Must be:
1. O Is The One That Is Real (never hear people talking about but it was the highlight of the two concerts I've seen and is my favourite track off Live at Bonnaroo -- that and Phone Went West)
2. The Bear (again, often overlooked but the Acoustic Citsuoca version kicks ass)
3. I Will Sing You Songs (the most gorgeous song off It Still Moves in my opinion)
4. I Will Be There When You Die (an MMJ song that was released before its time)
5. It's About Twilight Now (so, so cool).
What do you guys think?
Here's two more: 'Picture of You' and 'War Begun'. I haven't seen them play these in awhile, but both Jim and John (RIP) really busted a nut on some great extended guitar solos.
And I hear ya on 'O...' I think it's arguably their best all-around, radio-ready rock song. That build-up at the end followed by the twin guitar part gets my fist pumping every time. On the recent tour the arrangement was slightly different.
I heartily agree with "O" and "It's About Twilight Now". Don't forget "The Dark" "They Ran" or "Just Because I Do"
I would throw "Honest Man" in with its twangy, swaggering country riff. "I Will Sing You Songs" is great too--the way Jim streches through his range gives me chills ;). Finally, "Rollin Back" nuff said!
I agree with Garth that "War Begun" and "Picture of You" are bothe very good songs and underplayed at this time. I am also a big fan of "Death is the Easy Way." Now that song gets no respect from anyone. It seams to find its way on a lot of my mixes. Not a complicated song, but a good one anyway. "O" is definitely a straight out rockin song that is always enjoyable to bang the stearing wheel to. Personally, i really enjoy "Old September Blues" from the Amsterdam show on one of the EPs. OK. Peace.
1) they ran
2) how do you know
3) chills
4) if all else fails
5) i needed it most
Anything from 'Tennessee Fire'...but the big one I forgot was 'I Think I'm Going to Hell'. Talk about the chills. I maybe saw them play it in the 'Ville a LONG time ago, back when Jeremy was in the band.
"I think I'm Going to Hell " is pretty chilling on a lonely higway at 2:30 in the morning. Good choice!
1. Sweetheart...god i love that song
2. Strangulation ( My favorite mmj song )
3. If it smashes down
4. I think i'm going to hell ( Agreed w/above )
5. Can you see the hard helmet on my head
im pretty sure that 'lowdown' couldve been top ten on a major label at the right time. im surprised that 'one big holiday' wasn't bigger than it was outside of the mmj fanbase. when i think underrated, i think about the songwriting, and i mean genius lyrics that have mostly gone unnoticed, then i think of 'steam engine'
i think it's quite clear ALL of mmj's songs are underrated! Only known by people who really make an effort to search out great music for themselves. However in a strange way i kinda like it too. I love their accesibility to the fans at shows. which doesn't mean i don' t wish them to be able to live royaly of their music and keep making great records!
As of underrated, we should really think of songs that should and could be played on every radio station in the world: lowdown, golden, just one thing...and cobra ;)
Quotewhich doesn't mean i don' t wish them to be able to live royaly of their music and keep making great records!
my sentiments exactly. the guys have got to make a good go of this to add to their motivations (we all already know they're motivated to make great music ;)) that's why its so important to take the uninitiated with you to any and every show you can!
I agree with all the titles mentioned here. It's such a pity that song like 'They ran' never get played live! But there are such so many great ones...
Butch Cassidy. One of my favorites off of Tennessee Fire.
By My Car
Chills (from the demo disc)
Can you see the hard helmet on my head?
Come Closer (which I have long said is a lost #1 hit)
There's just one Thing
I've heard a few folks say they don't care for "Rollin Back", but it's in my all time top 10 of MMJ songs...come on, if you don't cry at this:
"oh i'll never say I knew you
but my heart cant wait
to meet you no the other side"
you must have a heart transplant at once! i insist! :)
jc--gotta agree with ya on rollin back and hard helmet--very under-utilized ;)
I think they're all under-rated, which is good and bad probably. So, that being the case, these 5 are my faves right now, with many more within reach of the top 5:
1. The Bear
2. I Will Sing You Songs
3. Cobra
4. Sooner (Live)
5. They Ran ((barely ahead of Old Sept. Blues))
Butch Cassidy
Alabama Come Clean
I think it's brilliant,
they should end every show with it.
QuoteAlabama Come Clean
I think it's brilliant,
they should end every show with it.
Yes! What a cool idea would that be...
