Album Analysis, Throwing Copper Options

[Badman]

I always thought Throwing Copper stood for all the money people give religion. Ed obviously had a problem with the whole church type scene; opting for a personal worship instead. Yes, I tried to use a semicolon, I'm sorry I'm from america and our schools don't teach us to use them right.

[Alex]

^

1. The Dam At Otter Creek- Amazing opener. Probably one of their best.

2. Selling The Drama- It's good. I used to love it.

3. I Alone- Same as STD

4. Iris- This was my least favourite for a while, but I appreciate it a lot more nowadays

5. Lightning Crashes- Same old story. Beautiful, but overplayed

6. Top- I actually really like this song. It's probably dwarfed by the surrounding ones, but I think it flows really nicely from LC in to AOY.

7. All Over You- The song that made me go around washing cars at age 11 so I could afford to buy TC. (In actual fact, they only had TDTH which had just come out, so I bought that instead. But anyway.)

8. Shit Towne- It's ok. Used to like it, find it kind of embarrasing now. It lets the album down in some ways I think.

9. T.B.D- Great. Quite unusual. Very interesting to listen to this followed by anything after TDTH.

10. Stage- Meh. Much better than BTPT though

11. Waitress- The whistling rocks.

12. Pillar of Davidson- Definitely in my top 5 Live songs. An absolute masterpiece. Actually this may still be in my top 20 songs ever. The people that dismiss it on accounts of it being 'too slow' irritate me very much. Huge climax.

13. White, Discussion- Another one of my top 5 Live songs. It's outstanding. I actually can't help but headbang.

14. Hidden Track (Horse)- Perfect end to the album, IMO.

Overall Summary: I listened to this for the first time in about a year yesterday. It's still so good. I like the fact that a lot of the songs have quite unusual structures and chord progressions (for the genre). I find it hard to be objective about though since I know the songs so well and have loved them for so long.

[K. Schrader]

nice topic, i think how about we do this for more Live albums?


1. The Dam At Otter Creek- eerie, ominous and powerful; this song always grabs my attention immediately and in my opinion is a great set-up for STD, as it drops you off from such a powerful end to a calmer beginning.

2. Selling The Drama- As with most, this was my first Live song. Never get sick of it, and loved it even more to see it performed live. Damn, the lyrics to this song are on my wall.

3. I Alone- I used to play this song all the time, loved it... but now it suffers from 'Lightning Crashes' syndrome, i suppose. I still love it, though i'll pick other songs over this one in my random listening. I think it should be dropped from the current setlist.

4. Iris- in my ears, perfect. This song just has such a wonderful energy to it that is absent in almost every other Live song; its completely unique. Dark, angry, nearly violent. Drums and bass are simple yet powerful, is this a Live trademark? and that guitar, sounds wonderful yet that pounding riff is only one chord... haha, love it

5. Lightning Crashes- we all know the story with LC; wonderful, though only on occasion. Overplayed in the extreme.

6. Top- One of my favourite Live songs, no doubt. Very short, but it gets the message across not only quickly, but efficiently. One of Live's best lyrics, well balanced instrumentation, and wow does anyone remember when they used to play this song live how Ed would shout, 'no, sir!' right after the first chorus? i wish he would've put that extra anger in for the album, but hey it still sounds wonderful. The final lyric, 'we need love, not leaders', is perhaps an all encompassing lyric for many of Live's earlier albums.

7. All Over You- What can i say that hasn't already been said before? Wonderful song, maybe a little overplayed, but i still love it every time i hear it. That chord progression in the intro is awesome fun to play as well.

8. Shit Towne- Now this is rockin'. The only song of Live's with Ed doing a solo, nothing flash at all but hey its a nice little tidbit, also if i read correctly in an old interview it was done within one take. The 'do me wrong' section of this song, finally leading back into the chorus, is probably Live at their most rock-orientated.

9. T.B.D- Awesome. That is all, awesome.

10. Stage- Perfect placement right after T.B.D in my view; the solo is again a great example of Chad T's simple guitar work, yet it sounds wonderful. Absolutely love the energy in this song.

11. Waitress- Again, one of my favourite Live songs. Wonderful message, and a great tune. And the whistling section? my favourite part of the song, and right after the grunge-esque mega distortion on the guitars? ahh... *plays it*

12. Pillar of Davidson- Yet again, one of my favourite Live songs. Not much will be said about this song, as i cannot really put it into words, but its awfully haunting, melancholic, however seemingly lifting in the final chorus with the backing vocal. Classic.

