Can't Keep
Woefully underrated. What the band adds to this song on the recording is not appreciated enough.
4.5 stars
Save You
I love the transition into this, but the guitars get their volume cut after the intro, takes it down a notch. Boom makes up for it with great little flair in those big hawaiian pointers. Matt kicks serious ass in the end here, if only he would slow songs back down to play fast like this.
4 stars
Love Boat Captain
Another underrated tune. He got it right the first time with Boom. Mike does some enjoyable things in here, and Matt is superb as well. This one doesn't come across live as well as in the studio, but this track is outstanding, almost a 4.5.
4 stars
Cropduster
Couldn't type any during that one. Too busy listening and getting sucked in to the guitars. Jeff in the outro with the little harmonies. Top notch.
5 stars
Ghost
Solo into the last chorus is a nice peak. Satisfying and overlooked. Glad it gets there, makes this one memorable. Without it, pretty bland. Could have been Backspacer tune. But, it's not, so that's good.
4
I Am Mine
It's easy to forget how nice a tune this is. Certainly the most accessible track here, but it doesn't feel intended. That's when they are at their most accepted, when they don't try. The solo could have been one of the better moments in the history of the band had they kept rolling with it like so many songs before.
4
Thumbing My Way
Beautiful recording. Closes out side A in nice way. Song needs something to take it to the next level more than just the recording, though. It just kind of plods without much variety. No matter how cold the winter, there's a springtime ahead. That's always been a nice line.
3.5
You Are
Wowsa. How experimental! I like the dead stop there going into the first verse. Too bad he can't sing like this any more. Nice keys at the end. They really did this one well, though. Once you accept the backing vocals and hear both, the rest of the song pops out at you. That's how you fade out going into a hard start like the next one. Great studio track.
4.5
Get Right
Kinda like school recess. You get to go outside and shake off the eeby jeebies. Fun song, not much to it, but an enjoyable transition that actually finds a place at the end. Another under-appreciated mike solo.
3.0
Green Disease
This is one is better live. It misses some of its machismo on the record. It's missing some pieces here. Would get a 4 live in my book.
3.0
Help, Help
When the first chorus kicks in, i'm sold. Great contrast to the first verses. A forgotten break down bridge that fits perfectly. Pretty wells jams going out, too.
5.0
Bushleaguer
Feels like it should be playing at the MGM Grand in Vegas. Walkin' around, playin' those slots. Gettin' triples. Then the lights go out in the city, and all the casino patrons storm the dealers and steal all the cash after smashing the tables. Then they reaffirm their keyboards and go out and run around in circles in the dark. The trippy outro saves this from a 2.5.
3.0
1/2 Full
When they started this one, they all had to check and see if their cocks had unrolled to the floor. Once they realized it was just the music, they zipped up and got into the groove. Reminds me of New Orleans and those dirty ass clubs on bourbon street, just like Red Mosquito, which i think was recorded here in '95. Someone should check that. Maybe it was written there, Ed introduces it in one of those shows. Anyhoo, rockin' tune that takes the album back to the expected. I always liked Ed with the mirror at the end of this on the '03 tour. When that thing got in your face, it was like a damn flashlight 10 inches from your face.
4.0
Arc
Neat piece. Sets up All or None very well.
3.0
All or None
Mike owns this album. Too bad nobody remembers. Ed sounds perfect in the 2nd verse. Not many PJ albums have better closing songs than this one.
4.5
In Order-
Cropduster 5.0
Help, Help 5.0
Can't Keep 4.5
All or None 4.5
You Are 4.5
Love Boat Captain 4.0
Save You 4.0
Ghost 4.0
I Am Mine 4.0
1/2 Full 4.0
Thumbing My Way 3.5
Get Right 3.0
Green Disease 3.0
Arc
Bushleaguer 3.0
Average 4.0
Top 10 4.3
This is definitely moving up my list over time. This is the 2nd or 3rd time I've listened straight through focused through headphones. Now probably ranks 5th on my list, behind Ten, No Code, Vitalogy, and Binaural, and just ahead of Yield and Vs. The last three are a notch or four below.
