Red Mosquito

If everyone could stop worrying about how much other people are enjoying or not enjoying the new Pearl Jam songs that'd be just great.

harmless wrote:

stip wrote:

Heathen wrote:

harmless wrote:

Heathen wrote:

harmless wrote:Right, but does anyone really do this? It seems to me that "listening until you like it" is just a constant accusation made by people who were so put off, they never went back. There has to be either enough of a spark of intrigue to keep revisiting the music, and/or the trust that the best songs grow on appreciation over time; that's been my experience.

see: Sirens thread

I don't need to. Whoever spent so long listening to Sirens did so because they were so intrigued and confused, negatively or positively, they felt they needed to understand the song's intent before dismissing it. Where that hasn't happened, where they were just bored to tears, they didn't go back. A lot of it depends on whether you have a modicum of respect and trust in the band anymore.

But those who didn't like were told several times that they had to listen more so they might finally accept it.

And look at how often that actually happened for so many people.

Yup, it did. It's pretty patronising, if you're one of them, to be told that you're lying to yourself.

It isn't lying to yourself. It is maybe saying don't rush to judgement


With songs that challenge expectations, which sirens did, you often do need several listens to get over the shock of the unexpected before you can decide if you like or don't like something on its merits. I doubt I ever said listen until you like it. But listen until you know you are hearing the song. And maybe if sucks. Maybe some people have the ability to make immediate judgements on first impressions that are 100% accurate. I, like many people don't.


Sirens was not what I expected. The song hardly struck a chord on the first few listens. I didn't even keep listening because something grabbed me. I kept listening because pj songs have a great track record with me and usually tasked some time to connect. It is worth taking that time, since it usually pays off

Birds in Hell wrote:If everyone could stop worrying about how much other people are enjoying or not enjoying the new Pearl Jam songs that'd be just great.

Is that happening?

I saw that first version of your post

I thought I was responding to you Second time that's happened when it was harmless

harmless wrote:

stip wrote:

Heathen wrote:

harmless wrote:

Heathen wrote:

harmless wrote:Right, but does anyone really do this? It seems to me that "listening until you like it" is just a constant accusation made by people who were so put off, they never went back. There has to be either enough of a spark of intrigue to keep revisiting the music, and/or the trust that the best songs grow on appreciation over time; that's been my experience.

see: Sirens thread

I don't need to. Whoever spent so long listening to Sirens did so because they were so intrigued and confused, negatively or positively, they felt they needed to understand the song's intent before dismissing it. Where that hasn't happened, where they were just bored to tears, they didn't go back. A lot of it depends on whether you have a modicum of respect and trust in the band anymore.

But those who didn't like were told several times that they had to listen more so they might finally accept it.

And look at how often that actually happened for so many people.

Yup, it did. It's pretty patronising, if you're one of them, to be told that you're lying to yourself.

The reality was that Sirens on first listen wasn't as well received by me as it was by maybe the 10th listen. Listens 20 through 30 put it in the upper echelon of PJ songs for me.

One would argue that telling someone to give this song a chance is just good practice.

I've dismissed many a song outright only to 'get it' later on.

Its patronizing if you legitimately the other person is a fool for not seeing what you see in a song, but encouraging someone is a different beast. We like what we like, end of story. But seeing as we are all Pearl Jam fans (Maybe?) I don't see the ill intent behind suggesting that someone might find a thread of enjoyment in a song they have no use for after an initial listen.

That said...if by listens 20-30 you still don't like a song. Well. You don't like the song.

sward wrote:

harmless wrote:

stip wrote:

Heathen wrote:

harmless wrote:

Heathen wrote:

harmless wrote:Right, but does anyone really do this? It seems to me that "listening until you like it" is just a constant accusation made by people who were so put off, they never went back. There has to be either enough of a spark of intrigue to keep revisiting the music, and/or the trust that the best songs grow on appreciation over time; that's been my experience.

see: Sirens thread

I don't need to. Whoever spent so long listening to Sirens did so because they were so intrigued and confused, negatively or positively, they felt they needed to understand the song's intent before dismissing it. Where that hasn't happened, where they were just bored to tears, they didn't go back. A lot of it depends on whether you have a modicum of respect and trust in the band anymore.

But those who didn't like were told several times that they had to listen more so they might finally accept it.

And look at how often that actually happened for so many people.

Yup, it did. It's pretty patronising, if you're one of them, to be told that you're lying to yourself.

The reality was that Sirens on first listen wasn't as well received by me as it was by maybe the 10th listen. Listens 20 through 30 put it in the upper echelon of PJ songs for me.

One would argue that telling someone to give this song a chance is just good practice.

I've dismissed many a song outright only to 'get it' later on.

Its patronizing if you legitimately the other person is a fool for not seeing what you see in a song, but encouraging someone is a different beast. We like what we like, end of story. But seeing as we are all Pearl Jam fans (Maybe?) I don't see the ill intent behind suggesting that someone might find a thread of enjoyment in a song they have no use for after an initial listen.

