LIVE's Most Underrated, what's your pick, and why? Options

[drewgood]

With all of the absolute CRAZINESS going on in the Live realm these days, and all the threads diving into each of the angles, and all the inevitable negativity of it, I thought it might be nice to have a positive thread in the midst of everything.

Apologies if this has already been done, but I want to invite everyone to share what they feel is Live’s most underrated song EVER, along with why they think so.

If it was ever a single or played on the radio, I personally don’t count it, since that clearly means it got some lovin’. But hey, go with whatever you personally feel.

My pick: We Walk In The Dream

The fact that this song has apparently NEVER been played live is absolutely astonishing, and the only reason that really makes sense to me is that the band is historically unimaginative, for the most part, when it comes to choosing set lists that really cater to their hardcore fanbase — people who have gone to at least ten shows over the years.

This song is brilliant.
One of Ed’s best vocal performances on the entire album, including his tracked-in backgrounds.

Amazing bridge.

Poignant lyrics that seamlessly match the message of love and hope that the band (and Ed in particular) were clearly going for.

Chord progression blending perfectly with the bass and Ed’s voice.

Melodies that took unexpected and brave turns throughout the track’s entirely.

And to have it “hidden” as the second-to-last cut on the album — sort of like, “we know the last song is going to have a bigger spotlight, but let’s see if you’re even ready for this one first.”

But most of all, plain out ‘re-listen’ value.
I can play this song over and over and never get tired of it.

Throwing Copper (and Ed’s voice on that album) will always be the pinnacle of the band to me — but as far as a VERY close second — this is easily up there, topped only by “Ghost” in terms of non-TC recordings.

Beautiful song. Just beautiful.
An instant classic - Top 5 of all time for the band — POSSIBLY top 3.

And yes, I realize most won’t agree with that statement at all.

But isn’t that the point of an “underrated” thread? Those songs that most people pass by, but if they only listen to a little more closely, might find themselves euphorically lost in the music?

Anyway, that’s my pick for Live’s most underrated song.
I would have LOVED to hear a demo version of this.
Or just ONE concert performance.
Maybe even an acoustic version.
Or all of the mixed/mastered tracks separated so I could listen to the guitars on their own, and Ed’s vocals, and Pat’s bass, and even Chad’s drums.

But what about you?
What’s your pick for Live’s most underrated song, and why?

[mattyeagles]

Great idea for a topic: I would put Feel the Quiet River Rage and Ghost as songs I think are perhaps underrated

[But Not Broken]

Love this thread idea and 100% agree regarding We Walk In the Dream. That probably would have been my answer, but otherwise, if I had to pick one:

You Are the World.

The lyrics, the driving chorus and drums, the way the quiet beginning immediately commands my attention. It's a lowkey epic.

[JonSnow]

Toss up between Gas Hed Goes West and Pillar Of Davidson. I can't remember if either ever got airplay, but they're both in my top 5. I like how they both build up to big endings.

This post has been edited by JonSnow: Dec 3 2022, 5:43 pm

[Badman]

I could probably go back and forth forever to pick one song, but I'm going to hone in on "The Ride" off the V album. In my opinion, this song is a holdover from TDTH. The theme fits that album better. Unfortunately, it ended up on V, an album that most people didn't like. If you hear it in a different context, it really shines. I love the eastern sound. It has a soaring chorus and would be good performed live. It's a shame Ed gives Nobody Knows such love and not The Ride. Give the song a relisten with new ears and you'll find you like it!

[Paul40269]

I always thought We Walk in the Dream was LIVE's version of U2's Acrobat, which until recently was never played live either. I agree with your pick.

[Voodoo Lady]

You Are the World.

The lyrics, the driving chorus and drums, the way the quiet beginning immediately commands my attention. It's a lowkey epic.

This is one of my picks. A #1 favorite/top 5 favorite Līve song of mine (my top favorite song is like a revolving door), for these very same reasons. I’ve been known to mosh around my living room to You Are the World. It does start soft, and then ends up a banger. Very emotional! And those lyrics!

Another underrated one in my book is NEGATION. Oh my God, I love that song and I love it most for the lyrics. Līve songs are like poems to me and Negation really resonates. The fact that Ed was writing like that at 18/19 years old blows my mind. What a genius. Negation should have never been left off an album.