13. White, Discussion- F*cking awesome. Let's leave it at that.

14. Hidden Track (Horse)- This is the best song to end a Live album besides Gas Hed Goes West, in my opinion. The calm after the storm, for sure, and the carefree sound leaves you well relaxed by the time the cd has stopped spinning. And it's hidden? it comes right out of the blue, doesn't it? Or, right out of that mass echoing distortion from W,D. Whatever, great finish to a great album. If Live could write songs like this again, i'd be more than happy, though, i wish for them to improve on this. I believe that they have it in them, they all just need to get together like they did in the early days, share around the songwriting experience and give it their all; TC is to me a real classic, a near perfect Live album, yet i still have this feeling that they can top themselves, still.

This post has been edited by K. Schrader: Oct 18 2007, 3:25 pm

[CRH]

1. The Dam At Otter Creek- I love the way this song builds. When Gracey first comes in with the huge drums, it gives me that "holy crap..." feeling that just builds up what this album is going to be.


2. Selling The Drama- I enjoy this song on the album more than now live. Great lyrics, classic Live. I'd actually put this closer to the bottom of the great songs on this album though...but it is a list of all songs that are great.


3. I Alone- The best breakdown maybe ever in a Live song. And sorry, I can't agree that this song should be removed from the current set list. It is clear that it gets the band going, and the energy is huge. There are other songs I'd say that have lost a little bit in the current way they are played live, but not I Alone.


4. Iris- hard rocker that gets better as the song goes. From the breakdown "until I take their flags" and back into the chorus is huge to me.


5. Lightning Crashes- maybe overplayed, but if a song is truly great this is not a problem. This song is truly great.


6. Top- For as long as I've had this album, for some reason I've never truly listened to this song enough. "we need love, not leaders" is an incredible line at the end of this simple, but great song.


7. All Over You- love the intro...and the whole song. If I'm a little tired of any song on this album, this may be it. In concert, this song needs to be kept from being the opener. So much more intense when the band is already warmed up and Taylor has the monitors sounding better in his ears.


8. Shit Towne- I love the chorus. The G-A-Bm-(D) chord progression in the chorus is great...and I love how it rotates with the D chord. When the Bm gets dragged out...good stuff. Also, I'm in no way offended/embarassed with the constant "shit" in the song.


9. T.B.D.- seems like a song that can be passed over if you aren't careful. I love the bassline and the subtlety of CT's guitar work (I'm assuming its him, not Ed...). And when it gets huge at the end, it is the perfect timing to do it.


10. Stage- I'd say the only fault with this song is that it happens to be on Throwing Copper. I know that its got the F# chord draaaaaaaaaaawn out in the intro, but that isn't enough for me to even consider grouping it with Bring the People Together. Good hard/fast rock song.


11. Waitress- I love that they go into the wah pedal freakout twice. Simple song musically, and it just works.


12. Pillar of Davidson- this is an unbelievable song. It is not too long, it is not too slow. To me, it is one of those songs that always has something to look forward to, but you don't want your current place in the song to end either. Lyrically great, and I love the simple guitars in the verse.


13. White, Discussion- this may just be my favorite song of all time. I'm not saying it is the greatest song ever written by any band ever (which would be ridiculous when the Beatles used to exist...) but there is no song that I have ever heard that gets me going like this. It is energy coming from places I didn't know existed.


14. Hidden Track (Horse)- nice ending to an album. Allows you to think about what you just listened to.


Overall Summary: I think it is shocking that an album of this caliber exists. I honestly think that there is nothing that should have been considered to change. From start to finish, it is consistent...but not like middle of the road consistent. It is 13 (or 14...) songs that could all be the best song a band has ever written. I wish I could've witnessed the writing and recording of the album. There is no doubt when you listen to this album that its great.

[Hoodstock]

I always thought Throwing Copper stood for all the money people give religion.

Well, now you know the real story.

nice topic, i think how about we do this for more Live albums?

Thanks. Like I said:

If there is a lot of feedback, we can do it again with another album at a later time.

Seems to be going good so far.

[Merica]

1. The Dam At Otter Creek

Admittedly I used to skip this, I don't know why, but I used to just get passed this and go straight for STD. Now though I love it, the intensity is awesome. Maybe not as accessible as it could be for an opener, but once you get into it you can really apprciate how well it does its job.

2. Selling The Drama

One of my first Live songs, and a real classic. Brilliant song from start to finish.

3. I Alone

One of Live's most famous songs, and with good reason. It's awesome, the interlude rocks in particular. I definately don't think it should be took off the setlist at concerts, because some people are seeing Live perform for the first time, and they'd be dissapointed not to see this smash hit.

4. Iris

I didn't like this much at first but as I've matured as a fan it's one that's grown on me. Not my favourite on the record, but still a good track.

5. Lightning Crashes

Beautiful song, absoloutely beautiful.

6. Top

I see this is a the groovy middle of the album song, the interlude of the album as a whole. I like this, but it's nothing quite as special as the others.

7. All Over You

Brilliant stuff, great intro.

8. Shit Towne

This kicks ass, and has a rockin' solo. Not the best song on the album, but it certainly holds its own.

