Post-Riot Act Moneygrab

[lowlight79]

Can going to europe in 2006, 2007, 2010, 2012 and 2014 be considered a post riot act money grab? I mean shit, can they play over the summer in the US for once?

[hlniv]

Can going to europe in 2006, 2007, 2010, 2012 and 2014 be considered a post riot act money grab? I mean shit, can they play over the summer in the US for once?

2007-2014
Qty shows June-August

Europe - 53
USA - 19
Other - 4

Of the 19 USA summer dates over this 8 year period, 13 were in 2008, and 8 were in the Northeast, 5 were in Chicago, 5 were in the South, and 1 was in SF. So, basically unless it was a few shows in 2008 or you lived in the Northeast or Chicago, most Americans haven't seen PJ in the summer in a long, long, time.

I guess I'm fortunate, I got to travel to two of the Chicago shows (Wrigley and one in '09), and I saw them at Bonnaroo in '08.

They know where their fans are. So, yeah, moneygrab seems to apply to these facts, in my opinion.

[Mine]

I think it's because of the festivals so yeah.

[hlniv]

[RemusLillian]

now that you're 8 posts in, didn't Eddie largely take control of the band during Vitalogy? And guitar tone aside, you can accuse Eddie of a lot of things, but he does work his ass off during the live shows. And by all accounts they've been fantastic this tour.

Yes, It all starts around Vitalogy, but I was speaking on a purely musical contribution to the band. Betterman, Immortality etc. are fine songs, well executed. Moving on through No Code, In My Tree/Sometimes are the same style, still well executed, with the Jack Irons factor to give them a bit of a twist. Once we move into Riot Act onwards, 6/7 albums in, Eddies songwriting hasn't really evolved and he's still bringing in the same type of song, and there's only so much the band can do with these power chord strum alongs. When you look at the Ed songs in the PJ catalogue, generally speaking, there's a bit of a same-ness to all of them, and I guess it's just becoming boring now, especially as more of them are appearing on albums.

We have no idea what goes on behind the scenes, it may well be that Stone is a lazy fuck and has only brought one song to the table for Lightning Bolt, hence the abundance of Ed songs, but when you listen to things like Cold Concession leaking from the black hole of 10C HQ, I personally would rather have a fleshed out/finished version of that on LB than Sleeping By Myself or Future Days, because in his own words, musically for the band, it's evolution baby.

The live argument is an interesting one. As a band they are on fire this tour it would seem in terms of performance levels, but as has been the case for most of the last decade, they seem woefully under-rehearsed and it does stop the shows being as great as they can be. I guess when you pay the money you do to see PJ, especially with the travel costs involved when you live in Europe (my most local show was hundreds of miles away), I'd like Ed to take better care of his voice, and maybe not drink 2 bottles of wine a show. That's not very rock n' roll, but is Ed not meant to be the anti-rock n' roll cliche poster boy? The arguments for and against could go on for years, and most of it is down to personal preference.

[harmless]

People don't like Cold Confession or Let it Ride because 'It's evolution baby'. They like it because it sounds like Pearl Jam, and the new stuff is alienating precisely because it doesn't sound like Pearl Jam. People would rather have familiar-sounding stuff at this point than anything they do that's new, because PJ doing new stuff tends to suck. The problem with Future Days isn't the song nearly as much as it is the ridiculous, ill-advised shlock piano, the kind of choice PJ never made before.

[LetMeSleep]

I disagree Harmless. A song like Lightning Bolt sounds like Pearl Jam and I can't stand it. Future Days comes across (to me) as a lazy troubadour ballad. It is in the same vicinity as TMWay but isn't half the song. I don't believe that the new stuff is alienating because of any departure the band are making. It's not connecting so much because I believe the quality of songwriting, performing and production decision making isn't as high as previous efforts.

Cold Confession and Let It Ride sound like a band . There aren't great amazing songs (well CC is a beautiful moment) but they have some electricity and feeling.

[Lament]

Does anyone have any good ideas for a Peal Jam tattoo?

[EJ]

Does anyone have any good ideas for a Peal Jam tattoo?

I do. An Ed Ved projector tattoo.

