Song of the Moment: Sirens

[Release_Me]

I still don't see what's apparently so un-Pearl Jam about the song.

Neither do I. I remember reading one post on here which said that this song is probably how most people who don't listen to Pearl Jam imagine the band would sound like and I agree. I think it seems like an natural progression from Backspacer and the Pink Floyd cover they were doing last year.

Agreed (and that's an excellent, and accurate, point about the perception of the band among non-fans).

Non-fans generally remember Jeremy or something off of Ten. I don't see how Pearl Jam is perceived to be a band that could write Sirens. I guess that's a perception about the non-fans here, more than anything else.

Just my experience obviously but I haven't seen anyone outside of this fanbase think this song is a left turn for the band. I've heard people say it's classic pearl jam, I've heard others say it's the typical bland stuff that middle-aged rock band come up with, but I haven't seen anyone shocked at this being a Pearl Jam as some people seem to be around here.

Those outside the fanbase or non-fans didn't really listen to anything other than the Ten singles. And this is nothing like those. Those calling this classic Pearl Jam probably know what they mean when they say it. Because if that means a good song, then ok. If it means typical Pearl Jam, I don't know what they're smoking. Typical bland stuff that middle-aged rock bands come up with is the description given by those on here who now believe Pearl Jam have become that. That's not how they are perceived externally.

[Release_Me]

Because its big, emotional and cheesy. Like a lot of ten and what a lot of people assume pearl jam always sound like.

I still think its bombastic, overproduced, with bland musak and sounds a bit like Kelly clarkson. All IMO of course.

Only Ten sounded completely different and carried a completely different set of emotions. Only people on here could make a serious comparison between Ten and Sirens.

[stip]

You shouldn't need to work that hard.

Frankly, it either pumps your nads or it doesn't.

I'm 4 pages behind so I'm sure someone addressed this but that's just not true. There are plenty of songs that take a while to reveal themselves, and that's doubly the case when the song is in a style or presented in a way that you weren't expecting or might normally be hostile to. After 5-10 listens you may still think it sucks, and then that's that. But there are just too many stories of people suddenly turning around on this song to argue otherwise.

[stip]

I still don't see what's apparently so un-Pearl Jam about the song.

Neither do I. I remember reading one post on here which said that this song is probably how most people who don't listen to Pearl Jam imagine the band would sound like and I agree.

except we've always argued that this isn't true and that people's perceptions of what pearl jam's music was are wrong.

[LetMeSleep]

There are many people who would only know Alive, Jeremy, Betterman and Last Kiss. Maybe Even Flow and Daughter and at a stretch Given To Fly, The Fixer and Just Breathe.

So maybe 4 songs, maybe 8or9 tracks. Sirens actually fits in with either bunch. It's earnest, palatable middle of the road rock.

[Release_Me]

I don't know what to say other than the polls show more people like the song than those who don't. There's no other point.

Uh, cool...?

I still can't fathom what relevance that has to the discussion at hand but I doubt there's much to be gained by chewing it over further.

It feels as though you're countering an argument nobody is making.

I feel the same. I wasn't even making an argument. I merely stated the poll situation for Sirens. Yet, I keep getting asked what's my point.

[Release_Me]

There are many people who would only know Alive, Jeremy, Betterman and Last Kiss. Maybe Even Flow and Daughter and at a stretch Given To Fly, The Fixer and Just Breathe.

So maybe 4 songs, maybe 8or9 tracks. Sirens actually fits in with either bunch. It's earnest, palatable middle of the road rock.

Sirens doesn't fit in, actually. Not at all aside from the generalizations you just made. You could say that for any song which you don't care for and the actual songs would be completely different. It's a more apt description for what you feel about it rather than what it sounds like compared to the others.

[stip]

This song is more divisive than about a hundred Fixers and more controversial than a thousand Targets.

By all accounts, it actually seems to be getting a really positive response. But for some reason THIS is the song that the masses in the PJ community have decided to get the pitchforks out over to chase down the non-believers.

Seriously, it's cool how many of you like it. And those who I've discussed it with, well I consider them to be discerning listeners and I have no doubt that their enthusiasm for the song is genuine.

