broken iris wrote:Point me to a band that hasn't had at least one single worse than this song, much less at 23 years into their career.
They already had one much, much worse:
Um... no.
I don't understand how anyone can listen that song, LBC, and not cringe. Maybe that's why I don't hate Sirens, I got past PJ releasing bad songs when that turd came out.
That's a great endorsement of Sirens, that
RisingTides wrote:There is more kindness on the internet than we would care to admit to ourselves. Sometimes we are so afraid of falling victim to a ruse, we miss out on actual opportunities.
broken iris wrote:Point me to a band that hasn't had at least one single worse than this song, much less at 23 years into their career.
They already had one much, much worse:
Um... no.
I don't understand how anyone can listen that song, LBC, and not cringe. Maybe that's why I don't hate Sirens, I got past PJ releasing bad songs when that turd came out.
Yea, I'm kind of on and off with LBC... but it's in between "I really don't want to be subjected to this song right now" and "oh wow, look at that, I'm actually singing along to this... what just happened". The funny thing is that I recently listened to some of the molo sessions, so anytime I hear LBC now, there's a whole chorus of Africans in the background, which really helps me to appreciate it somehow
Last edited by WaitingForBluey on Fri September 20, 2013 8:29 pm, edited 1 time in total.
theplatypus wrote:A solo is when the guitar goes twiddly diddly
theplatypus wrote:There are parts of LBC that are really powerful and kind of beautiful, but it's undercut by the incredibly stupid title and refrain.
Jorge, which PJ albums are top-tier / perfection in your opinion? I don't think I ever asked you.
RisingTides wrote:There is more kindness on the internet than we would care to admit to ourselves. Sometimes we are so afraid of falling victim to a ruse, we miss out on actual opportunities.
theplatypus wrote:There are parts of LBC that are really powerful and kind of beautiful, but it's undercut by the incredibly stupid title and refrain.
Yea, I wonder... if the title was better, would people have such a problem with LBC... because there are some very good moments in it. The opening palm mute thing seems even more corny now that we have the same basic thing with Unthought Known... Ed's go-to opening guitar motif... but once the songs open up a bit ("hold me and make it the truth...") it has some very good qualities.
theplatypus wrote:A solo is when the guitar goes twiddly diddly
I'm liking Sirens, still not completely sure. It's a big risk putting this song on an album and making it the 2nd or most important "single" to promote the album. It's one thing to be buried in the album somewhere or have it released as some obscure single like Ole or from a movie. This could backfire and flop, or it could propel the band back to some "commercial" success in the form of a platinum record, Top 40 hit, awards, etc. Until then, within a year or so will we really know what we have here. My heart is hopeful for them if this is what they want, but my ears say that I'll probably tire of this track.
I'm afraid this will be their "I don't wanna miss a thing".
I think this song could have been worked better and made with an edge or more attitude. The Hoobastank comparison is perfect. Their song was very catchy back in the day, and I was glad that PJ never did that. LBC was a little attempt at that, but the song has some PJ teeth to it and it wasn't released as a single.
theplatypus wrote:There are parts of LBC that are really powerful and kind of beautiful, but it's undercut by the incredibly stupid title and refrain.
Jorge, which PJ albums are top-tier / perfection in your opinion? I don't think I ever asked you.
I'm pretty sure he has touted No Code as the perfect PJ playlist...
Oh, I know his favourite album is No Code, but I also thought albums like Riot Act were up there for him. Just wondering if there's anything in "the canon" which he finds less good.
RisingTides wrote:There is more kindness on the internet than we would care to admit to ourselves. Sometimes we are so afraid of falling victim to a ruse, we miss out on actual opportunities.
theplatypus wrote:There are parts of LBC that are really powerful and kind of beautiful, but it's undercut by the incredibly stupid title and refrain.
I prefer the "let the show begin" version.
MSG 1 2003?
I was joking just because...but I think they first did it in 03 at the beginning of the second US leg or end of the first and just incorporated that line to get a rise out of the crowd. I could never adequately explain how I felt about LBC, other than its a decent song, but probably not good enough to do what it was intended to do, which was a touching tribute to the fans that died at Roskilde in 2000. I always thought it was good, but they could have done better.
theplatypus wrote:There are parts of LBC that are really powerful and kind of beautiful, but it's undercut by the incredibly stupid title and refrain.
Jorge, which PJ albums are top-tier / perfection in your opinion? I don't think I ever asked you.
No Code is my absolute favorite, but I can't really say that it's perfect in my eyes. I was never a huge fan of "Lukin", and I feel fairly indifferent about "Mankind". I like that those songs are there because they contribute to the hodgepodge feel of the record, but I never really feel like listening to them on their own. As much as I like those middle records, I don't think there's one I can't find a flaw with, and that's okay.
Anders wrote:I do not have a «neoliberal assessment of geopolitics», so please stop writing that I do.
theplatypus wrote:There are parts of LBC that are really powerful and kind of beautiful, but it's undercut by the incredibly stupid title and refrain.
Jorge, which PJ albums are top-tier / perfection in your opinion? I don't think I ever asked you.
No Code is my absolute favorite, but I can't really say that it's perfect in my eyes. I was never a huge fan of "Lukin", and I feel fairly indifferent about "Mankind". I like that those songs are there because they contribute to the hodgepodge feel of the record, but I never really feel like listening to them on their own. As much as I like those middle records, I don't think there's one I can't find a flaw with, and that's okay.
RisingTides wrote:There is more kindness on the internet than we would care to admit to ourselves. Sometimes we are so afraid of falling victim to a ruse, we miss out on actual opportunities.
this is just a flyby--I can't get caught up with this thread right now, but I got another reaction from a non/casual fan I sent the song to. I was describing my confusion about it, the power balladry, etc. This was the second e-mail from the guy who wondered if it was about mass shootings
So I was curious about the reactions to my theory, and I checked out red mosquito (but couldn't find your post). I did find your review, which was dead on. I'm not sure it's specifically about mass shootings anymore...I mainly get that from the first paragraph of lyrics, about the "circus so profound" and sirens "more and more in this here town".
But I fucking love the song.
I think the music is intentionally raw and stripped down because the song itself is simultaneously about two emotions...fear of loss and appreciation of the love you have. It's about being "shaken up" but then feeling like things are ok, for now. It's a tender, genuine song, and there is a clumsiness, even awkwardness, to genuine tenderness and that comes through genuinely as well.
I also think that you are dead on in your review that if you've never had that kind of love (the air kind-link your review if you like for Sam and Dave) then the song could seem cheesy. It captures that emotion perfectly...and I know for sure that before Portia and Aidan I wouldn't have gotten it at all...it just would have nothing to resonate to in me. Even though I will say I loved Mary Ellen, and I was sad when she broke up with me (repeatedly), I never had a love that would devastate me and forever change my life if I lost the person I loved with her.
This song, for me, anyway, is a lot like the Tom Waits song "Tell Me" is for Stip, with the connection to complex emotion.
