Eddie Vedder - Earthling

[Ms Harmless]

The Haves would genuinely work if Ed was actually poor or working class, and the song was ironically reclaiming "the haves" "for the people", as it were; he's just not in the position to be able to do that

I dont know that actually being a member of a social class is necessary to either share, endorse, or sing about a particular cause or set of values. We wouldnt say Ed cant sing about feminist themes because he’s a guy. But you do need to be mindful about self identification. Plus, as KD pointed out, that’s not really what this song is about and the very particular associations with have/have nots make it a terrible central metaphor

Not a great argument because one doesn't need to identify as woman or female to be a feminist.

one doesnt need to be poor to be a socialist, or black to be concerned about racisim, etc.

they don't, but they're very unlikely to produce good art about those things if they're not directly affected

For what it’s worth, John Fogerty was not born on the bayou.

right, and he didn't create the music that comes from the Bayou either; Black blues artists did

[Strat]

The Haves would genuinely work if Ed was actually poor or working class, and the song was ironically reclaiming "the haves" "for the people", as it were; he's just not in the position to be able to do that

I dont know that actually being a member of a social class is necessary to either share, endorse, or sing about a particular cause or set of values. We wouldnt say Ed cant sing about feminist themes because he’s a guy. But you do need to be mindful about self identification. Plus, as KD pointed out, that’s not really what this song is about and the very particular associations with have/have nots make it a terrible central metaphor

Not a great argument because one doesn't need to identify as woman or female to be a feminist.

one doesnt need to be poor to be a socialist, or black to be concerned about racisim, etc.

they don't, but they're very unlikely to produce good art about those things if they're not directly affected

For what it’s worth, John Fogerty was not born on the bayou.

10/10

[Jaeti]

The first two Pearl Jam records are, by and large, exercises in militant empathy. Observe a wrong and vanish inside it. Become the spark. Turn on the amps. Whatever happens next, happens.

But at LEAST as far back as Binaural, I just don't think he had that capacity in his songwriting anymore. He kept trying...especially on ST...but what used to be an almost totally stripped emotional wire now had protective layers. So the approach changed. Continue to observe the wrong. Continue to speak to the wrong. But keep yourself. You are yours. You have to be.

I'm saying that it shifted with time into more of a controlled thing. An intellectual exercise. A craft.

That militant empathy still informs a lot of his work (you can see it in Into the Wild, and on songs like Sleight of Hand, Army Reserve...not as much of Backspacer/LB, I guess), just as it pervades so very, very much of what he does and aspires to. It still exists as a spark to create. But the ability to let himself live inside that spark and whatever happens, happens....is gone.

Gigaton broke free of this problem in part because the wrong that was weighing on his mind was every bit as personal as it was universal. He could speak to it on a communal level simply by speaking directly to it on his own. That's a good dynamic for him, and he should look to it more often. I also think that's part of what a song like The End has going for it, as does the tail end of Brother the Cloud.

I don't hate The Haves, personally, but it is one of those rare times (and maybe I feel this way about something like My Father's Son, as well) where, when I look for the empathy that should be the true heart of the song...it feels false. Grotesque, in a way. Like a cynically applied mimic of something very old, now merely dubbed performatively useful. Gene Simmons putting on makeup before a show.

this is a good post.

Yeah, and I like that Brother the Cloud gets a citation in there, because those last sixty seconds absolutely earn it in this context.

[Tj]

The Last 60 secs might be the thing he has ever done. If it is not it is way up there. How many singers have had a moment like that 30 plus years into there career. I like how when BTC starts I feel like it gonna suck then it gets better and better all the way to the end.
I enjoy Long Way alot more than it deserves. The Haves I dig enough musically to deal with the lyrics. It definitely has a bee gees ballad vibe.

[Release_Me]

Yes, BTC is fantastic.

[lecherouslittlestump]

The Haves would genuinely work if Ed was actually poor or working class, and the song was ironically reclaiming "the haves" "for the people", as it were; he's just not in the position to be able to do that

I dont know that actually being a member of a social class is necessary to either share, endorse, or sing about a particular cause or set of values. We wouldnt say Ed cant sing about feminist themes because he’s a guy. But you do need to be mindful about self identification. Plus, as KD pointed out, that’s not really what this song is about and the very particular associations with have/have nots make it a terrible central metaphor

Not a great argument because one doesn't need to identify as woman or female to be a feminist.

one doesnt need to be poor to be a socialist, or black to be concerned about racisim, etc.

they don't, but they're very unlikely to produce good art about those things if they're not directly affected

For what it’s worth, John Fogerty was not born on the bayou.

Springsteen's parents were both vice presidents at Goldman Sachs

[liebzz]

The Haves would genuinely work if Ed was actually poor or working class, and the song was ironically reclaiming "the haves" "for the people", as it were; he's just not in the position to be able to do that

I dont know that actually being a member of a social class is necessary to either share, endorse, or sing about a particular cause or set of values. We wouldnt say Ed cant sing about feminist themes because he’s a guy. But you do need to be mindful about self identification. Plus, as KD pointed out, that’s not really what this song is about and the very particular associations with have/have nots make it a terrible central metaphor

Not a great argument because one doesn't need to identify as woman or female to be a feminist.

one doesnt need to be poor to be a socialist, or black to be concerned about racisim, etc.

they don't, but they're very unlikely to produce good art about those things if they're not directly affected

For what it’s worth, John Fogerty was not born on the bayou.

Springsteen's parents were both vice presidents at Goldman Sachs

Wait. We’re making things up now?

[LetMeSleep]

Meet lecherouslittlestump

[Johnny Turner]

Full Album Review:

https://consequence.net/2022/01/earthli ... album/amp/

[VinylGuy]

this thread is a mess

get it together RM

[Strat]

Oh cool. Hadn’t seen that yet. Hope it sparks some conversation finally !

[LetMeSleep]

I can easily wait out this one. Heard 30 secs of the first single and nothing more.

[evenslow]

Yes, BTC is fantastic.

I'm inclined to agree. Nice simple hook in the chorus sticks with you.

[VinylGuy]

fuck, im loving BTC

That outro is fucking intense

[guitar_davey]

fuck, im loving BTC

That outro is fucking intense

This is a great song.

[VinylGuy]

yeah, really cool one. So far i have two i love and one i despise with hate.

I really want to listen to this one.

[bada]

Is there anything worse than lyric videos?

[VinylGuy]

yeah, i hate them. I hardly watch them too.

[BurtReynolds]

Yeah they are pretty lazy, but I guess it's better than nothing.

[epilogue]

Yeah they are pretty lazy, but I guess it's better than nothing.

is it though?