Live - IrisAlbum: Throwing Copper [1994]
one of the best hidden songs from one of the 90's most defining albums (depending on who you ask), "iris" is worthy of it's stature between two of the album's most memorable hits in "i alone" and "lightning crashes". even after countless listens over the past 17 years, one can still easily feel the same boundless charge that made it so endearing the first place. it's an album that has a style and swagger to it that never seems to wear out. the 90's were filled with talented bands swarming the popular music scene and songs filling the radio gave definition to a great decade for rock (especially the first half!). "throwing copper" comes as close as any other album in summing up those poignant years. lead singer ed kowalczyk's potent vocals give fiery life to lyrics already intense with emotion. songs often beginning as quiet, moving testimonies (seemingly ominous of some coming storm) build to hypnotic crescendos of heart-throbbing passion. there are virtually no throwaways either, and the cohesiveness of the album is remarkable, given the spectrum of musical styles, influences, and lyrical content. "lightning crashes", the album's obvious biggest hit, was written in memory of a classmate of kowalczyk's who was killed by a drunk driver. the list of standouts goes on on and on - the kurt cobain/courtney love-inspired "stage", the apocalyptic "white, discussion", the dark and chilling "dam at otter creek", the nostalgic "shit towne", and "t.b.d." (tibetan book of the dead), based on aldous huxley's slow decent into death. one might deem it a tad melodramatic, but the songwriting speaks for itself. virtually flawless and timeless.
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