Round 6: Sonic Reducer v Save You v Spin the Black Circle

Post by **stip** » Sat February 13, 2016 1:37 pm

Vote for your favorite

Post by **stip** » Sat February 13, 2016 1:47 pm

Good match--three very similar songs. But Sonic Reducer is a cover (and the Atlanta 94 version is better than the studio), so it's out against two stronger songs.

STBC was always the song I liked the least on Vitalogy. Now being number 10 on Vitalogy is nothing to be ashamed of, but the impact of this song was always diminished to me given its exalted company.

I think it may be a better song than Save You, but Save You has always benefited from the opposite effect. I was desperate for an aggressive rock song on Riot Act, so this one means more than it may have on a different record. But it remains a favorite in the larger catalog as well. The tired desperation works well with the music, which is fast and leaden at the same time, and the final moments of the song give us an exacerbated take on a familiar scream that feels fully earned and pretty powerful.

STBC has that great riff and that frantic energy, but it never all fully clicked together. I get the joke of the song, and really like the idea, but I think they delivered on its promise a bit more effectively in Gonna See My Friend.

Vote for Save You.

chewm · Post by **chewm** » Sat February 13, 2016 2:41 pm

I like Save You a lot better.

PHATJ · Post by **PHATJ** » Sat February 13, 2016 2:56 pm

Save You.

darth_vedder · Post by **darth_vedder** » Sat February 13, 2016 3:18 pm

PHATJ wrote:Save You.

Post by **epilogue** » Sat February 13, 2016 3:32 pm

PHATJ wrote:Save You.

Kevin Davis · Post by **Kevin Davis** » Sat February 13, 2016 6:38 pm

Pearl Jam have made multiple attempts throughout their career to sound frantic and unhinged; "Spin the Black Circle" is one of the few times they actually do. It was one of the very first Pearl Jam songs I heard, and the resonant impression it left was, "Holy shit -- loud rock music is awesome." That was over 20 years ago now, and here I still am.

Vote for "Spin the Black Circle."

Birds in Hell · Post by **Birds in Hell** » Sat February 13, 2016 8:55 pm

Save You is OK, Spin the Black Circle is black coffee in my veins. It's completely electric, one of the band's most intensely perfect moments.

LetMeSleep · Post by **LetMeSleep** » Sat February 13, 2016 10:24 pm

STBC is an example of each member firing on an okay song. The performance is the winner.

Save You is almost the opposite. The performance of a few drag it back. I'm a strong supporter of SY even with its flaws. I want it the roar with freedom but it's held back. I'd love to hear the 94 band play SY.

Today I pick Save You.

darth_vedder · Post by **darth_vedder** » Sun February 14, 2016 1:51 am

LetMeSleep wrote:STBC is an example of each member firing on an okay song. The performance is the winner.

Save You is almost the opposite. The performance of a few drag it back. I'm a strong supporter of SY even with its flaws. I want it the roar with freedom but it's held back. I'd love to hear the 94 band play SY.

Today I pick Save You.

I would love to hear the 94 band play it too, but part of what I like about the Riot Act experience is the frustration of a release never happening. Can't Keep sets that tone, and the entire album has that "drag" to it.

LoathedVermin72 · Sun February 14, 2016 1:52 am

SY and STBC are pretty much equal to me.

darth_vedder · Post by **darth_vedder** » Sun February 14, 2016 1:54 am

LoathedVermin72 wrote:SY and STBC are pretty much equal to me.

Same.

Simple Torture · Post by **Simple Torture** » Sun February 14, 2016 3:09 am

I might like Sonic Reducer better than both of those other songs, but I always find it hard to vote for a cover. So STBC

LetMeSleep · Post by **LetMeSleep** » Sun February 14, 2016 3:19 am

Simple Torture wrote:I might like Sonic Reducer better than both of those other songs, but I always find it hard to vote for a cover. So STBC

It's a good cover and it'll do well in the PJ cover tourney.

Leatherhead · Post by **Leatherhead** » Sun February 14, 2016 7:05 am

How does one vote on this shit?

Which song have I liked harder at any one given time?
Which song have I listened to more?
Which song would I rather listen to right now?
Which song would I rather listen to a week from right now?
Which song would I rather listen to yesterday?
Which song do I think is crafted better?
Which song elicits a stronger emotional response?
Which song can I listen to the most without tiring of it?
Which song do I purposely listen to or seek out live versions of, more?
Which song do I think I can play on guitar?
Which song did I more enjoy after just now listening to them?
Which song do I listen to first? Does the order at which I listen to them affect my enjoyment of each individual song? If so, that's not fair.
Which song does Eddie sound more like a lion?

........

Save You

PHATJ · Post by **PHATJ** » Sun February 14, 2016 7:22 am

Leatherhead wrote:How does one vote on this shit?

Which song have I liked harder at any one given time?
Which song have I listened to more?
Which song would I rather listen to right now?
Which song would I rather listen to a week from right now?
Which song would I rather listen to yesterday?
Which song do I think is crafted better?
Which song elicits a stronger emotional response?
Which song can I listen to the most without tiring of it?
Which song do I purposely listen to or seek out live versions of, more?
Which song do I think I can play on guitar?
Which song did I more enjoy after just now listening to them?
Which song do I listen to first? Does the order at which I listen to them affect my enjoyment of each individual song? If so, that's not fair.
Which song does Eddie sound more like a lion?

........

Save You

This is a good post. All praise to you.

thesound · Post by **thesound** » Sun February 14, 2016 9:02 am

Leatherhead wrote:How does one vote on this shit?

Which song have I liked harder at any one given time?
Which song have I listened to more?
Which song would I rather listen to right now?
Which song would I rather listen to a week from right now?
Which song would I rather listen to yesterday?
Which song do I think is crafted better?
Which song elicits a stronger emotional response?
Which song can I listen to the most without tiring of it?
Which song do I purposely listen to or seek out live versions of, more?
Which song do I think I can play on guitar?
Which song did I more enjoy after just now listening to them?
Which song do I listen to first? Does the order at which I listen to them affect my enjoyment of each individual song? If so, that's not fair.
Which song does Eddie sound more like a lion?

........

Save You

and..... sometime you just have to feel sorry for a song and throw it a vote.... not that this applies in this match up!

STBC but Save You is close.

William Bloke · Post by **William Bloke** » Sun February 14, 2016 3:46 pm

Spin spin spin.

Strat · Post by **Strat** » Sun February 14, 2016 4:45 pm

Save you and STBC are top notch rockers. Spin is a little more unhinged and exciting, save you has a special place in my heart.

Gotta go with Spin though. What a performance. Still pretty awesome live.

Leatherhead · Post by **Leatherhead** » Sun February 14, 2016 8:54 pm

William Bloke wrote:Spin spin spin.

I think it's just spin spin.

Red Mosquito