The studio albums are still so much better, and it’s weird that someone even needs to say that haha. Especially about Futures. That album sounds perfect. Clarity does too though, but I can see why people may think it sounds too dated got their liking. But I prefer it, for sure.
Here is my hot take: I love both the album and live versions. Both are fantastic. Jimmy Eat World is a very good band.
I think the album versions are better objectively, but I could never get into the production on Clarity or Futures. I still love those records of course, but I prefer the mixing on the live ones for those two. Surviving is just all-around better on record though. That record already sounds basically live, so I don't see much point in going back to its Phoenix Sessions counterpart.
The opening riff to “Futures” on the Phoenix Sessions recording is the lowest point across all three of these.
I don’t ever remember anyone complaining about Futures production prior to the Phoenix Sessions. I enjoy hearing old songs have a new “production life” because technology and music skills improve, but I don’t think it necessarily makes the newer versions better. What the Phoenix Sessions highlight to me is how awesome this band is live still and since the show I was going to go to see them live touring Surviving got cancelled because of lockdown, the Phoenix Sessions were a fun substitute.
I legit do not know how it is possible to not be able to "get into" the production of Futures. Sounds like solid gold.
I love Futures. I don’t think production makes or breaks good songs. But I don’t know, something about it has always felt off to me. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ I didn’t know this was a hot take. Oops. Haha
I’ve heard him rip it live and it sounds rad. Could be a mix of moving to Axe FX (I know I know) and just not getting it well enough on the day. He could have punched in but didn’t. I’m more upset they didn’t do the extended futures open with the bridge synth parts leading into THE RIFF We had a listener meet up for our 100th episode and one of our listeners had an ENCYCLOPEDIC knowledge of JEW lyrics. It was uncanny. The most obscure b-sides he had them at the ready.
The production on Clarity and Futures are exceptionally good and make those albums what they are to me. I enjoyed listening to the Phoenix Sessions, but I'd get around the halfway mark and the novelty would wear off and I'd just want to listen to the originals instead. Though, I've never been one to enjoy live music without the visual aid of the actual presentation, so that might be part of the reason, but the studio versions are another universe entirely imo.
I think the way they play the opening riff to Futures in this live session is 100% an artistic choice. But also when all the instruments come in, in the original recording there are at least three guitars, meanwhile in this performance there only two if I'm not mistaken.
I thought the touring member had access to a guitar/keys/backing vocals, and that would be 3 guitarists if so desired for that into.
I'll say it again but I totally dug the opening riff during the live session. Not sure what the issue is?
I didn't remember it being that way when I watched live, but I would love to have a video of me reacting to it when I listened last week. I feel like it probably would've been similar to me eating an olive. I hate olives
It’s sounds a little rough to me in comparison to the record. Things like that do differentiate a live setting to a studio recording for lots of bands though.