Steam Engine vs. Don Dante

[peanut butter puddin surprise]

These two songs individually are champions and album bookends, and to me, have a similiar vibe to them.

Which is your favorite, and why?  Do you see any similiarities between the two songs?  Which rocks harder?  

[ratsprayer]

they're definitely both epic masterpieces, and at least to me, the most emotional pieces of music that mmj has ever done.  in terms of pure techincal rocking, i would say don dante wins.  i think steam engine relies more on the actual lyrics for the emotional aspect, but don dante relies mostly on music and atmosphere.  there's no way i could choose which one i like better.  basically i would say, they're very similar at accomplishing pure raw, beautiful emotion, but coming about it in very different ways.

[October]

steam engine is and always will be my favorite jacket song.

it's absolutely majestic.  from "take your money and your drugs" on....it's bliss.  it's amazing how the lyrics literally mean nothing, but mean so much

unfortunately, i have yet to see it live...even missed it once, which needs to change.

dondante is pretty damn good though.

[JacketGal]

Steam Engine over Dondante...as of this writing. ;D  

I love the feeling and the sentiment of Steam Engine...the climax at the end and the lyric "the fact my heart is beating is all the proof you need..." is just very moving to my ears and soul. And that pedal steel always does it for me, I mean it just soars!!! The lyrics are always a mystery and I find something cool about each line but as a whole, I'm not sure what the message is...and that's OK.

On the other hand, dondante is more of a sad song and it seems haunting where Steam Engine sounds uplifting. The steady heart beat of dondante can evoke me into a sort of trance though, and I appreciate that quality in a song.

Cool post Mr. Conaway, I look forward to seeing all the repsonses.

October, I hope you get to see Steam Engine very soon!!

[MMJ_fanatic]

tough call,
I love the crescendos in Steam Engine but at the same time love the tension in Don Dante as the song slowly, teasingly moves to the breakout beginning with "You had me worried..."  God that gives me chills.  If I had a gun to my head I would say Steam Engine otherwise its a dead heat for me

[EC]

Listening to Don Dante for the first time will forever remain one of the greatest moments at a concert I've ever experienced.  I didn't see it coming, and it knocked me down and beat the hell out of me and decided to drill a home in the nether regions of my soul.

[Sleazy Rider]

Steam Engine was probably the first mmj tune I obsessed over. Anyone I had listen to it would have to read the lyrics along with the song NO READING AHEAD I would say, because other wise you wouldn't feel it when Jim says " the fact that my hearts beating is all the proof you need". I still quote that line to my wife alot. There was probably a 3 week period where thats the only song I listened to by anyone. I was so blown away by the lyrics. I would always say to my wife there is no way I can put my feelings or our relationship into words but that tune came really fucking close for me. And I have been able to do that on my own since then.  But Don Dante is so "haunting", as my dad puts it, everytime he listens to it. my mom says its sad, I think those opinions come from a combination of lyrics and music. For me its mainly the music that hits me in that special place. It reminds me that I have a soul and that there is something beyond everyones flesh and bones, that energy. All I know is that Jim is one bad mamajama to be able to spark these kind of feelings in people.

[Chills]

Damn close, but add one vote for Don Dante.
Unless Andrew Bird plays along on Steam Engine.

[sweatboard]

Steam Engine was probably the first mmj tune I obsessed over. Anyone I had listen to it would have to read the lyrics along with the song NO READING AHEAD I would say, because other wise you wouldn't feel it when Jim says " the fact that my hearts beating is all the proof you need". I still quote that line to my wife alot. There was probably a 3 week period where thats the only song I listened to by anyone. I was so blown away by the lyrics. I would always say to my wife there is no way I can put my feelings or our relationship into words but that tune came really fucking close for me. And I have been able to do that on my own since then.  But Don Dante is so "haunting", as my dad puts it, everytime he listens to it. my mom says its sad, I think those opinions come from a combination of lyrics and music. For me its mainly the music that hits me in that special place. It reminds me that I have a soul and that there is something beyond everyones flesh and bones, that energy. All I know is that Jim is one bad mamajama to be able to spark these kind of feelings in people.

Wow!!!!!  this was very well said.  

this is my favorite part and it's something I think everyone here shares.  

"It reminds me that I have a soul and that there is something beyond everyones flesh and bones, that energy. All I know is that Jim is one bad mamajama to be able to spark these kind of feelings in people."

