Let's Actually Listen to the Album: Pearl Jam

General Pearl Jam discussion.
Post Reply
User avatar
hlniv
Future Drummer
Posts: 3098
Joined: Mon July 08, 2013 5:47 pm
Location: Louisville, KY

Re: Lets Actually Listen to the Album: Pearl Jam

Post by hlniv »

liebzz wrote:I am going to agree and say I enjoy Pearl Jam more than Binaural - but they serve different purposes. I feel like nowadays if I am going to listen to Binaural, it's about soaking it in alone with headphones. s/t belongs being blared from open car windows screaming "yes, they still make albums, they do in fact rock out, and no they are not some acoustic outfit now."
This is pretty accurate for me, although I definitely would not say I enjoy S/T more than Binaural. While they do serve different purposes, the experience of Binaural through headphones is significantly more enjoyable than blaring S/T through open car windows. Yes, that definitely is the way to experience the album. There are 3 or 4 songs that are perfect for that, and much better in fact for car listening than most of Binaural or Riot Act. However, given the choice, I would always choose listening to Binaural through headphones than driving around blasting Comatose. There's other albums I'd rather blast.

Lament wrote:S/T had a initial shelf-life of about three months for me, and once it ended I never found myself wanting to listen to the album. When I did put on the album, it never did anything for me. I don't necessarily think it's a bad record, but there's nothing about it that makes me want to listen to it over any other Pearl Jam record. It doesn't do anything well that another album doesn't do better for me.

Binaural stayed in my rotation and kept me captivated for a solid twelve months, and is an album with multiple tracks I regularly enjoy (even when I'm in a phase where I'm more or less not listening to Pearl Jam at all), and is one of the first albums I reach for when I find myself in a Pearl Jam phase. When I'm scanning through Sirius and a track from Binaural is on, more often than not I'll stop and listen and find myself thinking "man, this really holds up well...what a well-crafted song," whereas tracks from S/T that I come across accidentally almost always have me changing the station again the first 30 seconds.

I'm not saying you're wong, Brain_of_K or liebzz, my experiences with S/T and just very different than yours.
This is it for me as well. S/T had a definite and limited shelf life, at least the album cut. Most of the songs are still enjoyable played live, but I rarely (well, never) reach for either S/T or Backspacer when wanting to hear some album PJ. Just never happens. Binaural, does, however. And lately, it's been Riot Act as well. I almost always choose Vitalogy or Yield in the carl, very rarely (almost never) will it S/T, even if that is the preferred listening/experiencing method.
User avatar
hlniv
Future Drummer
Posts: 3098
Joined: Mon July 08, 2013 5:47 pm
Location: Louisville, KY

Re: Lets Actually Listen to the Album: Pearl Jam

Post by hlniv »

stupidmop wrote:S/T over Binaural :shake: does not compute.

Man, I wish they'd release one more dark deep 'headphone' album (preferably soon) that people can complain about being boring or whatever but is in fact awesome, and then for all I care they can go back to awkwardly 'rocking out' till they get to a hundred.

I'd probably care a little though.
In other words, you wish they would quit using B O'B, then?

Because your goal will never be achieved with that guy at the helm
liebzz
I've been POOSSTTIiiEEnngeeaahh
Posts: 10371
Joined: Thu January 03, 2013 7:55 pm

Re: Lets Actually Listen to the Album: Pearl Jam

Post by liebzz »

In all fairness, I should say that Vs., personally, would be my absolute favorite to blare out a car window, while I have such a deep attachment to No Code that I have been known to get indiscriminately (to them at least) furious at people when they interrupt me in the middle of listening to that album...I was more or less contextualizing my overall experiences of these albums. If I were to rank one versus the other, s/t would rank higher than Binaural, but they would be back to back despite being tremendously different albums.
User avatar
stupidmop
Future Drummer
Posts: 2796
Joined: Wed May 01, 2013 4:29 pm

Re: Lets Actually Listen to the Album: Pearl Jam

Post by stupidmop »

hlniv wrote:
stupidmop wrote:S/T over Binaural :shake: does not compute.

Man, I wish they'd release one more dark deep 'headphone' album (preferably soon) that people can complain about being boring or whatever but is in fact awesome, and then for all I care they can go back to awkwardly 'rocking out' till they get to a hundred.

I'd probably care a little though.
In other words, you wish they would quit using B O'B, then?

Because your goal will never be achieved with that guy at the helm
:( I know.

I'm thinking we kidnap him, tie him to eds axe target and paint his face so no one can tell he's there.
User avatar
Dr. Van Nostrand
Mind Your Tanners
Posts: 8898
Joined: Tue December 18, 2012 8:33 pm

Re: Lets Actually Listen to the Album: Pearl Jam

Post by Dr. Van Nostrand »

stupidmop wrote:
hlniv wrote:
stupidmop wrote:S/T over Binaural :shake: does not compute.

Man, I wish they'd release one more dark deep 'headphone' album (preferably soon) that people can complain about being boring or whatever but is in fact awesome, and then for all I care they can go back to awkwardly 'rocking out' till they get to a hundred.

