58. Future Days vs. Puzzles and Games

[stip]

[PHATJ]

This unfinished idea is better than that slog of shite.

[stip]

Shit, I don't know what to do. Puzzles and Games is one of the great Pearl Jam roads not taken for me. It's clearly unfinished, and the sound quality is terrible. But all the elements are there for that song to have been the next Betterman - and I think it made almost all the wrong choices in its gradual evolution in Light Years (and the best part of Light Years is the bit that was lifted directly from Puzzles and Games).

But damn if I don't kinda love Future Days. It's over the top mawkishness, it's performative campfire vibes, the cheesy lyrics - all of this just works for me. Like Sirens, if there were too many of these moments they wouldn't work - but at the end of an album that's about figuring out how to age meaningfully, there is room for this kind of 'I'm 50 and fuck if I don't love my life and am grateful for how lucky I feel given how differently things could have gone"

Plus this was the song I sang to my kids every night when trying to get them to go the fuck to sleep, so I do have a sentimental connection.

I think I'll vote for Future Days now confident that I can vote for P+G next round

[Strat]

Everything makes me cry these days so future days it is. Its beautiful.

[stip]

the harvest strings in future days are great

[Jaeti]

I don't mind Future Days, and I don't like P&G more than Light Years, so.

[liebzz]

I would take actual puzzles and games over Future Days.

[epilogue]

Proud, enthusiastic vote for Future Days.

[digster]

So, when it comes to Puzzles and Games, I greatly enjoy the chorus and wish they'd write a new song around it. The verses are muddled and disjointed; the lyrics to the first verse and the bridge seem very shoehorned in, almost feeling like they should belong to a different song. As it turns out, that's exactly the case and they fit far more naturally in the song that became Light Years. It makes me wonder how many other songs started like this, where the band eventually saved them via a complete overhaul.

Future Days is in the running for the band's worst song, so whatever misgivings I have about Puzzles and Games, it still wins easily.

[knee tunes]

So, when it comes to Puzzles and Games, I greatly enjoy the chorus and wish they'd write a new song around it. The verses are muddled and disjointed; the lyrics to the first verse and the bridge seem very shoehorned in, almost feeling like they should belong to a different song. As it turns out, that's exactly the case and they fit far more naturally in the song that became Light Years. It makes me wonder how many other songs started like this, where the band eventually saved them via a complete overhaul.

Future Days is in the running for the band's worst song, so whatever misgivings I have about Puzzles and Games, it still wins easily.

yeah, they should get right on it

[Higgs]

Future Days. Why not?

[podunk]

Did the verses from Puzzles and Games become Thumbing My Way?

[PHATJ]

Did the verses from Puzzles and Games become Thumbing My Way?

No

[GreenMosquito1996]

Did the verses from Puzzles and Games become Thumbing My Way?

Indeed, the guitar part, if slowed down, can reminisce Thumbing my way.

[VinylGuy]

jesus christ 12 people voted for Future Days. Im sure everyone of you hates the covid vaccine and think the pandemic is a lie.

[VinylGuy]

or maybe you have a new version of covid where you can listen to shit and think its good.

mm interesting.

[knee tunes]

or maybe you have a new version of covid where you can listen to shit and think its good.

mm interesting.

Sorry. I pressed the wrong button

[Strat]

Did the verses from Puzzles and Games become Thumbing My Way?

No

the guitar progression kind of did yes

[epilogue]

jesus christ 12 people voted for Future Days. Im sure everyone of you hates the covid vaccine and think the pandemic is a lie.

Yikes

[Bammer]

Kills me that I can’t find a photo of the chick who donned full Future Days body paint at a PJ show on the first (or was it fourth?) Lightning Bolt tour.