4-11: Pilate vs. I Am Mine

[stip]

Pilate vs. I Am Mine

[stip]

Pilate has grown on me as I've gotten less precious about what Pearl Jam should be and more forgiving of songs without Eddie lyrics.

But I Am Mine is the best song on Riot Act (or Binaural), and is inexplicably underappreciated around here

[96583UP]

this is a good matchup

[liebzz]

Here’s my unpopular opinion: I Am Mine is maybe the least inspired song on Riot Act. Ed’s not selling the vocals all that well, Mike’s solo is so dime a dozen for him I swear his fret has paint-by-numbers on it for him, and the best part of the song is the intro, which promises something unique and you get a Pearl Jam song instead that could fart out in their sleep. Granted, I am a biased fan and I like the song anyway, but it is a rare Epic era Pearl Jam song that does sort of fall asleep at the wheel.

[wease]

But I Am Mine is the best song on Riot Act (or Binaural), and is inexplicably underappreciated around here

You’re a madman.

[Kalevi]

But I Am Mine is the best song on Riot Act (or Binaural), and is inexplicably underappreciated around here

This is correct

[epilogue]

I Am Mine is 100% under appreciated around here.

Pilate is a cool song, but this shouldn't be close.

[Jaeti]

Here’s my unpopular opinion: I Am Mine is maybe the least inspired song on Riot Act. Ed’s not selling the vocals all that well, Mike’s solo is so dime a dozen for him I swear his fret has paint-by-numbers on it for him, and the best part of the song is the intro, which promises something unique and you get a Pearl Jam song instead that could fart out in their sleep. Granted, I am a biased fan and I like the song anyway, but it is a rare Epic era Pearl Jam song that does sort of fall asleep at the wheel.

[Anders]

I Am Mine

[epilogue]

Here’s my unpopular opinion: I Am Mine is maybe the least inspired song on Riot Act. Ed’s not selling the vocals all that well, Mike’s solo is so dime a dozen for him I swear his fret has paint-by-numbers on it for him, and the best part of the song is the intro, which promises something unique and you get a Pearl Jam song instead that could fart out in their sleep. Granted, I am a biased fan and I like the song anyway, but it is a rare Epic era Pearl Jam song that does sort of fall asleep at the wheel.

A lot iof people have expressed this (or similar) sentiment over the years. So, I have to believe the song has that quality to it somehow. But I've never heard it. And I don't understand how others do.

I think the song is sweeping and powerful and moving. It still gives me chills when I hear it, even after all these years.

[stip]

Mike has done solos like this a number of times since, but this feels like (other than wishlist) maybe the first time something like this appeared. What predates it?

[lvc]

But I Am Mine is the best song on Riot Act (or Binaural), and is inexplicably underappreciated around here

This is correct

No, this is correct:

But I Am Mine is the best song on Riot Act (or Binaural), and is inexplicably underappreciated around here

You’re a madman.

[lvc]

Mike has done solos like this a number of times since, but this feels like (other than wishlist) maybe the first time something like this appeared. What predates it?

I've always thought the solo on I Am Mine reminiscent of the solo at the end of Leash. A short burst of catharsis at the end.

[liebzz]

I think if you took Down, which is crisper sounding and the jam at the end isn’t profound but it has a significantly more bite to it that makes the song sort of hook into you rather than I Am Mine, whose solo is just sort of lamely plopped on top, it paints to me a more distinct feature of the point I am making. Similarly, Down sounds a bit more buoyant but the heart of it is urging the listener to pick a side, whereas I Am Mine has an intention to signify resistance to being something other than yourself, but Ed’s vocal delivery isn’t as defying as the message, it skates across the surface of what he’s getting at rather than soaring. It’s mutedness, which suits some songs more than others, becomes more bland than sweeping when I hear it.

[ABNorman]

Like Pilate, I Am Mine vote

[Chris_H_2]

I Am Mine is 100% under appreciated around here.

Pilate is a cool song, but this shouldn't be close.

we couldn't be further away on the pearl jam musical spectrum

[epilogue]

I Am Mine is 100% under appreciated around here.

Pilate is a cool song, but this shouldn't be close.

we couldn't be further away on the pearl jam musical spectrum

Not surprising

[E.H. Ruddock]

Pilate easily

[bodysnatcher]

Pilate easily

[stip]

I think if you took Down, which is crisper sounding and the jam at the end isn’t profound but it has a significantly more bite to it that makes the song sort of hook into you rather than I Am Mine, whose solo is just sort of lamely plopped on top, it paints to me a more distinct feature of the point I am making. Similarly, Down sounds a bit more buoyant but the heart of it is urging the listener to pick a side, whereas I Am Mine has an intention to signify resistance to being something other than yourself, but Ed’s vocal delivery isn’t as defying as the message, it skates across the surface of what he’s getting at rather than soaring. It’s mutedness, which suits some songs more than others, becomes more bland than sweeping when I hear it.

Down is an optimistic song from start to finish. I Am Mine is about crawling out of your despair to find that space. They're doing different things. Even if you like Down more, I think it's misleading to say that it's a more successful I Am Mine (if that's what you were doing).

I think the I Am Mine solo, rather than feeling tagged on, feels bracing and alive in contrast to the rest of the muted, almost mournful music