Pearl Jam today vs. the past

[Heathen]

Have a listen to songs like Pendulum, MFS, Infallible, Yellow Moon... these songs stack up well to just about anything from the middle albums.

I've already done that and it turns out they don't.

[southp]

Have a listen to songs like Pendulum, MFS, Infallible, Yellow Moon... these songs stack up well to just about anything from the middle albums.

I've already done that and it turns out they don't.

Then you can throw out your copy of LB or delete the files and just listen to Wishlist and Cropduster on repeat then. You're all set.

[harmless]

Have a listen to songs like Pendulum, MFS, Infallible, Yellow Moon... these songs stack up well to just about anything from the middle albums.

I've already done that and it turns out they don't.

Some of them could have, if they hadn't made such awful production / instrumental decisions. But the fact that you've named under half the album, southp, is kind of the problem anyway.

[southp]

Have a listen to songs like Pendulum, MFS, Infallible, Yellow Moon... these songs stack up well to just about anything from the middle albums.

I've already done that and it turns out they don't.

Some of them could have, if they hadn't made such awful production / instrumental decisions. But the fact that you've named under half the album, southp, is kind of the problem anyway.

I'm happy with 90% of LB, I was trying to speak to the common tone of RM.
I think I already went through this sentiment of "PJ let down" multiple times along the journey since Ten. When Vitalogy came out I was saying they sold out on Betterman and Nothingman and wasting tracks with Aye Davanita and Stupidmop. When No Code came out I was saying that Ed has lost his voice, and the album had lost a certain aggression that was present in the first three...Stone singing a song? No thanks! And what's with Around the Bend? A fuckin' lullabye?

With time I've appreciate these changes and directions, and it's left me open to how the band is evolving now (or de-volving in some people's eyes).

Listening to Yellow Moon right now, spinning on my turntable, through my McIntosh amp/preamp on the big speakers and I can tell you it's a thing of fuckin' beauty and stands strong against something like All or None or Parting Ways or ... ok, not quite in Long Road territory.

[stip]

I went through the exact same thing with No Code.

[LikeLukin]

To me, the problem is that the intrinsic motivation to make great, thoughtful, artistic albums was so strong for PJ in the past, but is clearly non-existent now. I think that is ultimately why many of us love the old albums up until Riot Act, but aren't fond of the post- Riot Act albums.

*Edit: wrong thread. They all combine in one big wash for me sometimes, and I'm bad with this touch screen smart phone thing.

[stip]

To me, the problem is that the intrinsic motivation to make great, thoughtful, artistic albums was so strong for PJ in the past, but is clearly non-existent now. I think that is ultimately why many of us love the old albums up until Riot Act, but aren't fond of the post- Riot Act albums.

*Edit: wrong thread. They all combine in one big wash for me sometimes, and I'm bad with this touch screen smart phone thing.

yes. CLEARLY it is.'

(I hate posting on my ipad, too)

[hlniv]

according to McP's sales analysis the record sales, controlling for the general drop off, show that Backspacer sold as well as Yield, and that L-bolt is on pace to do something similar.

Exactly. No new fans. Except to maybe a very small extent.

How many people do you know who own Yield but not the last two records?

[stip]

Probably the exact same number of people who own yield but do not own Riot Act and S/T.

[stip]

And I think more people own S/T and Backspacer than Riot Act.

[stip]

also, I forgot what I was arguing in this thread.

[E.H. Ruddock]

And I think more people own S/T and Backspacer than Riot Act.

I own two copies of Riot Act and only one of the other two.

[hlniv]

You all have exactly supported my point. Thank you.

My point was that basically the same people that bought yield continued to buy all subsequent records. Saying an album sold as well as Yield does not mean the band is attracting new listeners. Generally, if you are buying a new pearl jam record today, you probably already bought yield and the prior albums.

[Kevin Davis]

I went through the exact same thing with No Code.

Went, or are still going?

[Leatherhead]

To me, the problem is that the intrinsic motivation to make great, thoughtful, artistic albums was so strong for PJ in the past, but is clearly non-existent now. I think that is ultimately why many of us love the old albums up until Riot Act, but aren't fond of the post- Riot Act albums.

*Edit: wrong thread. They all combine in one big wash for me sometimes, and I'm bad with this touch screen smart phone thing.

I don't think "motivation to make great, thoughtful, artistic albums" can possibly be an intrinsic property.

[stip]

I went through the exact same thing with No Code.

Went, or are still going?

Went. Now they are just the songs, for better or worse. Although I don't doubt my initial difficulties with the album have colored how I hear it at least in part.

[evenslow]

I wish evenslow was here

yeoman's work is too often a lonely enterprise.

[Leatherhead]

I was just scrolling through these posts and saw mention of Death Magnetic. Awesome album, could definitely see somebody going from that to earlier stuff like Master of Puppets and ...And Justice For All.

Also, when I was at the concert in Portland, after the concert, while using the restroom, I asked a young kid what his favorite PJ album is (while we were both washing our hands). His answer was Lightning Bolt. I asked him about my favorite, Binaural, and he didn't know what album I was talking about, said he'd have to hear some songs from it to know wtf I was talking about. However, this was only one incident, one person, at one concert, in one city, etc.

[liebzz]

Maybe I get crap for this, but I'm gonna say it anyway: I really don't care if Pearl Jam is attracting new listeners. I care that they are attracting me as a listener. And to my ears, Lightning Bolt is on par, in terms of quality, with Yield. That might seem blasphemous to those who place the first five on a separate pedestal that no new Pearl Jam album could have a chance at achieving, but I do think, months and months after first hearing it and digesting it over and over, that this is dare I say it, a great album.

[evenslow]

(while we were both washing our hands).

Thank God for the clarifying parenthetical.