Round 1F: Animal vs. Sleeping By Myself vs. Arc

[epilogue]

I like more than Go, even.

[Birds in Hell]

I do too but they're both fierce.

[epilogue]

Oh totally. There was a time when I thought Go was maybe a bit overrated, though. Animal, I've never felt that way about. In fact, as universally loved by fans as it is, it might actually still be underrated.

[stip]

Animal is like an angry bear tearing shit up. Top top PJ.

[stip]

I like more than Go, even.

[stip]

I do too but they're both fierce.

[stip]

Oh totally. There was a time when I thought Go was maybe a bit overrated, though. Animal, I've never felt that way about. In fact, as universally loved by fans as it is, it might actually still be underrated.

[evenslow]

Oh totally. There was a time when I thought Go was maybe a bit overrated, though. Animal, I've never felt that way about. In fact, as universally loved by fans as it is, it might actually still be underrated.

[Kevin Davis]

I wish I felt as passionately about "Animal" as the rest of you -- I like it a lot but mostly in a "this song defined my adolescence" kind of way. I feel that way about a lot of "Vs.," honestly. It still gives me a rush, but I wouldn't vote for it over any of my favorite mid-period stuff. However, none of those songs are here with us today, so "Animal" it is (though I like "SBM" plenty).

[tragabigzanda]

I wish I felt as passionately about "Animal" as the rest of you -- I like it a lot but mostly in a "this song defined my adolescence" kind of way. I feel that way about a lot of "Vs.," honestly. It still gives me a rush, but I wouldn't vote for it over any of my favorite mid-period stuff. However, none of those songs are here with us today, so "Animal" it is (though I like "SBM" plenty).

Animal is a top 5 song for me, and the studio cut only gets better with age. The song's energy, and the build at the end, are just so ferocious.

[PHATJ]

Oh totally. There was a time when I thought Go was maybe a bit overrated, though. Animal, I've never felt that way about. In fact, as universally loved by fans as it is, it might actually still be underrated.

Ditto. Animal puts balls in your mouth!

[Norah]

Go > Animal

[LetMeSleep]

Man, that 1-2-3 punch opening Vs is something, huh.

[Birds in Hell]

I wish I felt as passionately about "Animal" as the rest of you -- I like it a lot but mostly in a "this song defined my adolescence" kind of way. I feel that way about a lot of "Vs.," honestly. It still gives me a rush, but I wouldn't vote for it over any of my favorite mid-period stuff. However, none of those songs are here with us today, so "Animal" it is (though I like "SBM" plenty).

If anything, I enjoy that kind of stuff more now as a 30-something dad than I ever did before. When I was younger, I wrestled a lot with the idea that by enjoying listening to loud, angry music I would be buying into a cliche, living out some pre-determined role. I swore off listening to Pearl Jam for years because of it. I'm a little more comfortable in my own skin these days and better able to turn that kind of self-defeating analysis off (or at least curb it to some extent) and just rock out.

[PHATJ]

I wish I felt as passionately about "Animal" as the rest of you -- I like it a lot but mostly in a "this song defined my adolescence" kind of way. I feel that way about a lot of "Vs.," honestly. It still gives me a rush, but I wouldn't vote for it over any of my favorite mid-period stuff. However, none of those songs are here with us today, so "Animal" it is (though I like "SBM" plenty).

If anything, I enjoy that kind of stuff more now as a 30-something dad than I ever did before. When I was younger, I wrestled a lot with the idea that by enjoying listening to loud, angry music I would be buying into a cliche, living out some pre-determined role. I swore off listening to Pearl Jam for years because of it. I'm a little more comfortable in my own skin these days and better able to turn that kind of self-defeating analysis off (or at least curb it to some extent) and just rock out.

Just like what you like. Who gives a shit about that other noise.

[LetMeSleep]

Sydney, March 10, 1995.

[evenslow]

I don't think people realize how hard it is to combine funky with aggressive like that and still make the song sound coherent.

Might be Stone's coolest riff, in a way. And Ed's defiant lyrics/delivery were perfect for the moment. This and Corduroy are the era defining tracks for 93-95.

[epilogue]

Animal was the first Pearl Jam song to attack me. I was in that fuckers jaws and it would not let go. As I've said before, especially on the first few listens, I tend toward the slower tracks. Not the case with Animal. It was instant and hungry and powerful and primal.

And that feeling has never gone away. Each time I listen to it, I fucking feel it. And I'd say it may be Ed's best vocal, especially from pre-No Code.

[darth_vedder]

Animal was the first Pearl Jam song to attack me. I was in that fuckers jaws and it would not let go. As I've said before, especially on the first few listens, I tend toward the slower tracks. Not the case with Animal. It was instant and hungry and powerful and primal.

And that feeling has never gone away. Each time I listen to it, I fucking feel it. And I'd say it may be Ed's best vocal, especially from pre-No Code.

[chewm]

Animal is like Go, but great.