No Code - Part 3
Are we getting something out of this all-encompassing trip?
Hi Son,
I’ve decided this will be part 3 of 4. The overall progression of how “No Code” has become such an important part of my life continues from the packaging of the record that I talked about in Part 2 to now the one song that hooked me from the very first time I heard it. The tracklisting on this record is kind of genius. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve heard records from some of my favorite bands and they literally throw all of their heavy hitters in the top half of the tracklisting. Sometimes you find yourself not even wanting to listen to side 2 (or 3, or 4 depending on how many vinyls were pressed) because the great stuff was already used up. I didn’t start collecting my own vinyl until 2019. While I much prefer the sound of vinyl and the connection I feel to it over CDs or cassette tapes, it can be a real pain in the pass sometimes to get up and flip over the record especially if my 43-year-old ass just does not want to leave the recliner. “No Code” probably does not intentionally spread out the wealth on its tracklisting, but my favorite song that quickly became a top 5 of the entire catalog was “Present Tense.” Because they have it as track #11, it keeps me wanting to flip over to side 2 knowing it’s there.
I am going to spend this entire note talking about “Present Tense.” The song means that much to me. I’m going so far to say it is my favorite song in the entire catalog. The track begins very serene with Mike playing lead in the background of Eddie’s vocals. This continues for the first half of the entire song. It’s the feeling of just pure reflection in one’s life. Every time I find myself just looking retrospectively at myself, the first half of this song plays in the back of my mind. It puts me on a thought process of thinking “how did I get to where I am right now?” Here’s the beginning of the song below.
“Do you see the way that tree bends?
Does it inspire?
Leaning out to catch the sun's rays
A lesson to be applied
Are you getting something out of this all-encompassing trip?”
The last line is a question I ask myself over-and-over. Am I getting every thing out of life to this point that I could have hoped for? If the answer is “no” then the next question to myself is “then what do I need moving forward to change my answer to yes?” It doesn’t necessarily have to be as general and high level as all of your life itself. It can just be focused on one aspect. My career. Do I wish I had experienced more live music in my younger age? Is there something I wish I had been more patient to learn, like riding a bike (yes your old man does not know how to ride a bike)? Just about any moment in time, I can hear this song and begin to think about the path taken to the present. It is the deepest lyric I have ever heard of any song in my life. It transports me from wherever I am into a place where I feel like I am looking down on the world.
The music after the first couple of minutes starts to bring in the rest of the guys. Eddie sings “Seems that needlessly it's getting harder. To find an approach and a way to live” as you get Stone, Jeff and Jack introduce themselves subtly. Then the second chorus is sung with the music continuing to crescendo until the chorus ends with “makes much more sense. To live, in the present tense.” After this, a full-on instrumental ensues. The tempo and the mood ramp up significantly. Jack’s drums continue to intensify, Jeff rips off a pretty sweet bass riff and all of the guitars just flood the air space. Then Eddie and the other guys start chanting, kind of tribal, and the intensity hits a high with Mike shredding and Jack pounding away until all of a sudden, quiet. Then Eddie begins to strum a riff that sounds like stars are falling gently from the sky. Mike comes back with the main riff over Eddie’s strumming and the rest of the band follow until the entire sound fades out ending the song. The whole composition is sublime. I think it’s the most beautiful song the band put out.
As long as “No Code” and “Present Tense” have been around, the song itself is very much a deep cut. I don’t believe anyone who casually knows of Pearl Jam has heard this song. They don’t even include it in most of their set lists when they tour. The song though would get some significant visibility during the COVID pandemic. In late Spring, while many people where sheltering in place to minimize the spread of a virus that was overrunning the healthcare system in the United States, a documentary was aired over 5 weeks. Originally, the series was meant to be 10 different episodes, however given the fact there were no live sports going on ESPN decided to push it out early and in mass. That documentary was called “The Last Dance” covering the era of Michael Jordan as a Chicago Bull from his start in 1984 to his last game in 1998. It was a great docuseries and really helped fill a void. The last episode featured a scene where Michael Jordan was looking out retrospectively. The song playing in the background…”Present Tense!” The scene then showed highlights of the Chicago Bulls during the timeline of the docuseries and just like when the music began to get more aggressive the clips shown were guys running hard, dunking, celebrating emphatically, etc. This may have been the most exposure the song has ever gotten outside of the fan base or anyone very familiar with the band. It was really cool.
The last thing that I’ll mention is regarding an EP released this year named in-line with a current TV show called “The Last of Us.” The 4-track EP includes a redux version of “Present Tense.” The song is re-recorded in areas that give it a different feel. The first verse has the same recording of Eddie’s vocals, however instead of Mike’s lead guitar on electric, it’s with acoustic. Going into the second verse, the vocals and music are all re-recorded. It’s such a wonderful, modern feel to this song that was recorded almost 30 years ago. What I am kicking myself over is that “The Last of Us” EP was offered to Ten Club members (one copy a piece). I got the email, went right to the page where I could have purchased it and punted on it. Admittedly I did not notice there was a redux version of “Present Tense” and if I had, I almost surely would have gotten a copy of the EP. Now, I either have to overpay for a new copy on Discogs or another secondary seller or hope there is a second release (similar to the clear vinyl pressing of No Code).
If you’re still with me here, I can only thank you for indulging me for reading all of the rambling I have on “No Code.” There probably won’t be another album I will cover over four posts, or even more than one (however there is a good chance I give “Yield” a Part 2). I promise the next note will be the last on “No Code” and it will consistent of how my experience and perception of the rest of the tracklisting has changed in the past 6-7 years. There isn’t another song on “No Code” that has impacted me the way “Present Tense” has, but there are several that I appreciate and love much more.
Love,
Dad
