14. Love Reign O’er Me vs. Can’t Keep vs. Light Years

[stip]

Love Reign O’er Me vs. Can’t Keep vs. Light Years

[tragabigzanda]

Good matchup! I’m going with Light Years because I’ve always loved the composition and the mix, but I’d be glad to see Can’t Keep advance.

The other song is a cover and doesn’t belong here.

[stip]

I think Light Years is overrated. There are some nice moments (the parts that remain from Puzzles and Games, and it's a lovely sentiment, but the music is too clunky to draw me in, and I don't find the performance particularly moving.

Can't Keep is a great song, full stop. one of the best atmospheric pieces in the catalog, and creates an incredible mood without any showboating.

But I'm gonna vote for LROM (for now). Ed's vocal is insane, and deserves recognition. If it's close I'll switch back to Can't Keep

[wease]

Light Years. No contest.

[Kevin Davis]

One thing I love about "Light Years" is that it feels like a song where you can hear all of the band members' influences in the writing -- the verses have some WWC-ish dissonances to them, the chorus feels like classic anthem-ready Eddie, the bridge is vintage Stone, etc. I think I like "Can't Keep" better but they're both right in the sweet spot for me.

[digster]

Love Reign O'er Me is the easy first one to cut. It's a great performance, but it's a mirror image of the original version. They don't do anything different with it, so while it's really fun to listen to (particularly that famous VH1 performance), it's not something I'd vote for. I love Can't Keep; the ragged atmosphere of the Riot Act track always struck me as far more powerful then the uke version, and I love how Ed delivers the chorus, slowly raising his voice on the last line before pulling back and falling back into the murk of the instrumentation.

But I'm going with Light Years; it's one of my favorite lyrics by Ed, and one of my favorite choruses by the band. The instrumental bridge from Puzzles and Games sounds so much better and more essential to the song in Light Years that it's surprising it wasn't written specifically for the song. When it hits that last chorus, Eddie may not be screaming, but it's still one of the more emotional moments in the catalog for me.

[digster]

One thing I love about "Light Years" is that it feels like a song where you can hear all of the band members' influences in the writing -- the verses have some WWC-ish dissonances to them, the chorus feels like classic anthem-ready Eddie, the bridge is vintage Stone, etc. I think I like "Can't Keep" better but they're both right in the sweet spot for me.

This is definitely true; the songs catches so many of the contradictions and tensions that I think give the band's best work their power.

[tragabigzanda]

I’ve always pictured gears turning when I hear that song. There’s a way the guitars, drums, and lyrics all ebb and flow that creates this vision of the guts of clockwork

[Jaeti]

Can't entertain voting for a cover, even a great one, against these two.

I'm torn between the two Pearl Jam songs. The first verse of Light Years still often strikes me as a six-star portion of a song. I have a very clear memory of listening to it in my car in the dark after buying it at a midnight release. That first impression has never left me.

But I think I'm going to vote Can't Keep. Even without a similar experience to touch on, I've always loved it, and it's quite possibly also just the better song.

[liebzz]

Can’t Keep. Perfect burner of an album opener. Light Years is great too. Love the cover but ain’t voting for The Who here.

[wease]

Go listen to Light Years from Seattle 2000. Then come back and vote.

[epilogue]

Can't Keep. Not even close.

[LetMeSleep]

Light Years didn't hit for many years, it was only middle tier. Around 2012 or so it hit hard and it is essential PJ. Although Can't Keep is damn strong too and I love it, just not as much as LY.

[Anders]

Good group of songs, but Light Years gets my vote.

[Brett]

"Reign" is a fantastic performance, but I feel like it's trying too hard to be impressive and important. "Can't Keep" is a great slow-burner that sets a perfect mood. I could see myself voting for it against quite a few other songs. That said, "Light Years" has been a top five song for me since the first time I heard it. Every piece fits together just right. I will vote for it over pretty much any song that comes its way, and it easily takes this match.

[tragabigzanda]

Respect

[Strat]

The idea that a cover has to be drastically different for it to be worthy of covering is fucking dumb.

What a performance and would rather hear ed scream it than Roger.

However, its a cover and the fact stip put it in here just because tis his favorite is also dumb.

Can't Keep rules but Light Years could bring me to my knees in the correct moment. One of my absolute favorites. "You seemed to like it here..."

Ugh.

[stip]

The idea that a cover has to be drastically different for it to be worthy of covering is fucking dumb.

What a performance and would rather hear ed scream it than Roger.

However, its a cover and the fact stip put it in here just because tis his favorite is also dumb.

Can't Keep rules but Light Years could bring me to my knees in the correct moment. One of my absolute favorites. "You seemed to like it here..."

Ugh.

Again Today is the one I put in because it is my favorite. Pay attention, damn it!

[Strat]

The idea that a cover has to be drastically different for it to be worthy of covering is fucking dumb.

What a performance and would rather hear ed scream it than Roger.

However, its a cover and the fact stip put it in here just because tis his favorite is also dumb.

Can't Keep rules but Light Years could bring me to my knees in the correct moment. One of my absolute favorites. "You seemed to like it here..."

Ugh.

Again Today is the one I put in because it is my favorite. Pay attention, damn it!

Never!

[stip]

Staying open for one more round (18-18-4)