Song of the Moment: Sirens

[McParadigm]

if you take each record and divide it by the number of years it's been out, to get an annual sales total, this is what you get:

Binaural: 57.8K
Riot Act: 46.1K
S/T: 100.8K
Backspacer: 154.5K

Except most of each record's sales occur during the year of its release. For example:

Binaural
2006: 740,000
2009: 747,000
2012: 752,000

Riot Act:
2006: 497,000
2009: 507,000
2012: 508,000

Pearl Jam:
2006: released
2009: 702,000
2012: 706,000

In that time span, Binaural sold just 12,000 copies. Riot Act, 11,000.

Compare that to Yield:
2006: 1,582,000
2009: 1,597,000
2012: 1,606,000

24,000 copies.

I don't have 2009 for the first three records, but let's look at the behemoth:

Ten:
2006: 9,365,000
2012: 10,018,000

I think you can stop here. You just McParadigm'ed his ass.

Why does S/T say "released' and not have any data?

Because it was released? I figured that wasn't essential to the point, I guess.

It sold 693,000 copies in its initial chart run.

[twoheadedboy]

I can't wait to dump to this song.

It hasn't improved at all. I think there'll be people looking back at this moment and saying "Yup...that was the final nail in the coffin for me"

Yep. I txt'ed my friend last night. My Tenclub membership expires this month, 2011 was supposed to be the last renewal because I wanted to take a family member to the next Chicago show, didn't happen so I grudgingly renewed again, went to Wrigley and had a great time (despite things out of the band's control), said I would keep it going if I LOVED Lightning Bolt the album...every song other than MYM has been dreadful which compares to Backspacer where I only dug (at best) about half the album and thought it was awful in general.

I still may attend a Pearl Jam show, when it's convenient for me, but after nearly 13 years, I'm done paying money to Tenclub. I'd rather pay a scalper $164 for each ticket than pay $40 x4 (number of years between Chicago shows) in fan club dues and $168 for a pair of tickets when I may want 1 or 3 or 4....I'll probably get a better seat, too (though my Wrigley seats were pretty awesome all things considering). So then I'm left with a lottery I may not win (I'm actually in favor of this policy change, I'm just saying), stickers, and a vinyl 45 I can't play of songs I don't want that I can get digitally anyway, and an unresponsive and sarcastic/abusive staff.

This, and the fact that I'm finally seeing Neutral Milk Hotel live next month, suggests to me that this is kind of the end of an era (of sorts) for me...

[guitar_davey]

I can't wait to dump to this song.

It hasn't improved at all. I think there'll be people looking back at this moment and saying "Yup...that was the final nail in the coffin for me"

Yep. I txt'ed my friend last night. My Tenclub membership expires this month, 2011 was supposed to be the last year because I wanted to take a family member to the next Chicago show, didn't happen so I grudgingly renewed again, went to Wrigley and had a great time (despite things out of the band's control), said I would keep it going if I LOVED Lightning Bolt the album...every song other than MYM has been dreadful which compares to Backspacer where I only dug (at best) about half the album and thought it was awful in general.

I still may attend a Pearl Jam show, when it's convenient for me, but after nearly 13 years, I'm done paying money to Tenclub. I'd rather pay a scalper $164 for each ticket than pay $40 x4 (number of years between Chicago shows) in fan club dues and $168 for a pair of tickets when I may want 1 or 3 or 4....I'll probably get a better seat, too (though my Wrigley seats were pretty awesome all things considering). So then I'm left with a lottery I may not win (I'm actually in favor of this policy change, I'm just saying), stickers, and a vinyl 45 I can't play of songs I don't want that I can get digitally anyway, and an unresponsive and sarcastic/abusive staff.

This, and the fact that I'm finally seeing Neutral Milk Hotel live next month, suggests to me that this is kind of the end of an era (of sorts) for me...

Ah, OK. makes sense now. Thanks for clarifying.

[IlluminEddie]

Because it was released? I figured that wasn't essential to the point, I guess.

It sold 693,000 copies in its initial chart run.

I'm assuming this chart run ended in "released" year.

Anyway, S/T sold more than Binaural and Riot Act from that point forward. Make sense, since it was new.

Is Riot Act selling 1000 copies total between 2009 and 2012 supposed to indicate something positive about that album? That seems pretty dreadful.

To me, this data really hammers home which album is the worst in the collection.

[sward]

I can't wait to dump to this song.

