Well, here goes Round 4; was a little scared that Three Pistols was going to get the axe in Round 3 but it turned out to get less than 10% of the vote so Twist My Arm is the lone song eliminated.
Eliminated in Round 1:
Born in the Water
Bring it all Back
Fight
Eliminated in Round 2:
On the Verge
The Last of the Unplucked Gems
The Luxury
Eliminated in Round 3:
Twist My Arm
Again, choose the song you think is the weakest on the album from those remaining. After 48 hours, the two songs with the most votes will be eliminated and we'll do round five.
Happy voting!
Note - voting will end Saturday at 9:11am Eastern.
Shane
Jeez, where do we go from here? After that near-miss with Three Pistols last round, I kinda want to see it go as far as it can. But what gets the vote this round then? Part of me wants to vote the as-of-right-now zero voted Little Bones...but let's be honest, it's received no votes for a reason. It is a signature defining song of the band. Arguable the band's best riff, some of Gord's most iconic lyrics, "Better butter your cue finger up..." I mean c'mon. Can't vote Little Bones. But what? It's a Sophie's choice situation here. Cordelia, I"m sorry. I love you, but someone's got to go.
Torn between Cordelia and Three Pistols here. This game is hard.
Tough one but I voted Fiddler's Green and here's why: Other than the lyrics and subject matter, I think it's weaker than the remaining songs. The guitar melody can't touch Pistols or Little Bones. Gord did a masterful job covering such an untouchable topic, but, after careful consideration, all things considered, Fiddler's Green is the weakest song in this group. Between the two ballads, LTR gives me more feels, and is therefore my favourite song on Road Apples.
So be it.
If this gets down to LB, Cordelia and TP, I am going to have to start flipping a coin because I won't be able to pick. Heck, its almost to that point now.
andrew sharpe Wrote:Tough one but I voted Fiddler's Green and here's why: Other than the lyrics and subject matter, I think it's weaker than the remaining songs. The guitar melody can't touch Pistols or Little Bones. Gord did a masterful job covering such an untouchable topic, but, after careful consideration, all things considered, Fiddler's Green is the weakest song in this group. Between the two ballads, LTR gives me more feels, and is therefore my favourite song on Road Apples.
So be it.
You did a great job of conveying my thoughts as well!
Good points on FG, *except* that I think pretty much every decision on that song is perfect. We don't need a dramatic riff or solo on that cut - it would merely distract from what this beautiful song is doing. The song shouldn't be punished for having taste. It's also got a really great, 'woody' kind of sound -Don Smith and his engineers did an amazing job. As a composition, of course, it's one the best the Hip ever did. So I didn't vote it off the island; instead I went with 'Cordelia,' just because it's sort of more of the same, sonically and lyrically. Is it good? Of course. I just see it as ultimately less memorable and eloquent that these other tracks.
Listened to all five twice on my walk tonight. I have them ranked now for this.
One thing I never realized until tonight is that Fiddlers And Long Time are the same song.
It seems as though Fiddlers is the demo and Long Time the finished studio album track. Even keeping the drums missing until they kick in half way through each song.
Fiddler's Green is a beautifully tender moment, as close as the Hip come to a 'tear jerker'. I think there are layers of depth to the song even beyond the seafaring metaphor used to describe young Charlie's health plight. For instance, the lines "The timber tore apart And the water gorged the wood" use a "nautical disaster" metaphor to describe the failure of a heart, but I think it could also describe the impact of a familial tragedy. I see water gorging the wood as the constant flowing of tears that groove or "gorge" a trail down a cheek. I think this song works well on at least a couple levels.
Where Cordelia falls short of Fiddler's Green is in having a cohesive lyrical theme and in emotional impact. I can't make any argument for Cordelia being better than Fiddler's Green other than the fact that my primitive brain is wired to better appreciate when the Hip bring the rock. And that lazy reason is why I voted for Fiddler's Green. As a Cordelia lover, it would be my favourite song on 6-7 other Hip albums, and is only just behind Three Pistols on RA. What puts this over the top for me is the last 30 seconds of the song. When Gord finishes the last "I will not be there" the guitars sound like Rob and Paul are revving the engine for about 15 seconds and then they shove it into gear and the song takes off. It feels like the band pulls into the driveway at 100 mph in the last 20 seconds and stop the car one inch short of the garage door. It really is a fantastic finish, so much so that half the time I have an "air pick" in one hand and an "air drumstick" in the other. I want to be both Rob and Johnny at the end of Cordelia.
Moof_Milker Wrote:... some of Gord's most iconic lyrics, "Better butter your cue finger up..." I mean c'mon. Can't vote Little Bones.
It's sometimes the little things Downie does that set him apart from more pedestrian writers. Most would have written this line as "Gotta butter..." but Gord uses a nice piece of alliteration and goes with "Better butter..." It's a small thing but it's a sign that he appreciates and works at his craft.
I voted Little Bones down simply because I can't get a beer for a buck-and-a-half anywhere anymore, and happy hour in Ontario just means cheaper appetizers.
What has this world come to?
Get off my lawn.
Great post, Potsie.
Fiddler's is being voted off precisely because of our visceral love of early Hip 'bringing the rock.' I disagree with this logic, because it seems clear to me that Fiddler's is a more cohesive and emotionally potent song than Cordelia, but I understand it. What I don't understand is that LTR is beating out FG in this poll. The former ballad is a strong cut that, like 'Hey Jude" or the Stones's 'Angie' captures a very specific moment in the emotional life of a young man and a relationship. But if I were on a desert island, I would find more to sustain me - more depth and beauty - from 'Fiddler's Green.' Don't quite get that one.
KWT I think it comes down to how people are voting. You are clearly holding the songs up to a songwriting chart, whereas I and others are selfishly voting on whether or not we like them. I enjoy reading your analysis of the lyrics, but this does not come natural to me at all. Most Hip songs I have no clue about meaning...certain lines just hit me the right way. When others like yourself explain a possible meaning, I enjoy reading it and sometimes it even enhances the song for me, but it's not at the heart of why I love the Hip. There's just a visceral connection to the music.
LTR connects with me more than FG...not because of the depth of the meaning or the quality of metaphors or anything measurable. Just because it feels better...I enjoy hearing it more. The melody is more pleasing.
I'm not surprised Little Bones is leading the voting as it's a staple at the live shows. But, like martyrs, I don't think the recorded version does as much for me.
Finally settled on Cordelia; looks like it may go this round but if not, it'll be my vote next round.
For me, the iconic riff of Little Bones keeps it in the running for now; great lyrics combined with a great hook
Cordelia - love the song, the build but for me, it just doesn't hit me quite as hard as the others
LTR - "drop a carbiou" great line and really enjoy the whole song
Three Pistols - fantastic song all around
FG - love this (more than LTR by a long shot) and like KWT, I think this song is a fantastic example of writing exactly what the song needs and no more. No need to be showy and the somewhat understated playing fits the song perfectly
Shane