Binaural [Deluxe]

[Hypnos]

It's the Portland 2000 improv (+ train noises?)

Exactly. This works as a hidden track pre Writer´s Block.

[Lament]

On the other hand, it's really just another of those Pearl Jam songs filled with little "the thing that's wrong with my life is somebody else's fault" schticks. If you'd taught me from the beginning, I wouldn't be so scared. Brought to you by the guy who once used the phrase "I'm still alive" as a statement of victimhood.

This actually hammers at something that has bugged me more and more about Ed as a songwriter the older he gets.

[stip]

Examples? Other than the hideous lyrics in MFS, of course

[stip]

Also, the larger point notwithstanding, that lyric in alive is a response to, not a statement of, victimhood.

[stip]

Examples? Other than the hideous lyrics in MFS, of course

I guess I don't see the as anything new in his writing. That's been there from the very begining. What's made Ed interesting as a writer/performer is his response to, rather than his diagnosis of, problems. It's one if the reasons why, with maybe 2-3 exceptions, his political songs are so ham-fisted

[tragabigzanda]

pearl jam sucks now

[bune]

The Tchad Blake mixes sound great even in their unmastered phase and would have loved to hear the full tchad blake recordings presented in album form.

Same, but as McP humorously pointed out - very unlikely. Would not be surprised if the box-set reissues stop anyway after No Code/Yield.
Nice write up McP, thanks for presenting the difference versions against each other

I just posted this is the 'definitive list of versions' thread for anyone who wants more info on the differences between the various versions of Binaural tracks available.

Proposed updates on request of Stip to include all versions of Binaural tracks available. It’s a bit convoluted but I think this covers it

Breakerfall: 'Binaural demos' version listed is from the 'Binaural Preview' disc, and could be re-labelled Tchad Blake Mix (hi-hat intro, no Ed scream during intro, cleaner mix).

Light Years: 'Binaural demos' version listed is from the 'Binaural Preview' disc, and could be re-labelled Tchad Blake Mix (extended intro, minor lyric difference "it don't seem fair for days to disappear" in last chorus).

Nothing As It Seems: 'Binaural demo, Single' versions currently listed - the former from the 'Binaural Preview' disc is actually the exact same version as from the single. The only difference between these two versions and the album version is a full hi-hat count in.

Insignificance: An additional version of the Tchad Blake mix is on the 'Binaural Preview' disc with longer instrumental intros to each verse.

Sad: 'Unreleased Lost Dogs' could be re-labelled Tchad Blake Mix (the officially released Lost Dogs version was mixed by Brett Eliason). An additional low quality 96k mp3 version of the Tchad Blake mix was part of the 'Binaural Outtakes' leak a few months before the release of Lost Dogs (minor lyric difference "Every photograph is peeling...")

Hitchhiker: Again, the 'Unreleased Lost Dogs' version could be re-labelled Tchad Blake Mix. The officially released Lost Dogs version was mixed by Brett Eliason (otherwise same take).

Fatal: A low quality 96k mp3 version was part of the 'Binaural Outtakes' leak a few months before the release of Lost Dogs (with a spoken count-in by Stone, otherwise identical to ‘rough mix’ and ‘Lost Dogs’ versions listed, all mixed by Tchad Blake).

Education: 'Unreleased Lost Dogs' could be re-labelled 'alternate/early version' (mixed by Tchad Blake, the officially released Lost Dogs version was mixed by Brett Eliason). An later version of the song (a low quality 96k mp3) mixed by Tchad Blake was part of the 'Binaural Outtakes' leak a few months before the release of Lost Dogs (spacier sounding guitars, minor lyric difference in bridge “…a revelation, dissolving words in the snow, simple…)

In The Moonlight: 'Unreleased Lost Dogs' could be re-labelled 'alternate/early version' (mixed by Tchad Blake, as was the officially released Lost Dogs version). Could add Matt Cameron demo to the list (MC demos of Get Right and You Are also exist).

Sweet Lew: 'Unreleased Lost Dogs' could be re-labelled 'alternate/early version' (mixed by Tchad Blake, as was the officially released Lost Dogs version).

You say that like there's been any movement in getting those two out.

[stip]

I hadn't listened to Puzzles and Games in a very long time. That could have been such a great song. Up yours, light years.

[digster]

Puzzles and Games is up there with the most overrated things the band has done.

[Jorge]

"Puzzles and Games" would've been a cheap, tawdry power ballad. I like what they did with "Light Years" so much more.

[Alex]

you know how some people think that the preciousness and complexity of life could only have been achieved by a divine creator? that's how i feel about stip's impeccable, consistent wrongness about literally every opinion he expresses. it can't be just a meaningless coincidence--there are more powerful forces at play here than mere happenstance.

[Heathen]

so like some sort of dumb design?

[Alex]

yeah

[digster]

"Puzzles and Games" would've been a cheap, tawdry power ballad. I like what they did with "Light Years" so much more.

I'm just not sure how people can hang too much on it; it's far less finished than something like Cold Confession or Let it Ride, for example.

[Norah]

"Puzzles and Games" would've been a cheap, tawdry power ballad. I like what they did with "Light Years" so much more.

so much this

[Mine]

"Puzzles and Games" would've been a cheap, tawdry power ballad. I like what they did with "Light Years" so much more.

so much this

yup

[Norah]

"Puzzles and Games" would've been a cheap, tawdry power ballad. I like what they did with "Light Years" so much more.

so much this

yup

It's why stip loves it.

[stip]

light years is a clunky embrace that cheapens a lovely moment.

Good bridge, though

[stip]

"Puzzles and Games" would've been a cheap, tawdry power ballad. I like what they did with "Light Years" so much more.

so much this

it would have been our next iteration of Betterman or Given to Fly, and would have been amazing.

[Jorge]

light years is a clunky embrace that cheapens a lovely moment.

When was the last time you were clunkily embraced?