Semis1: Brain of J vs. Do the Evolution

[Birds in Hell]

BoJ ... would have been the best song on No Code if they had put it there.

Not when Hail Hail exists, but it's still great.

[lvc]

I didn’t know JFK’s brain got lost until I heard Brain of J. I didn’t learn nothing from Do the Evolution.

Also I used to think it was “I’m a Roman hero, flatten a mount yeah”

[Knabetnuom]

DTE is the best song on Yield.

Interesting. My favorite song on Yield is Push Me Pull Me, with No Way a close second but I think Given To Fly is the best song on the album. There's something special about the track, from Jack's soft, gentle and powerful surf-like drumming to Eddie's lyrics, telling a story vague enough it means different things to different people yet with enough specific imagery to supply a vivid framework.

It's an epic anthem within four minutes. And after that last powerful climax, eases back, the music simulating a powerful wave breaking and the tide moving back from shore. It's inspiring and I think it's the heart and essence of Yield.

I like this post. I don't even know that i disagree. GTF was my favorite for a long while. BUT, and maybe this isn't fair to GTF, it does lose a little something because it's a great version of something Pearl Jam does really well, and that there are many great examples of (Breath, Alive, Rearview Mirror, Corduroy, I Am Mine, Amongst the Waves, Seven OClock, Waiting for Stevie, etc). Given to Fly is towards the top of that list, but it isn't singular in the way DTE is.

Thanks.

I Am Mine manages to be epic in less than four minutes..! That's some feat.

DTE is one of their best rock songs, the main riff feels like Stone took another shot at Satan's Bed but moved it up the neck and removed some of the notes, so it's more primal–brutal. I think you're probably right in that it isn't exactly fair to GTF in relation to Yield, since the other examples you bring up aren't on Yield but I get your point.

It's definitely singular on Yield, it has a darkness none of the other tracks share, they can be weird, anthemic, high energy, thoughtful, wistful but none with the ragged bloody rage of this number.

GTF is the record's heart for me but I still understand why you hear it as you do and it's impending victory in this match-up. Whoops. This interesting discussion had me thinking it's DTE v. GTF.

As much as I enjoy BOJ, DTE is the one I voted for here, for the reasons above!

[Got Some]

Pearl Jam have a few songs like brain of J or of the same ilk.

They dont have another DO The Evolution inn their catalogue.

Thats why Im voting for Evolution.

[lvc]

I’ve always heard some of the All Night chorus in the main riff of Do the Evolution.

I am curious what makes people say DTE is singular in the catalogue. Is it the first-person ironic POV? The guitar parts? The religious interlude? It’s a perfectly fine song but I’ve never considered it some kind of unicorn.

[Norah]

Also, brain of j is simply better.

[Norah]

[Knabetnuom]

I am curious what makes people say DTE is singular in the catalogue. Is it the first-person ironic POV? The guitar parts? The religious interlude? It’s a perfectly fine song but I’ve never considered it some kind of unicorn.

i agree. I think it's unique on Yield but not when measured against the rest of their songs.

[stip]

brain of j is back to the finals!