Red Mosquito

stip wrote:gsmf is everything i wanted breakerfall to me. its not close to my favorite opener because there are so many great ones, but it is definitely a solid 4 star song. i like stone’s backing vocals in the chorus, matt’s energy throughout, and the main guitar line is a lot of fun. I like how bright it feels despite its grunge affectations. the intro/outro parts are great. everyone plays this one hard.

eddie’s vocals have a bit too much s/t stylings to them on the first 4 songs. it is fine because the songs move you through themselves so quickly, but it is a slightly awkward fit

stip wrote:got some is so great musically, but eddie lets this one down a bit. both the lyrics (among his few efforts I just think generally fail) and a vocal performance that sounds reedy and thin next to the music.

but its still a very fun song, one I alway like more than I remembered. I consistently underrate this one

stip wrote:god I love so much about the fixer. the lyrics, the melody, the optimism in the playing (a breath of fresh air after the three prior albums), the slightly off kilter pop sensibilities in the music.

it isnt perfect. again, too much S/T in the vocals, and moments are slightly more processed than they should be. but wonderful all the same

stip wrote:again, the S/T range in eddie’s vocals arent the right choice for this song, but I love everything else about it. I think this was one of eddie’s most accomplished vocal melodies to date (always reminded me of a dire straits song), the writing is clever and out of eddie’s usually wheelhouse, and the music is filthy in all the right ways.


could have been maybe 50 seconds longer

stip wrote:I have cooled on just breathe a little bit. Eddie’s playing is lovely, and ‘I’m a lucky man to count on both hands the one I love’ is my favorite lyric of this type since ‘i wish i was the verb to trust and never let you down’. the problem is how over the top the chorus is - both in how busy it is and weirdly, how loud it is. The song needs it to be a bit more gentle

still pretty good, though

stip wrote:I love the rainy may showers feel of the music in the verses of amongst the waves, and eddie’s lyrics and melody are really good. the writing (and stone) dont get the credit they deserve

problem is the chorus is a bit flat and doesnt give the song the lift it needs - neither musically, vocally, or lyrically. And Mike’s solo belongs in a different song.

i think it is partly a victim of past success. When they aim in this direction expectations are super high

stip wrote:unthought known is also a mixed bag. I love the build of the first half of the song as the instruments gradually join in and the tension rises. the way it culminates with the ‘gems and rhinestones/feel the path...’ is great. but then it stops. we have two thirds of the song left to go and there isnt anything new or better (and mike’s solo is a little lame).

there is also a bit too much of new agey ed in the first part of the song, but there are a bunch of nice lyrical moments. gems and rhinestones, the moon lyrics, dream the dreams...

just not quite enough. it aimed to be a classic, and the bones are there. but the flesh isnt

stip wrote:supersonic may be their dumbest song, but when I dont pay close attention, it actually is pretty catchy. And the bluesy bridge is good. just doesn’t belong here


it is kind of like mankind. a song I can like when I let my guard down. unlike similar songs like U and leatherman, which I just actively dislike

stip wrote:speed of sound is sloppy mess but Ive always found it engaging. I wonder how a tighter version would have worked on lightning bolt.

the word that always comes to mind when i hear speed of sound is cacophony, but in a good way. I do like this song - more than the demo. it always reminded me a bit of a spiritual follow up to off he goes (though I like this much better)

stip wrote:the main riff in force of nature is schlock, but I dont care. the song is bad for its first 20 seconds, okay for the next 25, and amazing for the rest. if this was recorded during gigaton they would have gone back and fixed the beginning (see also - lightning bolt)

stip wrote:the end isnt an everyday song. but it is a moving performance when you come back to it after a hiatus

stip wrote:yeah I am pretty comfortable ranking backspacer number 5. no higher. no lower

stip wrote:I am not making excuses for the album, but I do think backspacer’s reputation is hurt at least a little by people treating it as a ‘standard’ pearl jam album, rather than the palate cleanser it is. the catalog doesnt need 11 backspacers, but it absolutely needs one

Jaeti wrote:

stip wrote:I am not making excuses for the album, but I do think backspacer’s reputation is hurt at least a little by people treating it as a ‘standard’ pearl jam album, rather than the palate cleanser it is. the catalog doesnt need 11 backspacers, but it absolutely needs one

I appreciate and respect this take on it, and found myself thinking about it in this light yesterday based on something else you said in some thread (probably re: FoN/Ultimate). I would love to be swayed by the spirit of it, but, in the end, even making various allowances for this or that, the songs just let me down.