i like that the jam at the end is longer, but overall its still not as good as 2000 tour. its a shame that stone doesnt play electric on it anymore and mike has completly stopped doing the coda part of his solo - the bit from about 4'35 on the recording. gives it all some purpose and is much missed.

just thought id have a whinge.

This is one song I wouldn't object to being retired.

i was hoping philly 05 would have been the last time for this...no such luck.

I really enjoy those 2000 versions as well.

Me too, this song's been a snoozefest from 2003 onwards.

I don't know, I've defended Boom in the past...lately, after listening almost exclusively to "old" Pearl Jam (when I've listened to the band at all), I've swung to have totally the opposite opinion.

Let Boom surf off into the sunset, turn Mike back up and tell Stone to leave his acoustic guitar at home.

I love the versions from 2000 but I've pretty much had enough of Boom. It was interesting to see them play this with him in 2003 but I'm just sick of it now. The whole Mike & Boom solo fest at the end of song needs to end or just retire the song.

lets not bring up the new in my tree with his jazz solo either (in fact lets just not bring up the new in my tree at all- why boys!??!! why !!??!? sacrilidge) or the fact that rockin in the free world is now fucking unlistenable with him playing the most offensivly cheesy 50's piano stabs ive ever heard in my life over the top of it. thats just fucking bad taste.

its a shame, they should put him to better use - use the organ sounds only and leave the fucking awful digital piano tones on the motherfucking preset digital shit arsed keyboard, more at home on the motherfucking late 80's dance tracks.

why do they use him to things that were missing rather than not needed? do the evolutions organ part during the haleluyah bit for example? why the fuck dont they get him to that and things of the like? very confusing.

I agree. Or that little breakdown during Lowlight where there is piano on the album.

If they insist upon using Boom for RITFW, he should be turned down very very very very very low in the mix. That's 5 verys. Turn that Hawaiian asshole down.

haha I just love to complain really. This forum gives me a great outlet.

A few notable things where I have liked boom is on Red Mosquito and Deep from 2003. I know some people didn't like Red Mosquito with Boom, but I liked it because that song was actually quite rare in 2003 and hearing the different take was cool. The second verse also sounded very powerful with two rythem guitars going while boom led on top of them. It would be cool if they switched it up and sometimes had boom on it and sometimes not. And I actually really liked the organ that he added to Deep as well.

Agreed, Boom really needs to be turned down in RITFW. His keys are way too present and it just makes it sound really cheesy.

Do you ever think the guys secretly know Boom's a little whack but don't want to bring it up in case Ed cracks a hissy fit?

I do...

Black, Wash, Immortality: all of these songs were also better with Stone on electric.

crazy mary post 2003 is a show ruining song for me.

Generally speaking bands grow and evolve and change as they get older and seem to like screwing with things to make them different/more interesting for themselves..I'm going through this with two of my favourite bands right now and with one particularly, it's completely infuriating and frustrating..best you can do is not focus on it too much and let them get on with it, you'll only end up doing your own head in , they're not gonna know or hear about your complaint, so you'r only wrecking your own head.

Booms contributions are annoying way more than they are interesting, but i'd imagine he's a fixture at least in the touring sense for the forseeable future...and Spenno? think you hit the nail on the head there about Ed wanting him there..Can't see it changing anytime soon being honest..

Noi, overall I get the impression you don't like Pj post 2000...is there anything they've done since that you DO like?

yes, i like man of the hour, down and half full is alright. the setlists of the 08 tour were good too. the rest of it is shit. oh the christmas singles are nice.

also did you read your previous post before you wrote your last one?

i saw it in 06 with Boom and absolutely fuckin loved it

spenno is on the money.
No acoustic guitar. No Boom. And on the official releases...turn the vocals up. On the official boots...turn the vocals up.

I like Crazy Mary (and not just because it gave me the occasional swig at Ed's nice wine )..
I don't mind the Boom solo bit..actually this is probably about the only song I don't mind Boom at all (I don't like the sound of organ or whatever it is he's playing to start with.. and even non-musical me can hear he fucks it up when he tries to play it as a piano, see LROM as the most jaring example). I mean Boom seems like a nice guy and I don't hate the fact is playing with PJ but if he stopped, I wouldn't miss him.