"Ghost" could have been "Force of Nature"

Veddernarian
Veddernarian Posts: 1,924
edited September 2009 in The Porch
Ghost, to me is the best example of a PJ song that could have been great if more effort had been placed on production, etc. This is why Backspacer is getting 4 and 5 star reviews when Riot Act was mostly getting 3's. Ghost and Force of Nature are similarly structured songs yet listen to the stark differences in sound. I wish Brendan O'Brian could go and open Riot Act up for a remaster. I bet he could have rendered an entirely different album with those same songs.
Up here so high I start to shake, Up here so high the sky I scrape, I've no fear but for falling down, So look out below I am falling now, Falling down,...not staying down, Could’ve held me up, rather tear me down, Drown in the river
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  • LikeAnOcean
    LikeAnOcean Posts: 7,718
    edited September 2009
    Veddernarian wrote:
    I wish Brendan O'Brian could go and open Riot Act up for a remaster. I bet he could have rendered an entirely different album with those same songs.
    Um.. Brendan O'brien did mix Riot Act.. and I think its one of their best mixed albums.

    Kasper produced it. O'brien mixed it. ;)

    Get new speakers. :P
    Post edited by LikeAnOcean on
  • over bends
    over bends Posts: 1,568
    But Ghost IS great.
    Yield!

    3 Decibels Doubles the Volume

    2006
  • Force Of Nature
    Force Of Nature York, England Posts: 1,141
    Force Of Nature is my favourite of the album, love everything about it; 'is it so wrong to think that love can keep us safe?' :) the ending of the song remind anyone of its ok?
  • Hatfield78
    Hatfield78 Posts: 69
    LikeAnOcean wrote:
    Veddernarian wrote:
    I wish Brendan O'Brian could go and open Riot Act up for a remaster. I bet he could have rendered an entirely different album with those same songs.
    Um.. Brendan O'brien did mix Riot Act.. and I think its one of their best mixed albums.

    Kasper produced it. O'brien mixed it. ;)

    Get new speakers. :P

    I'm sure he was wishing that O'brien produced Riot Act. Ghost, Cropduster, Green Disease, Light Years, Can't Keep and Thumbing My Way could have all sounded much better and even ended up better songs if BoB was pushing them. He definitely gets better vocals out of Ed than Kasper did.
  • LikeAnOcean
    LikeAnOcean Posts: 7,718
    Hatfield78 wrote:
    LikeAnOcean wrote:
    Veddernarian wrote:
    I wish Brendan O'Brian could go and open Riot Act up for a remaster. I bet he could have rendered an entirely different album with those same songs.
    Um.. Brendan O'brien did mix Riot Act.. and I think its one of their best mixed albums.

    Kasper produced it. O'brien mixed it. ;)

    Get new speakers. :P

    I'm sure he was wishing that O'brien produced Riot Act. Ghost, Cropduster, Green Disease, Light Years, Can't Keep and Thumbing My Way could have all sounded much better and even ended up better songs if BoB was pushing them. He definitely gets better vocals out of Ed than Kasper did.
    True.. if not for the poor vocal deliverance, Riot Act would have been my favorite album. Same with Avocado. Ed sounds like he's either half asleep or in some discomfort.
  • DewieCox
    DewieCox Posts: 11,432
    ^^^^^Light Years is on Binaural.

    Ghost could not have been Force of Nature. Ghost is more a straight up rocker. FoN has so much more to it, to my ears.

    I don't really think they really sound alike.
  • let the song protest
    let the song protest Posts: 200
    DewieCox wrote:
    ^^^^^Light Years is on Binaural.

    Ghost could not have been Force of Nature. Ghost is more a straight up rocker. FoN has so much more to it, to my ears.

    I don't really think they really sound alike.

    Riot Act being my least favorite of the band's albums, I haven't listened to it in a while, but I'll have to give Ghost a listen and see about these comparisons to Force of Nature...I feel terrible but I can't even remember how Ghost goes right now!! :shock: My faves from that album have always been Can't Keep, All or None, Green Disease, and 1/2 Full. Some really good songs on Riot Act but all in all I always found it uneven.
  • pearljgirl2010
    pearljgirl2010 Shillington, PA/Tuckerton, NJ Posts: 3,428
    as you all probably know by now (as every time there is a GHOST thread, I'm there!!), I LOVE GHOST...it's one of my favorite songs ever....I also think that Force of Nature is one of the best Pearl Jam songs I've heard in years...i cannot get enough of it.

    That said, I don't think Ghost has the appeal to the masses that FoN does....
    Need a tour Travel Agent??? Pick me :-)

    Whatever you are, be a good one --Lincoln
  • SolarWorld
    SolarWorld Posts: 1,902
    LikeAnOcean wrote:
    Veddernarian wrote:
    I wish Brendan O'Brian could go and open Riot Act up for a remaster. I bet he could have rendered an entirely different album with those same songs.
    Um.. Brendan O'brien did mix Riot Act.. and I think its one of their best mixed albums.

