Mad Season - Above

When a band is but a fraction of Pearl Jam, but they aren't zero Pearl Jam.
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Chloe
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Re: Mad Season - Above

Post by Chloe »

Birds in Hell wrote:
Chloe wrote:
Birds in Hell wrote:I think Mad Season's an interesting curio, but nothing particularly memorable. A few okay songs, a whole slew of terrible lyrics and some pretty killer ensemble playing by McCready, Saunders and Martin.
McCready is pretty great on that album. I feel the same way about King Animal :lol: Nothing all that great, imo. I tend to not be a fan of Cornell though, maybe that's it?
Maybe.

I actually love Staley in AiC to the point where I see no reason for the band to exist without him, but I'm not sure he works for me in the context of Mad Season. The lyrics, man, those lyrics: "my pain is self-chosen, at least I believe it to be". Ugh. I quite like some of the album musically, particularly Wake Up and November Hotel.

I thought King Animal was a very respectable rock album and surpassed most of my expectations. Reunion albums are often terrible, they managed to do it really well.
I'll have to give the lyrics a closer listen :)
Are they just too dark for you, or too much self pity based on that line you posted?
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Re: Mad Season - Above

Post by Birds in Hell »

Chloe wrote:
Birds in Hell wrote:
Chloe wrote:
Birds in Hell wrote:I think Mad Season's an interesting curio, but nothing particularly memorable. A few okay songs, a whole slew of terrible lyrics and some pretty killer ensemble playing by McCready, Saunders and Martin.
McCready is pretty great on that album. I feel the same way about King Animal :lol: Nothing all that great, imo. I tend to not be a fan of Cornell though, maybe that's it?
Maybe.

I actually love Staley in AiC to the point where I see no reason for the band to exist without him, but I'm not sure he works for me in the context of Mad Season. The lyrics, man, those lyrics: "my pain is self-chosen, at least I believe it to be". Ugh. I quite like some of the album musically, particularly Wake Up and November Hotel.

I thought King Animal was a very respectable rock album and surpassed most of my expectations. Reunion albums are often terrible, they managed to do it really well.
I'll have to give the lyrics a closer listen :)
Are they just too dark for you, or too much self pity based on that line you posted?
Not too dark, just kind of clunky and pretentious.
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Re: Mad Season - Above

Post by Chloe »

Birds in Hell wrote:
Chloe wrote:
Birds in Hell wrote:
Chloe wrote:
Birds in Hell wrote:I think Mad Season's an interesting curio, but nothing particularly memorable. A few okay songs, a whole slew of terrible lyrics and some pretty killer ensemble playing by McCready, Saunders and Martin.
McCready is pretty great on that album. I feel the same way about King Animal :lol: Nothing all that great, imo. I tend to not be a fan of Cornell though, maybe that's it?
Maybe.

I actually love Staley in AiC to the point where I see no reason for the band to exist without him, but I'm not sure he works for me in the context of Mad Season. The lyrics, man, those lyrics: "my pain is self-chosen, at least I believe it to be". Ugh. I quite like some of the album musically, particularly Wake Up and November Hotel.

I thought King Animal was a very respectable rock album and surpassed most of my expectations. Reunion albums are often terrible, they managed to do it really well.
I'll have to give the lyrics a closer listen :)
Are they just too dark for you, or too much self pity based on that line you posted?
Not too dark, just kind of clunky and pretentious.
;)
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But oh goddamn I love you,
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Re: Mad Season - Above

Post by dkfan9 »

Chloe wrote:
Birds in Hell wrote:
Chloe wrote:
Birds in Hell wrote:
Chloe wrote:
Birds in Hell wrote:I think Mad Season's an interesting curio, but nothing particularly memorable. A few okay songs, a whole slew of terrible lyrics and some pretty killer ensemble playing by McCready, Saunders and Martin.
McCready is pretty great on that album. I feel the same way about King Animal :lol: Nothing all that great, imo. I tend to not be a fan of Cornell though, maybe that's it?
Maybe.

