Eddie Vedder - Earthling

[Fattie_Vedder]

The “fuck you’s” make more sense when you think of them in the context of a friend taking their own life as an expression of anger for not being able to do more to help the friend who was hurting. Fuck you for not sharing your pain with me. Fuck you for leaving behind all your loved ones with this pain now. Fuck you for not letting me help you as your friend. Because what are friends for after all. Ed is angry at the friend for taking their own life, but that anger is partially directed at himself for not being able to do more to help. BTC is even more powerful amidst songs like The Dark where Ed is resolved to lift the person he loves out of the dark and pain they’re in.

Brother the Cloud sounds like another great song, Amongst the Waves. Of course it doesn’t reach those heights, but still very good. The fuck you’s at the end don’t make the song any better though.

That's what I thought (re: the fuck you's) until I paid more attention to their context, which is hey, if you go before me, say fuck you to my brother my friend (ostensibly for leaving me). That's actually an intense, bittersweet thought. I went from thinking it stuck out lamely to actually being quite moved by it.

[Ms Harmless]

bumped this to 4 stars

[DeeDee]

The Dark
Brother the Cloud
Try
Power of Right
Invincible
Mrs Mills
Fallout Today
Rose of Jericho
Picture
Long Way
The Haves
Good and Evil

6-7 songs on top are really fricking good. I don't rank On my way, but it would be high on the list being a little bit longer. Only song I don't care about is Good and evil, and it isn't a bad one.

Hell of a record.

[stip]

bumped this to 4 stars

I had it at 4 stars, but it was really a 3.5. I think I am okay with a full four. Pretty infectious record

[Ms Harmless]

"there's a future in need of a frame"

this is A-game Ed, lyrically

[Fattie_Vedder]

Ed has a bad take on suicide

I’m curious, what did he say? He sings about it eloquently and emotionally, so I’m extra curious what he’s expressed in the interview.

[Fattie_Vedder]

"there's a future in need of a frame"

this is A-game Ed, lyrically

Definitely one of the best lyrics on the album. That particular line makes me think it’s about his marriage, and the song is about repairing the relationship after a big fight. The image of capturing future memories in framed photographs is lovely.

[Ms Harmless]

Ed has a bad take on suicide

I’m curious, what did he say? He sings about it eloquently and emotionally, so I’m extra curious what he’s expressed in the interview.

trigger warning for suicide

I think the song about it here is great, the emotions are real and raw and valid; and maybe Ed sees it as just a phase through the grief, not like a fixed conviction, but I'm not of the position that people who die by suicide are "selfish" in any way; I don't think that someone who saw no other way out has, or had, any responsibility to anyone around them to stay suffering just to spare others their grief; the conversation just went a little too far in that direction for me; on the one hand, I like that Ed talked about pushing through to forgiveness, but on the other, what's to "forgive"? you aren't the one who suffered (mostly)

[stip]

I dont know (and obviously couldnt say) that Eddie believes this objectively as much as he is acknowledging this as a probable stage of grief - some anger or resentment over the loss. I think maybe even in the context of the song (and certainly in the context of his other work) it isnt being presented as valid as much as it is real. Whether or not you SHOULD feel this way you still do.

[Ms Harmless]

I absolutely agree with that, and I'd like to think that's where Ed's head is too

[Ms Harmless]

I don't think BtC sounds bitter; I think it sounds desperate for some kind of solace, and I think Ed at his best has always captured that SO well

[Fattie_Vedder]

Ed has a bad take on suicide

I’m curious, what did he say? He sings about it eloquently and emotionally, so I’m extra curious what he’s expressed in the interview.

trigger warning for suicide

I think the song about it here is great, the emotions are real and raw and valid; and maybe Ed sees it as just a phase through the grief, not like a fixed conviction, but I'm not of the position that people who die by suicide are "selfish" in any way; I don't think that someone who saw no other way out has, or had, any responsibility to anyone around them to stay suffering just to spare others their grief; the conversation just went a little too far in that direction for me; on the one hand, I like that Ed talked about pushing through to forgiveness, but on the other, what's to "forgive"? you aren't the one who suffered (mostly)

[trigger warning for suicide (thanks for calling that out!)]: Totally, 100% agree. As someone who has struggled terribly in the past with severe depression and anxiety resulting in suicidal ideation, I get that it’s more complicated than reducing it to a selfish choice when the person struggling doesn’t see any other way to end their misery. I also get that not struggling on one’s own and reaching out for help is critical to getting lifted out of the misery.

[Ms Harmless]

Ed has a bad take on suicide

I’m curious, what did he say? He sings about it eloquently and emotionally, so I’m extra curious what he’s expressed in the interview.

trigger warning for suicide

I think the song about it here is great, the emotions are real and raw and valid; and maybe Ed sees it as just a phase through the grief, not like a fixed conviction, but I'm not of the position that people who die by suicide are "selfish" in any way; I don't think that someone who saw no other way out has, or had, any responsibility to anyone around them to stay suffering just to spare others their grief; the conversation just went a little too far in that direction for me; on the one hand, I like that Ed talked about pushing through to forgiveness, but on the other, what's to "forgive"? you aren't the one who suffered (mostly)

[trigger warning for suicide (thanks for calling that out!)]: Totally, 100% agree. As someone who has struggled terribly in the past with severe depression and anxiety resulting in suicidal ideation, I get that it’s more complicated than reducing it to a selfish choice when the person struggling doesn’t see any other way to end their misery. I also get that not struggling on one’s own and reaching out for help is critical to getting lifted out of the misery.

I have BPD, so I've been there too

[Ms Harmless]

I feel like vocal harmonies are something PJ often lacks, and I'm listening to The Dark thinking I wish they'd use them more

[Strat]

I absolutely agree with that, and I'd like to think that's where Ed's head is too

I don’t remember which interview it was but regarding forgiveness and suicide, Ed has said “I’m not there yet”

The lyrics are perfect. They explore all the emotions involved

[stip]

when did his brother die? post comes than goes?

[Fattie_Vedder]

I feel like vocal harmonies are something PJ often lacks, and I'm listening to The Dark thinking I wish they'd use them more

Totes. DOTC should be exhibit A for the band’s reference.

[Fattie_Vedder]

I should probably start my work day at some point today…

[Ms Harmless]

Not sure what to make of this yet.

Those chorus lyrics reminded me of this:

I just revisited this again and I hate Ricky Gervais as a person but goddamn this is funny as fuck!

[Ms Harmless]

"I only play songs I've written myself so..."