III-46: Animal vs. All Those Yesterdays

[epilogue]

I like it fine. I'm kind of bored with it honestly. But it's all relative.

Bored because it's an older song that has sorta worn out its welcome? Like you've just heard it too many times at this point? Or was it always kinda boring for you?

[Kevin Davis]

"Animal" is a very one-note song -- it does what it does well and right, but in the end it doesn't do much. Crowning it the greatest song in Pearl Jam's catalog would be like calling Bill Laimbeer the greatest player in the history of the NBA -- his sheer brawn and raw agression is great as long as he is surrounded by other players who can do other things, but when it comes time to give out the MVP trophy, a Michael or a Magic (a "Brain of J" or "Last Exit," if you will) can summon power when necessary but is also quicker, more precise, and overall better-rounded.

My own preference for "ATY" basically stems from the fact that these days I favor melody over power, and possibly have an affinity for Pearl Jam songs that have no parallels in early '90's NBA basketball.

[Kaius]

I like it fine. I'm kind of bored with it honestly. But it's all relative.

Bored because it's an older song that has sorta worn out its welcome? Like you've just heard it too many times at this point? Or was it always kinda boring for you?

What KD said.

[epilogue]

Well said, KD.

I disagree with nearly every aspect of it, but it was well put and I appreciate that. If Animal were a longer song maybe you'd have a point about it being very one-note and not doing much. What Animal accomplishes in it's limited time far exceeds what AtY is trying to accomplish. And if we're talking melody, I'd say I like Animal's melody more than AtY's.

But for me, feeling, emotion, visceral reaction is always going to go further than any other single ingredient on its own. And Animal still feels raw and real and honest to me. AtY is stimulating in an intellectual way for sure. But it moves me much less even if it's the more complex or interesting composition. At the end of the day it still feels like a band playing out of their own league, like it's trying to hard to be Beatles-esque. Maybe that's too harsh. I still love AtY. But Animal is something else. Just a brilliant visceral rock song and a vocal performance for the ages.

[Norah]

KD is right.

[epilogue]

KD is right.

Maybe. But he's definitely sexy.

[stip]

Well said, KD.

I disagree with nearly every aspect of it, but it was well put and I appreciate that. If Animal were a longer song maybe you'd have a point about it being very one-note and not doing much. What Animal accomplishes in it's limited time far exceeds what AtY is trying to accomplish. And if we're talking melody, I'd say I like Animal's melody more than AtY's.

But for me, feeling, emotion, visceral reaction is always going to go further than any other single ingredient on its own. And Animal still feels raw and real and honest to me. AtY is stimulating in an intellectual way for sure. But it moves me much less even if it's the more complex or interesting composition. At the end of the day it still feels like a band playing out of their own league, like it's trying to hard to be Beatles-esque. Maybe that's too harsh. I still love AtY. But Animal is something else. Just a brilliant visceral rock song and a vocal performance for the ages.

Well said, DcT

[epilogue]

Well said, KD.

I disagree with nearly every aspect of it, but it was well put and I appreciate that. If Animal were a longer song maybe you'd have a point about it being very one-note and not doing much. What Animal accomplishes in it's limited time far exceeds what AtY is trying to accomplish. And if we're talking melody, I'd say I like Animal's melody more than AtY's.

But for me, feeling, emotion, visceral reaction is always going to go further than any other single ingredient on its own. And Animal still feels raw and real and honest to me. AtY is stimulating in an intellectual way for sure. But it moves me much less even if it's the more complex or interesting composition. At the end of the day it still feels like a band playing out of their own league, like it's trying to hard to be Beatles-esque. Maybe that's too harsh. I still love AtY. But Animal is something else. Just a brilliant visceral rock song and a vocal performance for the ages.

Well said, DcT

Thanks friend.

[The Argonaut]

You guys are making me want to hurl.

[epilogue]

Hey Argo.

[evenslow]

I just wanna know when Kevin Davis became Bill Simmons.

[stip]

It's the title of his second book

[Self]

"Animal" is a very one-note song

I argued this in a previous round.

All Those Yesterdays is friggin awesome. Monster riffs and progressions. The single coil tone when the outro starts is so good.

[darth_vedder]

"Animal" is a very one-note song

I argued this in a previous round.

All Those Yesterdays is friggin awesome. Monster riffs and progressions. The single coil tone when the outro starts is so good.

I'm on team ATY, but I really love the simplicity in Animal. Sometimes less is more, and Animal is a great example.