I just don't think it's very good. At all. And I think those who have discussed music with me know that I'm a pretty discerning listener myself, and not someone who is trying to make a point or put up a front.

This song was a conversion experience for a lot of people, and those who liked it right away witnessed the conversion in others. And many of the people who like it REALLY like it and are going to evangelize this song more than most because there's such a track record of it working.


Again, I think it is totally likely that you may get those 5-10 listens and think it sucks, or love it right away. But there are an awful lot of people here who did not like it right away because they couldn't see the song for the style, and once they could they changed their minds.

[Heathen]

I still don't see what's apparently so un-Pearl Jam about the song.

Neither do I. I remember reading one post on here which said that this song is probably how most people who don't listen to Pearl Jam imagine the band would sound like and I agree.

except we've always argued that this isn't true and that people's perceptions of what pearl jam's music was are wrong.

They probably see Pearl Jam as a band that plays emotional songs and they wouldn't be wrong about that. And in a way that applies to Sirens. The Fixer might have been a shock because it sounded light-hearted, but not this one.

[stip]

This song is not the bestest most awesomest ditty ever but nor is it the most detestable piece of shit tweezered from Satan's buttocks. Nuance, people. Some of the responses here have been laughably OTT.

that's also true

[LikeLukin]

I'm starting to hate it less, because the initial shock is over I guess so I know what to expect when I hit play.

If it didn't have smegma melting all over it this would be a great song, but those drums in the intro... that 12-string, that piano, the apparent XYLOPHONE in the studio version, the GUITAR SWITCHING, ugh.

[stip]

I still don't see what's apparently so un-Pearl Jam about the song.

Neither do I. I remember reading one post on here which said that this song is probably how most people who don't listen to Pearl Jam imagine the band would sound like and I agree. I think it seems like an natural progression from Backspacer and the Pink Floyd cover they were doing last year.

Agreed (and that's an excellent, and accurate, point about the perception of the band among non-fans).

Non-fans generally remember Jeremy or something off of Ten. I don't see how Pearl Jam is perceived to be a band that could write Sirens. I guess that's a perception about the non-fans here, more than anything else.

Just my experience obviously but I haven't seen anyone outside of this fanbase think this song is a left turn for the band. I've heard people say it's classic pearl jam, I've heard others say it's the typical bland stuff that middle-aged rock band come up with, but I haven't seen anyone shocked at this being a Pearl Jam as some people seem to be around here.

no one outside the fanbase would think that. We've spent 20 years post 10 listening to pearl jam music that doesn't sound like this and getting frustrated that the rest of the world thinks they sound like sirens

[Fuzzcharger]

I still don't see what's apparently so un-Pearl Jam about the song.

Neither do I. I remember reading one post on here which said that this song is probably how most people who don't listen to Pearl Jam imagine the band would sound like and I agree.

except we've always argued that this isn't true and that people's perceptions of what pearl jam's music was are wrong.

How can you have always argued it when Sirens has only been out for a few days?

[Release_Me]

I don't know what to say other than the polls show more people like the song than those who don't. There's no other point.

Uh, cool...?

I still can't fathom what relevance that has to the discussion at hand but I doubt there's much to be gained by chewing it over further.

It feels as though you're countering an argument nobody is making.

That makes 2 of us.

Guys, we're just wrong for not liking Sirens.

I'm gonna go listen to Crown of Thorns and think about how wrong I am. Enjoy the Sirens, guys.

I made a general statement about people either coming around to liking it or not accepting it as a Pearl Jam song, based on the reactions I read here. Suddenly, all those who despise the song get defensive and start explaining how they don't like it because it's just not good. Well, my post wasn't directed at you then. I'm talking about those who despise it just because it's a Pearl Jam song and something they didn't want or expect Pearl Jam to do. If you don't like it, feel secure in your reasons for not liking it. Not a big deal.

[stip]

I still don't see what's apparently so un-Pearl Jam about the song.

Neither do I. I remember reading one post on here which said that this song is probably how most people who don't listen to Pearl Jam imagine the band would sound like and I agree.

except we've always argued that this isn't true and that people's perceptions of what pearl jam's music was are wrong.

