_________________ "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
Joined: Tue Nov 30, 2004 4:02 am Posts: 44183 Location: New York Gender: Male
99 was one of the last years we got two new studio songs (not covers or live performances) from the band and it was a nice 1-2 punch. Nothing too fancy, just a fun little bonus from the band. Although I prefer Drifting Strangest Tribe works quite nicely as a holiday song. It sounds like winter—like someone is trudging through some chilly snows at dusk (or dawn, based on the lyrics—with the sun not quite up), with the thought of a warm hearth off in the distance, not close enough to see, but close enough to be real. It sets a really nice mood for some quiet meditative lyrics about that time of year
I am not a fan of Stone’s lyrics normally but these are arguably his best—especially the chorus, which has a number of nice images in it. The December holidays are supposed to be the most joyous time of year, but there is often something so frantic about them, so loud and neon-bright, that it is easy to lose yourself in the noise and light and not really take stock of life and where it is going. In strangest tribe the singer managed to find a moment in the cold, silent, dark to really wonder about those things. And he’s not sure where he’s going, or even what he wants, but he knows that whatever he wants, it isn’t here yet. But what matters more is his quiet determination to see it through. And Eddie’s simple, weary, and vaguely hopeful vocals convey that feeling nicely
Still, in the end it is a 3 star song for me. It lacks the power of a song like Indifference (or any number of songs in their catalogue that address similar themes). In the end it is a victim of its own success. In the right kind of mood Strangest Tribe is a really nice listen, but it is bound to that mood. It is not a song for every day.
_________________ "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
Joined: Tue May 30, 2006 2:48 pm Posts: 3115 Location: Edinburgh/Lincoln, UK
Good write up Stip, it's a song i've always just found 'a nice listen'...but as you say - in the right mood. I like the feel of it, it's stripped down, bare and kind of haunting.
I'd lump it into the 3.5 category, too....not a classic, but certainly not bad.
Joined: Sat Mar 11, 2006 5:06 am Posts: 3146 Location: Orange County, California
stip wrote:
I am not a fan of Stone’s lyrics normally but these are arguably his best—
Rival's lyrics destroy this song's IMO.
_________________ I waited all day
you waited all day
but you left before sunset
and I just wanted to tell you
that the moment was beautiful
just wanted to dance to bad music
drive bad cars
watch bad tv
should have stayed for the sunset
if not for me
5 stars, top 5 PJ songs easily. lovely lyrics. awesome yet quite simple lyrics and i absolutely love Ed's voice on this one. Best xmas single for sure.
Joined: Mon Oct 18, 2004 7:37 pm Posts: 15767 Location: Vail, CO Gender: Male
STrangest tribe and driftin bring me back to my freshman year of college. Post christmas. the smell of my dorm room, cold ass winter and shitloads of snow. The crackly vinyl rip of these two songs. such good memories. Love these tunes. S trangest tribe is the best song to listen to in the winter.
Joined: Sun Dec 05, 2004 5:47 am Posts: 27904 Location: Philadelphia Gender: Male
punkdavid wrote:
I've always thought that "His Eminence" was Santa Claus. What do you think?
That's exactly how I've always interpreted the song -- someone waiting for Santa Claus, and the narrator's disdain for the myth. Stip's interpretation touch on the peripherally, but I think if you break down the lyrics my interpretation is more accurate.
Anyhow ,great fucking song from a great, great single. This and the Angel/Fuck me in the Brain singles are my two favorites. I think I'd probably suffer a coronary attack if I heard this live. 5 stars.
_________________ It's always the fallen ones who think they're always gonna save me.
Joined: Wed Mar 02, 2005 6:18 pm Posts: 5622 Location: hiding amongst the chimpanzees
I've always taken this song in a religious context. His Eminence being Jesus and the Strangest Tribe being Christianity.
This song is about feeling alone, cold and left with your own thoughts at christmastime when the rest of the world celebrates a religious holiday that isn't even very religious anymore. Very introspective and thoughtful, a nice change from traditional christmas songs.
3 stars from me
_________________ Twenty years for nothing, well that's nothing new, besides, No one's interested in something you didn't do Wheat kings and pretty things, let's just see what the morning brings.
I've always taken this song in a religious context. His Eminence being Jesus and the Strangest Tribe being Christianity.
This song is about feeling alone, cold and left with your own thoughts at christmastime when the rest of the world celebrates a religious holiday that isn't even very religious anymore. Very introspective and thoughtful, a nice change from traditional christmas songs.
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