How awesome is Rival?

RiotZact

This song NEVER gets talked about so I figured I would give it some love during a crazy time on the Porch. The riff is so simple yet so awesome, the lyrics are some of Stone's best, the addition of the piano is genius and the overall structure of the song is so original and unpredictable. And, along with most of the other songs on Binural, Matt couldn't have drummed it better, especially at the beginning.

I would probably put it in my ever changing top 10 in easily in the top 3 most underrated Pearl Jam songs.

When I listen to Binural and hear Thin Air, then one track later hear Of the Girl, then one more later hear Rival it really makes me get down on my knees and pray that there is a couple of completely Stone written songs on the next album. Although it is unlikely considering it hasn't happened in 13 years. :(

october22

It is pretty awesome. Binaural is one of my favorites. Every song is great. I even have come to really like evacuation which I didn't like much at first. I think Soon Forget is the only weak track but it doesn't change my opinion of the record as a whole at all.

Choccoloccotide

I was lucky enough to hear it live at the '00 Atlanta show. It was f**kin' badass.

jumbojet

RiotZact wrote:

The riff is so simple yet so awesome, the lyrics are some of Stone's best, the addition of the piano is genius and the overall structure of the song is so original and unpredictable.

Absolutely awesome... Binaural is full of such songs, original and unpredictable. THe slow part coming after hard part is brilliant.
Thanks for bringing this up...

dimitrispearljam

Binaural song = Awesome Song

WhyGo91

Rival is definitely a complete gem on Binaural. while I can honestly say the album doesnt make any of my top PJ lists, the song itself would make me buy Binaural over and over again.

Here's why it's awesome:
1) The intro: I mean the dog growl is so cool and its such a catchy way to begin a song
2) Matt's drumming: very basic of course, but it leads off the song into such a heavy backbeat
3) main riff: It's kinda got a bluesy, pendulum hook thing going on and it matches great with Ed's singing
4) Ed's part: kinda the same thing as the main riff, it's got this hook on the verses that you just can't help but love

there ya go me amigos

Jerome230

And only played 20 times live?

Talk about underrated!!

dimitrispearljam

WhyGo91 wrote:

Rival is definitely a complete gem on Binaural. while I can honestly say the album doesnt make any of my top PJ lists, the song itself would make me buy Binaural over and over again.

Here's why it's awesome:
1) The intro: I mean the dog growl is so cool and its such a catchy way to begin a song
2) Matt's drumming: very basic of course, but it leads off the song into such a heavy backbeat
3) main riff: It's kinda got a bluesy, pendulum hook thing going on and it matches great with Ed's singing
4) Ed's part: kinda the same thing as the main riff, it's got this hook on the verses that you just can't help but love

there ya go me amigos

i like this guy

jervin007

Great song! Psyched to see it in Boston 2010!

RiotZact

Jerome230 wrote:

And only played 20 times live?

Talk about underrated!!

Yeah I saw it at Philly 1 2009 but that was long before I appreciated it as much as I do now :( If only I could relive that moment.

Glad to see this thread getting plenty of love amidst all of the album/tour/countdown/Chicago craziness!

Choccoloccotide

Chew on this for awhile:

http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=T5RsjAz87fY

RiotZact

october22 wrote:

It is pretty awesome. Binaural is one of my favorites. Every song is great. I even have come to really like evacuation which I didn't like much at first. I think Soon Forget is the only weak track but it doesn't change my opinion of the record as a whole at all.

Funny you should say that, because for some strange reason Evacuation and Soon Forget where the only 2 that caught my attention the first few times I listened to Binural. It was my least favorite album for the longest time. Then one day I popped it in my CD player to hear those 2 songs and I ended up really catching on to some other songs like Of the Girl and Breakerfall. So it jumped up on my list a little bit but about a month ago I put it in again and now it is easily my favorite album! Songs like Rival, NAIS, and Grievance have grown on my to a ridiculous extent in the past few weeks.

Now (along with God's Dice) Evacuation and Soon Forget are the only ones I don't like all that much. But I have to love them because if it weren't for my initial interest in them I never would have gave the rest of the album enough of a chance.

RiotZact

Choccoloccotide wrote:

Chew on this for awhile:

http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=T5RsjAz87fY

Thanks for that! Awesome version. How cool would it be if they played it live and had Boom play the piano part?

green_girl

RiotZact wrote:

This song NEVER gets talked about so I figured I would give it some love during a crazy time on the Porch. The riff is so simple yet so awesome, the lyrics are some of Stone's best, the addition of the piano is genius and the overall structure of the song is so original and unpredictable. And, along with most of the other songs on Binural, Matt couldn't have drummed it better, especially at the beginning.

I would probably put it in my ever changing top 10 in easily in the top 3 most underrated Pearl Jam songs.

