What Is Each Album's Major Flaw? Gigaton

[Birds in Hell]

"Comes Then Goes is more boring than Come Back" is an absolutely WILD opinion

they're both terrible

Yes.

[Ms Harmless]

"Comes Then Goes is more boring than Come Back" is an absolutely WILD opinion

they're both terrible

NOPE

[lowlight79]

Buckle Up is an interesting song but I agree that it doesn't totally work on the record. Never Destination is a lesser song, in my opinion, but fits better (ditto TTLW). Buckle Up as a b-side or a Stone single would have worked much better. I really wish Stone did the vocals on it, too.

THIS

[Leatherhead]

I don't think Gigaton has any "major" flaws, but it's so good in so many other areas that it can't help but highlight Ed's desperate (hopefully final) grasp at straws in the form of one spritzy punker (SBWM) and a few Backpacker-y seconds on WES; it's absolutely not a dealbreaker here so I'm not even complaining, I just think he's got a chance to shed these instincts now that he's had his fun, and I hope he continues to take things more seriously in future

SBWM is not spritzy.

[lowlight79]

it's "when will my husband return from the war?" vs. "Chris Cornell is gone"

It's funny how people can tell he's talking about Cornell by not talking about Cornell. Alot of metaphors with that song. I like it, but it probably could of been on a Ed solo record.

[Ms Harmless]

I don't think Gigaton has any "major" flaws, but it's so good in so many other areas that it can't help but highlight Ed's desperate (hopefully final) grasp at straws in the form of one spritzy punker (SBWM) and a few Backpacker-y seconds on WES; it's absolutely not a dealbreaker here so I'm not even complaining, I just think he's got a chance to shed these instincts now that he's had his fun, and I hope he continues to take things more seriously in future

SBWM is not spritzy.

it's not as spritzy as the other spritzies, which is why I like it; but it does fall into the same category as some songs I hate; it just happens to be a lot better than them

[Ms Harmless]

it's "when will my husband return from the war?" vs. "Chris Cornell is gone"

It's funny how people can tell he's talking about Cornell by not talking about Cornell. Alot of metaphors with that song. I like it, but it probably could of been on a Ed solo record.

someone says that about every acoustic song

I'm a big fan of good acoustic songs as PJ numbers and this is one

I don't know where the Cornell thing started but I feel like it's a solid interpretation

[E.H. Ruddock]

SBWM is the correct answer

[washing machine]

I'm not the biggest fan of the album's tracklist sequence. I used to think it worked, but now I'm not so sure. On vinyl, it feels like each side has a distinct feel and tempo. Each side is almost an EP-type collection of songs. This somehow doesn't translate well to CD or streaming, which is how I listen to most often. I bet most fans do as well, so I'm going to consider it the "definitive" Gigaton experience. Start to finish, without flipping records, Gigaton sort of feels like a runner who started off at marathon pace from the gate then slowly loses steam before dying at the finish line.

[McParadigm]

It annoys me every time they do their “loud side / soft side” tracking thing, but in the context of this album’s themes I like that it goes from enthusiastically believing in the present to admitting that all it has to offer is a hope for the future.

[washing machine]

Oh I like that take. I think you could do that while spreading out the musical momentum, though.

[mikejasond]

It doesn't really have a MAJOR flaw.

But the biggest flaw in general is probably River Cross being a bad ending (and a bad song)

[TremorJam]

I was honestly hoping for a double album. If "Get It Back" was a sample of what didn't make the album, then I'd love to hear more from these sessions.

The only video I actually watched was one of the visualizer versions of "Dance of the Clairvoyants". I've been experimenting for a while & feel like I've found a great way to sift through the *PJ Experience* and ignore some stuff.

[liebzz]

I'm not the biggest fan of the album's tracklist sequence. I used to think it worked, but now I'm not so sure. On vinyl, it feels like each side has a distinct feel and tempo. Each side is almost an EP-type collection of songs. This somehow doesn't translate well to CD or streaming, which is how I listen to most often. I bet most fans do as well, so I'm going to consider it the "definitive" Gigaton experience. Start to finish, without flipping records, Gigaton sort of feels like a runner who started off at marathon pace from the gate then slowly loses steam before dying at the finish line.

