34. Of the Earth vs. Hold On vs. Force of Nature

[Strat]

I do remember i saw of the earth in Denver in 2014 and it was pretty fucking awesome. A listen back and the song absolutely suffers from the lyrics/melody. However, there are a few moments that make up for it and the music itself and performance is pretty awesome.

[digster]

Hold On has always been kind of a slog to me; I can appreciate it more in the context of the band's b-sides rather than landing a prime slot on a proper record, but I still typically find myself skipping it. They just don't really find anything in the song to keep me coming back.

Force of Nature barely feels like it has the energy to get itself over the finish line (it's pretty striking that Backspacer's is their tight, 'poppy' record, but it's back half as a number of songs that really feel like they're dragging themselves to their conclusion). It improves slightly as it goes on, but only slightly; the lyrics are okay, but don't strike me as an example of Ed at his best or anything. Maybe, as KD said, there's a better song hidden in a substandard presentation, but for me, it'd take a pretty significant renovation.

Of the Earth has individual parts I really like, though it has the same thing that so many of Ed's songs in particular have, where it feels like there were three separate parts that were thrown together. But those parts work for me, to varying degrees. It's getting my vote, but it's only benefitting from weaker competitors.

[epilogue]

I don't need to say it again but I hate Force of Nature.

So this is between OtE and Hold On.

Voting for Hold On for now.

[Kevin Davis]

I think "Of the Earth" is a hard song to comment on -- it almost feels like a song that fans willed into the band's setlists through curiosity, despite the band's struggles to find a proper context for it elsewhere. I feel like oftentimes you'll hear a demo version of a song and hear something in it that the finished version lacks, even though the demo is imperfect and underdeveloped in other ways; "Of the Earth" feels almost like PJ being aware of that type of scenario, and deciding that while no attempts to "finish" the song were taking the proper shape, there was still enough of value in it to want to share, so maybe just share it as is warts and all. No idea if that was the thought process or not, but the song registers and ultimately works for me on some variation of that level -- kind of a peek behind the curtain, brought out as a thanks to those who care about such things. I always enjoy hearing it, but it doesn't really take hold in my mind as a work of any consequence.

[MattA75]

Force of Nature is one of the only songs on Backspacer I still enjoy so it gets my vote

Of the Earth just feels more like like an "idea" than a functioning song

I like Hold On but it's coolness wore off quickly

[Leatherhead]

Of the Earth is fuckin cool.

[stip]

Need to shut this round down early, but this will stay open for another day. Tied 15-15

[LetMeSleep]

Halfway thru OtE I went to the bar. Snooze fest.

[Norah]

This is the most boring matchup of the tournament.

[CopperTom]

Switching from Of The Earth to Force of Nature. 'Cause chaos.