RANK THE ALBUMS

[liebzz]

don't often see Binaural and Riot Act that many spaces apart on a ranking

I placed Binaural 4th and Riot Act 10th.

[stip]

I said often, not never.

[hlniv]

don't often see Binaural and Riot Act that many spaces apart on a ranking

Strength and qty of bsides and outtakes on binaural along with quite a few tracks on RA that do nothing for me and are skipped routinely, such as Thumbing my way, save you, get right, bushleaguer, ghost, green disease… no throwaways on binaural. Extended Binaural with high quality headphones and the right mix is just 80 minutes of bliss

[mattyv1908]

don't often see Binaural and Riot Act that many spaces apart on a ranking

Strength and qty of bsides and outtakes on binaural along with quite a few tracks on RA that do nothing for me and are skipped routinely, such as Thumbing my way, save you, get right, bushleaguer, ghost, green disease… no throwaways on binaural. Extended Binaural with high quality headphones and the right mix is just 80 minutes of bliss

I agree.

If there ever was the opportunity for Pearl Jam to release a double album it was with Binaural. They had the material. A 16-18 song double LP would have been their Physical Graffiti.

[oftheearth]

don't often see Binaural and Riot Act that many spaces apart on a ranking

Strength and qty of bsides and outtakes on binaural along with quite a few tracks on RA that do nothing for me and are skipped routinely, such as Thumbing my way, save you, get right, bushleaguer, ghost, green disease… no throwaways on binaural. Extended Binaural with high quality headphones and the right mix is just 80 minutes of bliss

You just listed all of my favorite songs on Riot Act , except I would swap Bu$hleaguer with 1/2 Full/Cropduster/All or None.

[igotworms]

don't often see Binaural and Riot Act that many spaces apart on a ranking

Strength and qty of bsides and outtakes on binaural along with quite a few tracks on RA that do nothing for me and are skipped routinely, such as Thumbing my way, save you, get right, bushleaguer, ghost, green disease… no throwaways on binaural. Extended Binaural with high quality headphones and the right mix is just 80 minutes of bliss

I agree.

If there ever was the opportunity for Pearl Jam to release a double album it was with Binaural. They had the material. A 16-18 song double LP would have been their Physical Graffiti.

I've always thought Riot Act was only a couple of tracks short of a double album - Down and Otherside and bam there it is.

[Farmer John]

No Code/Yield
Vs.
Vitalogy
Binaural
Ten
Riot Act
Dark Matter
Avocado
Gigaton
Backspacer
Lightning Bolt

My updated rankings with Dark Matter comfortably slotted into the "best since Riot Act" slot.

The rest of the list remains UNCHANGED

[BurtReynolds]

No Code/Yield
Vs.
Vitalogy
Binaural
Ten
Riot Act
Dark Matter
Avocado
Gigaton
Backspacer
Lightning Bolt

My updated rankings with Dark Matter comfortably slotted into the "best since Riot Act" slot.

The rest of the list remains UNCHANGED

that's basically my list as well.

[hlniv]

don't often see Binaural and Riot Act that many spaces apart on a ranking

Strength and qty of bsides and outtakes on binaural along with quite a few tracks on RA that do nothing for me and are skipped routinely, such as Thumbing my way, save you, get right, bushleaguer, ghost, green disease… no throwaways on binaural. Extended Binaural with high quality headphones and the right mix is just 80 minutes of bliss

You just listed all of my favorite songs on Riot Act , except I would swap Bu$hleaguer with 1/2 Full/Cropduster/All or None.

This made me realize I have an error above. I meant you are, not save you. I quite enjoy save you.

The best Riot Act for me would only include the following:
Cant keep
Save you
LBC
Cropduster
Down
I am mine
Undone
Other side
Help help
1/2 Full
All or none

I would throw out ghost, tmw, you are, get right, green disease, and bushleaguer.

Although i would consider keeping bushleaguer.

This is a nice album, not a great album. It certainly sounds amazing with a nice pair of headphones. It places just below Dark Matter for me, and just above S/T.

The best binaural for me would be this all-time classic double album:

Spoiler: show

Breakerfall
Gods dice
Insignificance
Evacuation
Sad
Rival
Grievance
Light Years
Of the Girl
Thin Air
NAIS
Fatal
Sleight of Hand
Parting Ways
Education
In the moonlight
Foldback
Anything in between
Hitchhiker
Strangest Tribe
Puzzles and Games
Harmony
Drifting
Thunderclap

24 tracks. 87 minutes. In fact, this exact playlist is how i've listened to binaural for years now. Usually with a top notch pair of headphones. It is not a "driving in the car" record like Yield or S/T.

I prefer each one of these to the throw out tracks above from RA, except maybe the couple of short instrumentals, which I include to add nice ambience to the end of the double record. I also enjoy a nice mix of Puzzles and Games toward the end, as sort of a redux back to Light Years from earlier in the album. I will admit that i do exclude soon forget and sweet lew

[stip]

even if you swapped out the worst tracks for best bsides those two albums tap out at upper mid for me

[epilogue]

Riot Act is perfect as is

[coptheriotact]

Riot Act is perfect as is

[epilogue]

Riot Act
Vitalogy
Ten
Vs
No Code
Yield
Gigaton
Binaural
Dark Matter
S/T
Lightning Bolt
Backspacer

[stip]

i dont hate that ranking

[Monkey_Driven]

Riot Act
Vitalogy
Ten
Vs
No Code
Yield
Gigaton
Binaural
Dark Matter
S/T
Lightning Bolt
Backspacer

Flip Ten and Binaural and my ranking would be very similar.

[Kalevi]

No code
Vitalogy
Yield
Gigaton
Riot act
Binaural
Dark matter
Vs
Ten
Lightning bolt
Backspace
Avocado

[Tj]

Ten
Yield
Vitalogy
DarkMatter
No Code
Backspacer
Binaural
Alvocado
Vs
Gigaton
Riot Act
Lighting Bolt

[Kevin Davis]

Yield
Riot Act
No Code
Binaural
Vs.
Ten
Vitalogy
ST
Gigaton
Backspacer
Dark Matter
Lightning Bolt

Some movement in my list over the past couple years or so, mostly among the early albums.

[stip]

Riot Act
Vitalogy
Ten
Vs
No Code
Yield
Gigaton
Binaural
Dark Matter
S/T
Lightning Bolt
Backspacer

Flip Ten and Binaural and my ranking would be very similar.

that one i dont care for

[Sloppy Dupree]

No Code
Vitalogy
Yield
Binaural
Riot Act
Vs
Ten
Gigaton
Dark Matter
Avocado
Backspacer
Lightning Bolt

Writing it out like that, it’s clear that I lump their phases together. The middle era is unstoppable. Choosing between No Code and Vitalogy was the hardest.