I'd probably care a little though.
In other words, you wish they would quit using B O'B, then?

Because your goal will never be achieved with that guy at the helm
:( I know.

I'm thinking we kidnap him, tie him to eds axe target and paint his face so no one can tell he's there.
:o that might work
User avatar
Mine
AnalLog
Posts: 1833
Joined: Wed April 03, 2013 8:10 pm

Re: Lets Actually Listen to the Album: Pearl Jam

Post by Mine »

stupidmop wrote:
hlniv wrote:
stupidmop wrote:S/T over Binaural :shake: does not compute.

Man, I wish they'd release one more dark deep 'headphone' album (preferably soon) that people can complain about being boring or whatever but is in fact awesome, and then for all I care they can go back to awkwardly 'rocking out' till they get to a hundred.

I'd probably care a little though.
In other words, you wish they would quit using B O'B, then?

Because your goal will never be achieved with that guy at the helm
:( I know.

I'm thinking we kidnap him, tie him to eds axe target and paint his face so no one can tell he's there.
I wonder if the latest vignette is a demonstration of the scare tactic they use when B'OB get's too confident.
User avatar
stupidmop
Future Drummer
Posts: 2796
Joined: Wed May 01, 2013 4:29 pm

Re: Lets Actually Listen to the Album: Pearl Jam

Post by stupidmop »

"Are we gonna have a problem here brenden? Or do we need to go toss some axes to blow off some steam?"
Habitman
Broken Tamborine
Posts: 280
Joined: Sun August 25, 2013 12:49 am

Re: Lets Actually Listen to the Album: Pearl Jam

Post by Habitman »

S/T for all it's faults does not lack for energy... That is my takeaway as I listened to it today. The guitars sound cool and as someone stated the energy level makes it a great car record.

Lastly, i do lament how awesome the intro to SH is only to listen it become quite ordinary once it breaks. I always felt there was so much more there.


* edited for puncuation
User avatar
Lament
Commissioner
Posts: 11792
Joined: Wed March 13, 2013 12:48 am

Re: Lets Actually Listen to the Album: Pearl Jam

Post by Lament »

Habitman wrote:i do lament
No wonder I've been waking up sore.
TEAM HARMLESS FOREVER...
User avatar
Dugg
A Return To Form
Posts: 207
Joined: Fri September 13, 2013 3:39 pm
Location: Pittsburgh, PA

Re: Lets Actually Listen to the Album: Pearl Jam

Post by Dugg »

hlniv wrote:
stupidmop wrote:S/T over Binaural :shake: does not compute.

Man, I wish they'd release one more dark deep 'headphone' album (preferably soon) that people can complain about being boring or whatever but is in fact awesome, and then for all I care they can go back to awkwardly 'rocking out' till they get to a hundred.

I'd probably care a little though.
In other words, you wish they would quit using B O'B, then?

Because your goal will never be achieved with that guy at the helm
I just wish they'd release a song or two that are deeper "headphone" type songs. Like Sleight of Hand, which has zero redeeming commercial quality, but is a top 5 song for me. I finally saw it live and was shocked how well it worked even for the drunk idiots who had no idea what song it was. Cold Confession gives hope that they can still at least write those types of songs.
“Never argue with a fool, onlookers may not be able to tell the difference.”
― Mark Twain
User avatar
PHATJ
10Club Complaint Department
Posts: 15145
Joined: Wed January 02, 2013 2:02 am
Twitter: Tweet this *points to your cans*
Location: Gigatown

Re: Lets Actually Listen to the Album: Pearl Jam

Post by PHATJ »

I like S/T quite a bit. It is about a zillion times better than Backspacer. I also prefer it to Riot Act and with better production I'd take it over Binaural too. I really like the songs on S/T better than all three of these, but Binaural just sounds soooo good. Also, Binaural has Sleight of Hand which is the best song PJ has ever written. So as of tonight, I'll give the edge to Binaural.
User avatar
Dugg
A Return To Form
Posts: 207
Joined: Fri September 13, 2013 3:39 pm
Location: Pittsburgh, PA

Re: Lets Actually Listen to the Album: Pearl Jam

Post by Dugg »

I must say I used to hate Unemployable but listened to it for the first time in a few years and ... I really liked it. It's definitely the biggest grower on this album for me. Still hate Big Wave and Gone.
“Never argue with a fool, onlookers may not be able to tell the difference.”
― Mark Twain
User avatar
Lounge Lizard
AnalLog
Posts: 1843
Joined: Tue July 23, 2013 6:51 am

Re: Lets Actually Listen to the Album: Pearl Jam

Post by Lounge Lizard »

Juvenal wrote:
WtOB? wrote:those avocado leak days were the glory days of rm.
Truly. I loved that period. And Frank :(
stip wrote:I think this is my second favorite period, but that was my favorite for sure
Do the current times classify as PMS?
Image Image
User avatar
hlniv
Future Drummer
Posts: 3098
Joined: Mon July 08, 2013 5:47 pm
Location: Louisville, KY

Re: Lets Actually Listen to the Album: Pearl Jam

Post by hlniv »

Mine wrote:
stupidmop wrote:
hlniv wrote:
stupidmop wrote:S/T over Binaural :shake: does not compute.

