Red Mosquito

of the earth isnt even good enough to be on here.

I am still writing my TSIS piece. It is absurdly long and needs editing. I have 4 songs to go. I think parts of it are pretty great. I think parts are being written before I have a full read on a song and I just hope I can find a way to make them better, or at least okay. I should have it up tomorrow night.

I'm just coming in here to share that I just finished writing about Waiting for Stevie. I counted once. I have written over 200,000 words on Pearl Jam for TSIS. I wrote the book. And somehow what I wrote about this stupid song feels like the most intensely personal, or at least emotional, thing I have ever written about this band. I still genuinely cannot believe the reaction I had to this song.

We need a 30 seconds clip of your essay.

stip wrote:I am still writing my TSIS piece. It is absurdly long and needs editing. I have 4 songs to go. I think parts of it are pretty great. I think parts are being written before I have a full read on a song and I just hope I can find a way to make them better, or at least okay. I should have it up tomorrow night.

I'm just coming in here to share that I just finished writing about Waiting for Stevie. I counted once. I have written over 200,000 words on Pearl Jam for TSIS. I wrote the book. And somehow what I wrote about this stupid song feels like the most intensely personal, or at least emotional, thing I have ever written about this band. I still genuinely cannot believe the reaction I had to this song.

How much coverage is the new album gonna get in the book, stip?

a chapter. We were given up to 32 pages, which is a lot (the whole thing is about 200, and that's 11 albums and an introduction). Even if I could fill it (I'm sure I could) it would be imbalancing (I think?) if the Dark Matter chapter was twice as long as any other album. We just need to get it to the publisher end of may at the very latest.

Hypnos wrote:We need a 30 seconds clip of your essay.

We need a metal door leak…car horns, motorcycles, the works.

Unfortunately after a pretty good start a lot of it is me half asleep writing React Respond through Upper Hand (at this point it's like 1-3 AM and I was already up last night wit the album drop) until Waiting for Steive woke me up. I have an open house for work this morning at 8:30 so I think the night is shot. I just want to get through setting sun with some dignity.

stip wrote:a chapter. We were given up to 32 pages, which is a lot (the whole thing is about 200, and that's 11 albums and an introduction). Even if I could fill it (I'm sure I could) it would be imbalancing (I think?) if the Dark Matter chapter was twice as long as any other album. We just need to get it to the publisher end of may at the very latest.

I'm sure you've got all this in hand, but if you need it proofread or subbed then I'm happy to help out - I was a journalist and editor for 20+ years.

I’m an early riser, but this morning I was up early even for me. So I made some tea, grabbed my headphones, and sat on the back porch in the dark listening to this.

What a gift it feels like I have been given.

McParadigm wrote:I’m an early riser, but this morning I was up early even for me. So I made some tea, grabbed my headphones, and sat on the back porch in the dark listening to this.

What a gift it feels like I have been given.

it's such an outstanding album, I can hardly believe it

McParadigm wrote:I’m an early riser, but this morning I was up early even for me. So I made some tea, grabbed my headphones, and sat on the back porch in the dark listening to this.

What a gift it feels like I have been given.

I've had two early morning/sunrise runs with it so far. Both times were spiritual, and both times different moments stood out.

injuddstree wrote:

McParadigm wrote:I’m an early riser, but this morning I was up early even for me. So I made some tea, grabbed my headphones, and sat on the back porch in the dark listening to this.

What a gift it feels like I have been given.

I've had two early morning/sunrise runs with it so far. Both times were spiritual, and both times different moments stood out.

We’re still a little while away from the sun starting to come up here, but I did have the thought of going back out for another spin when it gets close to time.

Jaeti wrote:Resolved: If Alive is one of your top 5 songs, then Waiting for Stevie will soon be top 5, as well.

I think we are getting carried away a little bit here.

I love Gigaton, but reflecting back on that launch some of its emotional power was that it offered a familiar light in a dark time. This is doing something very different

tragabigzanda wrote:

stip wrote:I love Gigaton, but reflecting back on that launch some of its emotional power was that it offered a familiar light in a dark time. This is doing something very different

Is it? There’s so much familiarity on this album. In fact there’s virtually nothing I’d consider novel, despite having a solid amount of aspects I’d consider great

I mean, Ed has lyrically focussed on hope and light so much in the last few records that some of the dourness and sadness of these lyrics have caught me in my tracks; I wouldn't say "novel" but I wouldn't say this album is all about providing comfort either

tragabigzanda wrote:

stip wrote:I love Gigaton, but reflecting back on that launch some of its emotional power was that it offered a familiar light in a dark time. This is doing something very different

Is it? There’s so much familiarity on this album. In fact there’s virtually nothing I’d consider novel, despite having a solid amount of aspects I’d consider great

Sorry, I meant the emotional experience of the album. It's been much more powerful, and not tied to a place/moment in the way that Gigaton was what I needed to get through that early experience.


The familiarity of the album (without feeling like a retread) is one of its strengths, but I wouldn't praise its novelty. More of Gigaton felt new.

Ello Sailor wrote:This is their best since Riot Act.

This is where I'm at as well

Did Joey ever share his thoughts?