Red Mosquito • View topic - Lets Actually Listen to the Album: Riot Act

epilogue · **Posted:** Wed January 23, 2013 7:27 pm

surface the north wrote:

Yep. Vs. doesn't have a coherent narrative running throughout it that ties those political songs together like Riot Act does.

What coherent narrative runs through Riot Act?

Norris · **Posted:** Wed January 23, 2013 7:29 pm

What coherent narrative runs through any Pearl Jam album?

Angus · **Posted:** Wed January 23, 2013 7:30 pm

nah wrote:

Angus wrote:

I think Riot Act is also more than just the political mood of the time. Think of the general mood the band was in after the 2000 tour. A couple of hints they might quit after going through Roskilde. They sure weren't the happiest times. And they assembled all those feelings into that album. The more I think about it, the better Riot Act becomes.

i wish ideas and flights of fancy were enough to make songs like 'can't keep' 'you are' 'get right' '1/2 full' 'all or none' 'thumbing my way' and 'bushleaguer' listenable.

You don't like All or None?

Angus · **Posted:** Wed January 23, 2013 7:31 pm

cutuphalfdead wrote:

What coherent narrative runs through any Pearl Jam album?

Ishmael through Yield. And even then, in some songs it's pretty vague if existent at all.

epilogue · **Posted:** Wed January 23, 2013 7:31 pm

cutuphalfdead wrote:

What coherent narrative runs through any Pearl Jam album?

Exactly my point.

Sigerson · **Joined:** Tue January 01, 2013 5:10 pm **Posts:** 53

I think "Bushleaguer" is the most overtly political song in their catalog but other than that, I can't think of any song on Riot Act that's any more political than the songs on Ten/Vs.

digster · **Joined:** Thu January 03, 2013 1:10 am **Posts:** 3880

I think it's because the political songs are different than they used to be. Other than arguably Glorified G, you don't see songs like Insignificance, Grievance, Bushleaguer, Green Disease, etc. on those earlier albums. Yeah, there are politics in songs like W.M.A., but they're really telling more of an emotional story as their subject. With those former songs, the politics are the subject. A lot of stuff on Binaural, like Sleight of Hand or Rival, are closer to the idea of what W.M.A. is doing (despite how far apart they are in sound and style), in that there is a political point to be found but it is also just telling this narrative. That's why I think they've been more political on their records post-Yield than before it.

Norris · **Posted:** Wed January 23, 2013 7:32 pm

Sigerson wrote:

I think "Bushleaguer" is the most overtly political song in their catalog but other than that, I can't think of any song on Riot Act that's any more political than the songs on Ten/Vs.

Half Full?

washing machine · **Posted:** Wed January 23, 2013 7:34 pm

durdencommatyler wrote:

surface the north wrote:

Yep. Vs. doesn't have a coherent narrative running throughout it that ties those political songs together like Riot Act does.

What coherent narrative runs through Riot Act?

Feeling small and ineffective during a time when anxiety and fear run rampant throughout the country's political climate, then looking inward and finding some of the same scary things?

Sigerson · **Joined:** Tue January 01, 2013 5:10 pm **Posts:** 53

cutuphalfdead wrote:

Sigerson wrote:

I think "Bushleaguer" is the most overtly political song in their catalog but other than that, I can't think of any song on Riot Act that's any more political than the songs on Ten/Vs.

Half Full?

Is it any more political than Glorified G or W.M.A.?

epilogue · **Posted:** Wed January 23, 2013 7:35 pm

digster wrote:

I think it's because the political songs are different than they used to be. Other than arguably Glorified G, you don't see songs like Insignificance, Grievance, Bushleaguer, Green Disease, etc. on those earlier albums. Yeah, there are politics in songs like W.M.A., but they're really telling more of an emotional story as their subject. With those former songs, the politics are the subject. A lot of stuff on Binaural, like Sleight of Hand or Rival, are closer to the idea of what W.M.A. is doing (despite how far apart they are in sound and style), in that there is a political point to be found but it is also just telling this narrative. That's why I think they've been more political on their records post-Yield than before it.

Whipping is pretty overt.

Norris · **Posted:** Wed January 23, 2013 7:36 pm

surface the north wrote:

durdencommatyler wrote:

surface the north wrote:

Yep. Vs. doesn't have a coherent narrative running throughout it that ties those political songs together like Riot Act does.

What coherent narrative runs through Riot Act?

Feeling small and ineffective during a time when anxiety and fear run rampant throughout the country's political climate, then looking inward and finding some of the same scary things?

Those are themes, not a narrative.

nah · **Posted:** Wed January 23, 2013 7:36 pm

Sigerson wrote:

nah wrote:

you know what, i'm lying. i just looked at the tracklisting for riot act and i don't see more than 3 political songs. i guess i just felt it was more political than it was and maybe because of eds looks and stuff. i think i just really dislike the music of that album. sorry for even posting.