Man, I wish they'd release one more dark deep 'headphone' album (preferably soon) that people can complain about being boring or whatever but is in fact awesome, and then for all I care they can go back to awkwardly 'rocking out' till they get to a hundred.

I'd probably care a little though.
In other words, you wish they would quit using B O'B, then?

Because your goal will never be achieved with that guy at the helm
:( I know.

I'm thinking we kidnap him, tie him to eds axe target and paint his face so no one can tell he's there.
I wonder if the latest vignette is a demonstration of the scare tactic they use when B'OB get's too confident.
I want to know what Boom's scare tactic is
User avatar
harmless
10Club Complaint Department
Posts: 17337
Joined: Tue January 01, 2013 2:41 pm

Re: Lets Actually Listen to the Album: Pearl Jam

Post by harmless »

hlniv wrote:
Mine wrote:
stupidmop wrote:
hlniv wrote:
stupidmop wrote:S/T over Binaural :shake: does not compute.

Man, I wish they'd release one more dark deep 'headphone' album (preferably soon) that people can complain about being boring or whatever but is in fact awesome, and then for all I care they can go back to awkwardly 'rocking out' till they get to a hundred.

I'd probably care a little though.
In other words, you wish they would quit using B O'B, then?

Because your goal will never be achieved with that guy at the helm
:( I know.

I'm thinking we kidnap him, tie him to eds axe target and paint his face so no one can tell he's there.
I wonder if the latest vignette is a demonstration of the scare tactic they use when B'OB get's too confident.
I want to know what Boom's scare tactic is
He has spikes in his garden, for displaying the shrunken heads.
RisingTides wrote:There is more kindness on the internet than we would care to admit to ourselves. Sometimes we are so afraid of falling victim to a ruse, we miss out on actual opportunities.
User avatar
Dr. Van Nostrand
Mind Your Tanners
Posts: 8898
Joined: Tue December 18, 2012 8:33 pm

Re: Lets Actually Listen to the Album: Pearl Jam

Post by Dr. Van Nostrand »

Dugg wrote:I must say I used to hate Unemployable but listened to it for the first time in a few years and ... I really liked it. It's definitely the biggest grower on this album for me. Still hate Big Wave and Gone.
the verses on unemployable are great
Habitman
Broken Tamborine
Posts: 280
Joined: Sun August 25, 2013 12:49 am

Re: Lets Actually Listen to the Album: Pearl Jam

Post by Habitman »

Army Reserve

This song could have been epic if Ed delivered it with less...ummm...i dunno, harshness? I think vocally it is one of my leats favorite performances of his which sucks cause the lyrics are excellent and the music is pretty cool. But that delivery...ugh... especially the chorus which is like nails on a chalk board.
User avatar
harmless
10Club Complaint Department
Posts: 17337
Joined: Tue January 01, 2013 2:41 pm

Re: Lets Actually Listen to the Album: Pearl Jam

Post by harmless »

Habitman wrote:Army Reserve

This song could have been epic if Ed delivered it with less...ummm...i dunno, harshness? I think vocally it is one of my leats favorite performances of his which sucks cause the lyrics are excellent and the music is pretty cool. But that delivery...ugh... especially the chorus which is like nails on a chalk board.
2013 Ed would've nailed it.
RisingTides wrote:There is more kindness on the internet than we would care to admit to ourselves. Sometimes we are so afraid of falling victim to a ruse, we miss out on actual opportunities.
User avatar
Dr. Van Nostrand
Mind Your Tanners
Posts: 8898
Joined: Tue December 18, 2012 8:33 pm

Re: Lets Actually Listen to the Album: Pearl Jam

Post by Dr. Van Nostrand »

Habitman wrote:Army Reserve

This song could have been epic if Ed delivered it with less...ummm...i dunno, harshness? I think vocally it is one of my leats favorite performances of his which sucks cause the lyrics are excellent and the music is pretty cool. But that delivery...ugh... especially the chorus which is like nails on a chalk board.
while i do agree that Eds vocals could have been better, i still love that song, one of my favorites on the album
User avatar
McParadigm
NEVER STOP JAMMING!
Posts: 22393
Joined: Wed January 02, 2013 1:56 am

Re: Lets Actually Listen to the Album: Pearl Jam

Post by McParadigm »

Dr. Van Nostrand wrote:
Habitman wrote:Army Reserve

This song could have been epic if Ed delivered it with less...ummm...i dunno, harshness? I think vocally it is one of my leats favorite performances of his which sucks cause the lyrics are excellent and the music is pretty cool. But that delivery...ugh... especially the chorus which is like nails on a chalk board.
while i do agree that Eds vocals could have been better, i still love that song, one of my favorites on the album
The verses are some of my favorite vocals on the album. The choruses really do feel very pretend, though.
(patriotic choking noises)
Post Reply