DaveA5: Better Man vs. Rearviewmirror

Post by **stip** » Sat March 14, 2026 11:31 am

Better Man vs. Rearviewmirror

Post by **stip** » Sat March 14, 2026 11:40 am

Ooofff.

I adore both of these. I still think Better Man is basically a perfect pop song. Rearview Mirror is the defining song of Vs.

These are two 5 star classics that I have overplayed. But Rearview Mirror has undergone (though less recently) an Even Flow like resurgence where I now actively seek it out again. Not the case for studio better man. Though I'd rather hear Better Man at a show.

Sad vote for RVM

ristan · Post by **ristan** » Sat March 14, 2026 3:24 pm

close matchup. Betterman gets the slight edge with the haunting intro music on the album

wease · Post by **wease** » Sat March 14, 2026 3:42 pm

Someday

Post by **96583UP** » Sat March 14, 2026 6:08 pm

tough debate

rearviewmirror is legendary dave. take after take challenged by BOB to get it better. culminating in a passionate explosion of throwing his drumsticks at the end - and i think maybe even tossing the snare off the cliff near where they recorded (?)

betterman is a track-paste from the live fox theater show. how many live takes are so perfect they can be spliced into an album track - and one that becomes an international hit single best seller?

these two might have been meant for the finals

but alas i must give the nod to rearviewmirror

Matters · Post by **Matters** » Sat March 14, 2026 11:38 pm

Two absolute classics but both are middle of the pack for me.

Near the end of RVM are some of my favorite guitar sounds in the catalog.

Voting for Better Man because when Ed’s guitar comes in out of the intro it’s one of my favorite moments in all of music and I love the first verse, chorus and second verse. Once the drums come it kinda loses its feel. Sorry Dave A.

Birds in Hell · Post by **Birds in Hell** » Sun March 15, 2026 12:13 am

RVM

Next!

lvc · Post by **lvc** » Sun March 15, 2026 12:41 am

I hate betterman

Matters · Post by **Matters** » Sun March 15, 2026 12:46 am

lvc wrote:I hate betterman

Oh yeah? Well the jerk store called, and they hate you!

lvc · Post by **lvc** » Sun March 15, 2026 12:54 am

Oh yeah, well I slept with your wife.

Post by **96583UP** » Sun March 15, 2026 1:19 am

ovaltine

Matters · Post by **Matters** » Sun March 15, 2026 5:51 am

They should call it roundtine

Anders · Post by **Anders** » Sun March 15, 2026 9:11 am

liebzz · Post by **liebzz** » Sun March 15, 2026 1:37 pm

Better Man, despite being the biggest hit on Vitalogy, is the square peg in a round hole on Vitalogy sonically. It is a wonderful classic rock anthem but on an album full of sharp edges. Lyrically, it does fit 100% by the way, but as a piece of music, it would have made more sense on No Code or even Vs.. Imagine, just for a second, swapping Better Man with Leash, or swapping Better Man with Red Mosquito. What an interesting thought experiment.

The vote, of course, goes to RVM, and perhaps nothing is as cathartic than the bridge into that impassioned finish - may even top Porch’s pay off.

Knabetnuom · Post by **Knabetnuom** » Sun March 15, 2026 5:44 pm

I agree with Stip, Better Man is a perfect pop song. Unfortunately, as sometimes happens they wear our their welcome. I still like the song, one of Eddie's best and the album version is good and I love the extended live versions but it's just not a song I generally play for myself.

Rear View Mirror is the ultimate driving song (one of 'em anyway, up there with Runnin' Down A Dream) and a transcendent one at that.

Fueled by a riff of simplicity and power and Dave's thundering drums the whole song charges ahead. I always like the clatter at the end, not knowing they were Dave's drumsticks, thrown out of frustration. But Dave A and his history of the band is a whole other topic.

I love how the lyrics call back to Daughter, adding to the sense of freedom. The bridge or breakdown is interesting, instead of a more traditional solo or worked out part it feels like the car's cruising along, driver and vehicle catching their breath before giving it the gas for one heckuva powerful ending.

Better Man is pop perfection but Rear View Mirror is pure catharsis, if you're not free it inspires, if you are it's a celebration and maybe it's no deeper than loving a fast moving song, perfect for open stretches of highway or sittin' on your porch on a summer afternoon, dreaming of a better place and the velocity to take you there.

Red Mosquito