Round 1D: Red Mosquito vs. Breakerfall vs. Footsteps

[evenslow]

I think Breakerfall kind of...sucks? Not "late period Pearl Jam sucks" but I think it's definitely one of the weaker moments in the band's 1990-2000 catalogue. It's loud and driving but rings kind of hollow for me, like a detached genre exercise that presents well but doesn't tap into a tangible sense of power and urgency.

Easy vote for Red Mosquito.

Yeah Breakerfall is empty calories. Especially when you compare it to other driving track 1's like Last Exit and Brain of J.

[Kevin Davis]

I think Breakerfall kind of...sucks? Not "late period Pearl Jam sucks" but I think it's definitely one of the weaker moments in the band's 1990-2000 catalogue. It's loud and driving but rings kind of hollow for me, like a detached genre exercise that presents well but doesn't tap into a tangible sense of power and urgency.

Easy vote for Red Mosquito.

"Breakerfall" is great entrance music -- a rip-roarin', blow-the-doors-off-the-joint rocker that reaches out and smacks you in the face so that you're sure to be paying attention when more important things happen later. I can relate to the idea that it's a little underwhelming as a composition (it's easily the simplest, least thoughtful piece of music from the "Binaural" sessions), but I've also never felt the need for it to be more than it is.

But "Red Mosquito" is peak PJ -- as Stip says, the perfect rest-stop between "Vitalogy" and "No Code," with a wonderful contrast between the barnstorming instrumental section and the tender, more restrained verses and chorus. I have always loved the little arpeggio that Stone plays immediately following the "he was just paying me..." lyric, leading back into the second part of the chorus, as well as the meditative outro ("if I had known then..."), which solicits unusually strong harmony vocals from the rest of the band.

[digster]

Breakerfall always struck me as Backspacer done right; it's a quick, fun, propulsive piece of rock, and it's one of several songs that deflates the notion that the band was incapable of being anything besides willfully difficult on their Binaural/Riot Act run.

That being said, my vote's with Red Mosqutio.

[stip]

Breakerfall always struck me as Backspacer done right; it's a quick, fun, propulsive piece of rock, and it's one of several songs that deflates the notion that the band was incapable of being anything besides willfully difficult on their Binaural/Riot Act run.

That being said, my vote's with Red Mosqutio.

Breakerfall is pj trying to have fun before they learned how

[Simple Torture]

This is sort of an unfair match, because I could see myself voting for all of these songs depending on the matchup. But Red Mosquito, as others say, just hits a high that few PJ songs do. I'm all-in on it.

[BurtReynolds]

Breakerfall is a neutered rocker. Should have left it off the album in favor of one of the b-sides.

[PHATJ]

Breakerfall always struck me as Backspacer done right; it's a quick, fun, propulsive piece of rock, and it's one of several songs that deflates the notion that the band was incapable of being anything besides willfully difficult on their Binaural/Riot Act run.

That being said, my vote's with Red Mosqutio.

Breakerfall is pj trying to have fun before they learned how

Booooo.

[William Bloke]

This is sort of an unfair match, because I could see myself voting for all of these songs depending on the matchup. But Red Mosquito, as others say, just hits a high that few PJ songs do. I'm all-in on it.

I'm here too.

I've been really enjoying Footsteps lately after a long period of sort of apathy towards it. Breakerfall is fun and I've always turned it up, but...

When played side-by-side with Red Mosquito it's no real contest. This is classic PJ and a much easier vote than I expected it to be at first glance.

(but I do really really like Footsteps too...)

[tragabigzanda]

Breakerfall always struck me as Backspacer done right; it's a quick, fun, propulsive piece of rock, and it's one of several songs that deflates the notion that the band was incapable of being anything besides willfully difficult on their Binaural/Riot Act run.

That being said, my vote's with Red Mosqutio.

Breakerfall is pj trying to have fun before they learned how

Booooo.

I think more than any other PJ songs, Breakerfall and Gods' Dice really benefit from being played LOUD. Hated that album opener until it split my ear drums open.

[Bammer]

Speaking of Red Mosquito, who started (and named) the TSIS site and RM board in the first place?

[Kevin Davis]

I like "Footsteps" a lot too, especially the full-band versions. I find it odd that folks seem to zero in on it as being any more overwrought than the rest of "Ten" (or "Vs." for that matter).

[E.H. Ruddock]

I like "Footsteps" a lot too, especially the full-band versions. I find it odd that folks seem to zero in on it as being any more overwrought than the rest of "Ten" (or "Vs." for that matter).

I just think "Times of Trouble" is better than Footsteps, essentially the same song. I can't vote for the second best version of the song.

[Kevin Davis]

I wonder what the timeline of those songs is -- like, did Eddie record the "Footsteps" demo, and then in the meantime the TOTD album happens, and then finally Eddie shows up in Seattle, saying something like: "What! You can't change those lyrics! That's the song where the killer gets his comeuppance!" I wonder why that particular riff -- which isn't that exciting in and of itself -- got spread out over two songs.

[stip]

I like "Footsteps" a lot too, especially the full-band versions. I find it odd that folks seem to zero in on it as being any more overwrought than the rest of "Ten" (or "Vs." for that matter).

The full band versions work much better. The stark, simple music highlight how over the top the performance is.

Still like the song, just hasn't aged as well as others

[EJ]

I love the full band version of Footsteps.

2 of the best performances:
Zurich '92
Bridge School '96

[tragabigzanda]

We're all pretending that the harmonica version doesn't exist, right?

[Kevin Davis]

I actually took a paperclip to my copy of "Lost Dogs" and made a scratch that perfectly corresponds to the data associated with that track, lest I ever get the urge to listen to it in the future.

[chewm]

Footsteps, because Red Mosquito is gonna win anyways.
All good songs.

[chewm]

We're all pretending that the harmonica version doesn't exist, right?

I like it a lot.

[doone]

I like "Footsteps" a lot too, especially the full-band versions. I find it odd that folks seem to zero in on it as being any more overwrought than the rest of "Ten" (or "Vs." for that matter).

I just think "Times of Trouble" is better than Footsteps, essentially the same song. I can't vote for the second best version of the song.

I feel exactly the same. ToT is sooo much better.