We can't agree on anything here, but surely we can agree on this, right? Stone has some good offerings, particularly Parachutes, In Hiding and Fatal...but when Eddie's at his best he's untouchable.

without a doubt

You really like The End, don't you?

He's one of the best in rock in general i think. Especially from his generation.

Hands down.

i don't know... jeff gives him a run for his money with the haunting melodies in sweet lew.

Stone has the best ear for melody.

I like the end a lot too...and Ed has always had the ability to write a vocal melody into a song that just takes it to an entirely new place.

The End just really reminded me of how good he can be. It feels like a follow on from the style that he explored with songs like Guaranteed from the Into The Wild project, and going further back, his uke songs.

Yeah, I totally agree. Recall that Rolling Stone article that came out earlier this year and Jeff's quote about the new record:

Adds Ament, "There's a couple of great things that Ed brought in that could be real departures for us. Whatever wave Ed caught with [his soundtack for] Into the Wild has taken him to different places."

The End could be what he was referring to.

i liked the imagery Ed employed when talking about writing lyrics during Avocado pr- that he wants his melodies and words to ride the crest of the music like a wave, never below water, but neither above it

jack, whale song >>> jeff, sweet lew

sweet lew!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

get this guy off the board!!!!!!!!

Whale song was awesome though..

agreed

When it hits that part: "They swim / Its really free..."

That rules.

FTFY

I'm fairly sure Ed wrote the vocal melody for In Hiding. ref: Single Video Theory - "Stone had this riff and he said have you got anything for it yet?" or something like that.

A rule of thumb is whenever he's credited for "words" he also wrote the melody.

Ed wrote the lyrics, but the vocal melody (for the verses at least) just follows Stone's guitar parts.