12th album rumors and speculation

[tree_]

Masters of War.. now THOSE are great lyrics that age very well

[tommy]

The problem with Bushleaguer is more the talking - although a lot of the lyrics are clunky as hell. I usually end up skipping it when I listen to RA, which is a shame because musically it's good.

[Ms Harmless]

Intrigued to know if there are any right wing/MAGA Pearl Jam fans? I respect Eddie's freedom to sing what he wants, but I dislikes some of the clumsy Trump references on Gigaton.

somebody threw a big fuss in the Transgender Rights thread when they saw Mike was a supporter of Trans youth.. not sure if that counts but probably.. also, Bammer, Macphisto, Epilogue, and PhatJ I think, but not sure

If you even remotely think epilogue is MAGA, you need to pay more attention.

Epilogue is an absolutely golden human being in every way and has never compromised his good values in here

[Ms Harmless]

The problem with Bushleaguer is more the talking - although a lot of the lyrics are clunky as hell. I usually end up skipping it when I listen to RA, which is a shame because musically it's good.

I like the speaky verses, Ed's always done that (Bugs, I'm Open)

[tree_]

jee wiz it's funny because he's so much the opposite of MAGA.. you people

[Ms Harmless]

[tree_]

I so often find myself having to explain why something I said is funny.. maybe it's because I'm not as funny as I think I am..

[tommy]

The problem with Bushleaguer is more the talking - although a lot of the lyrics are clunky as hell. I usually end up skipping it when I listen to RA, which is a shame because musically it's good.

I like the speaky verses, Ed's always done that (Bugs, I'm Open)

Those are also songs I frequently skip. I like them more because the lyrics are better (and Bugs gets points for being unusual) but I still never really feel compelled to listen to them.

[Anders]

Bushleaguer could have been good, but is awful.

[bodysnatcher]

Bushleaguer chorus “blackout weaves” is one of the best parts of Riot Act

[Monkey_Driven]

Bushleaguer chorus “blackout weaves” is one of the best parts of Riot Act

[tragabigzanda]

Still love all of Bushleaguer. It's a compelling listen and doesn't sound clunky, dated, or anything like that to me at all.

Quick Escape sucks because it's a shitty, tasteless song. The one Trump lyric has no bearing on its suckiness.

[tommy]

Bushleaguer chorus “blackout weaves” is one of the best parts of Riot Act

Yeah, the song has some great parts, which just makes the verses more frustrating

[Jaeti]

Bushleaguer chorus “blackout weaves” is one of the best parts of Riot Act

[Ms Harmless]

"how does he do it? how does he do it? uncanny, and immutable" is one of the funn(i)est song openings in the catalogue, I love saying it when the song comes on

[liebzz]

I also think Bushleaguer in particular in spite of its name could symbolise anyone with Bush's values

I would argue it almost applies more to Trump.

[RockPusher]

Quick Escape sucks because it's a shitty, tasteless song.

It blows my mind that a Pearl Jam fan could think this. Not only do I love this song, but I literally got a non-fan into PJ with it. It is all things excellent.

[stip]

in general political lyrics work best when they arent tied to a person and instead focus on universal themes, experiences, and critiques that will transcend a particular historical moment. Having said that, the Trump reference works for me in QE iin part because it is a quick lyric fits in well with the progession of the songs themes and narrative, and because its use evokes Trump as a stand in for an idea more than the person himself, wheras Bu$hleaguer is fixated on W as a human being acting on the world

[Kevin Davis]

I don't think that outdated references necessarily cause a song to age poorly, unless we're talking about things that are offensive or distasteful. Songs like "Bushleaguer" are earnest, in-the-moment reflections what the world was like when the music was created, and ultimately I think that kind of thing makes music more interesting to go back and listen to over time, not less. I don't need every song to be directly transferable to my experience in the here and now -- my brain can fill in the blanks if there are thematic similarities. The time/place details are a bit more precious, easier to lose if everything adheres to an overarching "timelessness" standard.

Granted, I don't think Eddie has ever been especially artful at this type of writing, but I appreciate where his heart is. Oddly enough perhaps, I think "Bushleaguer" is one of his more creative instances of it. Plus the music is awesome.

Neil Young's "Ohio" is a great example of a topical song that is incredibly powerful despite being tied to a specific 55 year-old event. Some of that power would be lost if it was changed to just be a commentary on shootings in general, or freedom of speech, government overreach, etc. You need that specificity in the story, to really register the depth of the relationship between the shock of the event and the feelings in the song.

[bodysnatcher]

I also think Bushleaguer in particular in spite of its name could symbolise anyone with Bush's values

I would argue it almost applies more to Trump.

Ed is Nostradamus