[Mine]

now that you're 8 posts in, didn't Eddie largely take control of the band during Vitalogy? And guitar tone aside, you can accuse Eddie of a lot of things, but he does work his ass off during the live shows. And by all accounts they've been fantastic this tour.

Yes, It all starts around Vitalogy, but I was speaking on a purely musical contribution to the band. Betterman, Immortality etc. are fine songs, well executed. Moving on through No Code, In My Tree/Sometimes are the same style, still well executed, with the Jack Irons factor to give them a bit of a twist. Once we move into Riot Act onwards, 6/7 albums in, Eddies songwriting hasn't really evolved and he's still bringing in the same type of song, and there's only so much the band can do with these power chord strum alongs. When you look at the Ed songs in the PJ catalogue, generally speaking, there's a bit of a same-ness to all of them, and I guess it's just becoming boring now, especially as more of them are appearing on albums.

We have no idea what goes on behind the scenes, it may well be that Stone is a lazy fuck and has only brought one song to the table for Lightning Bolt, hence the abundance of Ed songs, but when you listen to things like Cold Concession leaking from the black hole of 10C HQ, I personally would rather have a fleshed out/finished version of that on LB than Sleeping By Myself or Future Days, because in his own words, musically for the band, it's evolution baby.

The live argument is an interesting one. As a band they are on fire this tour it would seem in terms of performance levels, but as has been the case for most of the last decade, they seem woefully under-rehearsed and it does stop the shows being as great as they can be. I guess when you pay the money you do to see PJ, especially with the travel costs involved when you live in Europe (my most local show was hundreds of miles away), I'd like Ed to take better care of his voice, and maybe not drink 2 bottles of wine a show. That's not very rock n' roll, but is Ed not meant to be the anti-rock n' roll cliche poster boy? The arguments for and against could go on for years, and most of it is down to personal preference.

Ed started taking control over the band on Vs. Going by what the band says Ed made songs out of "ideas" they brought in. Songwriting doesn't mean "what the guitars do". Ed's strengths as a songwriter are in the melodies and what he did with what the other guys weren't able to evolve beyond what they define as idea. He's good because when he's good he composes songs that work as a whole and beyond a single isolated part. If the thing Jeff did with a power chord strum along is what ended up being the verse of Gateway then long live power chord strum alongs. That verse melody is embarrassing since the lyrics aren't about a happy go lucky girl picking flowers which is exactly what his contribution made it sound like.
PJ's weakness today are all the shit they get themselves and people around them away with which isn't limited to the music.

[RemusLillian]

now that you're 8 posts in, didn't Eddie largely take control of the band during Vitalogy? And guitar tone aside, you can accuse Eddie of a lot of things, but he does work his ass off during the live shows. And by all accounts they've been fantastic this tour.

Yes, It all starts around Vitalogy, but I was speaking on a purely musical contribution to the band. Betterman, Immortality etc. are fine songs, well executed. Moving on through No Code, In My Tree/Sometimes are the same style, still well executed, with the Jack Irons factor to give them a bit of a twist. Once we move into Riot Act onwards, 6/7 albums in, Eddies songwriting hasn't really evolved and he's still bringing in the same type of song, and there's only so much the band can do with these power chord strum alongs. When you look at the Ed songs in the PJ catalogue, generally speaking, there's a bit of a same-ness to all of them, and I guess it's just becoming boring now, especially as more of them are appearing on albums.

We have no idea what goes on behind the scenes, it may well be that Stone is a lazy fuck and has only brought one song to the table for Lightning Bolt, hence the abundance of Ed songs, but when you listen to things like Cold Concession leaking from the black hole of 10C HQ, I personally would rather have a fleshed out/finished version of that on LB than Sleeping By Myself or Future Days, because in his own words, musically for the band, it's evolution baby.

The live argument is an interesting one. As a band they are on fire this tour it would seem in terms of performance levels, but as has been the case for most of the last decade, they seem woefully under-rehearsed and it does stop the shows being as great as they can be. I guess when you pay the money you do to see PJ, especially with the travel costs involved when you live in Europe (my most local show was hundreds of miles away), I'd like Ed to take better care of his voice, and maybe not drink 2 bottles of wine a show. That's not very rock n' roll, but is Ed not meant to be the anti-rock n' roll cliche poster boy? The arguments for and against could go on for years, and most of it is down to personal preference.

