Round G: Release vs. Dirty Frank vs. Hail Hail

Post by **stip** » Sat February 13, 2016 1:38 pm

Vote for your favorite

Post by **stip** » Sat February 13, 2016 1:52 pm

It's obviously not Dirty Frank.

Hail Hail has grown on my over the years from a mid tier song to one of their better fast songs. And the lyrics in the verses (not so much the chorus) have always been top notch--a song with genuine insight into its subject matter. But it's not a favorite riff and it's not a favorite vocal performance.

For all the storm and stress melodrama in Release it still manages to feel powerful, the lyrics are touching, it is full of genuinely moving moments, the chorus is amazing (this is still an incredible eddie showcase), and the transition into the chorus (I'll ride the wave/I'll hold the pain/I'll open up/I'll wait up in the dark for you to speak to me) is one of the absolute high points in the catalog.

I think in the end even if you love Hail Hail, it is a song another band could have written. No one else could have done Release.

Vote for Release.

chewm · Post by **chewm** » Sat February 13, 2016 2:42 pm

Hail Hail is fantastic, but Release might be my favorite Pearl Jam song.

LoathedVermin72 · Sat February 13, 2016 2:48 pm

"Release" is great, but "Hail, Hail" is close to being their best song.

PHATJ · Post by **PHATJ** » Sat February 13, 2016 2:50 pm

Release was my favorite song for 20+ years. I still love it dearly.

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

Don't like Dirty Frank, so that's excluded easily enough. The other two are favorites of mine, for diametrically opposed reasons. Hail Hail is certainly a more impressive song in terms of lyric and construction, but in the right moment Release can hit really hard (it's also my live PJ white whale); 7 PJ shows and I've never gotten it.

It's a toss up, but coincidentally Hail, Hail came up on shuffle as I'm writing this. That bridge in the middle is truly stunning, and shockingly private for such an up-tempo song. I'll go with Hail Hail for now.

Kevin Davis · Post by **Kevin Davis** » Sat February 13, 2016 3:14 pm

I thought "Hail, Hail" was in the winners' circle already. Let's send it.

darth_vedder · Post by **darth_vedder** » Sat February 13, 2016 3:17 pm

Hail Hail is probably Pearl Jam's best "heavy" song. It's perfect.

ABNorman · Post by **ABNorman** » Sat February 13, 2016 3:33 pm

LoathedVermin72 wrote:"Release" is great, but "Hail, Hail" is close to being their best song.

darth_vedder wrote:Hail Hail is probably Pearl Jam's best "heavy" song. It's perfect.

Post by **epilogue** » Sat February 13, 2016 3:34 pm

Whoa boy!

Release v Hail Hail! GOTdamn. This is a hot match. Two of my all time favorites. Both deserve to win the whole thing. 5 years ago I probably would have voted for Release. It's a really special song; one of two that made me a fan of the band in the first place.

But today...

It's Hail Hail.

vedder316 · Post by **vedder316** » Sat February 13, 2016 4:02 pm

Tough one, similar to the PT vs. Faithfull matchup. Both are top tier PJ, but Hail, Hail is slightly, ever so slightly, nearer the top for me.

Post by **The Argonaut** » Sat February 13, 2016 4:32 pm

I'm glad it's leaning Hail Hail over Release. Keep it up...

tommymtcom · Post by **tommymtcom** » Sat February 13, 2016 4:36 pm

Hail Hail is grade A pearl jam.

LetMeSleep · Post by **LetMeSleep** » Sat February 13, 2016 9:17 pm

Two of the best, both are fine examples of Pearl Jam and would both feature if you were introducing someone to the band.

Hail Hail takes it today.

BurtReynolds · Post by **BurtReynolds** » Sat February 13, 2016 9:19 pm

Hail Hail should win the whole damn thing.

digster · Post by **digster** » Sat February 13, 2016 9:22 pm

The gap of this victory is pretty surprising, I'd say.

Birds in Hell · Post by **Birds in Hell** » Sat February 13, 2016 9:27 pm

The only times I don't think Animal is my favourite Pearl Jam song are the times when I think Hail, Hail is my favourite Pearl Jam song.

It's the top of the mountain with these guys, a perfect moment in time.

Post by **epilogue** » Sat February 13, 2016 9:44 pm

Now that Sunburn and 10 Billion Years are out of this thing... I might be team Hail Hail to win it all!

Hail Hail or Big Wave.

Kaius · Post by **Kaius** » Sat February 13, 2016 10:01 pm

Big Wave isn't even on the same planet as Hail, Hail.

And I don't dislike Big Wave. It's in my top 10 PRAMG list. But it doesn't touch pretty much anything PrePRAMG.

Post by **epilogue** » Sat February 13, 2016 10:06 pm

Kaius wrote:Big Wave isn't even on the same planet as Hail, Hail.

And I don't dislike Big Wave. It's in my top 10 PRAMG list. But it doesn't touch pretty much anything PrePRAMG.

Sunburn and 10BY weren't going to win it all either. Doesn't stop me from rooting for them.

Red Mosquito