Song of the Moment: Spin the Black Circle

[stip]

I've always respected this one more than I've liked it, if that makes sense.

It does, I feel the same. I don't dislike the song, but it suffers by being stuck between great songs, rather than being elevated.

That's true. It's still a greatly good song, but curiously diminished

[Leatherhead]

May be my favorite vocals. Love that scream.

[Kaius]

I've always respected this one more than I've liked it, if that makes sense.

It does, I feel the same. I don't dislike the song, but it suffers by being stuck between great songs, rather than being elevated.

That's true. It's still a greatly good song, but curiously diminished

When Not For You begins, STBC amnesia is already setting in. 4 minutes in and I've got full blown Black Circle Alzheimer's. It's not until the album loops back around and it comes on again that I give it thought. Even then I sometimes think, "NFY is next!" Again, I think this speaks much more to how well Vitalogy sucks you into its vortex of timelessness.

[Birds in Hell]

never cared much for this one...

I can't get by a bad chorus that makes zero connection with me - being repeated ad nauseam - enough to enjoy this song.

I think it's my least favorite song on Vitalogy.

I've always respected this one more than I've liked it, if that makes sense.

No.

Good song guys.

Yes.

[Leatherhead]

...when I lay down, your CROOOOOKEEEDD AAAARRRMM!

[Birds in Hell]

...when I lay down, your CROOOOOKEEEDD AAAARRRMM!

This guy gets it.

[spike]

...when I lay down, your CROOOOOKEEEDD AAAARRRMM!

This guy gets it.

This guy gets it.

[LoathedVermin72]

This song has been blowing my mind a little lately. It's so manic and unhinged. Eddie sounds fucking possessed. It's about the joy of a ritual, and it actually sounds ritualistic. It's like a fucking black mass for vinyl. It's barely held together. It's about to lose control at any moment. It's eyes are rolling back in its head. Aaaaaaand it's over.

[evenslow]

He manages to match the wild yet barely controlled abandon of the riff, which is saying something.

[LoathedVermin72]

your signature is so good, evenslow

[evenslow]

thanks to mr ruddock on that one

[evenslow]

completely forgot this is how the song came about:

I remember wanting everything to be faster. "Spin the Black Circle" [on 1994's Vitalogy]-Stone gave me a tape with this riff [hums it at slow speed]. I had a speed control on my machine. I speeded it up, came back and said, "Can we do it this way?"

In my head, if I slow that riff down it starts to remind me of No Way and I can see how it would be a Stone composition.

Thanks Stone/Ed!

[Strat]

This song has been blowing my mind a little lately. It's so manic and unhinged. Eddie sounds fucking possessed. It's about the joy of a ritual, and it actually sounds ritualistic. It's like a fucking black mass for vinyl. It's barely held together. It's about to lose control at any moment. It's eyes are rolling back in its head. Aaaaaaand it's over.

Im hard

[LoathedVermin72]

This song has been blowing my mind a little lately. It's so manic and unhinged. Eddie sounds fucking possessed. It's about the joy of a ritual, and it actually sounds ritualistic. It's like a fucking black mass for vinyl. It's barely held together. It's about to lose control at any moment. It's eyes are rolling back in its head. Aaaaaaand it's over.

Im hard

[solat319]

I still enjoy this song despite the shudder-inducing use of the title by Pearl Jam fans every time they buy a record. That's how I know it's good a good song.

"I hope my Lightning Bolt Sevens Box ships soon, bro! I CAN NOT WAIT TO SPIN SPIN SPIN THOSE BLACK CIRCLES!" -A Pearl Jam fan, somewhere, this very second

Your comment made me laugh out loud...because it is true.

[Kaius]

I've always respected this one more than I've liked it, if that makes sense.

It does, I feel the same. I don't dislike the song, but it suffers by being stuck between great songs, rather than being elevated.

That's true. It's still a greatly good song, but curiously diminished

When Not For You begins, STBC amnesia is already setting in. 4 minutes in and I've got full blown Black Circle Alzheimer's. It's not until the album loops back around and it comes on again that I give it thought. Even then I sometimes think, "NFY is next!" Again, I think this speaks much more to how well Vitalogy sucks you into its vortex of timelessness.

I stand by this post.

[LoathedVermin72]

Lately I've been feeling STBC more than NFY, honestly. It's so wild and chaotic. There's not really anything else like it in PJ's catalog.

[Kevin Davis]

Lately I've been feeling STBC more than NFY, honestly. It's so wild and chaotic. There's not really anything else like it in PJ's catalog.

.

I'd say I always have, really. "Not For You" has a great slow-burning build to it, but I think it's hands down one of PJ's most boring compositions. Its reputation as one of Pearl Jam's great songs has always mystified me a little, to be honest.

[mikejasond]

I never loved STBC but recently listening to Vitalogy I can appreciate it if you blast it in your car. Eddie is really good on it, and the middle section is awesome, plus the end where it just comes totally unhinged. I hate it live, but on the studio track its a pretty good one.

[Kaius]

Lately I've been feeling STBC more than NFY, honestly. It's so wild and chaotic. There's not really anything else like it in PJ's catalog.

.

I'd say I always have, really. "Not For You" has a great slow-burning build to it, but I think it's hands down one of PJ's most boring compositions. Its reputation as one of Pearl Jam's great songs has always mystified me a little, to be honest.

The composition is very basic, no argument here. I think the band makes up for it in performance, though. I'm always amazed that it clocks in at almost 6 minutes, because it doesn't feel that long. From 2:10ish - 4:30ish is one of my very favorite things in their entire catalogue.