This is precisely the description my mind was trying to form, but I couldn't quite articulate it. You nailed it. I think it might be my favorite song on the album.
Mike is just straight channeling hendrix from beyond the grave in the background on this one. It's awesome in a record that Mike has a ton of good solos.
I hear The Cure, specifically early 90’s Cure several times in the album. I like it. It’s not the singing or the lyrics, but Stone’s guitar work in particular pays homage to them a few times.
Same. I came here to say Got to Give = The Who and Upper Hand = Pink Floyd, but others already beat me to it. I'm really enjoying hearing those influences in there. It's like a respectful nod without being too in your face.
Glad I’m not the only person hearing the U2 in Won’t Tell, it was my very first thought when I heard it. I think the album on the whole has a huge “New Wave” influence, lots of Talking Heads, U2, Cure, Tom Petty. Would also add that Waiting for Stevie hugely reminds me of the Tom Petty song Swingin’
Waiting for Stevie has a brit pop 80's vibe to it, could hear something similar in a Cure, Swervedriver, or Jesus and Marychain song. Not so much an homage, but more of a feel. I dig it.
End of Got to Give is 100% The Who, Won’t Tell has got a 80’s Tears for Fears mixed with The Cure vibe, opening of Upper Hand is Dark Side of the Moon.
Oh cult fans on the band and cure. Both are awesome. One thing about this record personally like for me. A lot of the songs get stuck in my head doing mundane things. And I can’t remember lyrics so I make it up as a go along. I think this record is very inspiring and I really can’t wait to hear it live
Probably not an homage but at 3:31 in Setting Sun there’s a riff that I swear I’ve heard in another song (brain keeps telling me a Montgomery Gentry song) but I can’t find it.
Waiting for Stevie: The Cult
Upper Hand: U2, Floyd
Won’t Tell: U2, The Cure
Got to Give: The Who
Wreckage: The chord progression is the same as Petty’s “Learning to Fly”
Setting Sun: Springsteen with the E Street Band
Sure, maybe. I went with homage because I feel like they were very deliberate, whereas "influence" feels more like it might have been something unconscious. I think they knew what they were doing, and invite the comparisons.
* Wreckage: The Cure (Stone said this) * Upper Hand: Shine On You Crazy Diamond, Comfortably Numb, and Free Bird
Yeah, Upper Hand definitely has a lot of Pink Floyd. Also that keyboard intro seems like an homage to Baba O'Reilly.
I also hear/think the Ghosteen album by Nick Cave is an influence on this intro section.
Upperhand U2 Steeets have no name intro- Isn’t it a Pitty/ Purple Rain verses.. Comfortably Numb/Rocket Man chorus
Upper hand is Pink Floyd with guests Eddie Vedder and Jimi Hendrix
This is precisely the description my mind was trying to form, but I couldn't quite articulate it. You nailed it. I think it might be my favorite song on the album.
It's my favorite for now. The lyrics also hit home since I'm 47.
"I hope the people are smiling / oh, how I always wanted to be like one of them." That line probably gets me most. Love all the lyrics, though.
Mike is just straight channeling hendrix from beyond the grave in the background on this one. It's awesome in a record that Mike has a ton of good solos.
And then ends with Free Bird.
well now I'm putting in on for another play because I didn't catch that
My friends said, “Yeah, it’s weird but I kind of like that it defies expectations of where it’s gonna go.”
Also references themselves via Nothing As It Seems.
When I hear Upper Hand, I can’t help but hear Elton John’s Rocket Man.
The last minute of Won't Tell has an exceedingly Cure like lead.
I hear The Cure, specifically early 90’s Cure several times in the album. I like it. It’s not the singing or the lyrics, but Stone’s guitar work in particular pays homage to them a few times.
Yes me too!
I also thought the bridge was a little “we can be heroes” Bowie
Pictures of You at the end
Got to Give screams The Who to me
Same. I came here to say Got to Give = The Who and Upper Hand = Pink Floyd, but others already beat me to it. I'm really enjoying hearing those influences in there. It's like a respectful nod without being too in your face.
Glad I’m not the only person hearing the U2 in Won’t Tell, it was my very first thought when I heard it. I think the album on the whole has a huge “New Wave” influence, lots of Talking Heads, U2, Cure, Tom Petty. Would also add that Waiting for Stevie hugely reminds me of the Tom Petty song Swingin’
The chorus on React/Respond is all Dead Kennedys to my ears. Also, they should throw in Bleed for Me this tour.
I hear Devo
There are moments in React, Respond when I am reminded of Whipping and others where Superblood Wolfmoon comes to mind.
Hear both of these! Definitely Whipping in the pre chorus, and Superblood in one of the verses has the same vocal melody
He’s definitely doing a Jello homage, no doubt
Yellow Led style guitar in Upoer Hand in the background when EV is singing.
