Red Mosquito

McParadigm wrote:It’s just so much smaller a deal than a thousand other lyrical farts over the years that it feels nit picky.

I don't agree, I think this song puts a sustained, centralized focus on Eddie's lyrics in a way that few if any other PJ songs do, and generally speaking I just don't think the writing is good or imaginative enough to withstand that level of focus. The line about the butterfly is a good example -- I feel like I've heard variations of that metaphor a million times, and while there's nothing to say that someone shouldn't identify with that sentiment, I am surprised that anyone would single it out as an example of strong or particularly creative writing. That's how I feel about a lot of the writing here -- metaphors that feel so familiar and easy that they ultimately come across as less powerful than if he were to just come out and literally say the thing he's trying to pretty up.

I tend to like Eddie's lyrics best when they sneak up on me, and usually when they're a little obscure -- when I've already fallen in love with a melody, without really realizing what he's singing, and then one day I perk up and hear it and think, "Wow, I can't quite pin it down, but something about that's pretty good." There are some moments in the in-between parts of this song (feels weird to call them choruses) that are like that ("Floodlight dreams go drifting past/All the lines we could have had"), but the verses aim for something that I think is just slightly out of Eddie's reach. The song is a miss for me in that regard. Everything else about it I really enjoy -- the bridge sections, the outro, both musical concepts I wish took up more of the song's running time.

Maybe my favorite on the album right now.

Monkey_Driven wrote:

Jorge wrote:It is nitpicky when we zero in on that specific line from that specific song but it points to a larger problem that's present all over Gigaton, that clunky, laborious line construction. He's exhibited this over the years but I think age has exacerbated it. That's just how Ed writes now, I guess.

I think it has a lot to do with his inability to sustain long notes. He has to insert more words and syllables to avoid the warbling.

I partially agree with this. But I also think it's a result of Ed being brave/curious enough to try out different vocal/melody styles, with mixed results TBH.

If you look at the last few albums there are a handful that are quite a diversion from his usual approach (i.e. DOTC or Johnny Guitar, and to a lesser extent 7 o'clock), and while those examples are more rapid fire delivery, there are also some that sustain longer notes - Yellow Moon, for instance.

He drops a bollock from time to time, and there are some horrible lines on 7 O'Clock IMO, but I respect him for trying out something new. But yeah, I do get the impression that in some/many cases that may be out of necessity as sustaining long notes is only going to get harder for a heavy smoker.

Kevin Davis wrote:

McParadigm wrote:It’s just so much smaller a deal than a thousand other lyrical farts over the years that it feels nit picky.

I don't agree, I think this song puts a sustained, centralized focus on Eddie's lyrics in a way that few if any other PJ songs do, and generally speaking I just don't think the writing is good or imaginative enough to withstand that level of focus. The line about the butterfly is a good example -- I feel like I've heard variations of that metaphor a million times, and while there's nothing to say that someone shouldn't identify with that sentiment, I am surprised that anyone would single it out as an example of strong or particularly creative writing. That's how I feel about a lot of the writing here -- metaphors that feel so familiar and easy that they ultimately come across as less powerful than if he were to just come out and literally say the thing he's trying to pretty up.

I tend to like Eddie's lyrics best when they sneak up on me, and usually when they're a little obscure -- when I've already fallen in love with a melody, without really realizing what he's singing, and then one day I perk up and hear it and think, "Wow, I can't quite pin it down, but something about that's pretty good." There are some moments in the in-between parts of this song (feels weird to call them choruses) that are like that ("Floodlight dreams go drifting past/All the lines we could have had"), but the verses aim for something that I think is just slightly out of Eddie's reach. The song is a miss for me in that regard. Everything else about it I really enjoy -- the bridge sections, the outro, both musical concepts I wish took up more of the song's running time.

I stand by the butterfly verse as a highlight - love it. It is the ‘another god’s creation’ conclusion to the verse that really makes it work for me. It is a really nice lyrical moment with a great deal underneath it to unpack. A self-reflective indictment of how we interact with the world and a condemnation of our unthinking mastery over it. it calls back to the daniel quinn themes in a song like do the evolution - but with less rage and more ownership

as a whole this record is in Eddie’s top 3 writing performances, alongside Vitalogy and Binaural

having said that, I think who ever said, sbwm, dance, and comes then goes are a bit stronger. Who ever said and especially SBWM are a bit more epigramatic - the other three deal much more with the gradual unfolding of an idea

stip wrote:as a whole this record is in Eddie’s top 3 writing performances, alongside Vitalogy and Binaural

I can dig this.

Jorge wrote:True but it is also a little

I just read that sign in Ed's deep "spoken word voice" in my head

Kevin Davis wrote:

McParadigm wrote:It’s just so much smaller a deal than a thousand other lyrical farts over the years that it feels nit picky.

I don't agree, I think this song puts a sustained, centralized focus on Eddie's lyrics in a way that few if any other PJ songs do, and generally speaking I just don't think the writing is good or imaginative enough to withstand that level of focus. The line about the butterfly is a good example -- I feel like I've heard variations of that metaphor a million times, and while there's nothing to say that someone shouldn't identify with that sentiment, I am surprised that anyone would single it out as an example of strong or particularly creative writing. That's how I feel about a lot of the writing here -- metaphors that feel so familiar and easy that they ultimately come across as less powerful than if he were to just come out and literally say the thing he's trying to pretty up.

I tend to like Eddie's lyrics best when they sneak up on me, and usually when they're a little obscure -- when I've already fallen in love with a melody, without really realizing what he's singing, and then one day I perk up and hear it and think, "Wow, I can't quite pin it down, but something about that's pretty good." There are some moments in the in-between parts of this song (feels weird to call them choruses) that are like that ("Floodlight dreams go drifting past/All the lines we could have had"), but the verses aim for something that I think is just slightly out of Eddie's reach. The song is a miss for me in that regard. Everything else about it I really enjoy -- the bridge sections, the outro, both musical concepts I wish took up more of the song's running time.

Yes, this.

I still love the verses like the first day.

Such a nice midtempo song.

DeeDee wrote:I still love the verses like the first day.

Such a nice midtempo song.

Agreed. Shame it's buried on such a shit album amirite?

Bammer wrote:

DeeDee wrote:I still love the verses like the first day.

Such a nice midtempo song.

Agreed. Shame it's buried on such a shit album amirite?

I finally spent more than 10 minutes with Gigaton and this one might be my favorite.

super nintendo chalmers wrote:I finally spent more than 10 minutes with Gigaton and this one might be my favorite.

Atta boy

super nintendo chalmers wrote:I finally spent more than 10 minutes with Gigaton and this one might be my favorite.

I just love this song.

DeeDee wrote:I just love this song.

beautiful

This song reminds me of Light Years.

Is anyone else as excited as me and PhatJ for when they finally get to play this live, and Sitting Bullshit will be reference to Biden?

Actually it will probs be Harris by then