Can't Deny Me

[Anders]

It’s clear to see how I feel, so no need for the question mark as your question was clearly rhetorical. I’m more interested in hearing how you feel, or was that posted earlier before you took to posting YouTube clips without comment.

Yes, it was very clear how you felt, therefore the joke.

[McParadigm]

RM’s smilies set is woefully insufficient for responding to the phrase “Don't make me pitiful”

[Anders]

This is slightly better quality.

The performance isn't as bad as some make it out to be, but Ed does sound really strained at times. Hopefully his voice holds up throughout the tour.

[Jeez]

It’s clear to see how I feel, so no need for the question mark as your question was clearly rhetorical. I’m more interested in hearing how you feel, or was that posted earlier before you took to posting YouTube clips without comment.

Yes, it was very clear how you felt, therefore the joke.

Well, if that’s your opener....

As I posted, I would be interested to hear your opinion on the song. Nothing sinister at play here.

[elliseamos]

This is slightly better quality.

The performance isn't as bad as some make it out to be, but Ed does sound really strained at times. Hopefully his voice holds up throughout the tour.

Right. I thought it was "not awful," which is slightly different than how I interpretted the posts from the tour thread and this thread in general.

[Juvenal]

And there’s now an official YouTube video up. I would link it but the constantly waving placards in the background are giving me hives.

[guestT]

Ed beating the shit out of that cowbell really does it for me. Nice energy. I'm back on team Can't Deny Me.

Sounds like they're tuned down a step live. Why not just record it that way?

[Anders]

It’s clear to see how I feel, so no need for the question mark as your question was clearly rhetorical. I’m more interested in hearing how you feel, or was that posted earlier before you took to posting YouTube clips without comment.

Yes, it was very clear how you felt, therefore the joke.

Well, if that’s your opener....

As I posted, I would be interested to hear your opinion on the song. Nothing sinister at play here.

No problem I've written about it a few times before.

I first heard it Sunday morning. Woke up after a long Saturday.

Listening live: Starts out exactly like Chris Cornell would. Has a nice rythm. This is a lot better than several of the 21st century fast songs from Pearl Jam.

Listening on headphones now. Ed sounds really good on this.

This gets two thumbs up. Best Pearl Jam song since Lightning Bolt came out.

Best Pearl Jam song since Lightning Bolt came out.

... which are the others?


Or is that the joke

There are a few.

Again Today, Around And Around, Wishing Well. I also thought of Out Of Sand, but that's Ed solo.

In Mind Your Manners it's so tiring to listen to Ed, just awful for my ears. He sounds a lot more like himself here. "The faster you fly" part is Ed at his current best.

Indeed. Ed is right to speak out. It's not his best lyrics, but they are straight to the point, no bs.

Great wealth and power is not a negative at all, but it does bring great responsibility, especially for an elected politician. If you misuse that, then you should be called out on it, even by other rich or powerful people.

Especially when said wealth is built on corruption and unethical (if not completely illegal) practices.

I would have preferred this to be on Lightning Bolt instead of My Father's Son.

[Strat]

Turns out the only thing I really like about this song is Ed. He has a sort of snarl in his delivery that I enjoy. I like that he is wild with his voice and letting it fall all over the place. I dig that.

But good lord the music. How many songs like this do we need? Remember when they would write intricate and interesting guitar parts using various tunings and different chord voicings? We have heard this song so many times before now. Yes, ed was committed to delivering it last night but its just a dull song live. But hey, we can yell "cant deny me!" all together. Maybe we can do it right after Mind Your Manners so we dont lose interest in singing along!

I generally roll my eyes when RMer's project their distaste of a song, or the state of pearl jam, into the interrelationships of the band but maybe many of you are right. Maybe Stone is really fucking bored with it all:



Lol. I have never seen someone look so bored and unimpressed standing in front of thousands of adoring fans after playing a loud guitar for 3 hours. I can't imagine that would ever not be the greatest thing to experience.

