I understand why Amongst The Waves fails for some, but I maintain that it does fine at being what it is: the older, maturer band producing a version of a prior style in a way which is truer to the older, maturer band. For me, it's not 'watered down' or 'PJ-lite' -- it's just another go at a style from a different, more calm perspective, lyrically and musically. I can't come up with any excuse at all for Big Wave.
Joined: Thu Apr 13, 2006 4:33 am Posts: 8422 Location: Berthier-sur-Mer Gender: Male
Harmless wrote:
I understand why Amongst The Waves fails for some, but I maintain that it does fine at being what it is: the older, maturer band producing a version of a prior style in a way which is truer to the older, maturer band. For me, it's not 'watered down' or 'PJ-lite' -- it's just another go at a style from a different, more calm perspective, lyrically and musically.
i agree with this but i don't think Big Wave is an abomination - it's not a great song though. I heard ATW last week and i really enjoyed every aspect of it.
I don't think either song is trying to be 'anthemic'.
Really?
Really really. I think they're trying to be mildly rousing, like a handjob. But even PJ know they can't write 'Alive' anymore. The groove on Amongst The Waves (and it is groovy) hints at something other than anthemic, and I don't think it's just Matt having an off day. It's just my opinion -- Unthought Known certainly reaches for something it doesn't quite hit. To compare these songs to something slightly more successsful, Force of Nature, that song is a similar kind of 'anthemic' but in a gentler way. It doesn't build the powerful wave that Given To Fly does, but it has other things going for it.
FYI, I think Force of Nature is the worst song in the Pearl Jam catalogue.
Absurd. The song has a lot going for it.
The chord progression is almost offensively bonehead.
DUN DUN DUNN DUNN!
DUN DUN DUNN DUNN!
etc.
I know people like that song, but it indulges McCready's butt-rock leanings far too much for me.
worst song of their catalogue? whatttttt???
Force of nature is a very good song..when BS came out, it sounded like one of the weakest from that record but in time it has revealed itself as one of the good ones, it has aged better than, let say, UK. They should play it more live, its a crime they dont.
Joined: Tue Nov 30, 2004 4:02 am Posts: 44183 Location: New York Gender: Male
Harmless wrote:
I understand why Amongst The Waves fails for some, but I maintain that it does fine at being what it is: the older, maturer band producing a version of a prior style in a way which is truer to the older, maturer band. For me, it's not 'watered down' or 'PJ-lite' -- it's just another go at a style from a different, more calm perspective, lyrically and musically. .
Fair enough--I think that is especially true of the verses, which I continue to enjoy a great deal. The chorus of Amongst the Wave was the analogy I used to make sense of my disappointment with King Animal--familiar enough to past glories to force a comparison that the newer version can't hope to come out on the positive side of, be it the lack of intensity that PJ (or at least Eddie) can no longer muster in the chorus of Amongst the Waves or the general lack of atmosphere on King Animal.
I think Unthought Known is pretty close to what you are describing. An attempt to write a new kind of anthem reflecting where an older more mature band is at.
_________________ "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
i may go listen to Force of Nature this very moment.
_________________ "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: Fri Sep 15, 2006 11:00 am Posts: 16093 Location: dublin Gender: Male
Force of nature is really the only moment on that record that the band seem to believe in what they're doing. There's a commitment and a sense of consensus on that song there that's been absent since all or none. There isn't any other moment on that re rod that doesn't sound like a compromise. That one song sounds like they're all on board for a great set of lyrics, easily among his finest in years, and a genuine heart in the playing. Which is absent in everything else on that record. And I like that record.
And it's got a nod to U2's sound. That's really what's bugging you. So what. They've been nodding to all their other influences for years. A few chimes aren't gonna hurt the song. The add to it. And they're far better than poxy lasers in fairness.
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