MM 5-3: Force of Nature vs. Retrograde vs. The End

Post by **stip** » Fri March 22, 2024 11:51 pm

Force of Nature vs. Retrograde vs. The End

Post by **stip** » Sat March 23, 2024 12:02 am

There are lots of hugely underrated late period pearl jam songs. Force of Nature might be at the top of the list. It DOES get off to a sluggish start. I have to own that. But great lyrics, wonderful outro 'patterns', and such a nuanced, understated, softly textured performance from everyone

Retrograde is a decent song (Mike going back to the Sirens well in terms of its feel. Something I don't love but can't help but like) with a phenomenal ending.

The End: This is in everybody hurts territory for me now. A really affecting song that works best if it's been a while.

But it's always time for Force of Nature

VinylGuy · Post by **VinylGuy** » Sat March 23, 2024 12:27 am

yeah, its FON to me too

Birds in Hell · Post by **Birds in Hell** » Sat March 23, 2024 12:30 am

I like Retrograde a surprising amount, hopefully it pulls this off.

Force of Nature is just awful.

Strat · Post by **Strat** » Sat March 23, 2024 2:09 am

oooh. I think the End is beautifully heartbreaking and a wonderfully tender performance.

Post by **epilogue** » Sat March 23, 2024 2:48 am

FoN is the worst song on Backspacer, which is PJ's worst album.

Retrograde is a mediocre song on a pretty good PJ record, though it sounds like an LB outtake.

The End is a good song and really beautiful.

Strat · Post by **Strat** » Sat March 23, 2024 2:50 am

epilogue wrote:FoN is the worst song on Backspacer, which is PJ's worst album.

Retrograde is a mediocre song on a pretty good PJ record, though it sounds like an LB outtake.

The End is a good song and really beautiful.

were back baby!

Post by **epilogue** » Sat March 23, 2024 2:54 am

Strat wrote:
epilogue wrote:FoN is the worst song on Backspacer, which is PJ's worst album.

Retrograde is a mediocre song on a pretty good PJ record, though it sounds like an LB outtake.

The End is a good song and really beautiful.
were back baby!

Anders · Post by **Anders** » Sat March 23, 2024 2:57 am

Evvo · Post by **Evvo** » Sat March 23, 2024 2:27 pm

I’ve loved the final verse/chorus and guitar outro to Force of Nature since day one. One of my favourite standalone moments in the catalogue.

Retrograde is very nice. The End has never really landed for me but it’s a good performance from Eddie.

digster · Post by **digster** » Sat March 23, 2024 3:51 pm

Force of Nature is a distant, distant third here, it puts a cap on PJ's weakest run of songs on record to me. I love Retrograde, particularly the first part. It's a pretty but intricate successor to something you'd hear off of Green or Out of Time from R.E.M. I like the sound collage kind of thing at the end, though Ed didn't need to feel the sound quite so hard.

I'm going with Retrograde, but The End is close behind, and I think it's easily Ed's best version of this kind of song that popped up sporadically on Backspacer, LB and Into the Wild.

Post by **stip** » Sun March 24, 2024 12:13 am

Force of Nature advances

Red Mosquito