Song of the Moment: Mind Your Manners

[VinylGuy]

i loved the video..i hope they continue to show more from the creative process and the recording.

Also, Mike rules.

[ilpazzo]

Ok, after watching the Mike video... I ask again...

Can these guys PLEASE at one point get into a Studio with a producer that will record something very "LIVE" sounding... I would love to hear Albini or someone of that sort produce an album for them.

I'm in the "pro" MYM camp, but hearing the guitar parts RAW...makes me wonder what could/could've been.

[harmless]

Here's the thing. 1) I don't think the recorded guitars are too polished, I think they're too generic and too low in the mix. Hearing the riff played live we heard the imperfections better, but that's natural. And 2) Listen to VS, RVM for example. It's not really 'live sounding', it's as polished as this, just more aggressive (just listen to how different those songs sound live!). And the same could probably be said for Yield, or a few of the others. This band never defaulted to 'live sounding', and they were never that when compared to garage bands like the White Stripes. Again, I think the problem is that there's not enough nuance in the separate guitar tracks; but through headphones, you can hear a little more nuance. Modern punk is very often produced like this, it rarely sounds 'live' unless it is live.

[Blenheim Augustine]

I just find it slightly disturbing that every time they talk about writing a song they refer to other bands they wanted it to sound like. It's like they feel nothing about writing as Pearl Jam anymore. They have nothing to say.

I'm not sure this is all that uncommon with rock bands. It seems like a relatively convenient shorthand, especially if you're not well versed in theory (which I'm not sure any of PJ are).

As for them being unique, I think they are (or were) relatively innovative, or at least interesting, in their songwriting and arrangements; they do some somewhat unexpected stuff for the genre in which they reside. I think one reason they're not seen as being all that unique is that they don't have that one signature musical sound that is consistent throughout their work. Take U2 and R.E.M.; even without Bono or Stipe's vocals, you can pick out the band from the Edge's delay effects in the former and Peter Buck's arpeggios in the latter. The music in PJ has never really had a single sound that was employed for all (or most) of their work.

good point.

I think musically PJ was always defined by odd rock riffs backed up by a funk/groove-oriented rhythm section. This differentiated them from so much of the other music that was around which relied on more straight ahead drum/bass playing. Apart from Ed's distinctive vocals which are undoubtedly the defining feature, Jeff's bass playing really separated them from the pack and supported Stone's rhythm guitar. During Vitalogy they moved away from this approach, so after Vitalogy there are very few guitar hero riffs that drive songs - certainly none on the level of Even Flow, Alive, Why Go, Go, Animal, RVM etc the types of riffs that make you pick up a guitar for the first time.

I think that was there distinctive sound and they moved away from it - they've created some good music since then but they lost the groove a long time ago. Compare recent ballads to the ballads from the early days - listen to the rhythm section - listen to the bassline Jeff is playing on Black and Elderly Woman compared to Just Breathe or Thumbing My Way.

[harmless]

I just find it slightly disturbing that every time they talk about writing a song they refer to other bands they wanted it to sound like. It's like they feel nothing about writing as Pearl Jam anymore. They have nothing to say.

I'm not sure this is all that uncommon with rock bands. It seems like a relatively convenient shorthand, especially if you're not well versed in theory (which I'm not sure any of PJ are).

As for them being unique, I think they are (or were) relatively innovative, or at least interesting, in their songwriting and arrangements; they do some somewhat unexpected stuff for the genre in which they reside. I think one reason they're not seen as being all that unique is that they don't have that one signature musical sound that is consistent throughout their work. Take U2 and R.E.M.; even without Bono or Stipe's vocals, you can pick out the band from the Edge's delay effects in the former and Peter Buck's arpeggios in the latter. The music in PJ has never really had a single sound that was employed for all (or most) of their work.

good point.

I think musically PJ was always defined by odd rock riffs backed up by a funk/groove-oriented rhythm section. This differentiated them from so much of the other music that was around which relied on more straight ahead drum/bass playing. Apart from Ed's distinctive vocals which are undoubtedly the defining feature, Jeff's bass playing really separated them from the pack and supported Stone's rhythm guitar. During Vitalogy they moved away from this approach, so after Vitalogy there are very few guitar hero riffs that drive songs - certainly none on the level of Even Flow, Alive, Why Go, Go, Animal, RVM etc the types of riffs that make you pick up a guitar for the first time.

