how in the world does anyone think that LBC is good?

Ghost is one of the best on the album, and LBC is shit. I don't understand this place

I like them both.

Gotta be Ghost. Blech.

Me too.

I never understood why people had such a visceral reaction against LBC, particularly a few years ago right after Riot Act's release. People got really wound up about that song in particular.

it just always cheesed me out for some reason. never liked it from day 1. it was the first PJ song that ever did that to me

I adore both LBC and Ghost. But something has to go and I've got Ghost at the bottom of the list in my rankings. Doesn't mean it isn't a fantastic song, though.

For me, LBC is better because of the emotional honesty of the piece. I get that maybe some read/hear it as cheesy. I respect that. But to me the song has some incredible lyrics and some real emotional power. It's and unfortunate product of time and place and a song I can't imagine (and hope!) they never replicate.

LBC and Ghost are 2 of the best songs on the album. Neither of those should leave yet.

You “blech” a song you adore?

Round 3 Eliminations
Love Boat Captain

you made the right call here, RM

That's a real shame. My favorite song from the album.

I usually go for the heart on sleeve anthems in a big way, but LBC never quite sat right with me. I quite dislike the all you need is love lyric, and like so much of RA the big go for broke moments feel a bit muted. It's a very similar song in its style to Unthought Known and Lightning Bolt, and I prefer those two.

All You Need Is Love is a beautiful lyric, straight from The Beatles. Don't even want to compare to Unthought Known...

I'll agree that the song is a bit muted, just like much of RA. Not really an anthem because of it, but it also says a lot after Roskilde.

Well I don't like the Beatles, so it feels like a ham fisted reference to me.

Bracketing the quality comparison, you do see how the songs are similar, right?

That explains it. Now I am more surprised that you don't like the Beatles, than that you have a problem with the lyric.



Yes, absolutely.

There was an interview with Michael Stipe I read in college where he said he doesn't like the Beatles that much either. It's the single greatest moment of musical validation of my entire life

Found some quotes about it. Very interesting.

"When did you first become aware of music?

It would have been the Beatles, Michelle, my belle. I was staying with a German friend and she was making cabbage soup for me. That song came on the radio, and I remember standing alone in the living room, looking at that radio on a tall shelf and thinking that it was really beautiful.

What was the first single that you owned?

We bought an Elvis Presley album, for one of his films called Double Trouble, and a Disney Film called The Parent Trap starring Hayley Mills. Amongst the singles was Tammy Wynette's D.I.V.O.R.C.E. and I Want To Hold Your Hand by The Beatles."

"I’ve always referred to the Beatles as elevator music, because that’s exactly what they were. “Michelle” in German is the one Beatles song that meant something to me, because I was in Germany when I was seven years old and heard it on the radio and thought it was really pretty. I mean, I didn’t know they were the Beatles. I’ve never sat down and listened to a Beatles record from beginning to end. Those guys just didn’t mean a fucking thing to me.
Michael Stipe"

"It surprised me to read that you say the Beatles were virtually of no importance as an influence. You actually compared them to elevator music.
I still get death threats about it from Beatles fans. The point that I was trying to make was that I was three years too young for them. I grew up in an era where the Banana Splits, the Archies and the Monkees were the music that I listened to. The Beatles were the music that was playing in the background. By elevator music, I wasn’t being insulting. I’ve sat down with Yoko and Sean and Julian, and they joked with me about elevator music, and I turned bright red and they said, “It’s O.K., we understand.”

I'm "blech-ing" the decision. Making that call put a bad taste in my mouth.