I actually love Staley in AiC to the point where I see no reason for the band to exist without him, but I'm not sure he works for me in the context of Mad Season. The lyrics, man, those lyrics: "my pain is self-chosen, at least I believe it to be". Ugh. I quite like some of the album musically, particularly Wake Up and November Hotel.

I thought King Animal was a very respectable rock album and surpassed most of my expectations. Reunion albums are often terrible, they managed to do it really well.
I'll have to give the lyrics a closer listen :)
Are they just too dark for you, or too much self pity based on that line you posted?
Not too dark, just kind of clunky and pretentious.
;)
i find that to be a great lyric. it's purposeful, and you often have to buy into "clunky and pretentious" to get shit done/to change yourself. and compared to "been away too long"....

"wake up" and "long gone day" are great on the lyrical end too. a lot of the rockers have mindless lyrics, which are abundant in soundgarden, and how can i hold "lifeless dead"'s lyrics against it when the song, and the vocal melody, rock so hard.
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Re: Mad Season - Above

Post by Birds in Hell »

dkfan9 wrote:
Chloe wrote:
Birds in Hell wrote:
Chloe wrote:
Birds in Hell wrote:
Chloe wrote:
Birds in Hell wrote:I think Mad Season's an interesting curio, but nothing particularly memorable. A few okay songs, a whole slew of terrible lyrics and some pretty killer ensemble playing by McCready, Saunders and Martin.
McCready is pretty great on that album. I feel the same way about King Animal :lol: Nothing all that great, imo. I tend to not be a fan of Cornell though, maybe that's it?
Maybe.

I actually love Staley in AiC to the point where I see no reason for the band to exist without him, but I'm not sure he works for me in the context of Mad Season. The lyrics, man, those lyrics: "my pain is self-chosen, at least I believe it to be". Ugh. I quite like some of the album musically, particularly Wake Up and November Hotel.

I thought King Animal was a very respectable rock album and surpassed most of my expectations. Reunion albums are often terrible, they managed to do it really well.
I'll have to give the lyrics a closer listen :)
Are they just too dark for you, or too much self pity based on that line you posted?
Not too dark, just kind of clunky and pretentious.
;)
i find that to be a great lyric. it's purposeful, and you often have to buy into "clunky and pretentious" to get shit done/to change yourself. and compared to "been away too long"....

"wake up" and "long gone day" are great on the lyrical end too. a lot of the rockers have mindless lyrics, which are abundant in soundgarden, and how can i hold "lifeless dead"'s lyrics against it when the song, and the vocal melody, rock so hard.
Oh, I can definitely see how someone could look beyond it, or think there are far worse examples - it just doesn't quite gel for me on this particular record.
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Re: Mad Season - Above

Post by VinylGuy »

yeah i love the lyrics from this record...Dirt has a lot more "pretentious" lyrics that this one.
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Re: Mad Season - Above

Post by B »

Bee Girl wrote:Weird. I'll try a few more things when I get home. I didn't try it on my computer, just my car cd player.
I played the CD, and it was fine. If it keeps acting up, I'd let Ten Club know.
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Re: Mad Season - Above

Post by B »

Birds in Hell wrote:I actually love Staley in AiC to the point where I see no reason for the band to exist without him
I think it's an indisputable fact that there is no AiC w/o Staley.
Everything's perfectly all right now. We're fine. We're all fine here, now, thank you. How are you?
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Re: Mad Season - Above

Post by Fuzzcharger »

Birds in Hell wrote:
dkfan9 wrote:
Chloe wrote:
Birds in Hell wrote:
Chloe wrote:
Birds in Hell wrote:
Chloe wrote:
Birds in Hell wrote:I think Mad Season's an interesting curio, but nothing particularly memorable. A few okay songs, a whole slew of terrible lyrics and some pretty killer ensemble playing by McCready, Saunders and Martin.
McCready is pretty great on that album. I feel the same way about King Animal :lol: Nothing all that great, imo. I tend to not be a fan of Cornell though, maybe that's it?
Maybe.

