mach1ne, Feb 07, 2007
Love Is Stronger Than Pride - what a classic track. I'm surprised that people prefer the B-side to the A-side though and just as surprised that people would like the track more if it was instrumental. The whole point of the track (lyrically) is that it is song primarily about love, but also about the other unpleasant things associated with love, namely imperfection, guilt, remorse, delusion, bitterness and ultimately honesty - all profoundly woven into this piercingly deep, dark, psychedlic masterpiece. To be honest, I don't think Mayer would have used lyrics such as these if the music was 'housier', mellower or 'cheesier'. It wouldn't have been right. It would indeed have been 'cheesy'. But underneath those lyrics we have that incessant marching rhythm, the rasping synth line and druggy effects. However, it is this darkness of the sound which makes the song what it is and makes the lyrics even more like a subliminal voice of your conscience. And, inversely, another way in which it works is that the vocals distract the listener to such an extent that it allows the music to penetrate deeper into the mind. It really surprises me what people have to say about this record. It makes me wonder what this music scene is all about. I personally think it's about dancing (which sometimes can involve drugs), releasing endorphines and reaching a mental state during which happens the odd epiphany about what on earth is going on with yourself and your place in the world today. Do I really need to go into this ancient tradition? In any case this song is a clear catalyst for this sort of mental and physical process. But each to their own.
4.5/5 (