Now, that doesn't mean he didn't write it all out in advance...who can say? But I'm talking more about the delivery style and the impression created, of spontaneity. It's not the genesis so much as the effect that determines whether it is a "Rant" - examples include:

* the coda for "Whispers and Moans"
* the tail end of "Loose Tongue"
* the "desolate in anger or safe in isolation..." bridge for "In My Command" definitely qualifies (despite the backing vocals)
* alternately, the end of "In My Command": "Yeeaaaaow!!! What album is this? It's all the same to me you know! you're the difference."
* "Holy Smoke" (Luton version - at the end? Arguably?)
* the end of "Locked Out" (a bit garbled-ygook, not much there really?)
* "Twisty Bass" - you know what I'm talkin' bout

...basically, any time Neil hauls off and starts hollering out genius lyrics seemingly off the top of his head - not as part of the existing "song structure", but in a loose and extemporaneous vibe; a certain "ad lib" affect.

I'm sure all of you can think of many, many more examples. What's your favorite one? Heck, why discriminate! If you're of a mind to, include for consideration the slower ones, such as the droning "live your life / do your worst" discursion at the end of "As Sure As I Am."

The main thing is, a rant is not recognizably part of the ordinary verse / chorus structure, and stately, seemingly fully-composed bridges really need not apply. It's got to come off as somewhat top of the head.

It's gotta come off as a rant.

People know what I mean, right?

So anyway, my favorite Neil Rant would be the glorious sprawling monster at end of "Loose Tongue," I believe. It's just so dense and rich. And moist, with meaning.

And I'm sure some effort went into composing this - there's just no way some dude could reel that whole thing off the tip of his tongue - no matter how loose it is! But composed or not, it is the Neil Rant vibe exemplified, at least, in my mind. Something like,

"shouldn't ask me
shouldn't ask me
you want the real story
you shouldn't ask me
you better find someone else to get the house-key
- you know the pressure on his personal life
you know the man's walking on the edge of a knife
the tales keep flowing your nose keeps growing
after some time you forget what you know and
have a fleeting encounter with a psycho super-fan
and now you're feeling like a kicked out tin can
got a grown man nailed to the floor
but that's not enough, you want a bit more
yeah yeh eh"

or rant to that effect. Interps vary in the details ("psycho sycophant," hey, that's probably classier than "psycho super-fan") but it's the energy that's important in these things.

Regardless or irregardless - love that rant!

I know this sounds like a cop out, but I love most if not all of Neil's rants. It's one of the things that draws me to his work. And not just rants, either. I love his more wistful meanderings too, particularly the tail of Kare Kare, Distant Sun and Nails In My Feet.

You also mention As Sure As I Am: interestingly enough, that little extemporisation during the coda turns out to be not so extemporised - it's on his demo too. It's still beautiful though.

Are live rants ok?

In When You Come recorded at the Town and Country - (1991) towards the end after "she came out of the water..." they just cut loose and Neil starts almost incoherantly ranting "taking me out, making me ...., in the night". Then something like "feed me to the lions, live the life of Brian". Most of it I can't make out, but what I do know is that it is my favourite Neil-goes-ape moment. Everyone needs to hear this concert if they haven't already ...

That definitely counts! Live rants are perhaps arguably even rantier. Or would it be "more ranty."

Paul H: interesting re "As Sure As I Am"! That's such a lovely passage.

What a great thread! First things first I've always heard phsyco sycophant in Loose Tongue.

The rants on album tracks, featured mainly on Together Alone, are brilliant if not slightly irritating that you can never sing them

As for my favourite, got to be the occasional ending to Distant Sun when live. Not so much a rant, just beautiful and emotional lyrics, this is my interpretation of them:

"As time, came strolling down your neck, never kenw what to expect, when the train crashed and wrecked.

And I catch the blame, with your finger on my pulse, and I feel the shame, just like everybody else, and I fell asleep as the dust lay on the groud"

Just listened to When You Come at the T&C and Neil says something like "don't spoil my dream" but nothing like "taking me out...", any idea why ours are different?

in regards to Loose Tongue:
i always heard "phsyco superman" so i'm guessing "phsyco superfan" may be correct

quote:

Originally posted by Suffer Never:

Just listened to When You Come at the T&C and Neil says something like "don't spoil my dream" but nothing like "taking me out...", any idea why ours are different?