I actually love Staley in AiC to the point where I see no reason for the band to exist without him, but I'm not sure he works for me in the context of Mad Season. The lyrics, man, those lyrics: "my pain is self-chosen, at least I believe it to be". Ugh. I quite like some of the album musically, particularly Wake Up and November Hotel.

I thought King Animal was a very respectable rock album and surpassed most of my expectations. Reunion albums are often terrible, they managed to do it really well.
I'll have to give the lyrics a closer listen :)
Are they just too dark for you, or too much self pity based on that line you posted?
Not too dark, just kind of clunky and pretentious.
;)
i find that to be a great lyric. it's purposeful, and you often have to buy into "clunky and pretentious" to get shit done/to change yourself. and compared to "been away too long"....

"wake up" and "long gone day" are great on the lyrical end too. a lot of the rockers have mindless lyrics, which are abundant in soundgarden, and how can i hold "lifeless dead"'s lyrics against it when the song, and the vocal melody, rock so hard.
Oh, I can definitely see how someone could look beyond it, or think there are far worse examples - it just doesn't quite gel for me on this particular record.
That 'pain is self chosen' lyric is really terrible. It's strikes me as incredibly lame to appoint yourself as some tragic martyr and celebrate it cause you chose to live out some rock'n'roll fantasy existence that turned around and bit you an the ass. I like AiC and Mad Season but that druggy, rock'n'roll mythologising is so boring.
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Re: Mad Season - Above

Post by Birds in Hell »

Fuzzcharger wrote:That 'pain is self chosen' lyric is really terrible. It's strikes me as incredibly lame to appoint yourself as some tragic martyr and celebrate it cause you chose to live out some rock'n'roll fantasy existence that turned around and bit you an the ass. I like AiC and Mad Season but that druggy, rock'n'roll mythologising is so boring.
Well said.
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Re: Mad Season - Above

Post by Chloe »

Fuzzcharger wrote:
Birds in Hell wrote:
dkfan9 wrote:
Chloe wrote:
Birds in Hell wrote:
Chloe wrote:
Birds in Hell wrote:
Chloe wrote:
Birds in Hell wrote:I think Mad Season's an interesting curio, but nothing particularly memorable. A few okay songs, a whole slew of terrible lyrics and some pretty killer ensemble playing by McCready, Saunders and Martin.
McCready is pretty great on that album. I feel the same way about King Animal :lol: Nothing all that great, imo. I tend to not be a fan of Cornell though, maybe that's it?
Maybe.

I actually love Staley in AiC to the point where I see no reason for the band to exist without him, but I'm not sure he works for me in the context of Mad Season. The lyrics, man, those lyrics: "my pain is self-chosen, at least I believe it to be". Ugh. I quite like some of the album musically, particularly Wake Up and November Hotel.

I thought King Animal was a very respectable rock album and surpassed most of my expectations. Reunion albums are often terrible, they managed to do it really well.
I'll have to give the lyrics a closer listen :)
Are they just too dark for you, or too much self pity based on that line you posted?
Not too dark, just kind of clunky and pretentious.
;)
i find that to be a great lyric. it's purposeful, and you often have to buy into "clunky and pretentious" to get shit done/to change yourself. and compared to "been away too long"....

"wake up" and "long gone day" are great on the lyrical end too. a lot of the rockers have mindless lyrics, which are abundant in soundgarden, and how can i hold "lifeless dead"'s lyrics against it when the song, and the vocal melody, rock so hard.
Oh, I can definitely see how someone could look beyond it, or think there are far worse examples - it just doesn't quite gel for me on this particular record.
That 'pain is self chosen' lyric is really terrible. It's strikes me as incredibly lame to appoint yourself as some tragic martyr and celebrate it cause you chose to live out some rock'n'roll fantasy existence that turned around and bit you an the ass. I like AiC and Mad Season but that druggy, rock'n'roll mythologising is so boring.
So you think he wanted to be a drug addict?
I hate to say I love you,
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Re: Mad Season - Above