Ed started taking control over the band on Vs. Going by what the band says Ed made songs out of "ideas" they brought in. Songwriting doesn't mean "what the guitars do". Ed's strengths as a songwriter are in the melodies and what he did with what the other guys weren't able to evolve beyond what they define as idea. He's good because when he's good he composes songs that work as a whole and beyond a single isolated part. If the thing Jeff did with a power chord strum along is what ended up being the verse of Gateway then long live power chord strum alongs. That verse melody is embarrassing since the lyrics aren't about a happy go lucky girl picking flowers which is exactly what his contribution made it sound like.
PJ's weakness today are all the shit they get themselves and people around them away with which isn't limited to the music.

I agree, that is where Ed's strengths lie, with taking the ideas the guys bring in to the next level. The problem is the songs he brings in, which the band are unable to elevate in the same way.

[Mine]

now that you're 8 posts in, didn't Eddie largely take control of the band during Vitalogy? And guitar tone aside, you can accuse Eddie of a lot of things, but he does work his ass off during the live shows. And by all accounts they've been fantastic this tour.

Yes, It all starts around Vitalogy, but I was speaking on a purely musical contribution to the band. Betterman, Immortality etc. are fine songs, well executed. Moving on through No Code, In My Tree/Sometimes are the same style, still well executed, with the Jack Irons factor to give them a bit of a twist. Once we move into Riot Act onwards, 6/7 albums in, Eddies songwriting hasn't really evolved and he's still bringing in the same type of song, and there's only so much the band can do with these power chord strum alongs. When you look at the Ed songs in the PJ catalogue, generally speaking, there's a bit of a same-ness to all of them, and I guess it's just becoming boring now, especially as more of them are appearing on albums.

We have no idea what goes on behind the scenes, it may well be that Stone is a lazy fuck and has only brought one song to the table for Lightning Bolt, hence the abundance of Ed songs, but when you listen to things like Cold Concession leaking from the black hole of 10C HQ, I personally would rather have a fleshed out/finished version of that on LB than Sleeping By Myself or Future Days, because in his own words, musically for the band, it's evolution baby.

The live argument is an interesting one. As a band they are on fire this tour it would seem in terms of performance levels, but as has been the case for most of the last decade, they seem woefully under-rehearsed and it does stop the shows being as great as they can be. I guess when you pay the money you do to see PJ, especially with the travel costs involved when you live in Europe (my most local show was hundreds of miles away), I'd like Ed to take better care of his voice, and maybe not drink 2 bottles of wine a show. That's not very rock n' roll, but is Ed not meant to be the anti-rock n' roll cliche poster boy? The arguments for and against could go on for years, and most of it is down to personal preference.

Ed started taking control over the band on Vs. Going by what the band says Ed made songs out of "ideas" they brought in. Songwriting doesn't mean "what the guitars do". Ed's strengths as a songwriter are in the melodies and what he did with what the other guys weren't able to evolve beyond what they define as idea. He's good because when he's good he composes songs that work as a whole and beyond a single isolated part. If the thing Jeff did with a power chord strum along is what ended up being the verse of Gateway then long live power chord strum alongs. That verse melody is embarrassing since the lyrics aren't about a happy go lucky girl picking flowers which is exactly what his contribution made it sound like.
PJ's weakness today are all the shit they get themselves and people around them away with which isn't limited to the music.

I agree, that is where Ed's strengths lie, with taking the ideas the guys bring in to the next level. The problem is the songs he brings in, which the band are unable to elevate in the same way.

Because they don't have the talent to. It's not the power chord strums that are the issue. Generally the more they add to his songs the worse they end up.

[stip]

Interesting theory

[lecherouslittlestump]

Eddie Vedder has a fraction of the talent that Springsteen has, so please stop the comparisons.

Magic is a mid tier, latter period Bruce album that is still better than anything PJ put out.

