Evacuation fuckin rocks

Jammalambo

Yeah, Evacuation, the song everyone seems to hate (even Matt acknowledges this)..
It's the more complex and intricated song from the PJ catalog (first song Matt wrote for the band, too), and it's a pleasure to play on guitar..
It's interesting to look at the time signatures included in this song (interesting for those who cares about those things, I would say), but I think learning the structure of the song may help to appreciate the song a little more..
It kicks in in 4/4 (first five bars), and then the verse is composed of two 7/8 bars and two 5/8 bars (played twice), third time is two 7/8 bars, one 5/8 bars, one 3/4 bar, and then the first chorus (another five 4/4 bars).. in this section there are four subsequent bars, one of each with a different time signature (7/8, 5/8, 3/4 and 4/4).. really cool.
Then the second verse, again two 7/8 and two 5/8 bars (x2), third time is two 7/8 bars, one 5/8 bar, one 5/4 bar and then comes the first bridge (like before, four bars with different time signatures).
The first bridge basically shifts from 4/4 to 5/4 bars (specifically, first bar is 4/4, then one 5/4 bar, one 4/4 bar, three 5/4 bars, one 4/4 bar, one 5/4 bar, one 4/4 bar, one 5/4 bar, one 4/4 bar, and last bar is 3/4).
Then comes the second chorus (nine 4/4 bars), then the second bridge (five 4/4 bars and one 5/4 bar). At this point there's the third bridge played in 4/4 (twelve bars, the last one is in 3/4). Then comes the third chorus, and from this point the song is in 4/4 till the end.
Anyone can listen to the song and identify each bar, you just have to tap your finger or foot in time with the music (if you are unsure about this, listen to a live version, the four drumstick intro).
This post is my tribute to the song, and to the great Matt Fuckin Cameron.

ps: In the Moonlight is another great one, by the way, I'll talk about it in the future..

whofeelslikeadrank

Jammalambo

whofeelslikeadrank said:

..but don't forget the main point of this post: Matt fuckin rocks, his songs are great, and PJ fans who disagree are pussies.

Jammalambo

Double post, sorry.

mcgruff10

just because it's complex and intricate doesn't mean it's good. sorry bro, evacuation live is a train wreck.

Blredyellow

Great song. One of their most unique. Excellent songwriting and vocals from Ed.

Very good live on Binaural tour. Rarely played since then, so of course it hasn't been perfect since.

Jammalambo

mcgruff10 said:

just because it's complex and intricate doesn't mean it's good. sorry bro, evacuation live is a train wreck.

you are one of the pussies I was talking about
Jokes apart, I think it's great regardless its time signatures or complexity..
Live, well, some versions are great (go watch the touring band 2000 version), others not so much.. If they played and practiced it more, it would be better, obviously, but that happens with other Matt songs, like In the Moonlight (only played once, that's really a shame), Cropduster, You Are.. I guess you don't like those, too, right?

Ledbetterman10

mcgruff10 said:

just because it's complex and intricate doesn't mean it's good. sorry bro, evacuation live is a train wreck.

It's funny when the song came out, I hated it. Immediately dismissed it as the worst on the album and nearly always skip it on Binarual or bootlegs. And yet, when I was at MSG 2 in 2003 and they played it, I turned to my friend and said " Am I crazy or was that good?" He agreed. I've seen them play it 2 times after that and didn't care for it. If it comes up on my playlist on my phone or computer, I don't care for it. But for like 3 and half minutes on July 9, 2003, it was pretty good. I'm not sure why.

Jammalambo

Blredyellow said:

Great song. One of their most unique. Excellent songwriting and vocals from Ed.

Very good live on Binaural tour. Rarely played since then, so of course it hasn't been perfect since.

Exactly.

mcgruff10

Jammalambo said:

mcgruff10 said:

just because it's complex and intricate doesn't mean it's good. sorry bro, evacuation live is a train wreck.

you are one of the pussies I was talking about
Jokes apart, I think it's great regardless its time signatures or complexity..
Live, well, some versions are great (go watch the touring band 2000 version), others not so much.. If they played and practiced it more, it would be better, obviously, but that happens with other Matt songs, like In the Moonlight (only played once, that's really a shame), Cropduster, You Are.. I guess you don't like those, too, right?