I think that was there distinctive sound and they moved away from it - they've created some good music since then but they lost the groove a long time ago. Compare recent ballads to the ballads from the early days - listen to the rhythm section - listen to the bassline Jeff is playing on Black and Elderly Woman compared to Just Breathe or Thumbing My Way.

Yup. Where's the groove? Gimme the groove.

[Strat]

I just find it slightly disturbing that every time they talk about writing a song they refer to other bands they wanted it to sound like. It's like they feel nothing about writing as Pearl Jam anymore. They have nothing to say.

I'm not sure this is all that uncommon with rock bands. It seems like a relatively convenient shorthand, especially if you're not well versed in theory (which I'm not sure any of PJ are).

As for them being unique, I think they are (or were) relatively innovative, or at least interesting, in their songwriting and arrangements; they do some somewhat unexpected stuff for the genre in which they reside. I think one reason they're not seen as being all that unique is that they don't have that one signature musical sound that is consistent throughout their work. Take U2 and R.E.M.; even without Bono or Stipe's vocals, you can pick out the band from the Edge's delay effects in the former and Peter Buck's arpeggios in the latter. The music in PJ has never really had a single sound that was employed for all (or most) of their work.

good point.

I think musically PJ was always defined by odd rock riffs backed up by a funk/groove-oriented rhythm section. This differentiated them from so much of the other music that was around which relied on more straight ahead drum/bass playing. Apart from Ed's distinctive vocals which are undoubtedly the defining feature, Jeff's bass playing really separated them from the pack and supported Stone's rhythm guitar. During Vitalogy they moved away from this approach, so after Vitalogy there are very few guitar hero riffs that drive songs - certainly none on the level of Even Flow, Alive, Why Go, Go, Animal, RVM etc the types of riffs that make you pick up a guitar for the first time.

I think that was there distinctive sound and they moved away from it - they've created some good music since then but they lost the groove a long time ago. Compare recent ballads to the ballads from the early days - listen to the rhythm section - listen to the bassline Jeff is playing on Black and Elderly Woman compared to Just Breathe or Thumbing My Way.

Yup. Where's the groove? Gimme the groove.

This bands no longer good enough makes me wanna cry ay aya yayeaye yeah aw huh!

[harmless]

I just find it slightly disturbing that every time they talk about writing a song they refer to other bands they wanted it to sound like. It's like they feel nothing about writing as Pearl Jam anymore. They have nothing to say.

I'm not sure this is all that uncommon with rock bands. It seems like a relatively convenient shorthand, especially if you're not well versed in theory (which I'm not sure any of PJ are).

As for them being unique, I think they are (or were) relatively innovative, or at least interesting, in their songwriting and arrangements; they do some somewhat unexpected stuff for the genre in which they reside. I think one reason they're not seen as being all that unique is that they don't have that one signature musical sound that is consistent throughout their work. Take U2 and R.E.M.; even without Bono or Stipe's vocals, you can pick out the band from the Edge's delay effects in the former and Peter Buck's arpeggios in the latter. The music in PJ has never really had a single sound that was employed for all (or most) of their work.

good point.

I think musically PJ was always defined by odd rock riffs backed up by a funk/groove-oriented rhythm section. This differentiated them from so much of the other music that was around which relied on more straight ahead drum/bass playing. Apart from Ed's distinctive vocals which are undoubtedly the defining feature, Jeff's bass playing really separated them from the pack and supported Stone's rhythm guitar. During Vitalogy they moved away from this approach, so after Vitalogy there are very few guitar hero riffs that drive songs - certainly none on the level of Even Flow, Alive, Why Go, Go, Animal, RVM etc the types of riffs that make you pick up a guitar for the first time.

I think that was there distinctive sound and they moved away from it - they've created some good music since then but they lost the groove a long time ago. Compare recent ballads to the ballads from the early days - listen to the rhythm section - listen to the bassline Jeff is playing on Black and Elderly Woman compared to Just Breathe or Thumbing My Way.

Yup. Where's the groove? Gimme the groove.

This bands no longer good enough makes me wanna cry ay aya yayeaye yeah aw huh!

#

[stupidmop]

I just find it slightly disturbing that every time they talk about writing a song they refer to other bands they wanted it to sound like. It's like they feel nothing about writing as Pearl Jam anymore. They have nothing to say.

I'm not sure this is all that uncommon with rock bands. It seems like a relatively convenient shorthand, especially if you're not well versed in theory (which I'm not sure any of PJ are).

