Daves "circular" playing.

[David Carlston]

this is something i really like. its most prevelant in songs like crash and #41, but listening to Stay Or Leave it also comes out as well. dave does a type of circle with his chord progressions, and it works so well because they resolve PERFECTLY.

any other examples?

[gregerly]

The reason that daves chord progressions sound like they resolve so perfectly, is because for the most part, dave's progressions are simple. The riffs may not be terribly easy to play, but the proggressions are simple. He hardly ever modulates keys, he does on some songs, but it's not a normal thing, so it's easy to resolve when they really haven't gone anywhere, but in circles.

-g-

[PilotC150]

I think it sounds really cool. And it's different, that's why it's fun to listen to.

[Rob]

Dave has often stated his riffs are circular intentionally, returning him to the starting point. Satellite, for example, is basically an out of order scale. Stone and Drive In Drive Out are essentially the same riff in different keys.

It's very simple stuff, but elegant and beautiful in many ways.