44. Ghost vs. Puzzles and Games vs. All Night

[stip]

Interesting. Never picked up on that.

[Strat]

I like Ghost, but this is easily All Night.

For sure. Ghost is great and i love the chorus on that song and the tremolo guitar that kind of floats behind it.

Ultimately though its some really boring ass two chord song that somehow manages to outdo itself. Its a weird song for me.

All night is pure excitement and excellent playing.

[CopperTom]

I've always opposed Puzzle and Games inclusion.

[stip]

it is a fairly complete demo of a unique song, even if elements were adapted for later works

[Kevin Davis]

Ultimately though its some really boring ass two chord song that somehow manages to outdo itself.

Yeah, really, what's the deal with this? I don't think there is another PJ song that is so unremarkable in so many ways yet manages to feel so irresistible. It's not even a case of an average composition pushed over the top by an explosive performance. It's just...an average song that is somehow better than average.

Jeff is totally the weirdest, most unpredictable songwriter in the band -- just no telling what is going to make one of his songs fly.

[Strat]

Ultimately though its some really boring ass two chord song that somehow manages to outdo itself.

Yeah, really, what's the deal with this? I don't think there is another PJ song that is so unremarkable in so many ways yet manages to feel so irresistible. It's not even a case of an average composition pushed over the top by an explosive performance. It's just...an average song that is somehow better than average.

Jeff is totally the weirdest, most unpredictable songwriter in the band -- just no telling what is going to make one of his songs fly.

I've never understood it but i think that is kind of due to the intangible thing that is pearl jam. Ed's delivery really helps push the song along. There is a great live version from 03 that I love (St Paul) where Ed was visibly annoyed with the crowd "fuck you all!". I know there is something snarling underneath this song and it sometimes boils over musically and otherwise.

[tragabigzanda]

Ultimately though its some really boring ass two chord song that somehow manages to outdo itself.

Yeah, really, what's the deal with this? I don't think there is another PJ song that is so unremarkable in so many ways yet manages to feel so irresistible. It's not even a case of an average composition pushed over the top by an explosive performance. It's just...an average song that is somehow better than average.

Jeff is totally the weirdest, most unpredictable songwriter in the band -- just no telling what is going to make one of his songs fly.

The song's hallmark, IMO, is that it feels completely tossed off and like it might fall apart any second, and completely rips in spite of it all. The way they just launch into it without any fanfare -- Matt's first few notes sound like he doesn't even know what he's doing -- and Mike's solos that sound incredibly inspired, even for him. I have a feeling they ran the song 2-3 times then just tracked it. And Ed sounds weary, but not resigned. It's everything that works about Riot Act distilled into one tight song.

[tragabigzanda]

Ultimately though its some really boring ass two chord song that somehow manages to outdo itself.

Yeah, really, what's the deal with this? I don't think there is another PJ song that is so unremarkable in so many ways yet manages to feel so irresistible. It's not even a case of an average composition pushed over the top by an explosive performance. It's just...an average song that is somehow better than average.

Jeff is totally the weirdest, most unpredictable songwriter in the band -- just no telling what is going to make one of his songs fly.

The song's hallmark, IMO, is that it feels completely tossed off and like it might fall apart any second, and completely rips in spite of it all. The way they just launch into it without any fanfare -- Matt's first few notes sound like he doesn't even know what he's doing -- and Mike's solos that sound incredibly inspired, even for him. I have a feeling they ran the song 2-3 times then just tracked it. And Ed sounds weary, but not resigned. It's everything that works about Riot Act distilled into one tight song.

I think another strength it has is how unassuming it is. The majority of PJ's harder-edged songs really try to blow your hair back: The intro to BoJ, the main riff of Animal, the volcanic structure of Faithful...Ghost doesn't try to do anything like that, which makes those guitar solos, and Ed's finer moments in the song, really soar.

[Kevin Davis]

Ultimately though its some really boring ass two chord song that somehow manages to outdo itself.

Yeah, really, what's the deal with this? I don't think there is another PJ song that is so unremarkable in so many ways yet manages to feel so irresistible. It's not even a case of an average composition pushed over the top by an explosive performance. It's just...an average song that is somehow better than average.

Jeff is totally the weirdest, most unpredictable songwriter in the band -- just no telling what is going to make one of his songs fly.

The song's hallmark, IMO, is that it feels completely tossed off and like it might fall apart any second, and completely rips in spite of it all. The way they just launch into it without any fanfare -- Matt's first few notes sound like he doesn't even know what he's doing -- and Mike's solos that sound incredibly inspired, even for him. I have a feeling they ran the song 2-3 times then just tracked it. And Ed sounds weary, but not resigned. It's everything that works about Riot Act distilled into one tight song.

I'm into it!