Red Mosquito

stip wrote:

oneway23 wrote:A lot of the popular music these days seems to be in this dancy, upbeat, positive style. Many older bands, especially acts of Pearl Jam's ilk, have pivoted to music like this in an apparent effort to derive additional revenue from car commercials; this song should play well live during summer festival season.

Within the context of Pearl Jam, a welcome development. Commend them for expanding the palate, and dig the groove.

Don't want to hop wholeheartedly onto the accelerating hype train just yet, though. Yes, the delivery sounds a bit like Talking Heads, but, putting a danceable rhythm with some funky, choppy guitar is a bit de rigueur these days.

Wife and I have just come from seeing David Byrne on Broadway this past Sunday (unlike anything I've ever seen live), and it occurs to me that Taking Heads pulled truly disparate, and (at the time) exotic threads to weave wholly new, innovative creations, with David Byrne continuing such boundless exploration to this very day.

I realize the level of groundbreaking gene-splicing that Talking Heads engaged in during the 70s and 80s is almost impossible to experience again in 2020, but, IMO, this is a good song in the context of Pearl Jam's journey; let's cool it a bit beyond that. This isn't Talking Heads, it's merely a good facsimile of such experimentation.

I was never a big talking heads fan (though I like some of their stuff a lot), and sounding like the talking heads isn't in itself what makes a song successful, since the talking heads are not the standard by which all music is judged.

What is interesting about this sounding like talking heads is that it speaks to an interest the band has in trying a different direction and incorporating new elements into a familiar template (and it is an exciting influence).

Farmer John wrote:It's a very different song, but the atmospheric, layered vocals in the outro kind of reminds me of W.M.A

oneway23 wrote:

stip wrote:

oneway23 wrote:A lot of the popular music these days seems to be in this dancy, upbeat, positive style. Many older bands, especially acts of Pearl Jam's ilk, have pivoted to music like this in an apparent effort to derive additional revenue from car commercials; this song should play well live during summer festival season.

Within the context of Pearl Jam, a welcome development. Commend them for expanding the palate, and dig the groove.

Don't want to hop wholeheartedly onto the accelerating hype train just yet, though. Yes, the delivery sounds a bit like Talking Heads, but, putting a danceable rhythm with some funky, choppy guitar is a bit de rigueur these days.

Wife and I have just come from seeing David Byrne on Broadway this past Sunday (unlike anything I've ever seen live), and it occurs to me that Taking Heads pulled truly disparate, and (at the time) exotic threads to weave wholly new, innovative creations, with David Byrne continuing such boundless exploration to this very day.

I realize the level of groundbreaking gene-splicing that Talking Heads engaged in during the 70s and 80s is almost impossible to experience again in 2020, but, IMO, this is a good song in the context of Pearl Jam's journey; let's cool it a bit beyond that. This isn't Talking Heads, it's merely a good facsimile of such experimentation.

I was never a big talking heads fan (though I like some of their stuff a lot), and sounding like the talking heads isn't in itself what makes a song successful, since the talking heads are not the standard by which all music is judged.

What is interesting about this sounding like talking heads is that it speaks to an interest the band has in trying a different direction and incorporating new elements into a familiar template (and it is an exciting influence).

Absolutely, Stip. I've just got all of the Talking Heads comments swirling in my mind while reading the reactions. I would definitely agree with you that this is a major PJ influence which has not really been explored by the band very much in the past, so, in that sense, it's nice to see the boys still willing to acknowledge different ingredients of their musical stew.

I'm merely pointing out an observation that at lot of aging alternative bands seem to be floating in the orbit of this influence at the moment. Maybe it's in a bid to maintain a semblance of relevance in light of a ton of younger bands sounding like this these days? I don't know.

Sgt. Crackpot wrote:In terms of trying new stuff, I kinda feel like this is PJ trying anal.

Lounge Lizard wrote:Do you think that when Ed sings "boys like to fix and fire things" he in fact acknowledges that The Fixer was a steaming pile of hot cow dung?

stip wrote:Fair enough - this is the only aging alternative band I am tracking so I can't really speak to any larger trends

Release_Me wrote:Also, the line sounds like:

Expecting perfection leaves a lot to endure

The second time around, I mean.

Sgt. Crackpot wrote:In terms of trying new stuff, I kinda feel like this is PJ trying anal.

oneway23 wrote:

stip wrote:Fair enough - this is the only aging alternative band I am tracking so I can't really speak to any larger trends

Beck seems to be making somewhat similar career decisions these days, as an example. Jack White's last album was also heavily based in more atmosphere, texture, and rhythm on the last go around.

Like I said, I AM really enjoying it. I just don't want to see the hype train barrel away just yet. I'm already too late, aren't I?

tragabigzanda wrote:

dad wrote:

Release_Me wrote:Also, the line sounds like:

Expecting perfection leaves a lot to endure

The second time around, I mean.

I keep hearing that as well.

Yes