THE GRUNGE MATCH - 070

Match 070:

Jerry Cantrell "Keep The Light On" (1998)
Nirvana "School" (Live) (1991)
Pearl Jam "Insignificance" (2000)
Soundgarden "Bing Bing Goes To Church" (199?)

"Keep The Light On" is the only song with any fire since "Cut You In" from this album.  It's not remarkable, like at all, but it's still a sign of life in an otherwise DULL sea of forgettable.  It's a serviceable Alice In Chains knock off, and since the last few matches have been universally torporus, I'll take it.

"From The Muddy Banks Of The Wishkah" is not one single live performance but a collection of live tracks, so the dates and even personnel change from song to song.  This one came from November 1991, recorded in Amsterdam for television broadcast.  It's actually a more lively version of "School" than the "Bleach" version, and would hold its own pitted up against the original.  Pun intended: High marks.

"Insignificance" feels like its holding back at first.  It seems like it'll launch into a double time gallop going into the first verse, but holds back and stays in the tom-based, spacey zone until the pre-chorus, when it actually lets loose.  One of the best songs on "Binaural", to be sure.  Also, I totally forgot to mention Matt Cameron plays drums on this album.  This is the seventh matchup (and all of them going forward) where the same drummer will be on two of the four songs.  (Soundgarden broke up in 1997, but when they reformed in 2010, Cameron decided to be in both bands.)  Crazy.  Note wise, this song is reminiscent of "Corduroy" on "Vitalogy".  Even this song brings a fire that's been lacking for the last few jams from Pearl Jam.

This is bullshit too.  At least "Bing Bing Goes To Church" is a song instead of a bunch of feedback with a name.  Soundgarden thought they were funny, but it's just annoying.  To add insult to injury it ends with the line "You're free to go now."  As if I wouldn't have already left if I didn't make it a point to listen to these all the way through when I review them.

"School" (Live): 4
"Insignificance": 3
"Keep The Light On": 2
"Bing Bing Goes To Church": 1

TOTALS:

Alice In Chains: 182
Pearl Jam: 177
Soundgarden: 176
Nirvana: 165

Pearl Jam retakes second place while Nirvana continues their streak against a field of listless opponents!  I did not expect this.  Check back tomorrow to see what happens!

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