The drums are what kill this song for me. I don't mind the other instrumentation (not including the synthesizers), but the drums just sound awkward. I've written before that I just really do not like the way they bring the drums in. It just sounds chintzy to me. For some reason the drums seem to make Ed's vocal rhythm sound choppy. I don't know what it is, but the demo version seemed so much smoother in its vocal delivery. As someone else said, there doesn't seem to be the same emotion in this one as there is with the demo version.
All that said, I do think some of the additional instrumentation adds to the song. I just really think they should have left the drums out or at least found a better/smoother beat. Overall I like the song. The demo showed a lot of room for a great song, and they came close in certain areas. However along with the Fixer, it is the song I skip the most on the album.
5/28/06 - Camden, NJ 5/30/06 - Washington, DC 6/22/08 - Washington, DC 10/31/09 - Philadelphia, PA 8/5/16 - Fenway Park Temple of the Dog - 11/5/2016 - Philadelphia, PA 7/1/2018 - Prague 7/3/2018 - Kraków 7/5/2018 - Berlin
the album version is growing on me too, but i'm a firm believer that for SOS, less was more.
the demo put the band in a completely different territory soundwise...it was almost john frusciante-ish...someone mentioned earlier in this thread how the demo was typical pj like thumbing my way and some other songs and i have to disagree...the SOS demo was otherwordly, where songs like thumbing my way are very classic-sounding pj ballads...not that i don't like thumbing my way, cuz that song is awesome and i'd love to hear it live.
ah well, can't please everybody.
"If you love someone, set them free. If someone loves you, don't fuck up." -ev
6/29/03 - Montreal, QC 10/1/04 - Reading, PA
10/3/05 - Philadelphia, PA 5/12/06 - Albany, NY
6/27/08 - Hartford, CT (FRONT ROW CENTER!)
8/2/08 - (ev) Boston, MA 6/9/09 - (ev) Albany, NY
8/21/09 - Toronto, ON 5/10/10 - Buffalo, NY
I hadn't listened to BS in full for several days now but have been listening to the SOS demo a lot. To my surprise when I put on the album version right after listening to the demo about 5x the BS vesion sounded a lot better to me. By the way, my brother and nephew who have never heard the demo version point to SOS as one of their favorites on the album.
i like the hell out of both versions, and i am glad we have both versions available to us.
i like the EV solo version , but had they put that on the record, there would have been too many EV ballad type songs. glad they did the full band version on the record.
i like the fact that it almost sounds like two different songs in ways.
Peace, Love.
"To question your government is not unpatriotic --
to not question your government is unpatriotic."
-- Sen. Chuck Hagel
I don't hate the song, but it just doesn't appeal to me. It's a slow and somewhat boring track reminiscent of "Gone," which I've also tried to like but just can't. The odd minor chords strike me the wrong way.
00: Va Beach, 03: Bristow, 04: Reading, 05: Atlantic City 2x
06: Camden, Washington DC, 08: Va Beach, Washington DC
09: Philly 2+3, 10: Bristow, 11: East Troy PJ20 1+2, 13: Baltimore, Charlottesville
I really didnt like tha album version, so I just heard the demo...and I like the demo a lot better.
I've said from the first second I heard that song that it sounds like cheap background music in a old Miami Vice episode. Especially the piano/synthesizer part. I just picture Crockett speeding off in his boat with his damn 80's hair going off into the sunset.
couse the version of ev solo in hawaii was better..
"...Dimitri...He talks to me...'.."The Ghost of Greece..".
"..That's One Happy Fuckin Ghost.."
“..That came up on the Pillow Case...This is for the Greek, With Our Apologies.....”
It's growing on me... i think the end of the song really picks up. I love Matt, but the drums blow on this song. The Demo is fucking amazing... all the difference in the world.
This is the only song I don't really care for on the whole record. Kind of kills the overall momentum for me. That said, I can always find something to like in a PJ song, including SOS. But I'm not crazy about it.
For me it's mainly the feel of the drums that kills it. Why Matt chose to play that cheesy swing beat is beyond me. I think it has a better vibe without drums. If they were played with a different feel, maybe I wouldn't feel this way.. oh well
For me it's mainly the feel of the drums that kills it. Why Matt chose to play that cheesy swing beat is beyond me. I think it has a better vibe without drums. If they were played with a different feel, maybe I wouldn't feel this way.. oh well
Dude. You have posted twice, you suck your thumb and you have a favourite blankie.
A mod application is on it's way to you as we speak.
