melbourne


Top
 
 Post subject: Re: SOTM#148: I need the water to wash my soul...
PostPosted: Sun Aug 09, 2009 3:38 am 
Offline
User avatar
Unthought Known
 WWW  Profile

Joined: Thu Apr 13, 2006 4:33 am
Posts: 8422
Location: Berthier-sur-Mer
Gender: Male
adamdude wrote:
cutuphalfdead wrote:
Well it sure beats the fixer.

easily :thumbsup:

lay off the crack, guys. i like Santa Cruz but the bridge in The Fixer clearly puts it in another category in my opinion, even if it doesn't make it a masterpiece. there's more to the fixer than the 'citement line.

_________________
http://jorgefarah.com/2012/03/27/chiendent-the-demented-the-rousing-and-the-sublime/


Top
 
 Post subject: Re: SOTM#148: I need the water to wash my soul...
PostPosted: Sun Aug 09, 2009 3:18 pm 
Offline
User avatar
Force of Nature
 Profile

Joined: Sun Feb 03, 2008 4:57 pm
Posts: 308
Location: London, England
Gender: Male
I hadn't heard this. Just have. Not bad.

_________________
Astoria 06, Reading 06, Wembley 07, The O2 09.


Top
 
 Post subject: Re: SOTM#148: I need the water to wash my soul...
PostPosted: Wed Aug 12, 2009 5:30 am 
Offline
User avatar
Cameron's Stallion
 WWW  Profile

Joined: Thu Oct 20, 2005 3:53 am
Posts: 6704
Location: Tasmania, Australia
Gender: Male
mastaflatch wrote:
adamdude wrote:
cutuphalfdead wrote:
Well it sure beats the fixer.

easily :thumbsup:

lay off the crack, guys. i like Santa Cruz but the bridge in The Fixer clearly puts it in another category in my opinion, even if it doesn't make it a masterpiece. there's more to the fixer than the 'citement line.

I'd be a lot more excited for this new album if Santa Cruz was the lead single instead of The Fixer.

_________________
Harmless wrote:
'Isn't this weird? We're looking down on PJ's music, only.... that's not PJ's music. Isn't that weird?'

13/11/06 Melbourne, 20/11/09 Melbourne


Top
 
 Post subject: Re: SOTM#148: I need the water to wash my soul...
PostPosted: Sat Aug 15, 2009 12:24 am 
Offline
User avatar
Unthought Known
 WWW  Profile

Joined: Thu Apr 13, 2006 4:33 am
Posts: 8422
Location: Berthier-sur-Mer
Gender: Male
adamdude wrote:
mastaflatch wrote:
adamdude wrote:
cutuphalfdead wrote:
Well it sure beats the fixer.

easily :thumbsup:

lay off the crack, guys. i like Santa Cruz but the bridge in The Fixer clearly puts it in another category in my opinion, even if it doesn't make it a masterpiece. there's more to the fixer than the 'citement line.

I'd be a lot more excited for this new album if Santa Cruz was the lead single instead of The Fixer.

not me - although i'm not so fond on The Fixer, i happen to think that it's something this band has never done before. and it's rendered quite well. it may not be the best song on earth but it's still uplifting, which is not a term usually associated with PJ. and the bridge is really cool. Santa Cruz is a fun song, not aiming high and succeeding at being a lone summer tune, but the Fixer has much bigger endeavours, that are partially achieved imo, that's why i tend to respect more that one.

_________________
http://jorgefarah.com/2012/03/27/chiendent-the-demented-the-rousing-and-the-sublime/


Top
 
 Post subject: Re: SOTM#148: I need the water to wash my soul...
PostPosted: Sat Aug 15, 2009 1:14 am 
Offline
User avatar
Reissued
 WWW  Profile

Joined: Sun Oct 24, 2004 3:38 pm
Posts: 20059
Gender: Male
mastaflatch wrote:
adamdude wrote:
mastaflatch wrote:
adamdude wrote:
cutuphalfdead wrote:
Well it sure beats the fixer.

easily :thumbsup:

lay off the crack, guys. i like Santa Cruz but the bridge in The Fixer clearly puts it in another category in my opinion, even if it doesn't make it a masterpiece. there's more to the fixer than the 'citement line.

I'd be a lot more excited for this new album if Santa Cruz was the lead single instead of The Fixer.

not me - although i'm not so fond on The Fixer, i happen to think that it's something this band has never done before. and it's rendered quite well. it may not be the best song on earth but it's still uplifting, which is not a term usually associated with PJ. and the bridge is really cool. Santa Cruz is a fun song, not aiming high and succeeding at being a lone summer tune, but the Fixer has much bigger endeavours, that are partially achieved imo, that's why i tend to respect more that one.

it's something they've never done before, but a techno song would also be out of the ordinary for them. so would a jazz song. doesn't mean they'd pull them off. although i don't hate the fixer by any means, different doesn't really mean anything to me unless it also comes out good. the fixer, by pj standards, (in my opinion lol) came out ok.

_________________
stop light plays its part, so I would say you've got a part


Top
 
Display posts from previous:  Sort by  
Post new topic Reply to topic  [ 26 posts ]  Go to page 1, 2  Next

Board index » Watched from the Window, with a Red Mosquito... » Pearl Jam


Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 11 guests


You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum
You cannot post attachments in this forum

Search for:
Jump to:  
It is currently Tue Mar 19, 2024 9:50 am