im finding it incredibly refreshing that the overt political lyrics of the last 3 albums seems to be history in Backspacer. it seems like a reversal after S/T to ignore politics altogether in this one (at least so obviously). im not opposed to politics as a theme, but a few songs or at most one album dedicated to it is all i can stand. by the time i got to Unemployable or Army Reserve, i was ready to vomit.

This is just my opinion, but i thought Ed's lyrics were becoming more hamfisted and obvious by the song, culminating in the absolutely awful No More.

It seems they've gotten back to the more abstract, metaphorical lyrics from before, and it sounds so much more natural. i can actually relate to these songs, even if they are simple.

So glad they are giving politics a breather.

btw, i agree with him on much of it, i just really dont want to hear it any more songs. im worn out.

Dude, Got Some seems pretty damn political to me.

But, for the most part I agree with your point that the political songs get old.

im finding it incredibly refreshing that the overt political lyrics of the last 3 albums seems to be history in Backspacer. it seems like a reversal after S/T to ignore politics altogether in this one (at least so obviously). im not opposed to politics as a theme, but a few songs or at most one album dedicated to it is all i can stand. by the time i got to Unemployable or Army Reserve, i was ready to vomit.

This is just my opinion, but i thought Ed's lyrics were becoming more hamfisted and obvious by the song, culminating in the absolutely awful No More.

It seems they've gotten back to the more abstract, metaphorical lyrics from before, and it sounds so much more natural. i can actually relate to these songs, even if they are simple.

So glad they are giving politics a breather.

btw, i agree with him on much of it, i just really dont want to hear it any more songs. im worn out.

(btw the title is probably not true, too many type B personalities )

I get annoyed when EV goes on his long political rants at shows, but the lyrics on the last couple albums haven't bothered me much. His lyrics (regardless of theme) are typically pretty vague. Songs like Bushleaguer & Army Reserve are pretty direct, but I feel they're more the exception.

"You know, it's so good to know when you read in the paper...it's so good to know that there's a lotta high-paid representatives that you and I and a bunch of other people voted into office. Gave 'em good jobs and nice offices, and nice leather chairs, and a limo to drive around in, and vacations for their wives and kids. That's all well and good. I'd like to think that they have clear heads when they make decisions that affect each one of us, each and every one of us. And I'm so glad to read that right now, once again, they're talking about the problem of the burning of the flag. 'Cause you know, if there's one thing that pisses me off every day of my life, it's walking down the street and seeing all these flags burning everywhere I turn. This is the biggest fucking problem I've ever seen, and I'm fucking sick of it! I can't go out to get a cup of coffee and a paper without seeing a fucking flag burning. I can't go to a stadium... There's a flag burning everywhere--a flag burning here, a flag burning there! It doesn't matter that the oceans are going to complete shit, and you get sick every time you go surfing. There're flags burning! I don't care about the environment. Let it go to shit. Let's save the flag!! Let's save the flag!!!

im the opposite. the lyrics are just too blatant to me. no room for interpretation. i dont mind the little rants at shows, sometimes they are funny. the only time it pisses me off is when he ruins Porch with a speech in the middle. thats fucking amateur!

I thought part of this (the whole flags burning everywhere stuff) was a bit funny actually. I also thought the song really exploded when they came out of this little rant. But I can understand why people think Eddie's success rate with mid song rants is relatively low.

To clarify, that's why I posted it. I love these kind of mid song rants. This was during RITFW in San Diego in '98. I also love the one during Porch at Randall's Island in '96, although that one wasn't really political. There's bound to be more examples, but these come to mind.

I get annoyed when EV goes on his long political rants at shows, but the lyrics on the last couple albums haven't bothered me much. His lyrics (regardless of theme) are typically pretty vague. Songs like Bushleaguer & Army Reserve are pretty direct, but I feel they're more the exception.

Since you brought up Army Reserve, it reminded me to mention that I caught myself watching the Lifetime channel last weekend (you know, 'The Channel for Women,' which I am not), and they actually have a show on there called 'Army Wives.' So, just wanted to close the loop on that discussion in another thread saying that Army Reserve sucks like the Lifetime channel.....