Post subject: SOTM #131: Just someone else's sentimentality
Posted: Thu Jul 24, 2008 1:32 pm
Global Moderator
Joined: Tue Nov 30, 2004 4:02 am Posts: 44183 Location: New York Gender: Male
Against the 70s
I asked him if he knew what time he had He said he wasn’t sure, maybe a quarter past
The kids of today should defend themselves against the 70’s
I peered in his eyes as we stood in line just to have a look But the pages I found looked like an unbound coloring book
The kids of today should defend themselves against the 70’s The kids of today should defend themselves against the 70’s
It’s not reality, just someone else’s sentimentality... It won’t work for you...
Baby boomers selling you rumors of their history Forcing youth away from the truth of what’s real today
The kids of today should defend themselves against the 70’s
Stadium minds with stadium lies gotta make you laugh Garbage vendors against true defenders of the craft
The kids of today should defend themselves against the 70’s The kids of today should defend themselves against the 70’s It’s not reality, just someone else’s sentimentality... Look what it did to Watt...
(Speakin’ as a child of the 70’s)
The kids against the 70’s... Kids against the 70’s...
The kids of today should defend themselves against the 70's The kids of today should defend themselves against the 70's
The kids of today should defend themselves against the 70's The kids of today should defend themselves against the 70's
The kids of today should defend themselves against the 70's The kids of today should defend themselves against the 70's
The kids of today should defend themselves against the 70's The kids of today should defend themselves against the 70's
The kids of today should defend themselves against the 70's The kids of today should defend themselves against the 70's
The kids of today should defend themselves against the 70's The kids of today should defend themselves against the 70's
I've always loved Against the 70s. The big, fuzzy riff is a lot of fun, Eddie sounds like he is having a blast singing it, and it manages to walk a fine line between joke song and actually making a point.
Eddie was an interesting choice to tap to sing this song, since he is someone whose musical heroes were not only active in that period, but continue to influence him in powerful and important ways. But I think the message of the song is not so much a warning about looking to the past, but overromantacizing it, and especially freezing it as an idealizd period in time--especially given the failures of a generation that once positioned itself as revolutionary and retreated so far from that position. The shots about the music industry and the way so much music failed to live up to its emancipatory potential fit in real well with the Eddie of this period (although I'm not sure he wrote the lyrics. Anyone know?) There is a big different between learning from the past, and living there. One is a sign of growth, and one of stagnation.
And I HATE the 'speaking as a child of the 90s' lyric in habit.
_________________ "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
Post subject: Re: SOTM #131: Just someone else's sentimentality
Posted: Thu Jul 24, 2008 4:31 pm
Global Moderator
Joined: Tue Nov 30, 2004 4:02 am Posts: 44183 Location: New York Gender: Male
well I'm not sure eddie wrote it, but he played it with the guy who did if it is not an original tune
I'd give this 3.5 stars, btw, but closer to 3 than 4
_________________ "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
Post subject: Re: SOTM #131: Just someone else's sentimentality
Posted: Thu Jul 24, 2008 5:41 pm
Got Some
Joined: Sat Jul 29, 2006 7:04 pm Posts: 1875 Location: Atlanta, SE of Disorder Gender: Male
This is what a fun, catchy little song is supposed to be like. I remember hearing it for this first time thinking "that sounds just like Eddie Vedder" back when lots of singers wanted to sound like Eddie Vedder but didn't. I'd give it 3.5 but can't commit to four. ***
_________________ From under my lone palm i can look out on the day
Post subject: Re: SOTM #131: Just someone else's sentimentality
Posted: Thu Jul 24, 2008 6:24 pm
Yeah Yeah Yeah
Joined: Wed Dec 13, 2006 4:37 am Posts: 3610 Location: London, UK Gender: Female
stip wrote:
I've always loved Against the 70s. The big, fuzzy riff is a lot of fun, Eddie sounds like he is having a blast singing it, and it manages to walk a fine line between joke song and actually making a point.
Eddie was an interesting choice to tap to sing this song, since he is someone whose musical heroes were not only active in that period, but continue to influence him in powerful and important ways. But I think the message of the song is not so much a warning about looking to the past, but overromantacizing it, and especially freezing it as an idealizd period in time--especially given the failures of a generation that once positioned itself as revolutionary and retreated so far from that position. The shots about the music industry and the way so much music failed to live up to its emancipatory potential fit in real well with the Eddie of this period (although I'm not sure he wrote the lyrics. Anyone know?) There is a big different between learning from the past, and living there. One is a sign of growth, and one of stagnation.
And I HATE the 'speaking as a child of the 90s' lyric in habit.
I find it funny for Ed to sing it since he IS a child of the 70s! (you're a kid of the decade you were a teenager in.. the 70s for Ed, or everyone in PJ really.) I'm pretty sure Mike Watts is the one who wrote the lyrics, it's on his album after all. EDIT: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ball-Hog_or_Tugboat%3F
Quote:
All songs written by Mike Watt except "Big Train" by Tony and Chip Kinman, "Tuff Gnarl" by Sonic Youth, "Chinese Firedrill" by Joe Carducci and Mike Watt, "Sexual Military Dynamics" by Henry Rollins and Mike Watt, and "Maggot Brain" by George Clinton and Eddie Hazel.
so it's 100% Mike WAtt, only thing Ed contributed is the vocals (and maybe guitar)
_________________ 2009 was a great year for PJ gigs looking forward to 2010 and: Columbus, Noblesville, Cleveland, Buffalo, Dublin, Belfast, London, Nijmegen, Berlin, Arras, Werchter, Lisbon, some more US (wherever is the Anniversary show/a birthday show)
Post subject: Re: SOTM #131: Just someone else's sentimentality
Posted: Thu Jul 24, 2008 9:45 pm
Master of Meh
Joined: Fri May 19, 2006 11:00 pm Posts: 13226 Location: Adelaide, AUS
Great song, 4 stars. I'd love for Pearl Jam to start playing this one live again - I know they did it once on the '95 Australian tour (Brisbane, maybe?).
