What Happened?

[tree_]

In my youth, Pearl Jam were the artistic representation of authenticity and integrity, being true to themselves. It's been baffling to hear a truly uninspired song from them because I guess I wasn't willing to consider maybe they're not trying to do something inspired or delve into the depths of their own souls as I used to imagine they did, which they might have done in their good days. But instead they are supporting Ed's surfing lifestyle, which is laughable but they do have families. I understand, I go to work every morning against my own will to support my family. At least they look like they are still probably having fun, apart from Stone. But why listen to this shit? Why listen to it? Is it nostalgia? In that case, why put yourself through the ringer for something as god-awful as I can't remember the name of the song... Take Me Seriously? It's so bad, so bad... those power chords, and that chorus... and what the hell is Ed doing? I imagine when he comes home to his wife and plays this for her or even his daughters, if they pity him or if it's more like the sort of blue-collar sort of respect for him bringing home the bacon, so to speak. It's just sad to me, disheartening. I do understand not going out on a limb when you have so many obligations in life to support innocent bystanders, who would be casualties to some artsy-fartsy experimentation, but what's so depressing and disenchanting is that this band was the source for good art, for quality art, for truly honest, what seemed to be a no-holds-barred approach to self-expression, full of power at times, truly sad at times, truly weird at times, but true artists representations of what they would claim to be their true selves. And now? Formula. And it's not even aesthetically pleasing. That is what's baffling. At least don't pretend to be a garage band or punk rock. At least be honest with your now formulaic approach to selling albums to a fan base refusing to admit this is garbage, to admit the golden age is over and this is no longer that band. Just listen to their good stuff and ignore this ever existed and stop seeing them tour and maybe they will get the point, the message. Or they will break up, disband and, well, that would be better, also. Maybe that would wake them up. If they don't get caught in the undertow of feelings of worthlessness and helplessness. Though, If they were smart with their money, Stone seems to be the type, they will live comfortably for the rest of their years. And, well, they've had a good run up to a certain point. They're Pearl Jam. Rock'n'Roll hall of fame inductees. Ed's Grammy acceptance speech truly came from a man who could care less about reverence, about being honored or respected and fast forward to the Hall of Fame induction and how he has changed. And note the look on Stone's face and then listen to this new song, Look At Me or whatever it's called and at that point it makes a little bit of sense what happened.

[darth_vedder]

Can you post the tl;dr version?

[knee tunes]

Just read it. I pointed my finger to follow along

[darth_vedder]

Hey you, don't you tell me what to do.

[guestT]

good rant

[knee tunes]

Hey you, don't you tell me what to do.

I'm sorry

[darth_vedder]

Hey you, don't you tell me what to do.

I'm sorry

We have our love of Around the Bend to get us through this.

[knee tunes]

I still very much enjoy a Pearl jam concert .

They still do it for me in that regard.

Many times creative juices stop flowing for artists, the well runs dry

The situations you described are, well, just stuff that you have made up on your own to fill in what you think are the reasons.

But you might just be wrong

[tree_]

I still very much enjoy a Pearl jam concert .

They still do it for me in that regard.

Many times creative juices stop flowing for artists, the well runs dry

The situations you described are, well, just stuff that you have made up on your own to fill in what you think are the reasons.

But you might just be wrong

No harm in enjoying.

When the juices stop flowing, stop releasing new material.

I'm trying to figure out what might have gone wrong. And Ed's newfound reverence annoys me and Stone.

[darth_vedder]

Basically instead of going down more of a Neil Young or Sonic Youth path as they aged, they went down this road:

[Sgt. Crackpot]

Wow, what a paragraph.

[Monkey_Driven]

I really look at the band as Pre-U2 2005 RitFW jam and Post-U2 2005 RitFW jam.

[darth_vedder]

I really look at the band as Pre-U2 2005 RitFW jam and Post-U2 2005 RitFW jam.

So basically PRAMG

[Monkey_Driven]

I really look at the band as Pre-U2 2005 RitFW jam and Post-U2 2005 RitFW jam.

So basically PRAMG

Basically, except I don't necessarily think it started as a money grab.

[tree_]

I really look at the band as Pre-U2 2005 RitFW jam and Post-U2 2005 RitFW jam.

So basically PRAMG

Google seems to have no info on what "PRAMG" is...

[darth_vedder]

[Monkey_Driven]

I really look at the band as Pre-U2 2005 RitFW jam and Post-U2 2005 RitFW jam.

So basically PRAMG

Google seems to have no info on what "PRAMG" is...

Post Riot Act Money Grab

[tree_]

I really look at the band as Pre-U2 2005 RitFW jam and Post-U2 2005 RitFW jam.

So basically PRAMG

Google seems to have no info on what "PRAMG" is...

Post Riot Act Money Grab

And oh, the reverence...

[Anders]

Why does Ed look so happy?

[bada]

I was able to come to terms with the PRAMG Pearl Jam when I realized that the prePRAMG "integrity" version of the band was just make pretend to get Kurt Cobain to stop making fun of them. They just want to be liked man.