Lets Actually Listen to the Album: Gigaton

[Jaeti]

This page is full of great takes right now.

[Ms Harmless]

Never Destination is really good. Even Gigaton’s least moments are still fine. this is legit one of their best albums

yep!

[VinylGuy]

Gigaton is great. The album they were supposed to do after Yield maybe.

[stip]

giving gigaton a listen. This absolutely should be held up in any conversation about pearl jam’s great albums. Its such layered, unhurried, almost meditative album. and every song works

[VinylGuy]

Yeah it’s a current Number 3 and it’s been that way for a while

[liebzz]

On the live stuff, I was most impressed with how Alright and Seven O’Clock sounded in the live setting. Add Josh’s Picks and you have a very good Release in there. All good stuff!

[Birds in Hell]

In the lead up to the new album, I recently attempted to make a relatively short (80 mins, give or take) compilation drawn from the 2021-2023 shows, focusing mainly on the Gigaton material where possible.

I made a 'final' version I wasn't ultimately happy with so it's kind of on the back-burner for now but, during that process, I listened to every single live version of the Gigaton songs: they didn't play Seven O'Clock well once, not a single version I was happy with. There's always some blunder, or Ed screws it up, or the band slow down part-way through and lumber on like they're bored out of their minds, etc.

Superblood Wolfmoon and Never Destination were also generally pretty bad, though I could find good (if not great) versions of both.

River Cross, also impossible to find a good version of - and the one time they got it right, Mike blasts straight into SOLAT from the final note of the song. That instant transition between songs is something they do much more often now and, beyond making live compilations tough, I don't think it's actually helped their live performances.

[dimejinky99]

In the lead up to the new album, I recently attempted to make a relatively short (80 mins, give or take) compilation drawn from the 2021-2023 shows, focusing mainly on the Gigaton material where possible.

I made a 'final' version I wasn't ultimately happy with so it's kind of on the back-burner for now but, during that process, I listened to every single live version of the Gigaton songs: they didn't play Seven O'Clock well once, not a single version I was happy with. There's always some blunder, or Ed screws it up, or the band slow down part-way through and lumber on like they're bored out of their minds, etc.

Superblood Wolfmoon and Never Destination were also generally pretty bad, though I could find good (if not great) versions of both.

River Cross, also impossible to find a good version of - and the one time they got it right, Mike blasts straight into SOLAT from the final note of the song. That instant transition between songs is something they do much more often now and, beyond making live compilations tough, I don't think it's actually helped their live performances.

I’ve a pretty great version of river cross but it’s Ed solo. If it’s any use to you shout

[VinylGuy]

On the live stuff, I was most impressed with how Alright and Seven O’Clock sounded in the live setting. Add Josh’s Picks and you have a very good Release in there. All good stuff!

Yeah I love that version from Josh’ picks.

I also need to dive into the 2023 boots soon.

[FlatSideofaDog]

Gigaton is great. The album they were supposed to do after Yield maybe.

Totally this.

[jdopj]

I haven’t been here much in the last few years for just basic life reasons. I have always really enjoyed everyone’s opinions here so I am just surprised by the love for this album. I like half the album but it just never resonated. I can’t explain why.

[dimejinky99]

I haven’t been here much in the last few years for just basic life reasons. I have always really enjoyed everyone’s opinions here so I am just surprised by the love for this album. I like half the album but it just never resonated. I can’t explain why.

By your own admission

That’s a you thing.

Not a Pearl jam thing.

[liebzz]

Yeah, blowing through the whole catalogue in a couple of weeks, I can say I truly enjoyed this one. I love the twists and turns the songs take, that it doesn’t cut off right when it could get good. Even if it’s not experimental turns, they complete songs in ways they really hadn’t done consistently since I would argue either Binaural or Riot Act. The consistency in theme is on par with at least the self-titled, and yet, this thing has its own personality and doesn’t ultimately come off to me, super fan, as derivative of their past work while still sounding like Pearl Jam. I can only hope Dark Matter finds ways to accomplish similar things in repeat listens. Love this album.

[Leatherhead]

In the lead up to the new album, I recently attempted to make a relatively short (80 mins, give or take) compilation drawn from the 2021-2023 shows, focusing mainly on the Gigaton material where possible.