Post by Fuzzcharger »

Chloe wrote:
Fuzzcharger wrote: That 'pain is self chosen' lyric is really terrible. It's strikes me as incredibly lame to appoint yourself as some tragic martyr and celebrate it cause you chose to live out some rock'n'roll fantasy existence that turned around and bit you an the ass. I like AiC and Mad Season but that druggy, rock'n'roll mythologising is so boring.
So you think he wanted to be a drug addict?
I have no idea if he wanted to be an addict. It does seem pretty obvious that he felt the need to be a bit 'woe is me' about it all throughout his lyrics though. You can take lots of drugs without having to tell the whole world about it incessantly.
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Re: Mad Season - Above

Post by Chloe »

Fuzzcharger wrote:
Chloe wrote:
Fuzzcharger wrote: That 'pain is self chosen' lyric is really terrible. It's strikes me as incredibly lame to appoint yourself as some tragic martyr and celebrate it cause you chose to live out some rock'n'roll fantasy existence that turned around and bit you an the ass. I like AiC and Mad Season but that druggy, rock'n'roll mythologising is so boring.
So you think he wanted to be a drug addict?
I have no idea if he wanted to be an addict. It does seem pretty obvious that he felt the need to be a bit 'woe is me' about it all throughout his lyrics though.
Yeah, but he wrote what he knew. I'd imagine being hooked on heroin is a terribly lonely place. Not that you are wrong :) It does get old when lyrics to multiple songs carry the same theme. Instead of writing about it, do something about it.
I hate to say I love you,
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Re: Mad Season - Above

Post by Fuzzcharger »

Chloe wrote: Yeah, but he wrote what he knew. I'd imagine being hooked on heroin is a terribly lonely place. Not that you are wrong :) It does get old when lyrics to multiple songs carry the same theme. Instead of writing about it, do something about it.
Indeed.
Lament wrote: Like I always say, "Anyone who thinks getting kicked in the nuts by one person sucks has never gotten kicked in the nuts by two people at the same time."
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Re: Mad Season - Above

Post by gardenparty »

didn't i just read in an interview with Mike that the "Pain is self chosen" line was actually lifted from a book Layne was reading?

yeah, here it is:

Please talk about the song "River of Deceit." It's so lucid and composed.

It was a mellow riff I was playing around with. I used a Strat on the out of phase position, so it sounded more Stevie Ray Vaughan–ish I guess. I did a harmony over the top of it at the beginning. I feel like the song is like the title—a slow moving river, not to be too obvious [laughs]. It became so much cooler when Layne put lyrics to it. He sat me down and explained the lyrics "My pain is self chosen/So the prophet says." They were from a Kahlil Gibran book called The Prophet. It's always resonated with me—when you're struggling in the midst of any addiction, it's your choice to do that. It's pretty profound, for a young guy like Layne to say that at the time. Barrett added some viola to it and gave it this quality that made it different than a rock song. It was more poetic in a way."

http://www.thestranger.com/seattle/soun ... d=16348563
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Re: Mad Season - Above

Post by Chloe »

gardenparty wrote:didn't i just read in an interview with Mike that the "Pain is self chosen" line was actually lifted from a book Layne was reading?

yeah, here it is:

Please talk about the song "River of Deceit." It's so lucid and composed.

It was a mellow riff I was playing around with. I used a Strat on the out of phase position, so it sounded more Stevie Ray Vaughan–ish I guess. I did a harmony over the top of it at the beginning. I feel like the song is like the title—a slow moving river, not to be too obvious [laughs]. It became so much cooler when Layne put lyrics to it. He sat me down and explained the lyrics "My pain is self chosen/So the prophet says." They were from a Kahlil Gibran book called The Prophet. It's always resonated with me—when you're struggling in the midst of any addiction, it's your choice to do that. It's pretty profound, for a young guy like Layne to say that at the time. Barrett added some viola to it and gave it this quality that made it different than a rock song. It was more poetic in a way."