You re absolutely correct, not a fan of matt songs at all. I just don't like his song writing style. To me they just aren't good live. I m such a pussy

BALLBOY

Jammalambo said:

Yeah, Evacuation, the song everyone seems to hate (even Matt acknowledges this)..
It's the more complex and intricated song from the PJ catalog (first song Matt wrote for the band, too), and it's a pleasure to play on guitar..
It's interesting to look at the time signatures included in this song (interesting for those who cares about those things, I would say), but I think learning the structure of the song may help to appreciate the song a little more..
It kicks in in 4/4 (first five bars), and then the verse is composed of two 7/8 bars and two 5/8 bars (played twice), third time is two 7/8 bars, one 5/8 bars, one 3/4 bar, and then the first chorus (another five 4/4 bars).. in this section there are four subsequent bars, one of each with a different time signature (7/8, 5/8, 3/4 and 4/4).. really cool.
Then the second verse, again two 7/8 and two 5/8 bars (x2), third time is two 7/8 bars, one 5/8 bar, one 5/4 bar and then comes the first bridge (like before, four bars with different time signatures).
The first bridge basically shifts from 4/4 to 5/4 bars (specifically, first bar is 4/4, then one 5/4 bar, one 4/4 bar, three 5/4 bars, one 4/4 bar, one 5/4 bar, one 4/4 bar, one 5/4 bar, one 4/4 bar, and last bar is 3/4).
Then comes the second chorus (nine 4/4 bars), then the second bridge (five 4/4 bars and one 5/4 bar). At this point there's the third bridge played in 4/4 (twelve bars, the last one is in 3/4). Then comes the third chorus, and from this point the song is in 4/4 till the end.
Anyone can listen to the song and identify each bar, you just have to tap your finger or foot in time with the music (if you are unsure about this, listen to a live version, the four drumstick intro).
This post is my tribute to the song, and to the great Matt Fuckin Cameron.

ps: In the Moonlight is another great one, by the way, I'll talk about it in the future..

Looking forward to talking about In the Moonlight which maybe should of been on Binaural along with Sad. Two songs that are definitely up there with their best

WhyNotSweden

LOVE this song, finally got it live last year....
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cYtg7TEtYsA

smarchee

one of the worst songs Pearl Jam put on a record of theirs

Jammalambo

smarchee said:

one of the worst songs Pearl Jam put on a record of theirs

man, you deserve other 20 songs like Sirens..

WhatYouTaughtMe

I really dig the songs Matt wrote. I'm sure I am in the minority which is probably why he hasn't wrote a ton since. I thought he brought a unique style to the table.

mikerl

Just to comment on the idea that it would be better if they played it more, that's true with anything rare.....

I love that they played the entirety of No Code at moline, but for a professional band, a few of those tracks were weak. I love the fact that this band will do anything, or play anything, at any moment, but sometimes it would be nice if they actually anticipated some of these rarities and practiced them first.

HughFreakingDillon

I don't really pay attention to who wrote what, so to this point, I didn't know it was a Matt song. But I have always really liked it and never got the hate for it.

smarchee

HughFreakingDillon said:

I don't really pay attention to who wrote what, so to this point, I didn't know it was a Matt song. But I have always really liked it and never got the hate for it.

the chorus

it's horr-awful

HesCalledDyer

Evacuation is and always has been one of my favorite tracks on Binaural.

shetellsherself

Jeez I guess I'm in the minority too. I understand and appreciate intricate and unique time signatures but had never broken it down like you did. I'm going to sit down later and go through your post again while listening to it. I hope to catch Evacuation sometime. I also love the other Matt songs you mention. He adds a spice to the mix that I would miss.

buck502000

It was a pleasant surprise in Amsterdam - I think Ed said something about all of the bridges in the song and the city. It's also just fun to yell Evacu-aaaa-tion!!!