It hasn't improved at all. I think there'll be people looking back at this moment and saying "Yup...that was the final nail in the coffin for me"

Yep. I txt'ed my friend last night. My Tenclub membership expires this month, 2011 was supposed to be the last year because I wanted to take a family member to the next Chicago show, didn't happen so I grudgingly renewed again, went to Wrigley and had a great time (despite things out of the band's control), said I would keep it going if I LOVED Lightning Bolt the album...every song other than MYM has been dreadful which compares to Backspacer where I only dug (at best) about half the album and thought it was awful in general.

I still may attend a Pearl Jam show, when it's convenient for me, but after nearly 13 years, I'm done paying money to Tenclub. I'd rather pay a scalper $164 for each ticket than pay $40 x4 (number of years between Chicago shows) in fan club dues and $168 for a pair of tickets when I may want 1 or 3 or 4....I'll probably get a better seat, too (though my Wrigley seats were pretty awesome all things considering). So then I'm left with a lottery I may not win (I'm actually in favor of this policy change, I'm just saying), stickers, and a vinyl 45 I can't play of songs I don't want that I can get digitally anyway, and an unresponsive and sarcastic/abusive staff.

This, and the fact that I'm finally seeing Neutral Milk Hotel live next month, suggests to me that this is kind of the end of an era (of sorts) for me...

I sincerely believe that those who aren't enjoying the song need to put it aside and that someday this song is going to mean something to them. All depends on your place in life and what it means to you today. I'm 40. I have great kids. A great wife. A great job. But I have watched life change drastically to more than a few people around me. This line is hitting me with a tonne of bricks. "It's a fragile thing, this life we lead." So this song is my here and now.

I have been a huge PJ fan since the beginning, so I take the good with the bad and accept that I'm not going to love everything. So I'm not in that same station of fandom, where I feel the need to reconsider my affinity for the band. That said. Come back to this song. Someday its going to make sense.

[gems and rhinestones]

So has Sirens been getting any radio play yet?

[Thejambi]

So has Sirens been getting any radio play yet?

I've had a few people text me that they heard it on the radio.

[Heathen]

To me, this data really hammers home which album is the worst in the collection.

Which brings us back to the part where you're retardedly equaling sales with quality. Finally.

[gems and rhinestones]

So has Sirens been getting any radio play yet?

I've had a few people text me that they heard it on the radio.

Had they already heard it before the radio? Just wondering if it was shortened for the radio.

[benton netty]

I can't wait to dump to this song.

It hasn't improved at all. I think there'll be people looking back at this moment and saying "Yup...that was the final nail in the coffin for me"

Yep. I txt'ed my friend last night. My Tenclub membership expires this month, 2011 was supposed to be the last year because I wanted to take a family member to the next Chicago show, didn't happen so I grudgingly renewed again, went to Wrigley and had a great time (despite things out of the band's control), said I would keep it going if I LOVED Lightning Bolt the album...every song other than MYM has been dreadful which compares to Backspacer where I only dug (at best) about half the album and thought it was awful in general.

I still may attend a Pearl Jam show, when it's convenient for me, but after nearly 13 years, I'm done paying money to Tenclub. I'd rather pay a scalper $164 for each ticket than pay $40 x4 (number of years between Chicago shows) in fan club dues and $168 for a pair of tickets when I may want 1 or 3 or 4....I'll probably get a better seat, too (though my Wrigley seats were pretty awesome all things considering). So then I'm left with a lottery I may not win (I'm actually in favor of this policy change, I'm just saying), stickers, and a vinyl 45 I can't play of songs I don't want that I can get digitally anyway, and an unresponsive and sarcastic/abusive staff.

This, and the fact that I'm finally seeing Neutral Milk Hotel live next month, suggests to me that this is kind of the end of an era (of sorts) for me...

I hate to say it, but this is about where I'm at, too. $20 a year for the chance to not get tickets anywhere near me (2006 was the last time they came to my state), and I don't even get the single anymore. Been in the TC since Vitalogy. I hate that I feel like things used to be so much better.

I was playing "Sirens" last night, and my wife (who I've been seeing PJ with since 1996) walked through the room and muttered something about the 80's. It killed me to acknowledge that she was really right, and that this song is really a long, long way from this band's prime. I fear that people who are getting used to it after being revolted the first time were right the first time, and are just talking themselves into being okay with this. It's not the worst thing ever, but it's got a commerciality to it that I've never heard the band attempt. A glossy sheen. "Always loved you, held you high above, too." It's like a Damn Yankees ballad.

I also read some comment somewhere where someone was really pumped about this song, and also about the new Alter Bridge album. That speaks volumes about this.

Seeing NMH in February!

[Lounge Lizard]

I don't know why you're equating quality to sales.

