Quick Escape

[tree_]

This song exposes a longtime inefficiency in the Pearl Jam style market: the upper mid-tempo rocker.

We've had plenty of the now trademark punky tracks (WWS, Fixer, Got Some, Father's Son, MYM, Getaway) and the jog-in-place would-be anthems (Gone, ATW, Infallible), but nothing that hits that sweet spot of ferocious guitars and underlying loose groove. something that feels like a living, breathing organism coming to kick your ass.

The kind of track they used to specialize in during their heyday: Once, Breath, Alone, Glorified G, Rats, Not For You, Corduroy, I Got Shit, Red Mosquito, Faithfull, Insignificance, Ghost, Half Full... and then the returns begin to diminish. Severed Hand is the type of song that normally fits this template but the thin, defanged production does it a disservice. All of a sudden, that rocking mid-tempo groove completely dries up.

Which is why Quick Escape is at once a breath of fresh air and a nod to a skill you forgot they had in their arsenal. Like when late period Michael Jordan would all of a sudden accelerate and dunk in someone's face. Just to show he still had it.

Wow I love this song.

[Ms Harmless]

This song exposes a longtime inefficiency in the Pearl Jam style market: the upper mid-tempo rocker.

We've had plenty of the now trademark punky tracks (WWS, Fixer, Got Some, Father's Son, MYM, Getaway) and the jog-in-place would-be anthems (Gone, ATW, Infallible), but nothing that hits that sweet spot of ferocious guitars and underlying loose groove. something that feels like a living, breathing organism coming to kick your ass.

The kind of track they used to specialize in during their heyday: Once, Breath, Alone, Glorified G, Rats, Not For You, Corduroy, I Got Shit, Red Mosquito, Faithfull, Insignificance, Ghost, Half Full... and then the returns begin to diminish. Severed Hand is the type of song that normally fits this template but the thin, defanged production does it a disservice. All of a sudden, that rocking mid-tempo groove completely dries up.

Which is why Quick Escape is at once a breath of fresh air and a nod to a skill you forgot they had in their arsenal. Like when late period Michael Jordan would all of a sudden accelerate and dunk in someone's face. Just to show he still had it.

I'd include Alive, Jeremy, Deep, Dissident, Faithfull, No Way... that'll do for now

great post

[Ms Harmless]

there's a gigaton more bass on the single

[stip]

based on the liner notes, did Jeff basically record all the music?

[Ms Harmless]

the "yeah yeah!" in this is so funny

back in the day he'd have done a "hnnrrghn" or "aaawh yeah" instead

[Brett]

Evenslow, that analysis is on point. Perfectly describes why this song works so well.

[Ms Harmless]

the lead guitar shredding behind Mike's soloing in the outro is soooooo Riot Act

[mikejasond]

This is the Pearl Jam sound I've missed so much. I actually think it's NOT necessarily one of the highlights of the album, because unlike the others, it isn't the BEST example of Pearl Jam making this style of sound (Still prefer the Ten and Vs. era songs, even if this is really good) but it's nice to see they can still make this sound. I think people are over-rating it a bit because despite how much they claim to love Binaural and Riot Act they still really miss the original Pearl Jam

I have no complaints though, I'm really happy they made this. Agreed on it being a style that they completely abandoned in the last 20 years

[Biff Pocoroba]

I heard this one the Sirius channel on the way.
My initial impression is y'all like it a lot more than I do but both SuperBlood & Dance grew me as I listened a few times.

[Hypnos]

Yeah, this song is kinda overrated. Is pure formula.

[Ms Harmless]

how awesome would this song be if it had a kooky bridge?

[Monkey_Driven]

My wife described the ending as "having a purpose". She typically rolls her eyes at guitar solos. I agree with her!

[Dillsnufus]

Can’t wait to see them perform it live

[tree_]

Now that this song is up on streaming services and a video on YouTube , does this mean it’s the third single ?

wow. no wonder you were banned from the pit

[Dillsnufus]

Now that this song is up on streaming services and a video on YouTube , does this mean it’s the third single ?

wow. no wonder you were banned from the pit

I should’ve checked I’m sorry .

[tree_]

Now that this song is up on streaming services and a video on YouTube , does this mean it’s the third single ?

wow. no wonder you were banned from the pit

I should’ve checked I’m sorry .

I'm just messin'. I assume it's a single. I don't think it matters though.

[falcaoruiz]

Isn't it obviously a single?

[Ms Harmless]

This song exposes a longtime inefficiency in the Pearl Jam style market: the upper mid-tempo rocker.

We've had plenty of the now trademark punky tracks (WWS, Fixer, Got Some, Father's Son, MYM, Getaway) and the jog-in-place would-be anthems (Gone, ATW, Infallible), but nothing that hits that sweet spot of ferocious guitars and underlying loose groove. something that feels like a living, breathing organism coming to kick your ass.

The kind of track they used to specialize in during their heyday: Once, Breath, Alone, Glorified G, Rats, Not For You, Corduroy, I Got Shit, Red Mosquito, Faithfull, Insignificance, Ghost, Half Full... and then the returns begin to diminish. Severed Hand is the type of song that normally fits this template but the thin, defanged production does it a disservice. All of a sudden, that rocking mid-tempo groove completely dries up.

Which is why Quick Escape is at once a breath of fresh air and a nod to a skill you forgot they had in their arsenal. Like when late period Michael Jordan would all of a sudden accelerate and dunk in someone's face. Just to show he still had it.

I'd include Alive, Jeremy, Deep, Dissident, Faithfull, No Way... that'll do for now

great post

actually, weirdly enough, I distinctly remember being gravely disappointed that we had no song like this on Binaural - NAIS was the closest example but it didn't "take off" like this

and then we got to Riot Act, and it was the second time I was angry, because "You Are", "Bushleaguer" and "Help, Help" could have been this song, but weren't

and so began my anger at Matt for not opening the high-hat ("You Are" still irks me now for being so *closed* the entire way through, but now I see it as so quirky it doesn't matter)

anyway, at this point I love all of the above with my whole heart, but for me it was a time when they were still *writing* this type of song, but they'd seemingly given up on *performing* this type of song

fast forward to "Amongst the Waves" and it's still written as "this type of song", but totally held back except for a big solo; I like it for what it does have -- plenty of summery lilt and groove -- but if it fails at anything, it's being This

[Ms Harmless]

pardon the Other Bandsness of this post:

Incubus was also a good band at doing these PJ-inspired mid-tempo rockers, but their attempts (mainly on Morning View) at recapturing that old sound (of e.g. the Make Yourself album) are much more successful ("Wish You Were Here" is basically the same song as "Amongst the Waves", but a lot better)

[griffinxi]

Okay--so this song is really good. Quite impressed.

EDIT: Also, it's so refreshing to hear this BEEFY production. What a fat mix.