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LBC a much better song than Unthought Known

1STmammal2wearPants1STmammal2wearPants Worcester, MA Posts: 2,948
edited October 2009 in The Porch
imo. Two very different sets of lyrics, but the latter seems like a desperate re-do of Love Boat Captain. There. Sorry. One of only a couple on the album that I am simply not agreeing with the praise for.
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Comments

  • DeadmanDeadman Posts: 795
    Gotta admit I feel it's in the weakest 2-3 as well and LBC is WAY BETTER!*

    *denotes still loves the crap outta Backspacer
  • Mcam55Mcam55 Posts: 1,407
    I agree.
  • PorchsitterPorchsitter Loganville, GA Posts: 1,082
    To each his own.
    We are the facilitators of our own creative evolution.--Bill Hicks
  • AmentsArmyAmentsArmy Posts: 78
    With all due respect, I could not disagree more. Unthought Known is great example of a Pearl Jam crescendo song, where every 10-20 seconds builds on the last, then explodes with Eddie's piercing tenor at the summit of sound. Don't get me wrong, I think LBC is a great tune, but not near the sing-a-long/rev-me-up tune that Unthought Known is. Then again, comparing apples to oranges is an inexact science.
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  • TouringFan2000TouringFan2000 Posts: 305
    a great example of being given "an embarrassment of riches." cheers and thanks to pearl jam for giving us songs like LBC and Unthought Known to compare to each other.
    Give way to nature ...
  • U R A Crazy BreedU R A Crazy Breed Posts: 8,370
    i don't see any relation to these songs at all..save the fact that they are both great tunes!!
  • RiotAct10RiotAct10 Ohio Posts: 1,634
    Yeah, I have to disagree. Love Boat Captain has never really done it for me, whereas I can't get enough of Unthought Known.
    words seem so out of place.

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  • PJ Fan est. 1990PJ Fan est. 1990 Posts: 1,788
    i don't get the hype about unthought known...the song has grown on me to the point where i can call it a good song, but it's not as great as people make it out to be...i love the shit out of LBC though
  • crowbarstomyheadcrowbarstomyhead Posts: 36
    Not even close IMO. Unthought Known is a much better song. LBC plods on and on and could have greatly benefitted from some trimming down with all due respect. The verse staring with "And the young..." is pretty rough.
  • mfc2006mfc2006 HTOWN Posts: 37,484
    while i like LBC, Unthought Known is a much better song in my opinion. LBC is great live, but the studio version doesn't really do too much for me.
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  • BeerBaronBeerBaron Toronto-ish Posts: 4,097
    I think UK is a great song and LBC is one of the worst songs the band has released.

    So to each his own I guess...
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  • Hawk123Hawk123 Posts: 2,328
    I don't think LBC is that bad but Unthought Known is amazing. It's so much better live too.
  • FlaggFlagg Posts: 5,856
    Hahaha - not even close. To each their own I guess but, wow.
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  • JH165252JH165252 Posts: 20
    LBC = Awful title
    UK = One of their most interesting/intriguing titles
    LBC = Shaky song on initial listen, took me forever to get used to, Ed sounds out of tune in the chorus.
    UK = Wonderfully crafted. Maybe their most well crafted song of the decade (followed closlely by I Am Mine)

    Unthought Known wins for me. Big time.
  • ECMECM Posts: 1,687
    AmentsArmy wrote:
    With all due respect, I could not disagree more. Unthought Known is great example of a Pearl Jam crescendo song, where every 10-20 seconds builds on the last, then explodes with Eddie's piercing tenor at the summit of sound. Don't get me wrong, I think LBC is a great tune, but not near the sing-a-long/rev-me-up tune that Unthought Known is. Then again, comparing apples to oranges is an inexact science.

    What you said.... spot on IMO
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  • High Fidelity 2000High Fidelity 2000 New Mexico USA Posts: 4,439
    TOTALLY agree!