9. T.B.D.

This is in the same boat as TDAOC. Used to skip, now I love it.

10. Stage

I love this so much, the drums, the guitar, the bass, the lyrics, the bit where he sings "don't do this" has me spunking, it's AWESOME.

11. Waitress

I don't like this as much as some others do, but I can appreciate it's still pretty good. The whistling works, people, it works well.

12. Pillar of Davidson

I love this, it's awesome. I know I say awesome a lot, but so many of these songs just ARE! Wonderful chorus.

13. White, Discussion

I never used to get the love of this song, because I didn't think it had as much of a real tune or melody as others, but some time ago it just kind of hit me how much they go absoloutely fricking nuts at the end, they just explode and go YYYYYEAAAAAHHH COME ON MOTHERFUCKERS LETS KICK SOME ASS! Ace.

14. Hidden Track (Horse)

Calm, tranquil, it's over....... *sigh*

Overall Summary: Rightfully regarded as Live's best album (by the masses). There isn't a single song I don't like, they ALL kick ass.

[Hoodstock]

2. Selling The Drama

One of my first Live songs, and a real classic. Brilliant song from start to finish.

[Merica]

[Costakoui]

Iris is Live's best song ever, hands down!!!

[Merica]

I can't work out what made you laugh, Hoodstock, what did I do? WHAT DID I DO!?

[Hoodstock]

I can't work out what made you laugh, Hoodstock, what did I do? WHAT DID I DO!?

That's because it's not a laugh. It's a smile with a head nod in agreement.

[Merica]

No it isn't, right click it and check the url of the image. What's the file called? LOL! LOL, dammit, LOL!

See how well it does its job? Loool....

[Hoodstock]

No it isn't, right click it and check the url of the image. What's the file called? LOL! LOL, dammit, LOL!

See how well it does its job? Loool....

It is whatever the hell I say it is!

[Merica]

It is whatever the hell I say it is!

The URL does not lie, young padawan.

[Distance to Me]

Ok, I'm gonna start off by saying that I personally believed that Throwing Copper is the most overrated album among Live fans. Don't get me wrong, it's an amazing album (all of Live's albums are...) but it's probably my 4th favorite album by them, behind The Distance to Here, V, and Secret Samadhi (in that order). Sorry for this long paragraph I got goin' . Anyways...

1. The Dam at Otter Creek: My favorite opener for an album except for Simple Creed, a great little intro with the whispering, murmurs, and guitar riff. The last minute and a half are to the max, and exercise a formula that is apparent in quite a few of the songs on this album (the formula where the last part of the song just rock out).

2. Selling the Drama: What can I say that hasn't already been said? Of the 4 songs off of this album that can still be regularly heard on the radio, this is the best one, in my humble opinion. Good lyrics, upbeat and catchy.

3. I Alone: This song used to be one of my favorites, until I heard The Dolphin's Cry. I still enjoy this song, the interlude is amazing, but the verses are much better than the chorus. Overshadowed by it's brother song (The Dolphin's Cry) in my opinion.

4. Iris: A real grower on me. The opening strum is really cool, and the DAOC formula pops up again for the first time. The chorus in this song is very good, especially in the last one, the energy takes me to another place.

5. Lightning Crashes: The song that propelled them to rock stars got them there for a reason. As has been said, not the song it once was, but the lyrics and DAOC ending are amazing, and when the drums kick into the song it really gets going.

6. Top: Wonderfully catchy with amazing lyrics, this might be the most underrated song on the album.

7. All Over You: Speaking of catchy, this song has that factor too. The chorus is great "I've often tried to hold the sea, the sun, the fields, the tide..."

8. Shit Towne: A great song, especially in concert. Great solo, and the interlude where Ed sings "do me wrong, don't hold me back," sends shivers down my spine. Great.

9. T.B.D.: Another extremely underrated song, great lyrics. DAOC formula pops up again, and kicks in at the perfect moment. Anyone know what he says in that part?

10. Stage: A quick drum roll kicks you into a rocking song with great lyrics about a "rock and roll messiah". The solo in this song is simple yet effective, and another great interlude.

11. Waitress: A different song, but still very good. Catchy with funny yet surprisingly meaningful lyrics. One of live's few Wah-Wah solos, and a great concert song.

12. Pillar of Davidson: A beautiful song with one of the greatest chorus's ever, and amazing background vocals. Epic.

13. White, Discussion: The perfect closer, and extremely rocky. The ending drags on a bit, but other than that, a great song. Live's best concert song except for maybe Lakini's Juice (a lot better on CD than Lakini's Juice, though).

(Bonus) Horse: Laid-back and extremely different compared to their other songs, probably why it was originally unreleased. Catchy and nice.

In conclusion, an amazing album, but not as amazing as a few others...