Statement vs. Storytelling

NoOne'sRival

OK, so I am not a music critic, but I know what I like and more specifically, what I like from Pearl Jam. I like the storytelling versus statement songs. "GOT SOME" and "THE FIXER" are songs that make a statement with rocking velocity. So, I'm hoping some songs on the album that are also the storytelling kind, while keeping with the rocking velocity.
Several previous posters referenced both song's ability to "grow on you"...Did BLACK grow on anyone? Did CORDUOY? How about LEASH or RIVAL or LUKIN? You heard them and they hit you in the face and knocked you over and you LOVED THEM from the first.
One other thing, I, like many of you have listed to these new releases repeatedly and in allowing myself total absorbtion, have come to this conclusion abouth the author of the aforementioned new releases:
THE FIXER is easy: Daddy can do it all, or at least wants to but Love is waning due to daily life and there's so much to do to get it all done... but what's he want to do? "Fight to get it back again!"
GOT SOME: Again, daily life decisions, the war, the economy and finally, in order to FIX the love that may be waining refereced above, Daddy's GOT SOME for Momma!
This album may play the tune of this portion of my life all other PJ albums have in the past!

In all sincerity now, I truly cannot wait to hear the full album in context.

ps: I guess I've been spoiled on a lot of live boots, too, because I'm so sure on the mixing, etc., the "studio" sound of these two tunes...I'm liking the raw stuff.

HeavyHands

chuckles wrote:

I guess I've been spoiled on a lot of live boots, too, because I'm so sure on the mixing, etc., the "studio" sound of these two tunes...I'm liking the raw stuff.

It's amazing how good this song (The Fixer) sounds over tinny little computer speakers, isn't it?

NoOne'sRival

I concede, you are correct, I will await the arrival of the album and make further determinations then...but you understand what I'm getting at, no?

HeavyHands

chuckles wrote:

I concede, you are correct, I will await the arrival of the album and make further determinations then...but you understand what I'm getting at, no?

Oh yes, I do. At least I think I do anyway... The one song that I always come back to which, to me, best demonstrates eV's story telling ability is Given To Fly. For some reason whenever I hear that song I can't help but envision a narrative that is vivid and affecting. On top of that he throws in lines like "Waves came crashing like a fist to the jaw..." Unbelievably great, imho.

I think one of the dangers of making or crafting a statement song is that it will become dated because it is too closely rooted in the time in which it is written (either by lyrical subject matter or technology used in production/recording). For example, discussing contemporary politics. I think Bu$hleaguer suffers from this. I ask myself "Are they really going to ever play this again? Will anyone really be able to identify or care about this in 20 more years?" Sure the band was able to make their statement, but does this really add to their body of work in the long run? Maybe it does. I don't know.

On the other hand, when political statement song writing is done really well, utilizing an archetype instead of being particularly specific can yield great results i.e. CCR's Fortunate Son. It doesn't name anyone specifically, but brings an idea to the listener that can still be as relevant today as it was when it was first written.

skyeriverwinter

.

cannotstaylong

HeavyHands wrote:

chuckles wrote:

On the other hand, when political statement song writing is done really well, utilizing an archetype instead of being particularly specific can yield great results i.e. CCR's Fortunate Son. It doesn't name anyone specifically, but brings an idea to the listener that can still be as relevant today as it was when it was first written.

I agree. Take "Leash," for instance. I think it's as political a statement as any, but there are not any references to specific people or even specific events. Obviously it's a sort of generational song, but it works so well, no matter what the political landscape. Even though the song may sound odd coming from 40-somethings these days, it still works as a sort of generational backlash.

As you said, when you keep the political statements to a more general nature, foregoing specific names and events, the effect can be more lasting.

HeavyHands

cannotstaylong wrote:

I agree. Take "Leash," for instance. I think it's as political a statement as any, but there are not any references to specific people or even specific events. Obviously it's a sort of generational song, but it works so well, no matter what the political landscape. Even though the song may sound odd coming from 40-somethings these days, it still works as a sort of generational backlash.

As you said, when you keep the political statements to a more general nature, foregoing specific names and events, the effect can be more lasting.

Yes, exactly. Leash is a great example of using an archetype to wonderful affect. The chorus of that song still gets me pumped after almost 20 years. No specifics. Just a terrific expression of a universal feeling.

"Drop the leash we are young! Drop the leash we are young!"

Simple, straightforward, to the point.

benjs

HeavyHands wrote:

chuckles wrote:

I concede, you are correct, I will await the arrival of the album and make further determinations then...but you understand what I'm getting at, no?

Oh yes, I do. At least I think I do anyway... The one song that I always come back to which, to me, best demonstrates eV's story telling ability is Given To Fly. For some reason whenever I hear that song I can't help but envision a narrative that is vivid and affecting. On top of that he throws in lines like "Waves came crashing like a fist to the jaw..." Unbelievably great, imho.

I think one of the dangers of making or crafting a statement song is that it will become dated because it is too closely rooted in the time in which it is written (either by lyrical subject matter or technology used in production/recording). For example, discussing contemporary politics. I think Bu$hleaguer suffers from this. I ask myself "Are they really going to ever play this again? Will anyone really be able to identify or care about this in 20 more years?" Sure the band was able to make their statement, but does this really add to their body of work in the long run? Maybe it does. I don't know.

On the other hand, when political statement song writing is done really well, utilizing an archetype instead of being particularly specific can yield great results i.e. CCR's Fortunate Son. It doesn't name anyone specifically, but brings an idea to the listener that can still be as relevant today as it was when it was first written.

Great post, HeavyHands... I think I agree with you on this point. A statement song isn't good for later years when there are new fans trying to figure this track out - they may not understand the optimism of these times, or the anger and frustration held by many at the time Bu$hleaguer was written. Something I can say about them, however, is that if you're there, in the midst of the situation, it's something to bring back memories - call it nostalgia, though it can be positive or negative. To this day, my dad (who is American), who photographed for his college newspaper during the Vietnam War, gets teary-eyed when he hears Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young's Ohio. I enjoy that song, and see how it transcends time almost, but that's another good thing about a statement song: it's a good reminder, and a good informer for those of us, however many years down the road, who may not know of these events/feelings.

HeavyHands

benjs wrote:

A statement song isn't good for later years when there are new fans trying to figure this track out - they may not understand the optimism of these times, or the anger and frustration held by many at the time Bu$hleaguer was written. Something I can say about them, however, is that if you're there, in the midst of the situation, it's something to bring back memories - call it nostalgia, though it can be positive or negative. To this day, my dad (who is American), who photographed for his college newspaper during the Vietnam War, gets teary-eyed when he hears Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young's Ohio. I enjoy that song, and see how it transcends time almost, but that's another good thing about a statement song: it's a good reminder, and a good informer for those of us, however many years down the road, who may not know of these events/feelings.

Yup. I think you have a perfect example of when a well written and executed statement song seers itself onto a soul. In this case, context is a huge part of it. A kid who picks up CSNY these days just won't have the same experience with that same song. That's ok though, I think, because there is bound to be someone out there who will fill that void when it is needed.

Thanks for relating that story too. We forget sometimes that there's an entire lifetime's worth of experience that drives our parents and their actions. It's always great to learn something about their generation.