Red Mosquito

I don't know that I think there are any 5-star songs on this album, and that's not intended as a criticism; I think it's part of why it plays through so well. There isn't the same extreme variation between the strongest and weakest tracks that you sometimes see on PJ records. Even the best songs only aim so high, and they give back less than they demand -- it would be like PJ making an album comprised entirely of "Smile" and "All Those Yesterdays," songs that few of us would say outrank the likes of, say, "Hail, Hail" and "Do the Evolution" in comparative exercises, but return intangible charms and pleasures that songs more apt to dominate these kinds of star-ranking competitions don't and can't.

Try
Invincible
Fallout Today

The Dark
Brother the Cloud
Mrs. Mills
Good and Evil

On My Way
Long Way
Power of Right

Rose of Jericho
Picture

The Haves

evenslow wrote:Don't know if this has been clarified yet but on Smartless Ed said the band all came down and they did some recording last year with Watt. Said it sounded great.

This is getting close.

Nice. Better order my 1,500-day PJ Album Advent calendar.

Kevin Davis wrote:I don't know that I think there are any 5-star songs on this album, and that's not intended as a criticism; I think it's part of why it plays through so well. There isn't the same extreme variation between the strongest and weakest tracks that you sometimes see on PJ records. Even the best songs only aim so high, and they give back less than they demand -- it would be like PJ making an album comprised entirely of "Smile" and "All Those Yesterdays," songs that few of us would say outrank the likes of, say, "Hail, Hail" and "Do the Evolution" in comparative exercises, but return intangible charms and pleasures that songs more apt to dominate these kinds of star-ranking competitions don't and can't.

That’s true about most of the songs. I can’t stand the Elton song, and there are a few highlights, but generally I think you make a good point. It’s a fairly even album, with many solid/good songs.

Leatherhead wrote:

RockPusher wrote:

Leatherhead wrote:I turned on Power of Right for a 2nd time, then thought I'd try Rose of Jericho. 15 seconds into Rose of Jericho I had to hit stop.
2/5 stars.

If all I had was the first 15 seconds I wouldn’t think much of that song. But you do you.

Wasn't the first time I listened to it.

2 out of 3, rochambeau?

DeeDee wrote:Songs from Gigaton that are way worst than almost every song on Earthling: Never Destination, Take the long way, Alright, Buckle up.

Songs from Gigaton that aren't better than the best songs on Earthling: River Cross, Superblood Wolfmoon, Retrograde, Comes then Goes.

Songs from Gigaton that would be at the top with the best 6-7 songs from Earthling: Seven o'clock, Quick Escape, DOTC, and maybe Who ever said.

Man, it's wild how people's tastes vary.

I much prefer Take the Long Way or Buckle Up to the majority of Earthling. Blows my mind that someone would consider these songs "way worse" than almost all of Earthling. Like the Haves better than Buckle Up? Or Good and Evil better than Take the Long Way? Blasphemy!

But I guess that's the beauty of music.

dprival78 wrote:

Leatherhead wrote:

RockPusher wrote:

Leatherhead wrote:I turned on Power of Right for a 2nd time, then thought I'd try Rose of Jericho. 15 seconds into Rose of Jericho I had to hit stop.
2/5 stars.

If all I had was the first 15 seconds I wouldn’t think much of that song. But you do you.

Wasn't the first time I listened to it.

2 out of 3, rochambeau?

haha oh how I hate that lyric.

Fallout Today and Mrs. Mills (4 stars each) would both be 5-star songs with better choruses.

SJM wrote:

DeeDee wrote:Songs from Gigaton that are way worst than almost every song on Earthling: Never Destination, Take the long way, Alright, Buckle up.

Songs from Gigaton that aren't better than the best songs on Earthling: River Cross, Superblood Wolfmoon, Retrograde, Comes then Goes.

Songs from Gigaton that would be at the top with the best 6-7 songs from Earthling: Seven o'clock, Quick Escape, DOTC, and maybe Who ever said.

Man, it's wild how people's tastes vary.

I much prefer Take the Long Way or Buckle Up to the majority of Earthling. Blows my mind that someone would consider these songs "way worse" than almost all of Earthling. Like the Haves better than Buckle Up? Or Good and Evil better than Take the Long Way? Blasphemy!

But I guess that's the beauty of music.

Haha true.