QuoteAlabama Come Clean
is this another tune off of the famed demos disk that I still do not have?
Quote
is this another tune off of the famed demos disk that I still do not have?
no, it's the last instrumental track on The Tennessee Fire.
that tune kinda creeps me out...in a good way
I always get tears in my eyes during what I'd like to call the 4th "part" or the 2nd "chorus" or whatever. It's a beautiful piece of music, let's just put it that way. :)
How did you all know the name of that song?
QuoteButch Cassidy
and If All Else Fails
and I Needed It Most
QuoteHow did you all know the name of that song?
On the vinyl version, it's listed in the tracklisting on the labels on the LPs. Don't know about the CD-version, I still don't have it...
Death is the Easy Way
Can You See The Hard Helmut On My Head
those are my votes.
Without question 'Rollin Back' is incredibly underrated. That was the first song that sucked me in. I was just sitting at my computer doing some writing and I had to physically back up from my desk and catch my breath....still one of my favorites.
QuoteWithout question 'Rollin Back' is incredibly underrated. That was the first song that sucked me in. I was just sitting at my computer doing some writing and I had to physically back up from my desk and catch my breath....still one of my favorites.
fucking A right dude. that song is really underrated and i think i get it just like you described.
Come closer
Strangulation
I will sing you songs
Sweetheart
It's about twilight now
and i gotta say, Honest Man is a hell of a song, but what Jacket song is overrated anyway??
War begun (album version)
War begun (all live versions)
That's one hell of a song! I just love it
I am really liking "Heartbreakin' Man" from the Mayan theater show--great dramatic/haunting keyboard intro...
Hey Chills, and everyone else, I need some help. So there are some songs that I just can't get into on Tennessee Fire, including "War Begun". "Picture of You" and "If All Else Fails" are in the same boat though to a lesser extent. This is strange because the rest of the album is, in my estimation, perhaps the most hauntingly beautiful stuff that MMJ has done.
I know these are great songs, especially as a lot of the more senior fans on the forum seem to have a keen fondness for them, but I guess I am just missing something. Any suggestions? Admittedly, I have only heard the album versions as I have not yet checked out the live takes.
"picture of you" is smashingly good due to the melody interacting with the lyrics. i've found myself whistling the melody to that song over and over again...
"war begun" gets me again because of the lyrics, and "if all else fails" just haunts me with the awesome-ness of the lonely highway sound.
try some of the live versions from my FTP server, they might grab you differently...
"it's about twilight now" just rocks. you didn't mention it, but it sure rocks.
Thanks for the advice John. Yeah, I am going to check out the songs on FTP, and see if they have a feel about them that I can grab onto better.
And oh man, "It's About Twilight Now" is awesome. Such a sun-and-whisky-drenched, Southern Gothic-style song. And the lyrics are so perfect for the sound. Makes me think that Kings of Leon have listened to it before. Probably in the top 5 of my all-time favorites. ;D
The three you mentioned are perhaps more "pensive" than many of the others. Maybe that's just not your thing. But I think they complement the other songs beautifully.
And if you ever get to see Jim or MMJ perform them live, well, just hope you do and you'll get it.
QuoteHey Chills, and everyone else, I need some help. So there are some songs that I just can't get into on Tennessee Fire, including "War Begun". "Picture of You" and "If All Else Fails" are in the same boat though to a lesser extent. This is strange because the rest of the album is, in my estimation, perhaps the most hauntingly beautiful stuff that MMJ has done.
I know these are great songs, especially as a lot of the more senior fans on the forum seem to have a keen fondness for them, but I guess I am just missing something. Any suggestions? Admittedly, I have only heard the album versions as I have not yet checked out the live takes.
This is kind of weird, as "war begun" was the first song I fell in love with when I bought Tennessee Fire - like John says, it's the lyrics, but man that guitar solo is really sweet - it goes down really smooth (with no aftertaste). The drums and heavy reverb jsut create an incredible atmosphere. I can't imagine Jim singing that song when it's not pitch black, and at least a little chilly.
and I've always liked "If all else fails", but just recently rediscovered it (and learned to love it) when putting together a mix tape (its' sandwiched b/w Wilco's "handshake drugs" and Dylan's "Down in the Flood") Maybe you should try that sandwich, boar. It's pretty tasty, and it could bring out some flavors you hadn't noticed before.
or maybe you should just smoke a j before you listen - have you tried that?
everybody was thinking it anyway.
yeah, i'll have to try that..........