[mattdm11]

Good topic. Too hard to pick one in general, but I can pick by album:

MJ = Brothers Unaware
TC = Pillar of Davidson
SS = Gas Hed Goes West
TDTH = Dance With You (We Walk in the Dream is a great pick though)

I'll leave the other albums alone. If I had to pick one song from all those albums, I'll go with Night of Nights on SFBM. Like I Do I wouldn't consider underrated because every Live fan likes that song and knows it's good, and that may be the best song post TDTH. Nobody Knows on V has to me, a classic Live feel that is similar to Turn My Head in terms of tempo/quality of song, but almost so much so it's like they tried too hard.

In terms of b-sides, I think Born Branded is a quality tune and could have been a great opener to MJ, and Deeper is a great TDTH track that should have been on the album. Hold Me Up has a great story behind it and while I'm happy to have the track it was almost fun all those years to know the track was there but it was being withheld. Just goes to show that the band was on a hot streak at the beginning...a song that didn't even make the album was significantly better than any of their later output.

I don't even listen to the band that much anymore, but when I do, I forget just how good they were from 1991- 2000.

[Bremang]

pretty much any non singles and relatively unknown tracks spawning from tdth is underrated. This was basically Ed trying to put Live back in the limelight, and he was very prolific.

sun loop version
walk into this room
still aroused


I think 10000 cups and all in your mind are underrated too though, so there ya go

[Bob]

I have always, always, always loved Merica off of SS. They played a slowed down acoustic version on the SS tour, but I wanted the balls-to-the-wall poppy version where CT's playing a guitar tuned way down like a bass and they're having fun with it, just like I can hear on the record. It never fails to put a smile on my face and it's fun as hell to play on the drums.

[beau99]

Graze

a song I didn't really enjoy at first, but I came to love it, along with most of Secret Samadhi, for that matter

[alexou]

Out to dry would be one of my pics.

If we consider all eras I'd say Don't run to wait....this song has some cool guitar parts and it's a shame they only did it one time live.

My other would be Rattlesnake. That's the one I listen the most out of SS now because of the dark vibe and the guitar effects off the solo.

[Ecstatic Fanatic]

If by underrated we focus on songs that don’t get talked about I would vote for Where Fishes Go or Voodoo Lady. No one talks about those songs but I think most appreciate them.

In terms of songs that I like that even most die hard fans don’t listen to, Night of Nights off SFBM. This song probably would have been better on any other album but the taint of SFBM means most won’t acknowledge it exists.

[Chapps]

I will probably get some shit for this, but whatever!!

Probably the 2 tracks I considered underrated are She from BOP and Home from SFBM, I know both of those albums get little to know love, but those two songs have always just hit me in a different way and for different reasons. As I said in my intro, I was stationed overseas when SFBM come out so Home really resinated with me because everyone of my friends really in the shit and the people I would talk to when I was over in the areas that sucked all pretty much talked about getting home to their families or their friends and how they just wanted it to all end.

With She it just reminds me of meeting my wife and how she just completely set me free from a bad relationship. Also, I've been pulled over 2 times in the last year and both time She was playing, I just can't not drive fast when that song is playing, thankfully both time I just got a warning. Just recently a friend asked for songs to listen to one his motorcycle trip and I recommend She and he loved it, admittedly he had never heard of Live so he has nothing to compare it to, but still.

Unrelated, but maybe somewhat, I don't know it's early and my dog keep me up all night. I will say that when it came out a lot of my friends that were Live fans absolutely hated SS and thought that Live had gone off the deep end. The ones that still listen to them, have come around and really enjoy that album so you could say that entire album was underrated, well except Lakini's Juice, man that is one of my least favorite Live songs.

[drewgood]

I will probably get some shit for this, but whatever!!

Probably the 2 tracks I considered underrated are She from BOP and Home from SFBM, I know both of those albums get little to know love, but those two songs have always just hit me in a different way and for different reasons. As I said in my intro, I was stationed overseas when SFBM come out so Home really resinated with me because everyone of my friends really in the shit and the people I would talk to when I was over in the areas that sucked all pretty much talked about getting home to their families or their friends and how they just wanted it to all end.

I'm totally with you on 'She' -- another amazing track that they NEVER played Live -- although there was an extended version floating around years back that was even better and should have been on the album instead.