suffocate
"don't you fuckin touch me I can hardly stand to look at you"

I learned about this song as the "song that Adam Duritz hated". The band loved it, but he didn't and for that reason, it would most likely not make it to any album.

I finally got to hear it on the "Hollywood Grand" boot. My first reaction was that it was very raw. Musically, it wasn't very interesting, in fact, I figured, "no wonder Adam hates it". But the more I forced myself to get used to it, the more It grew on me...same old story.

I can sort of understand why it wouldn't really appeal to Adam, it doesn't seem to really fit his style of reserved introspective writing. "Suffocate" sounds like it's coming from a self-centered" pompous and arrogant person....."good morning baby, guess you want to touch me now, you wanna put your hands on my face. Tell me you love me, tell me you need me". It's not hard to deduce that Adam may feel a bit aloof singing these lyrics since they're so "not him".....i guess.

But after all these "harsh words" it all reverts to the old pattern..."Don't say you love me, don't say anything....cause I'm not that kind of man, I'm much less than you think I am". This whole verse says so much about Adam. "Suffocate" is like a bigger shot against fame and rock star "idolatry" that he's been subjected to. It's more along the lines of "Have you seen me lately?" but less reserved, less apologetic and definitely more cynical. I think the words of "Suffocate" hit more home than anything done before when portraying Adam's problem with fame and recognition.

I sincerly hope that in the future, Adam Duritz will strongly reconsider his stand on this song, that maybe one day, they will take the time out and develope this song and track it. It definitely explores a new avaenue in song writing that can be very interesting to experience further down the line.