Instead, I would have loved to get a second album consisting of the b-sides that didn’t make this album.
Otherwise, this album is phenomenal and might be the one album where they utilized Matt Cameron perfectly. I do think they did pull back from the full experiment, well documented on RM, but the songs are tremendous. It also generally holds that the songs on every Pearl Jam album sound better live at least during the time period where the album was released.
While sometimes true, I don't think that's ever MORE true than Binaural. Songs that are standouts live like Grievance make no impact on the album at all. If you compare the live versions of an album to the studio versions, NO album would benefit more than Binaural.
I don't think I could disagree with this more. There may not be a Pearl Jam album IMO with more songs where the live versions, as good as they are, never matched the studio versions. Off the top of my head, as much as half the record could fall under that category.
Every rocker is much better live. Grievance, especially. But Breakerfall and Insignificance are also good examples.
Actualy even non rockers like NAIS and Light Years are better live.
Thin Air is better on the album probably
96583UP wrote:i recently bought travel-size packets of metamucil
I think there's a few where the band has equaled, if not necessarily outpaced what happened in the studio on some live versions (almost uniformly from the 2000 tour). Breakerfall may come off better live, Grievance, and something like Parting Ways from Chicago 2000 does something the studio version doesn't really do (though one could say they're aiming for different things). But Thin Air, Evacuation, Insignificance, Of the Girl, Rival, Sleight of Hand have definitely never been equaled live, and you could make the same argument for NAIS and Light Years.
digster wrote:I think there's a few where the band has equaled, if not necessarily outpaced what happened in the studio on some live versions (almost uniformly from the 2000 tour). Breakerfall may come off better live, Grievance, and something like Parting Ways from Chicago 2000 does something the studio version doesn't really do (though one could say they're aiming for different things). But Thin Air, Evacuation, Insignificance, Of the Girl, Rival, Sleight of Hand have definitely never been equaled live, and you could make the same argument for NAIS and Light Years.
I was literally hesitant to write what I did *only because of the Binaural live stuff*
I liked everything they did up until No Code which was like a pause button where it was more mature than I was at the time and it did not connect. Yield was like plunging down the play button again with full excitement. That was still probably my favorite all-time tour in 1998. Then Binaural happened and that was almost too far beyond what I was looking for in a rock band.
As often happens though, in retrospect this album contributes a lot to the all-time Pearl Jam playlist. I actually hope they bring God's Dice back into the rotation because it flows nicely alongside Dance of the Clairvoyants before or after!
Grievance will always be better on the Letterman broadcast--the recording process did neuter this one.
I still wish Of The Girl was used as an opener more, and while not on the album, Sad was probably the last Pearl Jam song I truly obsessed over. When I got that "Letter to the Dead" leak I played that thing on repeat over and over and over.
For Light Years, I will always prefer what could have been from that demo version that sounded like a great Tom Petty song. The album version is a bit too slow.
NAIS was boring to me as a first single and I dismissed it, but I can listen to it and greatly appreciate it now, especially compared to more modern Pearl Jam.
Parting Ways also should be played more live but it is just a crusher.
Insignificance has been on my Pearl Jam top songs list since I first heard it. One of the most complete rock songs they have ever made and I do agree it is better on the album than live but always fun when they play it.
If you catch me in the right mood I like Breakerfall.
Evacuation, Sleight of Hand, Rival, Thin Air, Soon Forget are all still meh to me. Again, much better than a lot of Pearl Jam but just not top tier for me.
Breakerfall: 4.5 stars
God’s Dice: 4 stars
Evacuation: 4.5 stars
Light Years: 4 stars
NAIS: 3 stars
Thin Air: 3 stars
Insignificance: 5 stars
Of the Girl: 5 stars
Grievance: 4.5 stars
Rival: 4.5 stars
Sleight of Hand: 4.5 stars
Soon Forget: 2.5 stars
Parting Ways: 5 stars
Writers Block shouldn’t have been included unless they were gonna put something after it. What is the reward for sitting through that?
Fatal: 4.5 stars
Education: 4 stars
In the Moonlight: 4.5 stars
Hitchhiker: 3.5 stars
Drifting: 3 stars
Strangest Tribe: 5 stars
The instrumentals: 4 stars
Did I miss anything? There’s really nothing bad in this group of songs.