When I listen to Binural and hear Thin Air, then one track later hear Of the Girl, then one more later hear Rival it really makes me get down on my knees and pray that there is a couple of completely Stone written songs on the next album. Although it is unlikely considering it hasn't happened in 13 years. :(

It's one of my favorite Pearl Jam songs. The bluesy-ness, the lyrics. The song just sucks me in. And you're right about the Stone Gossard ThinAir-OfTheGirl-Rival trifecta. His head was in a very special place when he created those tunes. That's the great thing about this band. They aren't just one thing and they excel at being unpredictable. Most bands can't hit outside their wheelhouse. I heart this band.

smanchac1

I love this song!

The drums are so thick and heavy, even more so live!

Pinkpop 2000 had a great live version.

The odd timing and heavy guitars, along with some odd words make one of the best songs.

Always been a fan of this song. Always chasing this song. Missed it in 2010 by one show!! :(

Pap

WhyGo91 wrote:

Here's why it's awesome:

1) The intro: I mean the dog growl is so cool and its such a catchy way to begin a song.

smanchac1 wrote:

Pinkpop 2000 had a great live version.

Spankey's Popp

dimitrispearljam wrote:

Binaural song = Awesome Song

+1

My of my faves. Always wondered why it got little love & even less play.

The opening drum beats and guitar set the tone for a killer tune. Would love this one @ Wrigley, or anywhere

RFTC

not as awesome as fatal, but still pretty tight.

evenflow82

Here's the pro-shot Pinkpop 2000 video. Pay attention to Stone at 0:46...I miss seeing that groove and facial expression.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x1ftmgsuUDY

ComeToTX

Dallas 2000 I got to see it and smile. Good night.

shetellsherself

Binaural is my favorite album overall. Love this song. So bad ass in every way. Only played 2x in past 10 years?? Really? Time to bring back some rival.

RiotZact

shetellsherself wrote:

Binaural is my favorite album overall. Love this song. So bad ass in every way. Only played 2x in past 10 years?? Really? Time to bring back some rival.

Wow I didn't know that statistic, now I feel really special.

I honestly think that the reason we don't hear these songs is because Stone is such a perfectionist and he's afraid something will go wrong. Think of Mankind at Philly 1 2009, I was there and it sounded perfect, no missed lyrics and nothing musically went wrong as far as I could tell but still afterword he seemed really upset with the performance saying something along the lines of "fuck we should have practiced that more".

My guess is something like this, Ed says "which off the wall song should we do tonight? how about Rival?" and Stone turns it down immediately because they haven't rehearsed it or anything.

oysterjar

evenflow82 wrote:

Here's the pro-shot Pinkpop 2000 video. Pay attention to Stone at 0:46...I miss seeing that groove and facial expression.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x1ftmgsuUDY

SPOT ON

WhyGo91

dimitrispearljam wrote:

WhyGo91 wrote:

Rival is definitely a complete gem on Binaural. while I can honestly say the album doesnt make any of my top PJ lists, the song itself would make me buy Binaural over and over again.

Here's why it's awesome:
1) The intro: I mean the dog growl is so cool and its such a catchy way to begin a song
2) Matt's drumming: very basic of course, but it leads off the song into such a heavy backbeat
3) main riff: It's kinda got a bluesy, pendulum hook thing going on and it matches great with Ed's singing
4) Ed's part: kinda the same thing as the main riff, it's got this hook on the verses that you just can't help but love

there ya go me amigos

i like this guy

Look at this guy!!! DIMITRIS!!!! :thumbup:

SOLAT319

RiotZact wrote:

This song NEVER gets talked about so I figured I would give it some love during a crazy time on the Porch. The riff is so simple yet so awesome, the lyrics are some of Stone's best, the addition of the piano is genius and the overall structure of the song is so original and unpredictable. And, along with most of the other songs on Binural, Matt couldn't have drummed it better, especially at the beginning.

I would probably put it in my ever changing top 10 in easily in the top 3 most underrated Pearl Jam songs.

When I listen to Binural and hear Thin Air, then one track later hear Of the Girl, then one more later hear Rival it really makes me get down on my knees and pray that there is a couple of completely Stone written songs on the next album. Although it is unlikely considering it hasn't happened in 13 years. :(

PRETTY FUCKING AWESOME

Kimmiebyrom

Oh it's COMPLETELY AWESOME!
That's one damn good example of some good old fashioned rock guitar. Stone = genius.

danny

i dont like it im afraid

veddertown

I love Rival. I guess with gun crime being a consistently topical subject they choose to keep it in the closet for the most part but it's a really great, catchy, well structured song from a great album. I'd love to hear it live but going to as little shows as I do I doubt I'll strike it lucky.

Spiritual_Chaos

Studio > live

RiotZact

Spiritual_Chaos wrote:

Studio > live

Yeah have to agree with you there

RiotZact

Rival 2013 fall tour? One can hope.