I made a 'final' version I wasn't ultimately happy with so it's kind of on the back-burner for now but, during that process, I listened to every single live version of the Gigaton songs: they didn't play Seven O'Clock well once, not a single version I was happy with. There's always some blunder, or Ed screws it up, or the band slow down part-way through and lumber on like they're bored out of their minds, etc.

Superblood Wolfmoon and Never Destination were also generally pretty bad, though I could find good (if not great) versions of both.

River Cross, also impossible to find a good version of - and the one time they got it right, Mike blasts straight into SOLAT from the final note of the song. That instant transition between songs is something they do much more often now and, beyond making live compilations tough, I don't think it's actually helped their live performances.

Don't you only like 2-3 songs on Gigaton? I imagine it'd be hard to find "good" versions if you don't even like the songs.

[Kevin Davis]

Listening to bits of Gigaton off and on in the weeks since Dark Matter. This album has such incredible highs. The little three-note stab that Mike plays in "Dance of the Clairvoyants." at the end of the first "stand back when the spirit comes" round (immediately after Eddie says it for the third time) just sends a jolt of electricity up my spine -- one of my favorite one-second flourishes in a catalog full of many great ones. This song still feels so fresh and creative to me four years later. And man does the album sound good.

[Kevin Davis]

In the lead up to the new album, I recently attempted to make a relatively short (80 mins, give or take) compilation drawn from the 2021-2023 shows, focusing mainly on the Gigaton material where possible.

I made a 'final' version I wasn't ultimately happy with so it's kind of on the back-burner for now but, during that process, I listened to every single live version of the Gigaton songs: they didn't play Seven O'Clock well once, not a single version I was happy with. There's always some blunder, or Ed screws it up, or the band slow down part-way through and lumber on like they're bored out of their minds, etc.

Superblood Wolfmoon and Never Destination were also generally pretty bad, though I could find good (if not great) versions of both.

River Cross, also impossible to find a good version of - and the one time they got it right, Mike blasts straight into SOLAT from the final note of the song. That instant transition between songs is something they do much more often now and, beyond making live compilations tough, I don't think it's actually helped their live performances.

FWIW I would be very interested in this. Apart from buying a few that I've attended personally or had a few one-off highlights I was excited by, I haven't really collected boots since 2010 and more or less missed the Gigaton tours altogether. I find myself wanting to dive back in but every time I do I find myself disillusioned by the inconsistency of it all -- it's not hard to find good individual takes here and there but the tours just don't seem long enough for them to get into that "well-oiled machine" mode that made their best eras so amenable to that "pick a show, any show" listening approach. In my cherry-picking there are only a handful of Gigaton songs I've managed to find satisfying versions of -- "Quick Escape" IMO sounds especially impotent live, with it virtually impossible to create that big Def Leppard-esque chorale effect leading into the chorus.

[VinylGuy]

Listening to bits of Gigaton off and on in the weeks since Dark Matter. This album has such incredible highs. The little three-note stab that Mike plays in "Dance of the Clairvoyants." at the end of the first "stand back when the spirit comes" round (immediately after Eddie says it for the third time) just sends a jolt of electricity up my spine -- one of my favorite one-second flourishes in a catalog full of many great ones. This song still feels so fresh and creative to me four years later. And man does the album sound good.

yeah, Mike is killing it on that song really, super concise and direct while also loose and groovy. I love Dance so much.

[Monkey_Driven]

Gigaton and DM feel like two sides of the same coin. Both explore adulthood and brainstorming ways to make the world and our lives better with the limited time we have.

Dark Matter is the really great adult hang with friends over a summer or a long vacation. It is both rejuvenating and euphoric.

Gigaton is more of the 40 hour work week, toiling away in the garage after the kids are in bed sort of perspective. It can challenging and little tiring, but still equally rewarding.

[EBowie]

Gigaton is great. The album they were supposed to do after Yield maybe.

Totally this.

Not for me because Binaural and Riot Act are essential. I could get on board with saying Gigaton is what Self-Titled should have been.

[swan]

The 2021-23 shows are the only post-album run I've missed since 2000. I'm back this year, really hoping I get to hear Dance of the Clairvoyants live once. Have 2 shots at it in Seattle coming up after not getting it in Portland.