Absurd is a strangely structured song

[axl666]

I still like it, though I preferred the Silkworms version. The current version:

1. Has no melody.

2. Has one verse. Normally the lyrics should change from verse to verse.

3. Has no chorus as such.

4. Has no bridge. This is a bit debatable as the shimmery bit in the middle could be a bridge or a guitar solo.

5. Has probably the most basic riff out of any GNR song.

Saying all that, I do actually kind of like it. However when listening to it today, all of these things jumped out.

 

[Powderfinger]

7 hours ago, axl666 said:

I still like it, though I preferred the Silkworms version. The current version:

1. Has no melody.

2. Has one verse. Normally the lyrics should change from verse to verse.

3. Has no chorus as such.

4. Has no bridge. This is a bit debatable as the shimmery bit in the middle could be a bridge or a guitar solo.

5. Has probably the most basic riff out of any GNR song.

Saying all that, I do actually kind of like it. However when listening to it today, all of these things jumped out.

 

 

You just listed the ingredients for a shit song. 

[Gordon Comstock]

It's very obviously cut and pasted together.

I think the song was always supposed to be a "sonic showcase" more than anything, so the shit lyrics and repetitive structure wouldn't be so bad if the song weren't mixed and edited so poorly. Just like Hardschool, the original demo is better, but unlike Hardschool, Absurd was unsalvageable. It was always a B-side at best.

[bumcheecksmcghee]

The worst thing about absurd is its lacking the "so what can i do? With a bitch like you" part that silkworms has.... The song already has shit all lyrics in it and dropping that line just makes it more...

Wait for it...

ABSURD!  ..... ABSURD!

😁👍

[mr-fukaji]

the rhythm of the vocals almost sounds out of time with the music during the verses. I played it to two non GNR friends a few weeks ago and everybody caught the timing. Sound wise the closest we could get as similar was Killing Joke which would be weird enough for GNR but 2021 GNR moreso.

[The Matinator]

Do y’all think the screams on Absurd were recorded by Axl later or do you think they were cut from another demo like the Hard Skool bridge?

[2020_Intensions]

38 minutes ago, The Matinator said:

Do y’all think the screams on Absurd were recorded by Axl later or do you think they were cut from another demo like the Hard Skool bridge?

@Pele

[Lies They Tell]

I think Axl takes pride in writing songs that sound different from another, but still work.

I know that Absurd doesn't work for everyone, but for people like me, who enjoy for example The  Prodigy, the song works very well.

Repeating just one or two words as a chorus isn't really anything new. Prodigy has done that and even Nirvana had songs like that. But it's new for Guns n' Roses.

Personally I think Absurd works a billion times better than Silkworms. The "what can I do with a bitch like you" -part was always the cringiest part of Silkworms to me.

Absurd isn't supposed to be a lyrical or melodical masterpiece. But much like certain songs by Prodigy and Nirvana, it's all about aggressive energy.

The reason why they chose it as the first single is probably cause they are Guns n Roses and they don't like being safe and predictable.

[Bansidhe]

6 hours ago, mr-fukaji said:

the rhythm of the vocals almost sounds out of time with the music during the verses. I played it to two non GNR friends a few weeks ago and everybody caught the timing. Sound wise the closest we could get as similar was Killing Joke which would be weird enough for GNR but 2021 GNR moreso.

The original Silkworms had Prodigy vibes but Absurd sounds more like if Slash played with PiL.

[mystery]

I'm surprised that with all the songs they worked on from 1998-2000 Axl picked Silkworms to play in their first show back on 01/01/2001. Imagine if they went with Hard Skool instead? Also was it legit that they had Oklahoma on the setlist?

[Pele]

On 12/2/2021 at 4:37 AM, 2020_Intensions said:

@Pele

Cut and pasted from a session in 1999

[MYWIFEMYLIFE]

Excellent song, and had more views than hard skool last week lol 

 

[Master Of Reality]

On 12/3/2021 at 11:11 PM, mystery said:

I'm surprised that with all the songs they worked on from 1998-2000 Axl picked Silkworms to play in their first show back on 01/01/2001. Imagine if they went with Hard Skool instead? Also was it legit that they had Oklahoma on the setlist?

I remember that, for some reason, Oklahoma/Rhiad And The Bedouins got mixed up back then. I downloaded the first House Of Blues version as Oklahoma-Guns N Roses. So probably it was just Rhiad.

[kingcanyon]

20 hours ago, Pele said:

Cut and pasted from a session in 1999

thx for the info and just to make sure when did axl put eye on you into hard skool

[Mendez]

i think absurd would be a little bit better if they DIDNT offset the vocals on the 1st verse so it would actually be on beat.

 

That reverse guitar bridge (could also be a synth) counts as a bridge to me, but the progression of the synth underneath it is also off beat (as it was in the village leak)

[WhazUp]

On 12/1/2021 at 10:29 AM, axl666 said:

I still like it, though I preferred the Silkworms version. The current version:

1. Has no melody.

2. Has one verse. Normally the lyrics should change from verse to verse.

3. Has no chorus as such.

4. Has no bridge. This is a bit debatable as the shimmery bit in the middle could be a bridge or a guitar solo.

5. Has probably the most basic riff out of any GNR song.

Saying all that, I do actually kind of like it. However when listening to it today, all of these things jumped out.

 

GNR throughout the years has surprisingly varied song structures for a rock group.  Coma and Estranged come to mind and not just for mere song length

Now this song is nowhere near the artistic level of those lmao but it definitely does stray from the norm on the opposite direction - less sections than a "typical" rock song has