Song of the Moment: Down

[E.H. Ruddock]

I love this song. At the Vegas 03 show, other than "Go" opening the show, this was my favorite thing about the show.

[guestT]

Ed introduced this song at least once by saying they fucked up and left the best song off the album, so mjd has at least one person in his corner.

I also think Ed sounds great here. The weariness fits. "I think I'll throw these fuckin' pills away..." wouldn't work as well with an in your face, hey ho let's go, got some if you need it delivery.

The outro is nice too.

[Jorge]

Almost everything on Riot Act is better than this song.

Yeah.

This is a sweet little song but come on, guys

[Jorge]

"I think I'll throw these fuckin' pills away..." wouldn't work as well with an in your face, hey ho let's go, got some if you need it delivery.

That is not the only possible alternative

You can argue that his approach is deliberate and fits the theme of the song, and that is fine. I just don't think it is a very good vocal take; it sounds unengaged and perfunctory, like it's a guide vocal track. He is actually flat in a couple of spots, which may be my biggest issue with it

[tragabigzanda]

pearl jam sucks now

[guestT]

Fair enough. I guess it just works for me.

[Bi_3]

Fair enough. I guess it just works for me.

Yup. The song has always felt rough around the edges, with great natural (for lack of a better word) energy.

[tragabigzanda]

pearl jam sucks now

[Kevin Davis]

I'm not really into the whole "retracking" thing but I don't necessarily get the sense that "Down" feels out of place with the other "Riot Act" material; I think "Riot Act" is one of those albums that works on a sort of "harmony of difference" principle where musically everything belongs because nothing does, with the unifying threads being the consistent headspace and general tone of the songwriting, as well as the live feel of the production (it's not a perfect comparison but "Riot Act" makes me think of "Exile on Main Street" in that regardless of how the songs actually sound, every one of them is shot through with that unmistakable feel of those five guys playing together in that space at that time). "Down" would be a lower-tier song on the album, and there are many live performances that are superior to the studio take, but I like the song a lot and am rarely unhappy to hear it -- it has a kind of breezy, almost alt-country-like twang that to my ears is unique in their catalog, and in an accomplishment that they'd struggle to repeat in later years, it manages to feel lightweight without seeming trite.

I love "Riot Act" so much. I think I'm going to listen to it or one of the '03 boots today.

[Biff Pocoroba]

I like it too, and with an upbeat, pop-py melody it's a little out of character for them.

[Jorge]

Here's a minor thing that kind of bothers me about the Lost Dogs version of "Down": it fades out too early.

Yeah all the instruments come to the natural conclusion but compare the ending of the song on the Live at the Garden video version: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iEB5GzoP5vA

to the ending on Lost Dogs: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X1rD9NeMQOw

I don't know which of these endings is in the original B-side, but I much prefer the one where you can hear that extra bit of guitar.

[Wendy Carlos's Twin]

Definitive version...

[tragabigzanda]

pearl jam sucks now

[mikejasond]

I still like the studio cut. Its got a lazy listless breezy quality and its perfect for how laid-back the song sounds. Almost reminds me more of Michael Stipe than Eddie Vedder.

[mikejasond]

my favorite part is when he sings "oooone daaaay the sympTOOOOOMs fade"

[PHATJ]

Yeah, Ed sounds way better on that version than the studio cut.

They both work for me, but the live is better.

[tragabigzanda]

pearl jam sucks now

[PHATJ]

Yeah, Ed sounds way better on that version than the studio cut.

They both work for me, but the live is better.

Just like porn.

[Leatherhead]

I've always been a big fan of this song.

[guitar_davey]

Just felt like giving this one some love.

One of my favourite PJ b-sides and a perfect tune for this guy's rainy Friday afternoon.