I'm absolutely floored that there's already two people in this thread who've never heard this song. It was on the radio a lot back when it was released even if you didn't pick up the album. You should go do it. Now.
Post subject: Re: SOTM #131: Just someone else's sentimentality
Posted: Fri Jul 25, 2008 4:12 pm
Unthought Known
Joined: Sun Feb 26, 2006 8:46 am Posts: 8052 Location: Northern Virginia Gender: Male
spenno wrote:
Great song, 4 stars. I'd love for Pearl Jam to start playing this one live again - I know they did it once on the '95 Australian tour (Brisbane, maybe?).
I'm absolutely floored that there's already two people in this thread who've never heard this song. It was on the radio a lot back when it was released even if you didn't pick up the album. You should go do it. Now.
I think you're right about it being in Brisbane. Dave Grohl was on drums.
_________________ Please listen and vote in the Other Bands Cover Contest.
"Remember back the early days when you were young and thus amazed."
Post subject: Re: SOTM #131: Just someone else's sentimentality
Posted: Fri Jul 25, 2008 7:06 pm
Global Moderator
Joined: Tue Nov 30, 2004 4:02 am Posts: 44183 Location: New York Gender: Male
there's a link in mastaflatch's post
_________________ "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
Post subject: Re: SOTM #131: Just someone else's sentimentality
Posted: Fri Jul 25, 2008 7:07 pm
Johnny Guitar
Joined: Sat Feb 25, 2006 5:31 pm Posts: 192 Location: The deepest Armpit of Canada
Great Song. I think Watt wrote both the lyrics and music.
As a long time Minutemen fan...Having Eddie and Grohl play with Watt was a big treat. Saw them play the State Theatre in Detroit back in 1995, Hovercraft was the opening act with Eddie on drums (wearing a wrestling mask).
I remember Eddie being really awkward at that show. I think this was during the whole crazy fame era of Pearl Jam and Eddie seemed really uncomfortable as there were all these sreaming teenyboppers yelling "I Love You Eddie" the whole show. I felt really bad for him as he was probably really embarrassed having that happen while backing up one of his friends and music heros. He kind of just played his guitar in the shadows the whole show and wasn't really the annimated Eddie that we see during a Pearl Jam show.
I've never forgotten that after all these years...It really puts that whole era into perspective.
_________________ "Someday everything is gonna sound like a rapsody....when I paint my masterpiece".
Post subject: Re: SOTM #131: Just someone else's sentimentality
Posted: Sat Jul 26, 2008 12:55 pm
Stone's Bitch
Joined: Sat Mar 19, 2005 12:37 pm Posts: 7376 Location: Vlaardingen, Netherlands Gender: Female
I'm amazed so many people don't know this one! I love that whole album, especially the double vinyl with the inscriptions . Did anybody ever collect all variations for 'speaking as...' from the live performances? I remember I once made a start but never finished it. It's probably on one of my old computers...
groetjes, Mirella (child in the seventies, teenager in the eighties, growing up with grunge, and now this is the next phase...)
_________________ 93 Rdm2x 96 D L2x Ber Gro Ams Par Zür 00 L2x D Gla Man Car Par Pin Pra Kat2x Sal Lju Ver Ber Ham Ros L 01 BSB2x Sea2x 06 D Arn Ant Bern Bol Ver Mil Tor Pis Pra Ber Vie Zag 07 L Düs Nij Wer 09 L Rdm Ber Man L 10 D Belf L Ber 12 Am2x EV:Am2x
Post subject: Re: SOTM #131: Just someone else's sentimentality
Posted: Sun Jul 27, 2008 4:44 am
Global Moderator
Joined: Tue Nov 30, 2004 4:02 am Posts: 44183 Location: New York Gender: Male
Riot Actor 25 wrote:
Not to nitpick, Stip, but I think the lyric is "Look what it did to Watt."
you're right--I just cut and pasted these lyrics from some site without proofreading. So nice catch
_________________ "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
Post subject: Re: SOTM #131: Just someone else's sentimentality
Posted: Sun Jul 27, 2008 11:19 am
Force of Nature
Joined: Mon Dec 06, 2004 1:30 pm Posts: 918 Location: Miami Gender: Male
4 stars. Great music, really like the lyrics. Vedders voice sounds fantastic on this.
_________________
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Post subject: Re: SOTM #131: Just someone else's sentimentality
Posted: Mon Jul 28, 2008 3:48 pm
Yeah Yeah Yeah
Joined: Mon Oct 18, 2004 2:12 am Posts: 3783
I absolutely loved this song when I first heard it. I must have been 12 or 13 and my sister and future brother-in-law played if for me. I thought it was rocking and funny at the same time. It's sort of worn off today, but I still enjoy it. I named my first Pearl Jam mix CD "Against the 70s" back when burning CDs was picking up and Napster first came out.
It wasn't until I was 18 or 19 before I bought the Watt album. There are some great songs on it. This of course is one of them. I'd like to see PJ tag it on something, playing the whole song would be unnecessary for me.
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I love that whole album, especially the double vinyl with the inscriptions 