Because he's IlluminEddie and he's a dumb dumb dumb motherfucker

That's just not even cool platy... no reason for that shit here

We're jamily remember?

what the fuck are you fuckin' retarded you fucking piece of shit asshole mother fucker dumbass fuck you and you fuckin dog you fucktard

Gabriel F from Youtube

[McParadigm]

Is Riot Act selling 1000 copies total between 2009 and 2012 supposed to indicate something positive about that album? That seems pretty dreadful.

Aside from Ten and the hits package (and, to a lesser extent, Vs), all of Pearl Jam's catalog sales are low compared to initial sales. Big fanbase, minimal outside engagement.

To me, this data really hammers home which album is the worst in the collection.

Album sales compared to impact and achievement are often really weird. Times They Are a-Changin' has sold a little over 800,000 copies to date...like, ever, not counting used copies...while Slow Train has sold over a million. David Bowie's Low has sold just 425,000. Kiss's Alive sold 600,000 copies in 1975 alone, and had passed the million mark by the end of 1976...and in all the years since has moved just 258,000 copies (including reissues!).

The Who Sings My Generation has sold 275,000 copies in the United States (head explodes), and Neil Young's Tonights the Night has sold 450,000...just 75,000 more than Hawks and Doves.

[gems and rhinestones]

To me, this data really hammers home which album is the worst in the collection.

Which brings us back to the part where you're retardedly equaling sales with quality. Finally.

You're wasting your time, the verdict is already in.

Because he's IlluminEddie and he's a dumb dumb dumb motherfucker

[McParadigm]

To me, this data really hammers home which album is the worst in the collection.

Which brings us back to the part where you're retardedly equaling sales with quality. Finally.

I really wanted to save that for a Brendan O'Brien moment.

[zatara]

Sorry for the personal tone, but I have expressed my negative opinion towards the band's choices several times in our topics and I don't want to repeat myself.
My boyfriend who lives in London called me late last night after seeing Soundgarden in Brixton. He told me among others that ''Matt Cameron was great in his natural position with this great band and he had to see it by his own eyes to confirm that PJ is the most boring and overrated band of the 90s. We laughed. I hadn't heard Sirens yet, and I wasn't very optimistic because I happen not to like much of PJ the last seven years. After watching the video, and having Soundgarden in my mind, I thought how would Kim Thayil react to Sirens . After watching it again, I put some Black Flag on to ease the pain.

[McParadigm]

I put some Black Flag on to ease the pain.

Rise above

[gems and rhinestones]

To me, this data really hammers home which album is the worst in the collection.

Which brings us back to the part where you're retardedly equaling sales with quality. Finally.

I really wanted to save that for a Brendan O'Brien moment.

You guys are absolutely cracking me up today. This is the hardest I've laughed from reading the board.

[Heathen]

To me, this data really hammers home which album is the worst in the collection.

Which brings us back to the part where you're retardedly equaling sales with quality. Finally.

I really wanted to save that for a Brendan O'Brien moment.

Seeing how this dumbass thinks more sales = better music he might actually just be Brendan O'Brien

[Lounge Lizard]

Sorry for the personal tone, but I have expressed my negative opinion towards the band's choices several times in our topics and I don't want to repeat myself.
My boyfriend who lives in London called me late last night after seeing Soundgarden in Brixton. He told me among others that ''Matt Cameron was great in his natural position with this great band and he had to see it by his own eyes to confirm that PJ is the most boring and overrated band of the 90s. We laughed. I hadn't heard Sirens yet, and I wasn't very optimistic because I happen not to like much of PJ the last seven years. After watching the video, and having Soundgarden in my mind, I thought how would Kim Thayil react to Sirens . After watching it again, I put some Black Flag on to ease the pain.

Problem is 'King Animal' doesn't rise up to Audioslave, not to mention classic SG

[Thejambi]

Sorry for the personal tone, but I have expressed my negative opinion towards the band's choices several times in our topics and I don't want to repeat myself.
My boyfriend who lives in London called me late last night after seeing Soundgarden in Brixton. He told me among others that ''Matt Cameron was great in his natural position with this great band and he had to see it by his own eyes to confirm that PJ is the most boring and overrated band of the 90s. We laughed. I hadn't heard Sirens yet, and I wasn't very optimistic because I happen not to like much of PJ the last seven years. After watching the video, and having Soundgarden in my mind, I thought how would Kim Thayil react to Sirens . After watching it again, I put some Black Flag on to ease the pain.

Problem is 'King Animal' doesn't rise up to Audioslave, not to mention classic SG

No it does not.