    They BOTH have stupid-ass titles. But the first time I heard Unthought Known, all I thought was it's like a poor man's LBC. It has that same riff in the beginning, but unlike LBC, there is no change on the chorus... a few seconds on the bridge, but overall a very repetitive song. I think of tunes like Fly Away by Lenny Kravitz, where it's the same 3 or 4 chord progression through the entire 4 mintue song.
    Gems and Rhinestones... so annoying. And it's the first thing I think of when the song starts. "ugh, gems and rhinestones... here we go..." :)
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  • rearviewrossrearviewross Posts: 3,055
    High Fidelity 2000 wrote:
    TOTALLY agree!

    They BOTH have stupid-ass titles. But the first time I heard Unthought Known, all I thought was it's like a poor man's LBC. It has that same riff in the beginning, but unlike LBC, there is no change on the chorus... a few seconds on the bridge, but overall a very repetitive song. I think of tunes like Fly Away by Lenny Kravitz, where it's the same 3 or 4 chord progression through the entire 4 mintue song.
    Gems and Rhinestones... so annoying. And it's the first thing I think of when the song starts. "ugh, gems and rhinestones... here we go..." :)

    Completely disagree with every point you just made. UK is a 10, LBC is a 6 on my PJameter.
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  • PJFAN13PJFAN13 Posts: 1,422
    Everyone's entitled to their opinions...
    I have seen them both live, and Unknown Thought was FAR more crowd pleasin (imo)...Ed's energy to the build of "...with gems and rhinestones" - as well as the message overall is superior (imo) to "...Its already been sung, but it cant be said enough. All you need is love..." The "hold me and make it the truth..." parts fired me up live...funny - I've spun BS a TON and have yet to even think about skippin' Unthought Known - and I was skippin LBC to get to Cropduster after just a few listens...in fact, I like UK more and more each day :P
    Don't get me wrong - I like LBC, I think it's a tad cheezy, and was awful glad it wasn't played in San Diego...
    But glad you dig it my friend - keep rockin!
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  • megatronmegatron Posts: 3,420
    i love LBC.
    UK though. i've never had a song move me on a first listen like this one. i was near tears in hapiness. weird i know.
    even as i get more into backspacer and FON and ATW is taking over as my favorites i still have never had a reaction like i did to UK.
    therefore..it wins :D

    (i love LBC btw)

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  • ParksyParksy Posts: 1,795
    RiotAct10 wrote:
    Yeah, I have to disagree. Love Boat Captain has never really done it for me, whereas I can't get enough of Unthought Known.


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  • LikeAnOceanLikeAnOcean Posts: 7,718
    Both are really good, but Unthought Known is easily better for me.
  • Sleep.With.InnocenceSleep.With.Innocence Posts: 607
    "And the young can lose hope cause they can't see beyond today, the wisdom that the old can't give away."

    UK can't hold a candle to that.
  • LikeAnOceanLikeAnOcean Posts: 7,718
    Can't the two songs just stand on their own? Why do they have to compete? What are we competing for?

    Love Boat Captain is great, but so depressing.. Unthought Known is uplifting and optimistic.
  • LedbetterdaysLedbetterdays Round Rock, Texas Posts: 556
    I think this is the first time anyone has mentioned LBC in about 5 years. Not exactly must hear material. Unthought Known has a chance to be a live staple in the future. The love boat captain's ship has sunk.
    Touring Fan since 1996
  • GiventoFallGiventoFall Posts: 217
    Love Boat Captian by far.If you can get past the cheesy title its one hell of a song with great lyrics. Its funny everyone loves UK so much it's my least favorite song on the album, meaning I think its just ok. Im sure ill eventually fall in love with it but it just doesnt overwhelm me like it does some people. I guess its the equivalent of how i feel about Amongst the waves.
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  • wolfbearwolfbear Posts: 3,965
    No contest for me. Love Unthought Known (I love it!) and LBC wasn't my fav. :)
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