The board's server will undergo upgrade maintenance tonight, Nov 5, 2014, beginning approximately around 10 PM ET. Prepare for some possible down time during this process.
Post subject: Re: Into the Wild: Official Album Thread
Posted: Sun June 28, 2015 6:41 pm
Production Police
Joined: Tue September 24, 2013 5:56 pm Posts: 47120 Location: In the oatmeal aisle wearing a Shellac shirt
Kevin Davis wrote:
tragabigzanda wrote:
Strat wrote:
Damn. I love this album. I think it is still an absolutely fantastic album from start to finish. Perfect companion to the story itself. Scratch pad memories and fleeting thoughts, fleshed out introspective and celebratory covers, wonderful mood journey.
I disagree with the "start to finish." It's a perfectly tracked album, except the bonus tracks tacked on to the digital version totally sour the mood. Here's to the State and No More are good songs, but they are built on such a different vibe.
This is a dirty lie.
I'll admit it, these songs suck (especially No More). But the connection to Thomas Young made me want to withhold any overt criticism. But you've called me out, and I consider myself an honest man, so...
Post subject: Re: Into the Wild: Official Album Thread
Posted: Mon June 29, 2015 1:22 am
Rank This Poster
Joined: Thu January 03, 2013 1:10 am Posts: 3871
I like this record, though at times it seems a little half-baked (though that may be due to the constraints Ed was under in terms of writing). I feel like it falls off somewhat after Hard Sun, and to me that song's the highlight of the record with a bullet.
Post subject: Re: Into the Wild: Official Album Thread
Posted: Mon June 29, 2015 3:35 am
tl;dr
Joined: Tue January 01, 2013 6:06 pm Posts: 8561
stip wrote:
Here's to the state is a perfectly fine song for what it is. Like here's to the state, no more is a genre exercise, but one that is an insipid failure
"Here's to the State" is fucking ridiculous -- it reminds me of a song that a high school kid would write about his teachers. I get that at some point protest music has to cut the crap and just come out and say what it means, but it's no surprise that when your composition favors message over artistry, the artistry suffers. The song makes Eddie sound the same way his political rants do -- like a simpleton with a chip on his shoulder.
Plus I have an unreasonable distaste for any songs that use phrases like "here's to..." or "this one goes out to..." or "this song's for..." in the lyrics.
Post subject: Re: Into the Wild: Official Album Thread
Posted: Mon June 29, 2015 10:00 am
The worst
Joined: Thu December 13, 2012 6:31 pm Posts: 39820
It's actually a modified cover of a Phil Ochs song, just with updated references. The lyrics are obvious. The melody is nice, and the chorus is really satisfying. It's an artifact of its time, but as a member of that songs target audience, it felt refreshing. Not profound or inspiring, but still enjoyable to hear. Live especially, since it felt shared, which is really important for a song like this. The studio version I've listened to maybe once.
Post subject: Re: Into the Wild: Official Album Thread
Posted: Mon June 29, 2015 2:35 pm
NYUCK NYUCK NYUCK
Joined: Tue January 01, 2013 3:35 pm Posts: 32273 Location: Buenos Aires
I don't like "Guaranteed" or "Far Behind" at all. Especially "Guaranteed", which is a 20-second melody stretched out to song length. Don't know about "Long Nights". I'll listen again today
Post subject: Re: Into the Wild: Official Album Thread
Posted: Mon June 29, 2015 2:59 pm
tl;dr
Joined: Tue January 01, 2013 6:06 pm Posts: 8561
stip wrote:
It's actually a modified cover of a Phil Ochs song, just with updated references. The lyrics are obvious. The melody is nice, and the chorus is really satisfying. It's an artifact of its time, but as a member of that songs target audience, it felt refreshing. Not profound or inspiring, but still enjoyable to hear. Live especially, since it felt shared, which is really important for a song like this. The studio version I've listened to maybe once.
The original is better
Maybe this is part of it. Unless I've misinterpreted your political leanings over the years, it doesn't seem like you -- someone who probably agrees with most of what the song says anyway -- really should be part of this song's target audience, even though it's obvious that you are. I get that the resistance needs fight songs and all that, but I can never escape the feeling that these kinds of songs are con jobs of sorts, using confrontational, inflammatory language to give the audience the illusion that they're participating in something vital and provocative, despite the fact that the singer is already reasonably sure that an overwhelming majority of his audience has pre-approved the message of the song. This song was the absolute low point of the show when I saw it live, its hollow "shared moment" feeling like a self-congratulatory applause grab no different from "made it to the ocean, smoked a joint in a tree."
Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 4 guests
You cannot post new topics in this forum You cannot reply to topics in this forum You cannot edit your posts in this forum You cannot delete your posts in this forum