Steam Engine vs. Don Dante

[Dee.]

Steam Engine!  It's what it's all about.

[beammeup]

i love dondante, but it doesnt get much better than steam engine.

and seeing it live in hartford before pj gave ME shaky knees.

[sleezy_morning_reb]

Steam Engine is an amazing song, so is Dondante.  My question is, why hasn't anyone taken Strangulation into consideration as the best album closer?

[ChiefOKONO]

well i don't think we're really talking about album closers in this thread for one....

[ratsprayer]

i fuckin' absolutely love both songs, but for me, as of this minute, don dante wins.  i think don dante shows a full range of emotion, starting off so quiet and building up to a porn-like orgasm and relaxing and lulling you at the very end with the sax.  i've had many a revelation listening to steam engine, but there's some sort of mystery about don dante that leaves me searching for more.  i still feel like i'm able to get more and more from don dante every time listen, but steam engine, i think i know what i'm feeling and just expanding on it.  

[cmccubbin25]

have you heard Jim's solo version of Dondante?  i think he did it at an in store show...it was in Seattle, WA on 11.5.05.

i think comparing the stripped down versions is what does it for me.  the single of "Steam Engine" with just Jim nearly brings tears to me eyes everytime i listen to it.  "Dondante" is just as powerful and i love the song, but listening to the solo version just isn't comparable to "Steam Engine" (though it is very close!).

if you haven't heard the solo version of  "Dondante" i would recommend getting it from archive.org (i think that is where i got it).

[sweatboard]

Fair enough about the acoustic versions of both but in Don Donte's defense.  Steam Engine can't really hang (guitar) solo wise.   ;)    

[cmccubbin25]

Fair enough about the acoustic versions of both but in Don Donte's defense.  Steam Engine can't really hang (guitar) solo wise.   ;)    

true

[peanut butter puddin surprise]

interesting point about album closers....

[Dee.]

It looks like Steam Engine is winning.  

[SiOuxTribe]

to my count in what people have said (and i havent check if people posted twice to confuse me) but the rankings are:

Dondante: 7
Steam Engine: 10

[Meddle]

I really like the new version of Dondante, but the 'Roo '04  stteam engine is the best ever--my vote goes to steam engine

[sweatboard]

I'm voting for Don Dante just because this should be a tie.  ;)

[sweatboard]

Who's with me?

[sleezy_morning_reb]

I got your back sweatboard.  

[tomEisenbraun]

Steam Engine.

Just listen to the version with andrew bird from this year's taste of chicago. i was listening to it, and then patrick just starts building like crazy on the drums in the second verse, and i could not help but smiling. and then he took my money and my drugs and the outro was pure bliss. why didn't i go? it's a damn shame that i can't make lollapalooza. i want to see more mmj and andrew bird.

[NHgroove]

God I love the forum.

If you had asked me 2 weeks ago i would have said don, no doubt about it. But since I read this today when I'm in the middle of a steam engine binge...steam engine all the way. I almost shit myself every time waiting for jim to go up on the last two lines "...the fact that my heart's beating"  It just keeps me on the edge of my seat.

I will give all props and credit to dondante and I think the guitar solo is absolutely smoking any which way I can get it live, studio, or however.  But right now steam engine has been playing for 3 days almost straight. I sometimes switch just so I don't lose touch with reality, but really it just makes it better to hear steam again....

What is he saying at the end on the loop??? anybody know?? sounds like it could maybe be  "get out "....pronounced more like "git ottt"   anybody know for sure? It doesn't matter in the long run though, it just the way that he sings...

[tomEisenbraun]

i've always heard dee dee daaa dum dee dee da dum...dee da dum dee dee da dum.

[jrat]

How the FUCK, did i miss this thread!!! i just finished listening to steam engine from the Odeon show, and its 14:58 long. i love that song, and prayed theyd have played that AND Dondonte in TO opening for PJ. Those are my faves for sure.

At one point though i was sick of dondante, maybe i heard it too much?? but then these "new versions" surfaced and brought it back to life, and made me love the original version all over agian.

im gonna rip my heart in two and give a peice to EACH song!

PS. Strangulation, as mentioned above, has given me watery eyes and a sore throat many times, usually after a bottle of wine or several beers on one of my down-time nights. HEART RIPPED THRICE!

[MyLifeISought]

In there original versions, the two songs serve completely different purposes. Steam Engine majestically soars, and lets itself down gently, washing over you like a cool mist.
(Old) Dondante strikes the fear of God in your heart, builds up tension like nothing in music ever has, and when it releases it ("you had me worried"), it hits you full in the face like a tidal wave, continues the onslaught for several minutes, and leaves you looking at the wreckage as the sax kicks in.
The reason that new dondante doesn't pack the punch that old dondante does is that the (admittedly spectacular and gorgeous) majestic portions break up the building of the tension. In addition, the chords to old dondante's verse are C minor/G. New dondante is C minor/Bb7, a significantly less jarring pair.
I prefer dondante, because of the power it has, the sheer terror and awe it induces. I have never, and possibly will never again, seen anything like Jim James building that tension and then putting all of his being into its release. It was one of the most overwhelming, amazing experiences of my life--it was a PHYSICAL experience. People who have have seen that version, and in particular been close to the stage, will know what i'm talking about. Steam Engine is blissful and gorgeous, and i absolutely love it. But i have never, in the many shows i've been to and all of the music i;ve listened to, heard or seen anything like Dondante. It is, so far, the crowning achievement of the Jacket.