1. I recalled Radiohead's Ok Computer / In Rainbows theory that both albums were meant to be played intertwined, and I wanted to try that theory in here.

    We know that both albums communicate with each other and there's some explicit connections.

    The idea is:
    -Create one single tracklist containing both albums, alternating between one SOI with one SOE, using all the 24 songs of both albums, AND NOT using b-sides or non-album tracks.

    -The SOI and SOE pairs should have a connection, explicit or otherwise (I'm trying to assume that every SOI has a SOE counterpart, even if sometimes that connection seems rather weak)

    -The album has to flow nicely, no "sharp turns", make transitions that work.

    -There's 2 songs more in SOE than in SOI, which means we'll need to open and close with SOE, and to have a double SOE somewhere in the middle. The obvious in here is opening with All We Have Left (that's its reason of being after all), and in the middle don't split Get Out and American Soul, since both are connected with the blessings.

    ---

    Well, here's my go at mixing both albums in one big double album. I've been working on this all afternoon, so I've already listened to the full thing twice.

    Please give it a shot and comment which transitions you don't like or how it could work better for you:

    SONGS OF INNOCENCE AND EXPERIENCE

    1. Love is All We Have Left
    ---
    2. Iris
    3. Lights of Home
    ---
    4. California
    5. Summer Of Love
    ---
    6. Every Breaking Wave
    7. Landlady
    ---
    8. Reach Me Now
    9. Red Flag Day
    ---
    10. The Troubles
    11. Get Out of Your Own Way
    ---
    12. American Soul

    13. Volcano
    ---
    14. The Showman
    15. The Miracle (of Joey Ramone)
    ---
    16. You're The Best Thing About Me
    17. Cedarwood Road
    ---
    18. The Blackout
    19. Raised by Wolves
    ---
    20. There Is a Light
    21. Song For Someone
    ---
    22. Love Is Bigger
    23. Sleep Like a Baby Tonight
    ---
    24. The Little Things That Give You Away

    ---

    The Connections
    Some connections are explicit: Volcano, SFS, Iris.
    The rest are more subjective and sometimes very weak, but let's have fun with it:
    *In Summer, you've been thinking about the west coast? That's California.
    *Caledonia mentioned (correctly, imho) that Red Flag Day gave a The Clash vibe? That's Reach me Now
    *In Landlady Bono mentions every wake that broke him, that's Every Breaking Wave
    *The Showman... is there something about being an artist and performer in SOI? that's The Miracle
    *Ali's the best thing that happened to a boy, to a boy that lived in Cedarwood Road with all the problems of living in there.
    *In Troubles, you realize that the trouble is you, so you better get out of your own way.
    *I don't know the lyrics of it, but at least the title of Love is Bigger Than Anything In Its Way fits with the really dark subject of Sleep Like a Baby Tonight.
    *Then, the political Blackout meets the political Wolves.
    *And although I don't want to close this album with the line "The End Is Here", you have to admit that it works poetically.

    The transitions some are excellent: Love is All We Have Left --> Iris seems almost as if that was intentional, and Song for Someone works beautiful right after There Is a Light (thematically sound better the other way around, but musically this worked better). But I really loved the majority of them.
    Listen to them and let me know if they worked for you.
  2. This is a cool idea, but I think I'll wait for the actual SOE release. I feel like listening to SOI songs with the blurry SOE version we have right now would be difficult.
  3. I definitely think California and Summer of Love are counterparts. Not just because of the 'summer'/'west coast' stuff, but just musically... the main riff in Summer of Love reminds me of the bridge in California, a little more 'Arabic', the rhythm of the songs feels compatible to me... Summer of Love is the darker sequel to California, for sure.
  4. I swear I was expecting this topic and I was hoping that it would be Bloodraven who opened it

    I've expressed my hate for American Soul recycinlg Glastonbury for the third time, but now I'm far more comfortable with the links and bonds between the albums after listening to 13 and its SFS reference.
  5. Originally posted by LikeASong:I swear I was expecting this topic and I was hoping that it would be Bloodraven who opened it

    I've expressed my hate for American Soul recycinlg Glastonbury for the third time, but now I'm far more comfortable with the links and bonds between the albums after listening to 13 and its SFS reference.
    AS and Volcano is the only cheap, shameless recycling. The others are fine and we can finally breathe easily.
  6. Still no love for American Soul, I see, Cesar?
  7. Hahaha

    It is extremely good. I was honestly expecting something a bit dumb and soppy, and we got one of the most beautiful love songs this band has ever put together.
  8. Very interesting exercise,but I have to say, Best Thing paired with Cedarwood Road seems like a match made in hell.
  9. Trust me, it kinda works:

    Best Thing is the last song of segment (Get Out+AS+Volcano+Showman+Miracle+Best Thing), and if you remember the track, it actually ends slowing down the rhythm and volume. And Cedarwood has some sort of an intro, so it doesn't sound really awkward the transition (and Cedarwood actually opens a different segment, more serious and dark).
    Both songs alone don't match, but in the context of what's before and after, it works.

    Also, thematically, I do believe is the counterpart.
  10. I'll give it a try (when SOE gets released, of course)
  11. Last night I made one adjustment:
    I moved Like a Baby Tonight/Love is Bigger from the end to halfway because it was really slow and a bit redundant to have like 5 "closers" all together. Now I think it sounds way better.

    The only song that I feel seems a bit out of place is Reach Me Now. Not that bad, but it interrupts the flow between Landlady and Red Flag Day.


    SONGS OF INNOCENCE AND EXPERIENCE


    1. Love is All We Have Left
    ---
    2. Iris
    3. Lights of Home
    ---
    4. California
    5. Summer Of Love
    ---
    6. Every Breaking Wave
    7. Landlady
    ---
    8. Reach Me Now
    9. Red Flag Day
    ---
    10. Sleep Like a Baby Tonight
    11. Love Is Bigger
    ---
    12. The Troubles
    13. Get Out of Your Own Way
    ---
    14. American Soul

    15. Volcano
    ---
    16. The Showman
    17. The Miracle (of Joey Ramone)
    ---
    18. You're The Best Thing About Me
    19. Cedarwood Road
    ---
    20. The Blackout
    21. Raised by Wolves
    ---
    22. There Is a Light
    23. Song For Someone
    ---
    24. The Little Things That Give You Away