Don't give a crap what anyone else thinks. Speed of Sound is definitely one of the best on the new album. Sounds like it would have fit in nicely on Binaural. Just my humble opinion.
Comments
All that said, I do think some of the additional instrumentation adds to the song. I just really think they should have left the drums out or at least found a better/smoother beat. Overall I like the song. The demo showed a lot of room for a great song, and they came close in certain areas. However along with the Fixer, it is the song I skip the most on the album.
5/30/06 - Washington, DC
6/22/08 - Washington, DC
10/31/09 - Philadelphia, PA
8/5/16 - Fenway Park
Temple of the Dog - 11/5/2016 - Philadelphia, PA
7/1/2018 - Prague
7/3/2018 - Kraków
7/5/2018 - Berlin
Got to hear it in Baltimore and Honolulu.
Very happy it made the LP.
Phila. 03. Camden nights 1&2 03. Hershey 03. Boston 04. Reading 04. St Louis 04. Montreal 05. Ottawa 05. AC 05. Phila. 05. NY Letterman Show 06. E Rutherford nights 1&2 06. Camden nights 1&2 06. Denver nights 1&2 06. Hawaii 06. Grant Park, Chicago 07. Van Couver 08.(EV Solo) Camden nights 1&2 08. NY nights 1&2 08. Hartford 08. Mansfield 08. Newark 08.(EV Solo) Phila. nights 1&2 09.(EV Solo) Baltimore nights 1&2 09.(EV Solo) Honolulu night 2 09.(EV Solo) Salt Lake City 09. Phila Spectrum 10/27 10/28 & 10/31/09. Newark, NJ 05.18.10
the demo put the band in a completely different territory soundwise...it was almost john frusciante-ish...someone mentioned earlier in this thread how the demo was typical pj like thumbing my way and some other songs and i have to disagree...the SOS demo was otherwordly, where songs like thumbing my way are very classic-sounding pj ballads...not that i don't like thumbing my way, cuz that song is awesome and i'd love to hear it live.
ah well, can't please everybody.
6/29/03 - Montreal, QC 10/1/04 - Reading, PA
10/3/05 - Philadelphia, PA 5/12/06 - Albany, NY
6/27/08 - Hartford, CT (FRONT ROW CENTER!)
8/2/08 - (ev) Boston, MA 6/9/09 - (ev) Albany, NY
8/21/09 - Toronto, ON 5/10/10 - Buffalo, NY
www.cluthelee.com
www.cluthe.com
i like the EV solo version , but had they put that on the record, there would have been too many EV ballad type songs. glad they did the full band version on the record.
i like the fact that it almost sounds like two different songs in ways.
"To question your government is not unpatriotic --
to not question your government is unpatriotic."
-- Sen. Chuck Hagel
06: Camden, Washington DC, 08: Va Beach, Washington DC
09: Philly 2+3, 10: Bristow, 11: East Troy PJ20 1+2, 13: Baltimore, Charlottesville
10/30/09.10/31/09.5/17/10.9/7/11
EV:boston 1+2.albnay 1.boston 2010
Least favorite on the album... but it doesnt help that the album contains 11 'favorites'
I've said from the first second I heard that song that it sounds like cheap background music in a old Miami Vice episode. Especially the piano/synthesizer part. I just picture Crockett speeding off in his boat with his damn 80's hair going off into the sunset.
Piano=Fail.
Drums=too monotonous.
"..That's One Happy Fuckin Ghost.."
“..That came up on the Pillow Case...This is for the Greek, With Our Apologies.....”
Really sounds like Mat is playing some other song.
But with that said I love all of the other songs on this album.
Supersonic is pretty cool jam...
I smile big with a toothless grin LOL....
why do you know what meatloaf sounds like
6/29/03 - Montreal, QC 10/1/04 - Reading, PA
10/3/05 - Philadelphia, PA 5/12/06 - Albany, NY
6/27/08 - Hartford, CT (FRONT ROW CENTER!)
8/2/08 - (ev) Boston, MA 6/9/09 - (ev) Albany, NY
8/21/09 - Toronto, ON 5/10/10 - Buffalo, NY
Becoming one of my favorites which is tough because I absolutely enjoy so much of this album.
It is the only song I actively skip. Demo was better but still crap.
No sweat, every albums gotta have a piece of shit, this is the piece of shit that fits in our Backspacer.
Dude. You have posted twice, you suck your thumb and you have a favourite blankie.
A mod application is on it's way to you as we speak.
surprised they haven't been playing it live.
just love the entire album.