RANK THE ALBUMS

[TremorJam]

I absolutely love the fact that among collectors, there are probably no 2 PJ collections out there that are identical.

[Jaeti]

To be clear, my saying I don't understand that approach (live versions making an album better) was not a value judgement. I hope no one thinks I'm saying that experience is stupid or wrong or weird or anything like that. Apologies if that came through.

I simply meant to say that it's different than my way of experiencing the music and being that it's a foreign approach/concept to me, I simply don't understand how it works for y'all. Literally, I don't think I'll ever understand it -- not because it's wrong and my way is better or anything, but because I can't wrap my head around how it works for you since it doesn't work for me.

However, I can appreciate the approach. It just doesn't work for me. And I've tried. This obviously isn't the first time this kind of thing has come up. Again, I apologize if what I said came off as condescending or snooty or judgmental. That was not at all what I was trying to say.

I totally respect where y'all are coming from and I wish I was able to access what you're talking about. It sounds like a pretty great way to engage with an artist.

Nah, you're good.

[epilogue]

Spent the last couple of months revisiting all of Pearl Jam's albums. It's been a lot of fun. But I think my rankings have shifted quite a bit.

1. Vitalogy
2. Riot Act
3. Ten
4. No Code
5. Binaural
6. Yield
7. Gigaton
8. Vs
9. S/T
10. Lightning Bolt
11. Backspacer

Binaural is the biggest jump. The last time I ranked them I had it at #8. No Code and Binaural both jumped Yield, which knocked that album from #4 to #6.

[epilogue]

Binaural used to be such an odd (often frustrating) and confusing listening experience for me. For years, I just could not quite get a handle on that record. Even though it has a few of my all time favorite Pearl Jam songs (Insignificance, Sleight of Hand, Nothing As It Seems, Thin Air), for some reason the album as a whole always felt uncomfortable.

But over the last few weeks I find myself reaching for it more and more because I just flat enjoy it. Listening to the record feels good and brings me a lot of joy.

[tragabigzanda]

pearl jam sucks now

[epilogue]

Have you spent much time with the deluxe version? It slays, largely due to the long mid-tempo sequencing in the middle of the album. Sets an entirely different mood and really lets it settle in.

Nah. Just the released versions. I've been listening almost exclusively on vinyl for this "project."

[PHATJ]

Joseph, Binaural rules. I’m glad you are really finding it. Once you do really find it, gets in deep.

[epilogue]

Listening to Riot Act again... It's better than Vitalogy. So why is it so difficult for me to rank it #1?

[liebzz]

Listening to Riot Act again... It's better than Vitalogy. So why is it so difficult for me to rank it #1?

I love Riot Act and all but still prefer Vitalogy. I weirdly haven’t heard any Pearl Jam albums in a while. I was listening to the Oakland ‘13 show recently though.

Edit: not sure what I was getting at there other than I have been listening to them but not albums I guess. Either way, both albums are great albums.

[epilogue]

Also, I think I like Gigaton more than Yield

[liebzz]

Also, I think I like Gigaton more than Yield

Wow. I mean I love Gigaton but Yield’s so very close to the top - some days the top for me. I do wish that Pearl Jam can do more albums and songs that take you on a journey like Gigaton does for me. I actually noted on Saturday how much I liked that they played 20 songs in 2 hours which is stretching for them. They could have easily busted out 26 in that time but they really gave their songs the proper space and time…(and Eddie talked a lot!)…

That being said, Yield’s use of Ishmael as an almost hidden concept in there, the strength of the songs, it’s just nearly impossible to beat.

[epilogue]

See above. I have them back to back. And I think I need to flip then.

[Leatherhead]

Yield is just so bright sounding to me, it's too much sometimes.

[stip]

Also, I think I like Gigaton more than Yield

Wow. I mean I love Gigaton but Yield’s so very close to the top - some days the top for me. I do wish that Pearl Jam can do more albums and songs that take you on a journey like Gigaton does for me. I actually noted on Saturday how much I liked that they played 20 songs in 2 hours which is stretching for them. They could have easily busted out 26 in that time but they really gave their songs the proper space and time…(and Eddie talked a lot!)…

That being said, Yield’s use of Ishmael as an almost hidden concept in there, the strength of the songs, it’s just nearly impossible to beat.

other than a few songs I think the ishmael influence yield isnt really present - although there are thematic elements throught their music that resonate with Ishmael. I never did a deep lyrical dive into yield as an album though, so maybe its more present then I think

[stip]

As ideas/thematically, I like No Code, Riot Act and Binaural more than I rank them. They ate albums I enjoy thinking about more than listening to (which sounds harsher than intended. I still think all three are quite good

[liebzz]

Also, I think I like Gigaton more than Yield

Wow. I mean I love Gigaton but Yield’s so very close to the top - some days the top for me. I do wish that Pearl Jam can do more albums and songs that take you on a journey like Gigaton does for me. I actually noted on Saturday how much I liked that they played 20 songs in 2 hours which is stretching for them. They could have easily busted out 26 in that time but they really gave their songs the proper space and time…(and Eddie talked a lot!)…

That being said, Yield’s use of Ishmael as an almost hidden concept in there, the strength of the songs, it’s just nearly impossible to beat.

other than a few songs I think the ishmael influence yield isnt really present - although there are thematic elements throught their music that resonate with Ishmael. I never did a deep lyrical dive into yield as an album though, so maybe its more present then I think

I would say I detect the influence in Faithfull, Given to Fly, and Do the Evolution off the top of my head and could probably stretch it to some other songs.

[coptheriotact]

Gigaton breaks the trend

Riot Act
Binaural
Yield
No Code
Vitalogy

Vs

Ten/Gigaton
Avocado

Backspacer

Lightnin' Bowlt

[Thurman Murman]

Gigaton breaks the trend

Yup...a year and a half in, i think that's more than enough time to definitevely say Gigaton broke the trend!

[basically_infirmed]

vitalogy
vs
yield
ten
no code
binaural
self-titled
gigaton
riot act
lightning bolt
backspacer

[VinylGuy]

these days

1.No Code
2.Vs
3.Gigaton
4.Ten
5.Yield
6.Binaural
7.ST
8.Vitalogy
9.Riot Act
10.Backspacer
11.LB