http://www.thestranger.com/seattle/soun ... d=16348563
Good stuff, thanks for sharing.
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Re: Mad Season - Above

Post by dkfan9 »

Birds in Hell wrote:
Fuzzcharger wrote:That 'pain is self chosen' lyric is really terrible. It's strikes me as incredibly lame to appoint yourself as some tragic martyr and celebrate it cause you chose to live out some rock'n'roll fantasy existence that turned around and bit you an the ass. I like AiC and Mad Season but that druggy, rock'n'roll mythologising is so boring.
Well said.
not at all. that's an incorrect interpretation of the line. he's not taking pride in making the choice. he's not saying he's a martyr. if your pain is self-chosen, then relieving the pain is a choice you can make as well, and that's the point of the song (as the mccready quote and the rest of the song's lyrics show). it's a song about changing oneself, not bragging.
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Re: Mad Season - Above

Post by Fuzzcharger »

dkfan9 wrote:
Birds in Hell wrote:
Fuzzcharger wrote:That 'pain is self chosen' lyric is really terrible. It's strikes me as incredibly lame to appoint yourself as some tragic martyr and celebrate it cause you chose to live out some rock'n'roll fantasy existence that turned around and bit you an the ass. I like AiC and Mad Season but that druggy, rock'n'roll mythologising is so boring.
Well said.
not at all. that's an incorrect interpretation of the line. he's not taking pride in making the choice. he's not saying he's a martyr. if your pain is self-chosen, then relieving the pain is a choice you can make as well, and that's the point of the song (as the mccready quote and the rest of the song's lyrics show). it's a song about changing oneself, not bragging.
I can see why you'd interpret the song that way. I thought it seems pretty obvious that lyrically he is addressing knowing he has a choice between between a path of happiness and a path of deceit/pain and that he has chosen a path of pain and to be dragged down etc. It reads more about NOT changing yourself and accepting the downward spiral than changing yourself or at least making an effort to.

I never used the word bragging about the drug thing either but he didn't exactly keep it a secret did he? Just look at the lyrics on Dirt. If you don't want people to know you are into heroin don't sings songs about taking heroin y'know.
Lament wrote: Like I always say, "Anyone who thinks getting kicked in the nuts by one person sucks has never gotten kicked in the nuts by two people at the same time."
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Re: Mad Season - Above

Post by Chloe »

Fuzzcharger wrote:
dkfan9 wrote:
Birds in Hell wrote:
Fuzzcharger wrote:That 'pain is self chosen' lyric is really terrible. It's strikes me as incredibly lame to appoint yourself as some tragic martyr and celebrate it cause you chose to live out some rock'n'roll fantasy existence that turned around and bit you an the ass. I like AiC and Mad Season but that druggy, rock'n'roll mythologising is so boring.
Well said.
not at all. that's an incorrect interpretation of the line. he's not taking pride in making the choice. he's not saying he's a martyr. if your pain is self-chosen, then relieving the pain is a choice you can make as well, and that's the point of the song (as the mccready quote and the rest of the song's lyrics show). it's a song about changing oneself, not bragging.
I can see why you'd interpret the song that way. I thought it seems pretty obvious that lyrically he is addressing knowing he has a choice between between a path of happiness and a path of deceit/pain and that he has chosen a path of pain and to be dragged down etc. It reads more about NOT changing yourself and accepting the downward spiral than changing yourself or at least making an effort to.

I never used the word bragging about the drug thing either but he didn't exactly keep it a secret did he? Just look at the lyrics on Dirt. If you don't want people to know you are into heroin don't sings songs about taking heroin y'know.
I don't know that he really had a choice once he got into it so deep. Sure, the first few times anyone does any kind of drug it's a choice. In Layne's case, he did attempt rehab something like 14 times, he must have realized there was a problem and tried to get help multiple times. For a lot of true artists, their suffering feeds their creativity. How many amazing artists have been lost in the last 60 years to something similar?
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Re: Mad Season - Above

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B, what software did you use to put this together?
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