[dragonboy]

Steam Engine. Of course, I love DonDante but it doesn't speak to me like Steam Engine does.
The AOL session breaks my heart everytime. Here it is, just incase there are any newbies who haven't seen it:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KYo7BVa_fXk&search=my%20morning%20jacket

[SiOuxTribe]

I love both of course but Steam Engine hits me like something else.  Its those teary eyes.... :'(

[dhollensbe]

I love both of course but Steam Engine hits me like something else.  Its those teary eyes.... :'(

love them shaky knees...

Steam Engine is precisely the song that set the hook for me...since then, I've been along for the ride.  

[tomEisenbraun]

Steam Engine is what made this band ultimately make sense for me. No song has ever combined utter desparation and complete hope together like that. At least for me. I don't know how to explain it, and i don't think that that is even the best way, but somehting along those lines, maybe.

And then, Dondante took that to another level. Holy shit, did it. I hesitate to say it's my favorite song, only because I can't listen to it. And by, I can't listen to it, I mean that, when I'm happy, it will bring me down. When I'm down, it'll rip that into oblivion and make me hurt more. Maybe that's good, but I try not to let my emotions be my being, and because of that, I try to avoid that kind of music when I'm at a place where I need something filling. I don't think opening a wound up further is much better for it. Maybe to purge it sometimes, I don't know.

But that said, the definition of that song has been the live experience. I sing along, I'm probably that person you hate to be next to in concert, but I sing along and you can see every vein in my neck and I can hardly stand up and it shakes me through and through, and knowing everything about and behind this song, and all that went into it, even the recording, hearing all that made this into either my favorite or second favorite MMJ song. The kicker is that I've never seen Steam Engine live. When I see it live, I'll make that decision.

[tomEisenbraun]

and god damn those shaky knees

[BH]

brain melts in the twighliiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiight.

i am out of town for one and half days and you guys come up with the greatest topic ever!

all i know is that i used to think the rolling stone steam engine was the greatest thing to ever happen to music and now the austin city limits dondante is puttting some serious presure on it.

[TEO]

I love the way Dondante hesitates and teases before it leads into the 8-9 notes that makes it's signature sound for me. I know what's coming, and the anticipation leads into the excitement.

[marktwain]

Don Dante: it's perfectly constructed - draws you in, the guitar hypnotizes you, then it all crashes down on you.  It always gives me chills.

(Steam Engine moves me every time, too, but Don Dante is just perfect.)

[cmccubbin25]

Steam Engine is what made this band ultimately make sense for me. No song has ever combined utter desparation and complete hope together like that. At least for me. I don't know how to explain it, and i don't think that that is even the best way, but somehting along those lines, maybe.

And then, Dondante took that to another level. Holy shit, did it. I hesitate to say it's my favorite song, only because I can't listen to it. And by, I can't listen to it, I mean that, when I'm happy, it will bring me down. When I'm down, it'll rip that into oblivion and make me hurt more. Maybe that's good, but I try not to let my emotions be my being, and because of that, I try to avoid that kind of music when I'm at a place where I need something filling. I don't think opening a wound up further is much better for it. Maybe to purge it sometimes, I don't know.

But that said, the definition of that song has been the live experience. I sing along, I'm probably that person you hate to be next to in concert, but I sing along and you can see every vein in my neck and I can hardly stand up and it shakes me through and through, and knowing everything about and behind this song, and all that went into it, even the recording, hearing all that made this into either my favorite or second favorite MMJ song. The kicker is that I've never seen Steam Engine live. When I see it live, I'll make that decision.

hey Tom...i kinda know the story behind Dondante (that it was written for Aaron Todovich (sp?) who left this world too early), but what other insights do you have?

[whothrewthecake]

this thread is like asking me to choose my favorite child. but i would have to say steam engine. seeing it played with the pops confirmed this choice.  :o

[ChiefOKONO]

Steam Engine it is for me.. it just builds and builds live and for me, i can relate to it more lyric wise so i am definitely into this song more than dondante. it affects me at a whole different level than most other mmj tunes! some of the lyrics really hit me and they are among my favorite of all their songs.  i think it delves more into the human psyche as well.
at the last show if it were the last song played, i wouldn't have complained.

the don is very awesome too but i find myself wanting to listen to steam engine more!

also it definitely helps that i just had one of the best experiences ever of seeing Steam Engine live with the one person i always want to see the Jacket with!!  :D