Matters wrote:Breakerfall: 4.5 stars
God’s Dice: 4 stars
Evacuation: 4.5 stars
Light Years: 4 stars
NAIS: 3 stars
Thin Air: 3 stars
Insignificance: 5 stars
Of the Girl: 5 stars
Grievance: 4.5 stars
Rival: 4.5 stars
Sleight of Hand: 4.5 stars
Soon Forget: 2.5 stars
Parting Ways: 5 stars
Writers Block shouldn’t have been included unless they were gonna put something after it. What is the reward for sitting through that?
Fatal: 4.5 stars
Education: 4 stars
In the Moonlight: 4.5 stars
Hitchhiker: 3.5 stars
Drifting: 3 stars
Strangest Tribe: 5 stars
The instrumentals: 4 stars
Did I miss anything? There’s really nothing bad in this group of songs.
Though I’d quibble with some of the scores here, the overall picture is very accurate. Binaural (and these sessions) was maybe the best of PJ.
Matters wrote:Breakerfall: 4.5 stars
God’s Dice: 4 stars
Evacuation: 4.5 stars
Light Years: 4 stars
NAIS: 3 stars
Thin Air: 3 stars
Insignificance: 5 stars
Of the Girl: 5 stars
Grievance: 4.5 stars
Rival: 4.5 stars
Sleight of Hand: 4.5 stars
Soon Forget: 2.5 stars
Parting Ways: 5 stars
Writers Block shouldn’t have been included unless they were gonna put something after it. What is the reward for sitting through that?
Fatal: 4.5 stars
Education: 4 stars
In the Moonlight: 4.5 stars
Hitchhiker: 3.5 stars
Drifting: 3 stars
Strangest Tribe: 5 stars
The instrumentals: 4 stars
Did I miss anything? There’s really nothing bad in this group of songs.
You missed 'Sad.' I'll save you the trouble. 5 stars.
Matters wrote:Breakerfall: 4.5 stars
God’s Dice: 4 stars
Evacuation: 4.5 stars
Light Years: 4 stars
NAIS: 3 stars
Thin Air: 3 stars
Insignificance: 5 stars
Of the Girl: 5 stars
Grievance: 4.5 stars
Rival: 4.5 stars
Sleight of Hand: 4.5 stars
Soon Forget: 2.5 stars
Parting Ways: 5 stars
Writers Block shouldn’t have been included unless they were gonna put something after it. What is the reward for sitting through that?
Fatal: 4.5 stars
Education: 4 stars
In the Moonlight: 4.5 stars
Hitchhiker: 3.5 stars
Drifting: 3 stars
Strangest Tribe: 5 stars
The instrumentals: 4 stars
Did I miss anything? There’s really nothing bad in this group of songs.
Though I’d quibble with some of the scores here, the overall picture is very accurate. Binaural (and these sessions) was maybe the best of PJ.
Sad: 4 stars
Fatal: 3 stars
Education: 3.5 stars
In the Moonlight: 2 stars
Hitchhiker: 1.5 stars
Drifting: 3.5 stars
Strangest Tribe: 3.5 stars
The instrumentals: I have never cared about these. I cannot remember which is which, actually
Binaural as a cohesive listening experience elevates the overall record. Same with Riot Act. Two of my least favorite collections of songs (and binaural is the weakest starting block of any PJ album for me), but I appreciate the mood and theme. NAIS is a 5 star song if I am listening to the whole album straight through
Sad: 5 stars
Fatal: 4.5 stars
Education: 3.5 stars
In the Moonlight: 3.5 stars
Hitchhiker: 3 stars
Drifting: 3.5 stars
Strangest Tribe: 5 stars
The instrumentals - Thunderclap, Foldback, and Harmony: 2, 2, 2.5 (all three could be decents songs, maybe even good songs, if fleshed out and with vocals, doesn't even have to be Ed. As they are, I never listen to them.)
Evacuation does have qualities, but I still think it and Soon Forget, should have been replaced with Sad and Fatal. Not sure any of the other b-sides would have made it a better album. I do love Strangest Tribe, but calling it a Binaural b-side is a bit odd, as great as it is, it probably wouldn't fit in either.
I would love to see God's Dice and Evacuation replaced with Sad and Education, and Soon Forget with Fatal (although a run of SoH, Fatal, Parting Ways may be too moody in practice)
U, Binaural 