I have several songs where I think they could have done better on the album version.

This includes a lot of Mink Car:

  • Bangs - Snapping Turtles had the more John-y lyrics in my opinion.
  • Man, It’s So Loud in Here - The first demo just had more soul, in my opinion. I get they were going for Pet Shop Boys pastiche/parody, but I really liked the general 80s vibes of the original demo.
  • My Man - There’s a demo that has some better compositional choices in my opinion.
  • Another First Kiss - I prefer the one from Severe Tire Damage by leaps and bounds.

Another addition is I like the Severe Tire Damage version of They Got Lost more than the Long Tall Weekend version.

  • 👍Maximum Derek👍@discuss.tchncs.deEnglish
    4·
    9 days ago

    It’s a cover, but I prefer the version of New York City that describes the Empire State as where “King Kong lived.”

    Alphabet of Nations is one where I most enjoy the versions with more verses of county names.

  • galmuth@feddit.ukEnglish
    1·
    9 days ago

    Fingertips live, eg the one on the Gigantic DVD.

    And most live versions of Istanbul - recent versions with Curt Ramm were fantastic.

    • data1701d (He/Him)OPMEnglish
      2·
      8 days ago

      I’ve never listened to a live version of Istanbul, and I am now questioning my life choices.

      After hearing it some many times and it being the song most associate with the band, I’d always skipped over it. I always felt it just needed a smidge more compositional complexity, and the live versions deliver it.

      • galmuth@feddit.ukEnglish
        1·
        8 days ago

        I think because it is such a simple song that they’ve played so much, they can easily play around with it. They usually have Dan Miller play a semi-improvised acoustic guitar intro (Miller Time), and they add an extended outro.

  • watson387@sopuli.xyzEnglish
    1·
    9 days ago

    The live version of She’s an Angel on Severe Tire Damage is one of my all-time favorite songs.

    • data1701d (He/Him)OPMEnglish
      1·
      9 days ago

      I love that recording too, but equally to the album version. One has awesome horns, the other as good synth.