
I feel like, for the most part, I’m the kind of fan who has his favorites, and even enjoys indulging in the occasional game of “what if?” from time to time (What if Binaural was released with its original tracklist? etc.) but in general I try not to presume too much or feel entitled. The same is true of “Yellow Moon.” It’s a cool song, and felt like new territory for the band ten albums in. But but but but but, I can’t escape the nagging feeling in the back of my brain that the arrangement and production of the song doesn’t do it justice.
On paper it works: a waltz-time strummer with swirls of organ, stately piano, and a warbling, evocative lyrics, serpentine vocal melody. But for whatever reason, it all just feels… restrained. The Lightning Bolt performance, like many but not all of the takes on the record, sounds too metronome-bound. I find myself wishing for some more raggedy element to cut against the steadiness and smoothness. It’s grand and lovely, but too smooth at least for my tastes. Mike McCready said in an interview at the time that the song was a “hat tip” to Neil Young, specifically “Helpless,” but I don’t hear it (it was almost left off the album at some point but McCready advocated for it and was proud of his leads; they’re good leads, I agree). I don’t mind the smoothness as much on “Sleeping By Myself” and “Future Days.” Those compositions seem right for it. But there’s something about “Yellow Moon” that feels like a missed opportunity, at least in the studio.
Songwriters: Eddie Vedder (words), Jeff Ament (music)
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