Did I say something?

yeah, you made me realize it wasn't the politics, it was just the crappy music they put togther. i love 'undone' and its political but the music is good.

washing machine · **Posted:** Wed January 23, 2013 7:38 pm

cutuphalfdead wrote:

surface the north wrote:

durdencommatyler wrote:

surface the north wrote:

Yep. Vs. doesn't have a coherent narrative running throughout it that ties those political songs together like Riot Act does.

What coherent narrative runs through Riot Act?

Feeling small and ineffective during a time when anxiety and fear run rampant throughout the country's political climate, then looking inward and finding some of the same scary things?

Those are themes, not a narrative.

Noted.

Yep. Vs. doesn't have a coherent theme running throughout it that ties those political songs together like Riot Act does.

nah · **Posted:** Wed January 23, 2013 7:38 pm

Sigerson wrote:

nah wrote:

i wish ideas and flights of fancy were enough to make songs like 'can't keep' 'you are' 'get right' '1/2 full' 'all or none' 'thumbing my way' and 'bushleaguer' listenable.

That's your opinion. To me, Can't Keep and You Are are two of their best songs and much more listenable than anything on Ten.

i don't listen to 10 either but i like melody and 3 chord harmonies this album lacks a lot of it.

nah · **Posted:** Wed January 23, 2013 7:39 pm

Angus wrote:

nah wrote:

Angus wrote:

I think Riot Act is also more than just the political mood of the time. Think of the general mood the band was in after the 2000 tour. A couple of hints they might quit after going through Roskilde. They sure weren't the happiest times. And they assembled all those feelings into that album. The more I think about it, the better Riot Act becomes.

i wish ideas and flights of fancy were enough to make songs like 'can't keep' 'you are' 'get right' '1/2 full' 'all or none' 'thumbing my way' and 'bushleaguer' listenable.

You don't like All or None?

i do not like 'all or none' but i don't play guitar and maybe people who are musicians like music for different reasons than i do.

Farmer John · **Joined:** Wed January 02, 2013 9:25 pm **Posts:** 4330

durdencommatyler wrote:

cutuphalfdead wrote:

What coherent narrative runs through any Pearl Jam album?

Exactly my point.

You guys are forgetting that S/T is a concept album about Johnny Ramone.

digster · **Joined:** Thu January 03, 2013 1:10 am **Posts:** 3880

durdencommatyler wrote:

digster wrote:

I think it's because the political songs are different than they used to be. Other than arguably Glorified G, you don't see songs like Insignificance, Grievance, Bushleaguer, Green Disease, etc. on those earlier albums. Yeah, there are politics in songs like W.M.A., but they're really telling more of an emotional story as their subject. With those former songs, the politics are the subject. A lot of stuff on Binaural, like Sleight of Hand or Rival, are closer to the idea of what W.M.A. is doing (despite how far apart they are in sound and style), in that there is a political point to be found but it is also just telling this narrative. That's why I think they've been more political on their records post-Yield than before it.

Whipping is pretty overt.

Yeah, it's not without exception; I'm talking overall (I'd also say that Whipping isn't nearly as overt as something like Grievance or Evacuation, but I get the point). Also, I think when I say they're "political" albums I mean in the context of the band's career. Even their most political record (S/T), only had about six or so songs that had a definite political bent.

Angus · **Posted:** Wed January 23, 2013 7:48 pm

nah wrote:

Angus wrote:

nah wrote:

Angus wrote:

I think Riot Act is also more than just the political mood of the time. Think of the general mood the band was in after the 2000 tour. A couple of hints they might quit after going through Roskilde. They sure weren't the happiest times. And they assembled all those feelings into that album. The more I think about it, the better Riot Act becomes.

i wish ideas and flights of fancy were enough to make songs like 'can't keep' 'you are' 'get right' '1/2 full' 'all or none' 'thumbing my way' and 'bushleaguer' listenable.

You don't like All or None?

i do not like 'all or none' but i don't play guitar and maybe people who are musicians like music for different reasons than i do.

I found this post a little weird. But well, I play guitar, so I like All or None.

nah · **Posted:** Wed January 23, 2013 7:52 pm

Angus wrote:

nah wrote:

Angus wrote:

nah wrote:

Angus wrote:

I think Riot Act is also more than just the political mood of the time. Think of the general mood the band was in after the 2000 tour. A couple of hints they might quit after going through Roskilde. They sure weren't the happiest times. And they assembled all those feelings into that album. The more I think about it, the better Riot Act becomes.

i wish ideas and flights of fancy were enough to make songs like 'can't keep' 'you are' 'get right' '1/2 full' 'all or none' 'thumbing my way' and 'bushleaguer' listenable.

You don't like All or None?

i do not like 'all or none' but i don't play guitar and maybe people who are musicians like music for different reasons than i do.

I found this post a little weird. But well, I play guitar, so I like All or None.

i knew it. something about that slow strum told me you would.

Lets Actually Listen to the Album: Riot Act

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