[hlniv]

Eddie Vedder has a fraction of the talent that Springsteen has, so please stop the comparisons.

Magic is a mid tier, latter period Bruce album that is still better than anything PJ put out.

PJ put out some pretty damn good records in the good ol' 1990's. You may want to check some of it out.

As to Ed having a fraction of the talent of the Boss, I agree. I think it's a fairly significant fraction, but still, a fraction nonetheless. Maybe like eleven-sixteenths. How's that for a fraction?

[surfndestroy]

Interesting theory

I think this largely is true. Using Man of the Hour as an example, the demo is pretty much the finished product. In Man of the Hour's case, it is a great song but how many guitar picking the same melody line as Ed's singing does the band need? This type song can play to a strength of Ed's but they don't bring out anywhere near the best in anyone else in the band.

[stip]

Interesting theory

I think this largely is true. Using Man of the Hour as an example, the demo is pretty much the finished product. In Man of the Hour's case, it is a great song but how many guitar picking the same melody line as Ed's singing does the band need? This type song can play to a strength of Ed's but they don't bring out anywhere near the best in anyone else in the band.

I agree. The question is whether or not this reflects a limitation on Eddie's type of writing or limitations from the other members of the band

[surfndestroy]

Interesting theory

I think this largely is true. Using Man of the Hour as an example, the demo is pretty much the finished product. In Man of the Hour's case, it is a great song but how many guitar picking the same melody line as Ed's singing does the band need? This type song can play to a strength of Ed's but they don't bring out anywhere near the best in anyone else in the band.

I agree. The question is whether or not this reflects a limitation on Eddie's type of writing or limitations from the other members of the band

I don't see it so much as limitations on anyone's skills but more a band dynamic situation where it is presented as a complete song and just play what's on the demo kind of thing. I don't think the band members are given much chance to add their input on some songs but really, that's pure speculation based on hearing a couple demos.

[surfndestroy]

Eddie Vedder has a fraction of the talent that Springsteen has, so please stop the comparisons.

Magic is a mid tier, latter period Bruce album that is still better than anything PJ put out.

PJ put out some pretty damn good records in the good ol' 1990's. You may want to check some of it out.

As to Ed having a fraction of the talent of the Boss, I agree. I think it's a fairly significant fraction, but still, a fraction nonetheless. Maybe like eleven-sixteenths. How's that for a fraction?

I think you two are missing the biggest factor here. Ed's greatest talent he brought was his voice and that has diminished with time. I don't think here's near the lyricist he once was but neither is Bruce. Bruce's biggest talents were songwriting and band leadership, the formar has diminished some but he's still the best band leader out there.

[digster]

Interesting theory

I think this largely is true. Using Man of the Hour as an example, the demo is pretty much the finished product. In Man of the Hour's case, it is a great song but how many guitar picking the same melody line as Ed's singing does the band need? This type song can play to a strength of Ed's but they don't bring out anywhere near the best in anyone else in the band.

I agree. The question is whether or not this reflects a limitation on Eddie's type of writing or limitations from the other members of the band

I don't see it so much as limitations on anyone's skills but more a band dynamic situation where it is presented as a complete song and just play what's on the demo kind of thing. I don't think the band members are given much chance to add their input on some songs but really, that's pure speculation based on hearing a couple demos.

I think it's Eddie's writing style. The songs he tends to write, while not necessarily complex, are very, very busy. One thing he does, particularly in his slower songs, is mirror the vocal line with the guitar part (or it's more likely the reverse, where the vocal melody he comes up with doesn't deviate from the part he wrote). You can hear it in Off He Goes, Man of the Hour, even Lightning Bolt. You put all that together, and it's hard to add much more without it turning to mush. Unthought Known is a good case in point; it's mostly open chords, but he's walloping on every string as loud as he can for all he's worth.

Ed's not like some other frontmen who mostly use the guitar as a prop; he's significantly in the mix at a live show, so if you pile more on top of a guitar doing that much, it's just going to sound messy (which to be honest, it sometimes does; PJ, unlike a band like Radiohead, doesn't really do three guitars well, although there are some major exceptions).