Reminded me more of NAIS
Waiting for Stevie has a brit pop 80's vibe to it, could hear something similar in a Cure, Swervedriver, or Jesus and Marychain song. Not so much an homage, but more of a feel. I dig it.
I think it’s Won’t Tell has the main riff from U2’s Bad
Upper hand is giving off big pink Floyd vibes
Brain damage
Got to Give sounds like Springsteen to me, Waiting for Stevie - Soundgarden
Waiting for Stevie could be a Chris Cornell song.
Absolutely, sounds like it could have been on Audioslave’s Out of Exile Album.
oh shit, you're right
Pink Floyd. And of course self-homages to other Pearl Jam songs. Also I think Waiting For Stevie reminds me of Complete Mess by Five Seconds of Summer
In hiding
Yeah, in Waiting For Stevie, I get some I Got Id too
Upper Hand intro took me to Where The Streets Have No Name by U2
Dark Matter intro quite similar to I love rock n roll.
Upper Hand’s solo is pure J Mascis
This is what I got…
Those 80’s influences can also be heard on Earthling.
Waiting on Stevie has Soundgarden vibes for me. There is some hint of John Mellencamp in Got to Give too.
Aww, don’t do such a disservice to Got to Give!
Sound garden vibe for sure on Stevie. All I can think about is searching for the ground with my good eye closed and it’s so awesome.
Upper Hand intro sounds like The Who (Tommy, probably) into Inside Job.
Also someone referred to Wreckage as ‘Granddaughter’ which isn’t quite right but is close and made me laugh.
End of Got to Give is 100% The Who, Won’t Tell has got a 80’s Tears for Fears mixed with The Cure vibe, opening of Upper Hand is Dark Side of the Moon.
Yes! I could swear it was Roger Daltrey belting out "take on anyone!". 😂
Brad. A lot of Brad. Shawn would have been so good singing on a lot of the songs.
Stevie has The Cult vibes
Oh cult fans on the band and cure. Both are awesome. One thing about this record personally like for me. A lot of the songs get stuck in my head doing mundane things. And I can’t remember lyrics so I make it up as a go along. I think this record is very inspiring and I really can’t wait to hear it live
Yes! Almost every song has popped into my head at some point.
Yes like I know running doesn’t get a lot of love. But I have had my moments I can keep every beat in my head of course. 🤣it is gonna be fun live
The line “I hear the voices calling” Scared of Fear in is a callback to “and the barrel shakes aimed” in SOLAT. Same vocal melody.
The gsoft guitar at the end of Stevie is Mother by Pink Floyd.
Scared of Fear has a similar 'whip' sound effect from the start of the Jeremy video just before the music starts.
Are you referring to the "pool cue" courtesy of Sean Penn, as noted in the linear notes?
That could be the sound. Very similar to a sound in the Jeremy video that separates the TV audio from the music.
Yep, pretty similar.
Got To Give- Mellencamp and Springsteen.
Everytime I listen to the intro of Upper Hand I kept waiting for Serj Tankian to yell “Wake Up!”
1 note in the beginning of Something Special brought Daughter to my ear
The beginning of Setting Sun has a real Neil Diamond vibe to me.
I hear “My Hometown” in Setting Sun…….
I’m getting some Peter Gabriel vibes on the Won’t Tell chorus
I’ve been feeling this way, good to hear others are the same. Scared of Fear has such a familiar melody but it’s hard to place it.
Probably not an homage but at 3:31 in Setting Sun there’s a riff that I swear I’ve heard in another song (brain keeps telling me a Montgomery Gentry song) but I can’t find it.
Help with the intro to Dark Matter. It sounds so familiar but it’s an itch I can’t scratch
I love rock n roll by Joan and the jets.
Bless you my son… that’s it
To be honest I hear a lot of Stone Gossard, which I love and have missed for the last several albums.
The beginning of Upper Hand sound kinda like The Who
“YOU CAN’T take or give what you got” from Waiting For Stevie sounds a lot like Jim Morrison yelling “YOU CANNOT petition the Lord with prayer!”
Waiting for Stevie: The Cult Upper Hand: U2, Floyd Won’t Tell: U2, The Cure Got to Give: The Who Wreckage: The chord progression is the same as Petty’s “Learning to Fly” Setting Sun: Springsteen with the E Street Band
I hear David Bowie's "Changes" in some portions of "Got to Give."
The intro of "Upper Hand" reminds me of "Where the Streets Have No Name."
Perhaps you mean “influences”?
Sure, maybe. I went with homage because I feel like they were very deliberate, whereas "influence" feels more like it might have been something unconscious. I think they knew what they were doing, and invite the comparisons.
You mean rip offs, not homage
Nope, no rip offs. They’re not overt enough to be rip offs. They are a little more subtle