You hit my original thought in a manner much better said than I did. For a band that is so good at sequencing a live show I can’t for the life of me figure out why they struggle with this on studio albums. I guess they are just different animals. Granted, the entire middle period of their albums for me I think are well sequenced (from Vs. through Riot Act), but everything since I have trouble with. I would also totally resequence Ten - for all that is the cathartic release of Porch, it totally makes Garden in that spot feel like a chore.

[washing machine]

I'm not the biggest fan of the album's tracklist sequence. I used to think it worked, but now I'm not so sure. On vinyl, it feels like each side has a distinct feel and tempo. Each side is almost an EP-type collection of songs. This somehow doesn't translate well to CD or streaming, which is how I listen to most often. I bet most fans do as well, so I'm going to consider it the "definitive" Gigaton experience. Start to finish, without flipping records, Gigaton sort of feels like a runner who started off at marathon pace from the gate then slowly loses steam before dying at the finish line.

You hit my original thought in a manner much better said than I did. For a band that is so good at sequencing a live show I can’t for the life of me figure out why they struggle with this on studio albums. I guess they are just different animals. Granted, the entire middle period of their albums for me I think are well sequenced (from Vs. through Riot Act), but everything since I have trouble with. I would also totally resequence Ten - for all that is the cathartic release of Porch, it totally makes Garden in that spot feel like a chore.

Yes, for sure! Well put.

That's not to say that Buckle Up and Long Way aren't among my favorites on the album.

[Ms Harmless]

I'm not the biggest fan of the album's tracklist sequence. I used to think it worked, but now I'm not so sure. On vinyl, it feels like each side has a distinct feel and tempo. Each side is almost an EP-type collection of songs. This somehow doesn't translate well to CD or streaming, which is how I listen to most often. I bet most fans do as well, so I'm going to consider it the "definitive" Gigaton experience. Start to finish, without flipping records, Gigaton sort of feels like a runner who started off at marathon pace from the gate then slowly loses steam before dying at the finish line.

You hit my original thought in a manner much better said than I did. For a band that is so good at sequencing a live show I can’t for the life of me figure out why they struggle with this on studio albums. I guess they are just different animals. Granted, the entire middle period of their albums for me I think are well sequenced (from Vs. through Riot Act), but everything since I have trouble with. I would also totally resequence Ten - for all that is the cathartic release of Porch, it totally makes Garden in that spot feel like a chore.

I think they're terrible at sequencing live shows!

[Ms Harmless]

I was honestly hoping for a double album. If "Get It Back" was a sample of what didn't make the album, then I'd love to hear more from these sessions.

The only video I actually watched was one of the visualizer versions of "Dance of the Clairvoyants". I've been experimenting for a while & feel like I've found a great way to sift through the *PJ Experience* and ignore some stuff.

OK but those visualisers were some of the best things about the release campaign, you should watch them

[Thurman Murman]

So for all these complaints about the album sequencing...has anyone come up with a completely original sequencing of the album that is an actual improvement over what we have?

I think i'm in the minority on here but my only complaint with the sequencing is that after that exceptional run of 6 songs to open the album we get the two most mediocre songs on the album in ND and TTLW. I dont have a hate on for either song, but i think TTLW in particular might have fit better as a fun b-side than on the album. But remove that song and i'm pretty fine with the sequencing.

[epilogue]

So for all these complaints about the album sequencing...has anyone come up with a completely original sequencing of the album that is an actual improvement over what we have?

I think i'm in the minority on here but my only complaint with the sequencing is that after that exceptional run of 6 songs to open the album we get the two most mediocre songs on the album in ND and TTLW. I dont have a hate on for either song, but i think TTLW in particular might have fit better as a fun b-side than on the album. But remove that song and i'm pretty fine with the sequencing.

I'm with you. That opening six is just unfuckwithable. It's like No Code in that regard, for me. Again, I like all of the songs on Gigaton. There isn't a bad song in the bunch.

[Tsuga]

There's no major flaw for me, but I will say that I liked the solo live versions of "River Cross" that people were linking to, and wish that song were recorded that simply. Might have been weird to have both "Comes Then Goes" and "River Cross" be mostly Ed, and so close together at the end of the record, but it's a little too busy for me. But that's a minor quibble.