    Kasper produced it. O'brien mixed it. ;)

    Get new speakers. :P

    Mixing is not the same thing as Producing, its not even in the same ball park.
  • LikeAnOcean
    LikeAnOcean Posts: 7,718
    SolarWorld wrote:
    LikeAnOcean wrote:
    Veddernarian wrote:
    I wish Brendan O'Brian could go and open Riot Act up for a remaster. I bet he could have rendered an entirely different album with those same songs.
    Um.. Brendan O'brien did mix Riot Act.. and I think its one of their best mixed albums.

    Kasper produced it. O'brien mixed it. ;)

    Get new speakers. :P

    Mixing is not the same thing as Producing, its not even in the same ball park.
    Thank you captain obvious. I think you just helped me with my point even more. ;)

    All you can do with the album is go back and remix it. My point was O'brien mixed it in the first place.
  • DewieCox
    DewieCox Posts: 11,432
    I'd say RA needs re-produced more than it needs remastered. The sound is great, but they used some lackluster(imo) takes. It could use a little more life, especially on the vox.
  • SolarWorld
    SolarWorld Posts: 1,902
    LikeAnOcean wrote:

    Thank you captain obvious. I think you just helped me with my point even more. ;)

    All you can do with the album is go back and remix it. My point was O'brien mixed it in the first place.

    And my point is you are giving credit to O'Brien for Riot Act's sound and he only had to do with the "volume".
  • let the song protest
    let the song protest Posts: 200
    DewieCox wrote:
    I'd say RA needs re-produced more than it needs remastered. The sound is great, but they used some lackluster(imo) takes. It could use a little more life, especially on the vox.

    That's a good assessment and my biggest complaint about that album - it was just a bit lifeless in spots, especially when compared with all their other albums.
  • LikeAnOcean
    LikeAnOcean Posts: 7,718
    SolarWorld wrote:
    LikeAnOcean wrote:

    Thank you captain obvious. I think you just helped me with my point even more. ;)

    All you can do with the album is go back and remix it. My point was O'brien mixed it in the first place.

    And my point is you are giving credit to O'Brien for Riot Act's sound and he only had to do with the "volume".
    I agree, although I think the OP wanted O'brien to give it the "Ten Redux" treatment. If thats the case, all you can do is remix it unless the band wants to rerecord it.. I think O'brien did his part right the first time.
  • InHiding19
    InHiding19 Posts: 2,385
    Dude come on man Ghost is a better song than Force of Nature. They should play live more often, because it kicks ass. I hope we get it on Halloween.
    Out of the Blue and Into the Black................Uncle Neil Philly 08 here I come!!!!
  • JordyWordy
    JordyWordy Posts: 2,261
    I've just listened to both songs, and im not a massive fan of Ghost at all. I really like Force of Nature.

    But regardless of what i think of the songs, i cant for the life of me see the similarities.
    Maybe ill pick up a guitar when i get home and try figure it out, im clearly missing something!
  • Stephen Flow
    Stephen Flow Posts: 3,327
    I like Ghost a lot but I think Force of Nature is a better song.
  • Stephen Flow
    Stephen Flow Posts: 3,327
    Oxxys wrote:
    Dude come on man Ghost is a better song than Force of Nature. They should play live more often, because it kicks ass. I hope we get it on Halloween.

    lol that would be funny if they played it on Halloween.
  • Veddernarian
    Veddernarian Posts: 1,924
    JordyWordy wrote:
    I've just listened to both songs, and im not a massive fan of Ghost at all. I really like Force of Nature.

    But regardless of what i think of the songs, i cant for the life of me see the similarities.
    Maybe ill pick up a guitar when i get home and try figure it out, im clearly missing something!

    Where I was going with this is Force of Nature has such an aura of sound, clear separation and distinction of the instruments, Ed sings so much more with purpose, clarity and emphasis, Brendan has such a crisp production. If they would have recorded/produced Ghost by such means, it would have been a whole different song. Adam Casper was interviewed and he said some of the Riot Act songs were cases where the band was doing a practice run and he said we're using that one for the album. Ghost, to me sounds like that's exactly what happened. To me the effort is like the effort you would put on a class which isn't in your major. Where Force of Nature sounds like every bit of focus was dead on spot. I would love it if they went back in the studio with Brendan and re-recorded Ghost. It's good but could be so great.
    Up here so high I start to shake, Up here so high the sky I scrape, I've no fear but for falling down, So look out below I am falling now, Falling down,...not staying down, Could’ve held me up, rather tear me down, Drown in the river
  • CopTheRiotAct
    CopTheRiotAct Posts: 953
    Ghost rocks :D
    ...The Moon is Rollin' Round....

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