I think stip should listen to Binaural until it becomes its favourite album BUT HE JUST WON'T DO IT

Harmless got this right a few posts ago. If you still like/ trust the artist it seems natural to do this. If you don't then it doesn't seem worth your time.

Heathen wrote:

sward wrote:

harmless wrote:

stip wrote:

Heathen wrote:

harmless wrote:

Heathen wrote:

harmless wrote:Right, but does anyone really do this? It seems to me that "listening until you like it" is just a constant accusation made by people who were so put off, they never went back. There has to be either enough of a spark of intrigue to keep revisiting the music, and/or the trust that the best songs grow on appreciation over time; that's been my experience.

see: Sirens thread

I don't need to. Whoever spent so long listening to Sirens did so because they were so intrigued and confused, negatively or positively, they felt they needed to understand the song's intent before dismissing it. Where that hasn't happened, where they were just bored to tears, they didn't go back. A lot of it depends on whether you have a modicum of respect and trust in the band anymore.

But those who didn't like were told several times that they had to listen more so they might finally accept it.

And look at how often that actually happened for so many people.

Yup, it did. It's pretty patronising, if you're one of them, to be told that you're lying to yourself.

The reality was that Sirens on first listen wasn't as well received by me as it was by maybe the 10th listen. Listens 20 through 30 put it in the upper echelon of PJ songs for me.

One would argue that telling someone to give this song a chance is just good practice.

I've dismissed many a song outright only to 'get it' later on.

Its patronizing if you legitimately the other person is a fool for not seeing what you see in a song, but encouraging someone is a different beast. We like what we like, end of story. But seeing as we are all Pearl Jam fans (Maybe?) I don't see the ill intent behind suggesting that someone might find a thread of enjoyment in a song they have no use for after an initial listen.

I think stip should listen to Binaural until it becomes its favourite album BUT HE JUST WON'T DO IT

I had binaural at number 2, once upon a time.

Heathen wrote:

sward wrote:

harmless wrote:

stip wrote:

Heathen wrote:

harmless wrote:

Heathen wrote:

harmless wrote:Right, but does anyone really do this? It seems to me that "listening until you like it" is just a constant accusation made by people who were so put off, they never went back. There has to be either enough of a spark of intrigue to keep revisiting the music, and/or the trust that the best songs grow on appreciation over time; that's been my experience.

see: Sirens thread

I don't need to. Whoever spent so long listening to Sirens did so because they were so intrigued and confused, negatively or positively, they felt they needed to understand the song's intent before dismissing it. Where that hasn't happened, where they were just bored to tears, they didn't go back. A lot of it depends on whether you have a modicum of respect and trust in the band anymore.

But those who didn't like were told several times that they had to listen more so they might finally accept it.

And look at how often that actually happened for so many people.

Yup, it did. It's pretty patronising, if you're one of them, to be told that you're lying to yourself.

The reality was that Sirens on first listen wasn't as well received by me as it was by maybe the 10th listen. Listens 20 through 30 put it in the upper echelon of PJ songs for me.

One would argue that telling someone to give this song a chance is just good practice.

I've dismissed many a song outright only to 'get it' later on.

Its patronizing if you legitimately the other person is a fool for not seeing what you see in a song, but encouraging someone is a different beast. We like what we like, end of story. But seeing as we are all Pearl Jam fans (Maybe?) I don't see the ill intent behind suggesting that someone might find a thread of enjoyment in a song they have no use for after an initial listen.

I think stip should listen to Binaural until it becomes its favourite album BUT HE JUST WON'T DO IT

Yeah..after awhile you just can't help someone.

Speaking of Binaural. Ive been unfair to her the last bit and quickly put this album ahead of her on the perch. Need to give her a fair listen again before I dare do that!

stip wrote:I had binaural at number 2, once upon a time.

That's pretty shocking. What terrible things happened to you then?

The songs got boring

Heathen wrote:

stip wrote:I had binaural at number 2, once upon a time.

That's pretty shocking. What terrible things happened to you then?

RM, I assume

McParadigm wrote:

Heathen wrote:

stip wrote:I had binaural at number 2, once upon a time.

That's pretty shocking. What terrible things happened to you then?

RM, I assume

I was thinking fatherhood

No one went to backspacer?

stip wrote:No one went to backspacer?

NO

I find the idea that Binaural contains no dad rock elements pretty funny.

harmless wrote:I find the idea that Binaural contains no dad rock elements pretty funny.

Too dark for family listening sessions

McParadigm wrote:

stip wrote:No one went to backspacer?

NO

Are... Are you sure?

I thought the same thing about riot act, too. I was basically trying to convince myself that I still loved what they were doing. Plus I had overplayed pj to the point that new stuff seemed better than it was.




The RVM remixes reminded me how much I love ten. And then s/t had them return to the type of songwriting that I prefer.


And honestly, posting on rm made me much more self aware about what I love, what I like, what it am indifferent to, and what I dislike. Especially the guided tour threads and sotm threads