Had a quick Google... my guess would be one is from Nov 9, 1991, and the other is from Nov 10, 1991 maybe ???


The version I've heard is from this

http://rateyourmusic.com/relea..._seasons_in_one_day/

Just had another listen, it's something like "making me tired, making me sing" there's also a bit prior to the rant where Neil sings "more than once, more than twice, in one night".

I'm intrigued now too, I would love to know the reason for the two versions. Both nights must have been recorded I guess....

I love these too.
This thread from a few years ago has more on the topic:
http://frenzforum.com/eve/foru...1061171/m/2681013462

I love a Neil rant

all the different ones at the end of Distant Sun,the one the guys did when they were on Sunrise in '07 after (I think it was Healthrow airport)giving everyone a difficult night


I catch the plane with my finger on your pulse
and I feel the delays
just like everybody else

(reminds me of taking 17 hours on a flight to get from Melbourne to Auckland a week or so later and my ex having called the NZ police because he thought I'd been kidnapped)


Yup, I have always heard 'psycho sycophant' too

love the various versions of 'added bits' at the end of She Will Have Her Way played live(including at 7WII)'as the silence breaks through,as the silence comes through'

and Weather With You from there too

'Same time,same place
same time, same place
just a few steps down the road
just a few steps down the road
I'm a rap man
I'm a rap rap rap man'

quote:

Originally posted by Suffer Never:
And I catch the blame, with your finger on my pulse, and I feel the shame, just like everybody else, and I fell asleep as the dust lay on the ground"

I never consider "Distant Sun" complete without that coda - however he sings it, it's perfect. And the way the band kicks into gear behind him!

God, Neil's rants are a key feature of his songs! Don't make me pick one!

'Whispers And Moans' would probably be the first one I heard so that's right up there; also 'Message To My Girl' on Anniversary/Extravagenza; and 'Holy Smoke'...man, so many!

Incidentally, would anyone be interested in creating a compilation these rants?

quote:

Originally posted by Semi-Detached:
'Message To My Girl' on Anniversary/Extravagenza;

Incidentally, would anyone be interested in creating a compilation these rants?

I love the 'rant' in that version of 'Message To My Girl' it is so awesome. I also love the rant in 'Nails in my Feet.'

And the compilation is a good idea, I will have to get my friend onto it in the holidays! Or I might give it a stab!

Weather With You-7 Worlds Collide
This kinda sounds like a rehearsed rant but I still love it!

Perfectchord, that's my fave rant too - just so alive and excited. And I think it's "Life of Ryan" - an expression meaning The Sweet Life - rather than Life of Brian, which I don't think poor Brian enjoyed as much as he might have wished.

quote:

Originally posted by Ice Cream!:
Perfectchord, that's my fave rant too - just so alive and excited. And I think it's "Life of Ryan" - an expression meaning The Sweet Life - rather than Life of Brian, which I don't think poor Brian enjoyed as much as he might have wished.

You know, I think you're right. I thought it was Ryan too, but I didn’t know who Ryan was, and then I thought maybe it was Riley, and then I figured, Neil’s probably a Monty Python fan, I can kinda see him reciting the Knights Who Say Ni Skit ….

Surely, if it was suggesting an easy life, it would be the life of Riley...

Another Coda for Distant Sun from Most Unwanted:

I walk alone
With your finger on my pulse
Stuck in my ways
Just like everybody else
I'm on the cross.

I heard the coda for the first time when they played live on Much Music (Canadian MTV) and went a little mad trying to track down a version of it as it added so much to the song.

"Life of Ryan" - what was I thinking? Of course the phrase is "Life of Riley" - thanks!

So maybe Ajax's "I'm on the cross" rant line does follow the logic of "Life of Brian" after all - bunch of us "psycho superfans" insisting he's some songwriting demigod and all...

quote:

I'm intrigued now too, I would love to know the reason for the two versions. Both nights must have been recorded I guess....

Yeah, my version is from the 09/11/91, it's off the Four Seasons in One Day UK single, not of the actual Town & Country CDs (but i think they were the 9th too).

Maybe the version you've got is from the 10th?