[darth_vedder]

Here's one for team ATY:

[Self]

"Animal" is a very one-note song

I argued this in a previous round.

All Those Yesterdays is friggin awesome. Monster riffs and progressions. The single coil tone when the outro starts is so good.

I'm on team ATY, but I really love the simplicity in Animal. Sometimes less is more, and Animal is a great example.

When I think of 'less is more,' Animal doesn't come to mind. There's a lot going on; tons of guitars, raucous drums, Ed yelling...With all that, it never feels like it even strays from the root and kinda gets boring over time. Maybe that's not what you meant by less is more, and maybe I'm a douche. But, I'm in the mood to post.

[darth_vedder]

"Animal" is a very one-note song

I argued this in a previous round.

All Those Yesterdays is friggin awesome. Monster riffs and progressions. The single coil tone when the outro starts is so good.

I'm on team ATY, but I really love the simplicity in Animal. Sometimes less is more, and Animal is a great example.

When I think of 'less is more,' Animal doesn't come to mind. There's a lot going on; tons of guitars, raucous drums, Ed yelling...With all that, it never feels like it even strays from the root and kinda gets boring over time. Maybe that's not what you meant by less is more, and maybe I'm a douche. But, I'm in the mood to post.

I guess what I meant it's just more raw and simplistic, compared to say Cropduster. Cropduster is more of a complexly crafted song, while Animal is just straight up rawk. Yeah, there are things going on, but more in an intense kinda way, and not in a more layered / complicated way like Cropduster, Evacuation, ATY, the Present Tense Jam, Insignificance, Sleight of Hand, Matt Cameron songs, etc...

That in no way is a knock on Animal. I love the song, and it's the reason I became a fan of the band. It's my first love. I just love ATY more.

[Birds in Hell]

Animal.

Deserves to win this whole thing. Kinda surprised it never has.

[Self]

"Animal" is a very one-note song

I argued this in a previous round.

All Those Yesterdays is friggin awesome. Monster riffs and progressions. The single coil tone when the outro starts is so good.

I'm on team ATY, but I really love the simplicity in Animal. Sometimes less is more, and Animal is a great example.

When I think of 'less is more,' Animal doesn't come to mind. There's a lot going on; tons of guitars, raucous drums, Ed yelling...With all that, it never feels like it even strays from the root and kinda gets boring over time. Maybe that's not what you meant by less is more, and maybe I'm a douche. But, I'm in the mood to post.

I guess what I meant it's just more raw and simplistic, compared to say Cropduster. Cropduster is more of a complexly crafted song, while Animal is just straight up rawk. Yeah, there are things going on, but more in an intense kinda way, and not in a more layered / complicated way like Cropduster, Evacuation, ATY, the Present Tense Jam, Insignificance, Sleight of Hand, Matt Cameron songs, etc...

That in no way is a knock on Animal. I love the song, and it's the reason I became a fan of the band. It's my first love. I just love ATY more.

Gotcha. I used to like it more than I do now.

Kinda reminds me of some older Zeppelin. Used to love it, but now I'd rather listen to For Your Life.

[darth_vedder]

"Animal" is a very one-note song

I argued this in a previous round.

All Those Yesterdays is friggin awesome. Monster riffs and progressions. The single coil tone when the outro starts is so good.

I'm on team ATY, but I really love the simplicity in Animal. Sometimes less is more, and Animal is a great example.

When I think of 'less is more,' Animal doesn't come to mind. There's a lot going on; tons of guitars, raucous drums, Ed yelling...With all that, it never feels like it even strays from the root and kinda gets boring over time. Maybe that's not what you meant by less is more, and maybe I'm a douche. But, I'm in the mood to post.

I guess what I meant it's just more raw and simplistic, compared to say Cropduster. Cropduster is more of a complexly crafted song, while Animal is just straight up rawk. Yeah, there are things going on, but more in an intense kinda way, and not in a more layered / complicated way like Cropduster, Evacuation, ATY, the Present Tense Jam, Insignificance, Sleight of Hand, Matt Cameron songs, etc...

That in no way is a knock on Animal. I love the song, and it's the reason I became a fan of the band. It's my first love. I just love ATY more.

Gotcha. I used to like it more than I do now.

Kinda reminds me of some older Zeppelin. Used to love it, but now I'd rather listen to For Your Life.

As with Animal, I still Communication Breakdown. It'll always be a favorite of mine.