They probably see Pearl Jam as a band that plays emotional songs and they wouldn't be wrong about that. And in a way that applies to Sirens. The Fixer might have been a shock because it sounded light-hearted, but not this one.

yup. I'm not arguing with you, btw. Just unpacking why I think that perception is there.

[Release_Me]

I still don't see what's apparently so un-Pearl Jam about the song.

Neither do I. I remember reading one post on here which said that this song is probably how most people who don't listen to Pearl Jam imagine the band would sound like and I agree.

except we've always argued that this isn't true and that people's perceptions of what pearl jam's music was are wrong.

How can you have always argued it when Sirens has only been out for a few days?

People's perceptions have been around much longer than Sirens.

[Heathen]

I still don't see what's apparently so un-Pearl Jam about the song.

Neither do I. I remember reading one post on here which said that this song is probably how most people who don't listen to Pearl Jam imagine the band would sound like and I agree. I think it seems like an natural progression from Backspacer and the Pink Floyd cover they were doing last year.

Agreed (and that's an excellent, and accurate, point about the perception of the band among non-fans).

Non-fans generally remember Jeremy or something off of Ten. I don't see how Pearl Jam is perceived to be a band that could write Sirens. I guess that's a perception about the non-fans here, more than anything else.

Just my experience obviously but I haven't seen anyone outside of this fanbase think this song is a left turn for the band. I've heard people say it's classic pearl jam, I've heard others say it's the typical bland stuff that middle-aged rock band come up with, but I haven't seen anyone shocked at this being a Pearl Jam as some people seem to be around here.

no one outside the fanbase would think that. We've spent 20 years post 10 listening to pearl jam music that doesn't sound like this and getting frustrated that the rest of the world thinks they sound like sirens

Turns out they were right all along

[Fuzzcharger]

I still don't see what's apparently so un-Pearl Jam about the song.

Neither do I. I remember reading one post on here which said that this song is probably how most people who don't listen to Pearl Jam imagine the band would sound like and I agree. I think it seems like an natural progression from Backspacer and the Pink Floyd cover they were doing last year.

Agreed (and that's an excellent, and accurate, point about the perception of the band among non-fans).

Non-fans generally remember Jeremy or something off of Ten. I don't see how Pearl Jam is perceived to be a band that could write Sirens. I guess that's a perception about the non-fans here, more than anything else.

Just my experience obviously but I haven't seen anyone outside of this fanbase think this song is a left turn for the band. I've heard people say it's classic pearl jam, I've heard others say it's the typical bland stuff that middle-aged rock band come up with, but I haven't seen anyone shocked at this being a Pearl Jam as some people seem to be around here.

no one outside the fanbase would think that. We've spent 20 years post 10 listening to pearl jam music that doesn't sound like this and getting frustrated that the rest of the world thinks they sound like sirens

Sure, that doesn't mean that people DON'T think that way. They'd be wrong, but I think this song would fit most peoples who don't listen to PJ's preconceptions about how the band would sound.

[stip]

I still don't see what's apparently so un-Pearl Jam about the song.

Neither do I. I remember reading one post on here which said that this song is probably how most people who don't listen to Pearl Jam imagine the band would sound like and I agree.

except we've always argued that this isn't true and that people's perceptions of what pearl jam's music was are wrong.

How can you have always argued it when Sirens has only been out for a few days?

We knew this day would come. Many of you requested to be transferred to a different peanut factory

[Fuzzcharger]

I still don't see what's apparently so un-Pearl Jam about the song.

Neither do I. I remember reading one post on here which said that this song is probably how most people who don't listen to Pearl Jam imagine the band would sound like and I agree.

except we've always argued that this isn't true and that people's perceptions of what pearl jam's music was are wrong.

They probably see Pearl Jam as a band that plays emotional songs and they wouldn't be wrong about that. And in a way that applies to Sirens. The Fixer might have been a shock because it sounded light-hearted, but not this one.

yup. I'm not arguing with you, btw. Just unpacking why I think that perception is there.

Gotcha.