As for them being unique, I think they are (or were) relatively innovative, or at least interesting, in their songwriting and arrangements; they do some somewhat unexpected stuff for the genre in which they reside. I think one reason they're not seen as being all that unique is that they don't have that one signature musical sound that is consistent throughout their work. Take U2 and R.E.M.; even without Bono or Stipe's vocals, you can pick out the band from the Edge's delay effects in the former and Peter Buck's arpeggios in the latter. The music in PJ has never really had a single sound that was employed for all (or most) of their work.

good point.

I think musically PJ was always defined by odd rock riffs backed up by a funk/groove-oriented rhythm section. This differentiated them from so much of the other music that was around which relied on more straight ahead drum/bass playing. Apart from Ed's distinctive vocals which are undoubtedly the defining feature, Jeff's bass playing really separated them from the pack and supported Stone's rhythm guitar. During Vitalogy they moved away from this approach, so after Vitalogy there are very few guitar hero riffs that drive songs - certainly none on the level of Even Flow, Alive, Why Go, Go, Animal, RVM etc the types of riffs that make you pick up a guitar for the first time.

I think that was there distinctive sound and they moved away from it - they've created some good music since then but they lost the groove a long time ago. Compare recent ballads to the ballads from the early days - listen to the rhythm section - listen to the bassline Jeff is playing on Black and Elderly Woman compared to Just Breathe or Thumbing My Way.

Yup. Where's the groove? Gimme the groove.

CC has groove. So apparently its all lying on the cutting room floor.

[harmless]

I just find it slightly disturbing that every time they talk about writing a song they refer to other bands they wanted it to sound like. It's like they feel nothing about writing as Pearl Jam anymore. They have nothing to say.

I'm not sure this is all that uncommon with rock bands. It seems like a relatively convenient shorthand, especially if you're not well versed in theory (which I'm not sure any of PJ are).

As for them being unique, I think they are (or were) relatively innovative, or at least interesting, in their songwriting and arrangements; they do some somewhat unexpected stuff for the genre in which they reside. I think one reason they're not seen as being all that unique is that they don't have that one signature musical sound that is consistent throughout their work. Take U2 and R.E.M.; even without Bono or Stipe's vocals, you can pick out the band from the Edge's delay effects in the former and Peter Buck's arpeggios in the latter. The music in PJ has never really had a single sound that was employed for all (or most) of their work.

good point.

I think musically PJ was always defined by odd rock riffs backed up by a funk/groove-oriented rhythm section. This differentiated them from so much of the other music that was around which relied on more straight ahead drum/bass playing. Apart from Ed's distinctive vocals which are undoubtedly the defining feature, Jeff's bass playing really separated them from the pack and supported Stone's rhythm guitar. During Vitalogy they moved away from this approach, so after Vitalogy there are very few guitar hero riffs that drive songs - certainly none on the level of Even Flow, Alive, Why Go, Go, Animal, RVM etc the types of riffs that make you pick up a guitar for the first time.

I think that was there distinctive sound and they moved away from it - they've created some good music since then but they lost the groove a long time ago. Compare recent ballads to the ballads from the early days - listen to the rhythm section - listen to the bassline Jeff is playing on Black and Elderly Woman compared to Just Breathe or Thumbing My Way.

Yup. Where's the groove? Gimme the groove.

CC has groove. So apparently its all lying on the cutting room floor.

One of the reasons I defended ATW is that it had a groove. It wasn't a soaring anthem as some people wanted or thought it was trying to be, but Matt was clearly not envisaging that kind of song in the way he played it.

[stupidmop]

I don't think I listened to atw enough times to realize it had a groove.

[harmless]

Maybe you can do this today!

[stupidmop]

Eeeeeeeeehhhhhh

[harmless]

[EJ]

Finally watched that clip of Mike on MYM. Really enjoyed it. Yeah, its not "deep thoughts", but it gives just the right amount of insight for the inspirationg of that riff. Plus, it sounds so much better stripped down.

[warehouse]

mike said he wanted a "dead kennedy's" feel...same thing for ed?

[melonhead4]

They lost alot of groove when Dave A left.....

[BurtReynolds]

I've never felt that pj was a very groovy band.

[Thejambi]

I've never felt that pj was a very groovy band.

Ten is groovy as all hell.

[melonhead4]

I've never felt that pj was a very groovy band.

Ten is groovy as all hell.

VS is also groovy/funky

[Jorge]

I couldn't care less about the "groove", as long as the songs are good. Some of my favorite Pearl Jam songs are utterly grooveless.