PEARL JAM

[Cultseeker]

aye, I do like the first verse. still slightly different style to most of the stuff I like. I like soundgarden but I've never really got into their lyrics, Rusty cage is a great song. some days I can think more clearly about what it is I like in a lyric, others everything is a mess. today is not so clear...

[wheres the mudfight]

'Turning Eagles into vultures' - is one of my favourite lines.

It was the line 'hands all over the words I utter, change them into what you want to, like balls of clay' that I was referring to in context to what you were saying. He is reaching outside of the song (which is about the world - a sphere that we all live in) suggesting that you can change his words to apply to the subjective world, or metaphoric 'ball of clay', that you live in, making the lyrics more tangible and more subjectively meaningful. Also, as Western culture has its hands all over the global world, we each have our hands over a microcosm of that world, making the listener aware that even in his own actions there is a direct effect on the larger world - at no time does he preach. I personally think that Cornell has the natural talent of a muse, not just lyricist. 'Louder Than Love' being his greatest epic to date - it's a book with music.

[Cultseeker]

I like the whole song, actually more each time I read/ listen to it. that verse I'd read take more to mean we destroy what we love and what we love changes us? I guess i'm an introvert and I read into things what I want to. I suppose to write a song that two people can like and have a completely different take on is a talent.

Edited July 3, 2006 by Cultseeker

[wheres the mudfight]

Eagles being a metaphor for american citizens, and we know what vultures symbolise in the order of birds.

That's exactly his point about 'balls of clay'. You take your meaning from the song, regardless of his intention as the author. The man clearly knows his art.

The Stone Roses have always had good lyrics, I just don't like regional art, I think because it's so strong up here in the north.

[Cultseeker]

I guess Albion is a bit local too...

[wheres the mudfight]

Given that it's based on the 'Albion' conjured up by William Blake; the imagined British utopia, I'd say not only is it local, but it's also heavily steeped in nationalistic myth. Not something that I like. Conflicts with my pro-european cosmopolitan (dare I say middle class) sensibilities you see.

No socialist or nationalist poetry required over here thank you.

I liked Carter, Neds (worked back stage for them in 91/92), PWEI, Wonderstuff, Ride, Blur circa 91, Swervedriver etc aswell as SG, Pearl Jam, Mudhoney et al. I also liked the Mission, Sisters, Fields of the Nephilim, The Smiths, The Cure, not to mention White Zombie, Anthrax, Bomb Disneyland and the likes. The Cult took precedence over all back then, but I wasn't a part of a singular group, other than those that appreciated guitar based alternative music. I looked pretty grunge and that was certainly my favourite movement of the time. The fact that they are all so accomplished now probably says alot.

[Cultseeker]

I think it twists it and describes a british eutopia as a mess, but one we love, like a drunken uncle meandering nonsense at us. not nationalist, except in a positive/questioning our importance kinda way (that's my interpretation)

I remeber music at school being very cliquey and stupid but I van remember arguing that indie was better than rock (I think I was a complete idiot, looking back, maybe just silly )

Edited July 3, 2006 by Cultseeker

[wheres the mudfight]

I believe it's got something to do with the myth of the Albion utopia being highjacked by so many public houses, which he then projects as the manifestation of this myth in modern reality.

I was a one off at school (oh the tales), there was all the 'trendies' who liked Bros, or whoever, and then everyone else who liked alternative music, in one form or another, who seemed to decend upon my house as a hang out until we got big and brave enough to venture into the wider world of sleezy rock/indie bars, clubs and festivals. And we haven't veered very far from that path really.

[Cultseeker]

It's as good an attempt at a humble, self affacing yet patriotic song I've heard.

[wheres the mudfight]

Hmm. Bold words indeed.

[Cultseeker]

incidently, talking of the smiths, without getting into things too much as I must be off to bed soon, Morrissey is a fantastic and unique lyricist, I guess not to everybody's taste but genius anyway

Edited July 4, 2006 by Cultseeker

[wheres the mudfight]

One of the best, and quite the anti-patriot.

'this provincial town that they forgot to close down' - I swear thats where I live.

'the people in this town lack style' - I hear ya!

[Olivavu]

Some of Steven Morrissey's lyrics are very interesting, but his voice just isn't to my liking.

I do much prefer The Smiths to his solo work.

[Shaydee]

I've been poking around YouTube today.

PJ on the Late Show in 92

PJ at Pinkpop in 92

my favorite PJ lyrics

do you see the way that tree bends?

does it inspire?

leaning out to catch the sun's rays

a lesson to be applied

are you getting something out of this all encompassing trip?

you can spend your time alone, redigesting past regrets, oh

or you can come to terms and realize

you're the only one who can't forgive yourself, oh

makes much more sense to live in the present tense

have you ideas on how this life ends?

checked your hands and studied the lines

have you the belief that the road ahead ascends off into the light?

seems that needlessly it's getting harder

to find an approach and a way to live

are we getting something out of this all-encompassing trip?

you can spend your time alone redigesting past regrets, oh

or you can come to terms and realize

you're the only one who cannot forgive yourself, oh

makes much more sense to live in the present tense

Edited July 5, 2006 by Shaydee

[Cultseeker]

I've been poking around YouTube today.

PJ at Pinkpop in 92

[Messi30]

heres a link so you can save youtube videos to yer hd - http://keepvid.com/

been dl all the pearl jam stuff i can find (as well as episodes of eerie indiana )

[Messi30]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yapJ_t1vmqY...=pearl%20jam%20 just wait till he gets to the solo

[Cultseeker]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yapJ_t1vmqY...=pearl%20jam%20 just wait till he gets to the solo

[pinback]

I liked Carter, Neds (worked back stage for them in 91/92), PWEI, Wonderstuff, Ride, Blur circa 91

[Cultseeker]

I too liked all those bands then (especially Carter and Ride). Looking back, Carter haven't stood the test of time. Some of the lyrics are brilliant, but the music/vocals are pretty ghastly. Ride have fared better, they were never great lyricists but the music has a lot of power and the '91-'92 stuff is very well produced. My interested dropped when they (intentionally or not) went all britpop.

[pinback]

'Leave Them All Behind' was a good song with good lyrics.

[wheres the mudfight]

I too liked all those bands then (especially Carter and Ride). Looking back, Carter haven't stood the test of time. Some of the lyrics are brilliant, but the music/vocals are pretty ghastly. Ride have fared better, they were never great lyricists but the music has a lot of power and the '91-'92 stuff is very well produced. My interested dropped when they (intentionally or not) went all britpop.

[Cultseeker]

It's a great song, but the lyrics are typical Ride - I dunno, I always found them to be a bit sixth-form poetry. But played at full volume the music drowns them out anyway

Edited July 5, 2006 by Cultseeker

[wheres the mudfight]

I'm hearing this alot. I like proper criticism and this qwip simply presumes naivity on the authors part but not much else. Essentially, why can't six form poetry be good? Why can't naivity be good?

Anyway, I think it has some well contrived, simplistic lyrics that allude to a very primordial instinct of the frustrated mind. Kinda like Orange Juice's 'Rip it Up', but with a much more complimentary sound. My likes it anyway.

[pinback]

I'm hearing this alot. I like proper criticism and this qwip simply presumes naivity on the authors part but not much else. Essentially, why can't six form poetry be good? Why can't naivity be good?