Always Listen
Invincible
Fallout Today
Brother the Cloud
The Dark

Usually Listen
Power of Right
Long Way
Try
On My Way

Sometimes Listen
Rose of Jericho
Good and Evil

Skip
The Haves
Mrs. Mills
Picture

Day 1: Hated this. Invincible sounded corny as I braced myself for some sort of Bad Radio alternate timeline Eddie Vedder 80s project. Stopped before I even got to Fallout Today.
Day 2: Listened again before sunrise, on my way to a long run. With that mindset, Invincible fueled me. The corniness was me now. I didn't care. Made it through the majority of the album and let myself enjoy these guys having fun together.
Day 2 continued: Put this on again. Introduced my wife to Picture. Confessed out loud that I kind of love this album.
Day 3: Took this album on walk with my son. Phone speaker and clear skies. Wonderful afternoon. The energy in EV's performance complemented being outside quite well.
Day 4 (today): Really heard The Dark for the first time. How this man's words and delivery can still connect with me on a gut level is something. I am enjoying this all despite the dashed expectations of what this music or production should sound like to me, which if I had my druthers would be some sort of cross between Of the Girl and the Into the Wild soundtrack. Someone here said it better than I, but it makes me extremely happy to hear EV enjoying himself on his terms after the various stages of personal grievances, fears, rage and confessions he's brought to us over the years. I suspect this album will continue to reveal a lot to me. The Dark is a solid entry point into understanding/enjoying this album more and more as I go on.

tragabigzanda wrote:5:
Fallout Today
Invincible
Good and Evil
The Dark

4:
Power of Right
Brother the Cloud
On My Way
Rose of Jericho

3:
Try
The Haves

2:
Mrs. Mills
Picture

1:
Long Way

This is about where I am. Maybe swap Try and On My Way.

Mrs. Mills is better than that.

What tune is Ed’s dad on?

washing machine wrote:Day 1: Hated this. Invincible sounded corny as I braced myself for some sort of Bad Radio alternate timeline Eddie Vedder 80s project. Stopped before I even got to Fallout Today.
Day 2: Listened again before sunrise, on my way to a long run. With that mindset, Invincible fueled me. The corniness was me now. I didn't care. Made it through the majority of the album and let myself enjoy these guys having fun together.
Day 2 continued: Put this on again. Introduced my wife to Picture. Confessed out loud that I kind of love this album.
Day 3: Took this album on walk with my son. Phone speaker and clear skies. Wonderful afternoon. The energy in EV's performance complemented being outside quite well.
Day 4 (today): Really heard The Dark for the first time. How this man's words and delivery can still connect with me on a gut level is something. I am enjoying this all despite the dashed expectations of what this music or production should sound like to me, which if I had my druthers would be some sort of cross between Of the Girl and the Into the Wild soundtrack. Someone here said it better than I, but it makes me extremely happy to hear EV enjoying himself on his terms after the various stages of personal grievances, fears, rage and confessions he's brought to us over the years. I suspect this album will continue to reveal a lot to me. The Dark is a solid entry point into understanding/enjoying this album more and more as I go on.

fully agree re: the dark. its a nice encapsulation of what is best not only on the album but in contemporat EV

wease wrote:What tune is Ed’s dad on?

closer

Kevin Davis wrote:I don't know that I think there are any 5-star songs on this album, and that's not intended as a criticism; I think it's part of why it plays through so well. There isn't the same extreme variation between the strongest and weakest tracks that you sometimes see on PJ records. Even the best songs only aim so high, and they give back less than they demand -- it would be like PJ making an album comprised entirely of "Smile" and "All Those Yesterdays," songs that few of us would say outrank the likes of, say, "Hail, Hail" and "Do the Evolution" in comparative exercises, but return intangible charms and pleasures that songs more apt to dominate these kinds of star-ranking competitions don't and can't.

fully agree. with maybe a small handful of exceptions because these songs dont aim as high it is easier to enjoy them

evenslow wrote:Don't know if this has been clarified yet but on Smartless Ed said the band all came down and they did some recording last year with Watt. Said it sounded great.

This is getting close.

Yup. PJ has already recorded with Watt. Or at least this past summer. Went really well.
So, probably band decisions about next record with Watt.

washing machine wrote:Day 1: Hated this. Invincible sounded corny as I braced myself for some sort of Bad Radio alternate timeline Eddie Vedder 80s project. Stopped before I even got to Fallout Today.
Day 2: Listened again before sunrise, on my way to a long run. With that mindset, Invincible fueled me. The corniness was me now. I didn't care. Made it through the majority of the album and let myself enjoy these guys having fun together.
Day 2 continued: Put this on again. Introduced my wife to Picture. Confessed out loud that I kind of love this album.
Day 3: Took this album on walk with my son. Phone speaker and clear skies. Wonderful afternoon. The energy in EV's performance complemented being outside quite well.
Day 4 (today): Really heard The Dark for the first time. How this man's words and delivery can still connect with me on a gut level is something. I am enjoying this all despite the dashed expectations of what this music or production should sound like to me, which if I had my druthers would be some sort of cross between Of the Girl and the Into the Wild soundtrack. Someone here said it better than I, but it makes me extremely happy to hear EV enjoying himself on his terms after the various stages of personal grievances, fears, rage and confessions he's brought to us over the years. I suspect this album will continue to reveal a lot to me. The Dark is a solid entry point into understanding/enjoying this album more and more as I go on.

This brought such a huge smile to my face. Im so glad you enjoyed it. This seems to be how many people are engaging with this album, myself included.