At this point with a $130 concert ticket, and hearing the same song over and over, and Ed not changing up his fucking guitar setup (Seriously lets move on from the fender tweed's already), my excitement levels are way down*. Im going to enjoy going to Missoula because MIssoula is beautiful and I always have a great time at their shows, but unless they give me something new to chew on for the next album I may be done spending that kind of money on seeing them. CDM along with BOB being involved does not give me much hope anymore.

*Disclaimer: Strat will still excitedly listen to the new album in hopes of a few gems to get him through the days.

Its all alright though. With so many other amazing bands and music to dive into.....

[LoathedVermin72]

They look really old

[Anders]

Boom is 15 years older than baby boy Stone, but all are at least 50. Look fine for their age I think. Matt C especially.

[VinylGuy]

Stone has that bored look since 1994.

[bada]

Since Ed said no more Aersosmith riffs Stone broke.

[hlniv]

I'm just glad they finally gave up the Lightning Bolt stage set up after 5 years.

[Strat]

I'm just glad they finally gave up the Lightning Bolt stage set up after 5 years.

They didnt. They still have the glowing balls I believe and the lightning lights behind the stage.

[Monkey_Driven]

Other than Ed's ragged singing, I think it sounds pretty good live. The cowbell is great.

[elliseamos]

I'm just glad they finally gave up the Lightning Bolt stage set up after 5 years.

Here's hoping they do The Wall stage set (only with more spray paint and a Trumpty Dumpty sitting atop) and tear it down throughout the show.

[scrub12]

I feel like Stone always looks like that.

[dprival78]

Other than Ed's ragged singing, I think it sounds pretty good live. The cowbell is great.

yea.. i was expecting a disaster but it's not bad

[Juvenal]

That's a good post, Strat. Always good to have an interesting critique rather than a boring one sentence dismissal.
Here follows my two penneth (please forgive/ignore the indulgence):

I generally like my Pearl Jam music angular and a bit spiky. A little unexpected chord change here, a weird vocal trick there, hell, even a fire extinguisher or a dog growling. Kooky is good.* That's not to say that I dislike the more straightforward songs: I'll happily sing like a drunken eejit along to their more anthemic fayre when the mood takes me. But I generally prefer a Rival to a Once, or a Help Help to a Dissident any day of the week. That stated, here enters Can't Deny Me.

At first glance, it seems to be a typical latter-day Pearl Jam rocker. It's political but not overtly savage. As RM's only venomous mammal noted, Bushleaguer was much more vicious. It's got your typical song structure, with a sing-along chorus. So far, so typical. But what about our second, third, fourth glances? Hmph, there isn't much else to examine. It can be argued that this is not a huge failure (it is a lead single after all, and Pearl Jam's recent ones aren't exactly nuanced) but the Gods' Dice lover in me (hi Stip! ) would have loved a bit more depth and something different. Lots of RMers derided Mind Your Manners for similar failures, but it's a different beast and I always thought that MYM had an insane spark to it. (As an aside, the first time I saw MYM live I actually laughed at how manic and vibrant the song was when it concluded. The breathless final verses, breakneck music and final scream was akin to a clown running through a minefield).

Back to CDM: I would say that I'm still enjoying it but wonder about its longevity. The chorus is catchy, but doubtless it'll be appropriated by all the wrong people (someone earlier in the thread mentioned dumb-as-brick frat boys bellowing it which has taken the shine off it. Thanks for that you fucker! ). Depending on your mood, CDM can come across as having a bit of a groove to it, or possessing a sullen plod as grey as its artwork.** We'll see.



*Note, I mean Pearl Jam kooky, not experimental blip bloop kooky. I'm not suggesting that Pearl Jam are as experimental as the bands you listen to, or that I am as musically erudite as you, you big pseud you. So suck it.

**As a brief addendum, fuck me, that artwork is atrociously bad. Boring, insipid; it almost has a "will this do?" assignment vibe. "Fuck, there's class in the morning and I haven't produced a thing! Quick, draw a crowd, three hanging cocks, and a girl in the middle who looks like she's shat herself. Fuck Trump!"
Jeff did it, right? Compare this to Tone's artwork. Fuck's sake.