Song of the Moment: Let the Records Play

[Soulfire]

These little moments have the warmth of "Riot Act". They might be clipped by BO'B's pop leanings (they are), but it feels as if he's allowed them to indulge themselves this time... just a little, almost like the kidnapper is asking his victim what she'd like from the shops.

A great visual for the sentiment I'm feeling about this batch of songs. Haha

[stip]

I'm not hearing any irony in the chorus, personally, especially since the chorus is the only time I think Ed stops telling the story of the guy and comments on it.

i will definitely start thinking about this the next time I listen. I'm not really investing myself in lyrics yet since I want the liner notes and I want to hear all the songs, since I tend to think one might give some clues about the mindset of another

[harmless]

I'm not hearing any irony in the chorus, personally, especially since the chorus is the only time I think Ed stops telling the story of the guy and comments on it.

i will definitely start thinking about this the next time I listen. I'm not really investing myself in lyrics yet since I want the liner notes and I want to hear all the songs, since I tend to think one might give some clues about the mindset of another

[jgardz]

I don't mind when they try something different, and I don't mind their catchy tunes, but I can't find a damn thing to like in this one yet...I don't feel like every song should have a "PJ" sound, but this just isn't the type of song I dig at all, by PJ or anyone else...I'm just gonna leave this one off the playlist til I can try it again in the context of the whole album, cause right now I just picture the dudes from busom buddies dancing together with the fat neighbour during that chorus.
That all being said, I'm glad SOME people here are digging it...to each their own and all that...but for me, if you're gonna try new stuff based squarely on music from another era, I much prefer something like "Sunburn", which channelled some 60's pop, a little gospel, and some folk and made something different, as opposed to whatever this is. Glad they didn't play it safe, but truly not feeling it!

[Strat]

I like the chorus and i love the verses. I just dont like them put together. If that makes any sense....


I also keep wanting them to kick into the True Blood theme

and, fuck fade-outs

[fishbob]

This ain't too bad a song, but fuck I've said it before and I'll say it again: Brendan O'Brien is killing this band.

[stip]

I like the chorus and i love the verses. I just dont like them put together. If that makes any sense....


I also keep wanting them to kick into the True Blood theme

and, fuck fade-outs

yeah, another song where I don't get the fade out. Maybe it'll make sense when sleeping by myself follows it.

[Strat]

I like the chorus and i love the verses. I just dont like them put together. If that makes any sense....


I also keep wanting them to kick into the True Blood theme

and, fuck fade-outs

yeah, another song where I don't get the fade out. Maybe it'll make sense when sleeping by myself follows it.

This one in particular sucks because it seems as though they are just about to really let loose, really find a groove and a space to tear it up.

BOB does not like that i guess

[harmless]

I like the chorus and i love the verses. I just dont like them put together. If that makes any sense....


I also keep wanting them to kick into the True Blood theme

and, fuck fade-outs

yeah, another song where I don't get the fade out. Maybe it'll make sense when sleeping by myself follows it.

This one in particular sucks because it seems as though they are just about to really let loose, really find a groove and a space to tear it up.

BOB does not like that i guess

It sounds like BO'B has a "functional" view of songs. They're like short adverts, radio jingles to sell your band. But once they're over they're over, cut or fade.

[Strat]

I like the chorus and i love the verses. I just dont like them put together. If that makes any sense....


I also keep wanting them to kick into the True Blood theme

and, fuck fade-outs

yeah, another song where I don't get the fade out. Maybe it'll make sense when sleeping by myself follows it.

This one in particular sucks because it seems as though they are just about to really let loose, really find a groove and a space to tear it up.

BOB does not like that i guess

It sounds like BO'B has a "functional" view of songs. They're like short adverts, radio jingles to sell your band. But once they're over they're over, cut or fade.

Yea, he's the worst now.

[stip]

this gave me a thread idea

[Juvenal]

this gave me a thread idea

Oh fuck!

[stip]

that comes later

[harmless]

I like the chorus and i love the verses. I just dont like them put together. If that makes any sense....


I also keep wanting them to kick into the True Blood theme

and, fuck fade-outs

yeah, another song where I don't get the fade out. Maybe it'll make sense when sleeping by myself follows it.

This one in particular sucks because it seems as though they are just about to really let loose, really find a groove and a space to tear it up.

BOB does not like that i guess

It sounds like BO'B has a "functional" view of songs. They're like short adverts, radio jingles to sell your band. But once they're over they're over, cut or fade.

Yea, he's the worst now.

We've been saying that past albums worked in spite of BO'B, not because of him. Might this be another one? Is there a chance that more compromises were reached this time? Jeff and Mike pushed for 'Yellow Moon', for example, but also, for all its cheesiness, there's stuff here that BO'B didn't do in Backspacer at all.

[stip]

i really do like that chorus. I think I like this song more than getawy

[PHATJ]

I really like this song. Mike is a monster in a big way. The verses are superior to the chorus for sure. 4/5

[96583UP]

oh my god this fade out is waterboarding-worthy. WTF BOB.

initial repulsion at the fade-out aside (because live, there may actually be a gnarly blues jam at the end that continues for a while instead - we can pray - unless BOB decides to just jump on stage and stop everyone from playing, which he might do, because he has an urge to play twinkle twinkle litter star on keyboards for everyone instead), this one starts off like it might have a chance - and then ed starts singing, and it goes from deep dripping blues, to a sunshiney public service announcement about how positivity and looking both ways before you cross the street are important and don't let the water run when you're brushing your teeth and everything will work out in the end.

thank god there is a solo at the end - eventhough it got murdered by BOB. I mean, who wants to hear Pearl Jam Jam anyways right?!? oh yeah, everyone...

It is like they want to unleash a beast here, but "new Ed" wants to just start blabbing it up as per his usualy new Ed "hey look at me, I am including too many words in a new song again, what's that? you wanted to play some instruments? Well let me just say something over top of every damn note that you wrote so there's barely any music without me singing at the exact same time!"

hopefully live they can unleash the beast, without Camp-Counselor Ed showing up and redirecting the cigarette smoking campers into the arts and crafts center for some elbow macaroni and pipe cleaner artwork.

[harmless]

Guys, I've been thinking about the lyrics to this one, after our conversation yesterday about whether the happy chorus, with the "I" speaking, is meant to be ironic. And I don't think it is. I think it's Ed speaking of himself, contrasting that with a story about someone else, possibly his prior self ("I've been down..."). But now he's saying he's over it all. He's not 'that guy' anymore.

But as I said, the key to unlocking these lyrics is the title, 'Let the Records Play.' As I wanted, I still think it's double entendre, with the legal term: 'Let the records show...' because Ed is contrasting the final judgement of two different lives at 'the end-times': "When the kingdom comes, he puts his records on, and with his blistered thumb hits play." There's a lot of Evangelical talk of the final judgement, where God will play you like a movie-reel of your life, and you'll get to see whether you passed muster and "get the prize". Meh. So this playing of records represents that. This guy has all the faith in the world, but he's about to get oblivion so is drinking himself to death. In contrast, Ed (the "I" of the chorus) is not that. He is the "metaphysically-redeemed" speaker of Mind Your Manners, who has chosen his own way, and it means no fear in the prospect of death, guilt or judgement.

[stip]

Could be. The lyrics seem to be reaching for more than the past songs we have equated this to

[harmless]

If anything, we might find that lyrically, this album is the same song 12 times. I'd be perfectly fine with that, since in the last two albums the songs were just thematically all over the place.