Red Mosquito

Cool thing about Pearl Jam was some of the experiments they took with a song or two on an album. OK, "Stupid Mop" is a failed experiment, but others sure are winners.

By experimental tunes I am talking about songs that don't really follow the normal verse/chorus structure or songs that make use of the non-standard guitar/bass/drum instrumentation. "Pry, To," "Rats," "Push Me, Pull Me," "Arc," etc...

What do you think is the best experiment that worked?

Got to be "Sleight Of Hand."
A song of pure mood and power. Unsettling, mysterious. One of Pearl Jam's best tunes.
(I do think Matt blew it with the drumming. I don't mind the non-steady beats he lays down, but they are far too random. There really is nothing to grab onto. He tried to be "avant garde" with his drumming when he needn't have.)

Pendulum is almost certainly my favorite, assuming it counts.

stip wrote:Pendulum is almost certainly my favorite, assuming it counts.

i think the structure isnt unusual, but the percussion stuff on the album might make it qualify. if thats the case, my vote is 'in my tree'.

also, i expected stip to say 'the fixer'

I hope this isn't too RMhipsterpearljamfanpost but I don't think Stupid Mop is a failed experiment at all. While not what I would call their best, I do think it's probably their most successful experiment, actually.

stip wrote:Pendulum is almost certainly my favorite, assuming it counts.

Yeah, "Pendulum" would count. Though it ain't as experimental as that "Mop" tune, it is not necessarily a straight forward guitar/bass/drum rock tune.
I mean we could include songs like "Release" and "Indifference" and "Long Road." Tunes that go for hypnotic mood.

durdencommatyler wrote:I hope this isn't too RMhipsterpearljamfanpost but I don't think Stupid Mop is a failed experiment at all. While not what I would call their best, I do think it's probably their most successful experiment, actually.

Nah, come on, dude. It's their "Revolution 9" and everyone knows it. Failed experiment. Perhaps had it been a minute and a half long, it would be interesting and tolerable. But you can't go on and on with such nonsense and still think it is a good tune.

Either Push Me Pull Me or Aye Davanita.

Wishlist wrote:

durdencommatyler wrote:I hope this isn't too RMhipsterpearljamfanpost but I don't think Stupid Mop is a failed experiment at all. While not what I would call their best, I do think it's probably their most successful experiment, actually.

Nah, come on, dude. It's their "Revolution 9" and everyone knows it. Failed experiment. Perhaps had it been a minute and a half long, it would be interesting and tolerable. But you can't go on and on with such nonsense and still think it is a good tune.

You're the failed experiment.

Wishlist wrote:

durdencommatyler wrote:I hope this isn't too RMhipsterpearljamfanpost but I don't think Stupid Mop is a failed experiment at all. While not what I would call their best, I do think it's probably their most successful experiment, actually.

Nah, come on, dude. It's their "Revolution 9" and everyone knows it. Failed experiment. Perhaps had it been a minute and a half long, it would be interesting and tolerable. But you can't go on and on with such nonsense and still think it is a good tune.

Well, I certainly wouldn't call it a good tune.

But it's brave and goes to some fascinating places. In terms of tone and message, I think it excels. They achieved exactly what they wanted to achieve with that piece. It's disturbing and haunting. But it's never unintentionally funny. It's a great mood piece. And a great sideways glimpse of a certain kind of character that fits in the world of Vitalogy.

It's beyond just noises smashing against each other. So, yeah, not a failed experiment. A very successful experiment. Doesn't mean it's a good song.

Bugs. That shit is truly different.

Yeah, Bugs is pretty great. Totally different for Pearl Jam.

bada wrote:Bugs. That shit is truly different.

Bugs is great.

so bugs wins

First sing that came to mind was Red Mosquito.

liebzz wrote:First sing that came to mind was Red Mosquito.

i thought about this one. not many songs featuring big slide guitar parts.

Wishlist wrote:

durdencommatyler wrote:I hope this isn't too RMhipsterpearljamfanpost but I don't think Stupid Mop is a failed experiment at all. While not what I would call their best, I do think it's probably their most successful experiment, actually.

Nah, come on, dude. It's their "Revolution 9" and everyone knows it. Failed experiment. Perhaps had it been a minute and a half long, it would be interesting and tolerable. But you can't go on and on with such nonsense and still think it is a good tune.

If it was only a minute and a half you wouldn't get the slow buildup of the groooooovee.

Bugs, SoH, help help , PMPM are my top contenders.

Whale song! Happy when I'm crying! Shit I think I like em all. Red dot!

Depends on what you'd call experimental, by my definition it would be Push Me, Pull Me.

Olympic Platinum

Push me Pull me, Aye Davanita ( there is a great song somewhere ), Happy when im crying...