Lets Actually Listen to the Album: Riot Act

[Norah]

It was the late nineties and they wanted to sound badass, of course they wrote exclusively in drop d.

[darth_vedder]

Help Help: I find it easier to talk about songs I like than those I don't. I don't have much to say about this besides it again feels like a filler track, that is pretty easily forgotten from their catalog. Actually I'd say the only songs on this album so far really worth remembering were Can't Keep, Save You, Love Boat Captain, and I Am Mine (though I personally don't like it.) I also liked Thumbing my Way but its' not really a classic. And actually putting Can't Keep on there is a bit iffy since it really doesn't work as well when removed from its spot as an opener (I honestly feel the same way about Last Exit and Sometimes, both of which I like on their albums, but don't really hold up to me as well as individual songs.) That's fine in context, but it also isn't exactly great that there's so many songs on here that might as well just be forgotten.

I like your avatar, enjoyed reading your take on RA, but this is just completely wrong. I think you need to isolate yourself, pour some nice Scotch, roll up a fatty, and re-listen to "Help Help." It is the second best song on the album and has some really, REALLY interesting things going on.

[hlniv]

I'm going to LAL this bitch right now

[Brett]

Ah, Riot Act, the last consistently good Pearl Jam album. This album basically carried me through my freshman year in college; I listened to it more than anything else. I don't agree with mikejasond's overall assessment of the record, but he's spot on with it being front-loaded.

The five-song run that kicks off the album is nearly flawless. I think "Can't Keep" might be favorite opener; either that or "Last Exit," but it's a close call either way. I love the precise, controlled manner in which the song goes about its business. Everybody's playing an instrument on this one, but there's so much space between every part; it's never muddy.

Stip mentioned how "Save You" is a rocker in the classic PJ vein, but Ed's vocals don't sell the passion of it. Like with much of Binaural, that's the point. You wanna save the person in peril, but it's not possible. "It's a hopeless situation," as he says later on in the record. "LBC" used to be my favorite on the album, but I've grown apart from it over time. I like the sort of unpredictable structure that it follows; it's not really verse>chorus>verse, etc., but is still pretty clearly pop music. "Hold me and make it the truth..." foward is my favorite part of the song.

I think "Cropduster" was another early favorite for me, but my memory's kinda hazy on that point. Matt's best PJ song, I really like how it's slightly off-kilter rhythmically (at least to my untrained ears). Fantastic ending, too. My opinion on "Ghost" is more inconsistent than any song on this album, but lately, I've been willing to place it in the upper tier. Like with Binaural, there are some "twin" songs here, and "Ghost" I group with "Get Right," but it's a Lenny and George type of pairing. "Ghost" is just so much the better song. Interesting lyrical bits and that chorus is great.

[stip]

Ah, Riot Act, the last consistently good Pearl Jam album. This album basically carried me through my freshman year in college; I listened to it more than anything else. I don't agree with mikejasond's overall assessment of the record, but he's spot on with it being front-loaded.

The five-song run that kicks off the album is nearly flawless. I think "Can't Keep" might be favorite opener; either that or "Last Exit," but it's a close call either way. I love the precise, controlled manner in which the song goes about its business. Everybody's playing an instrument on this one, but there's so much space between every part; it's never muddy.

Stip mentioned how "Save You" is a rocker in the classic PJ vein, but Ed's vocals don't sell the passion of it. Like with much of Binaural, that's the point. You wanna save the person in peril, but it's not possible. "It's a hopeless situation," as he says later on in the record. "LBC" used to be my favorite on the album, but I've grown apart from it over time. I like the sort of unpredictable structure that it follows; it's not really verse>chorus>verse, etc., but is still pretty clearly pop music. "Hold me and make it the truth..." foward is my favorite part of the song.

I think "Cropduster" was another early favorite for me, but my memory's kinda hazy on that point. Matt's best PJ song, I really like how it's slightly off-kilter rhythmically (at least to my untrained ears). Fantastic ending, too. My opinion on "Ghost" is more inconsistent than any song on this album, but lately, I've been willing to place it in the upper tier. Like with Binaural, there are some "twin" songs here, and "Ghost" I group with "Get Right," but it's a Lenny and George type of pairing. "Ghost" is just so much the better song. Interesting lyrical bits and that chorus is great.

that's why you need to LAL to it!

I agree with Save you--that Ed's vocals work for that song. It's really just You Are and LBC where his vocals let the album down. I don't like them on Help Help or Busheaguer either, but it's not the passion problem

[Brett]

Once again, I'm not LALing this as I write, because I'm weird and find it easier to write about music sometimes if I'm not listening simultaneously. Anyway, on to the rest of the album. After the initial five-track run, the rest of Riot Act ranges from middling to great, but I think the good songs outweigh the not-so-good. I've also been pretty inconsistent in my opinion of "I Am Mine." I loved it at first, but I wouldn't call it a favorite now. Yet I wouldn't skip if it came on right now. I guess mostly, I see it as inconsequential, but still pretty good. Again, I think mikejasond latched onto its greatest flaw; it's just too long.

I like "TMW," but I think it's placement might be a little poor. Really nice song at the same time that it is bleak and devastating. I don't really assign much importance to lyrical content most of the time, but there are exceptions, and a lot of Pearl Jam's catalog are just that. "TMW" has some great lyrical imagery that's too heavy for some, but I like it.

The next three songs are probably one of the weaker points of the album. "You Are" is a good song on its own; the drum-machine-guitar effect is interesting, and brings in some new aspects to the overall PJ "sound." "Get Right," on the other hand, I've never really enjoyed. I can better appreciate it now for what it is, being a bit of brevity and carelessness for an album of weighty obsessions. I'm not sure what to say about "Green Disease"; I've certainly enjoyed it in times past, but I guess it's another one that's kinda inconsequential.

[hlniv]

Can't Keep

I remember being pleasantly surprised by this song the first time I heard it. I had listened to a crappy live recording of the Ed uke version before this, and I wasn't expecting the full band version to be so filled out. There is a ton of stuff happening here, and it's less a song, more of a groove, and it got better with the years. I thought it was an awkward album opener first time I heard it, but now, it's just an awesome mood setter. Mike just stays behind the veil, creating some awesome sounds, percussion is great, I love the muted crescendo of Ed's voice at the end. This is still one of my favorites from this record, if not my top choice. It breaks off, then you hear Save You kicking in....

Save You
Here are the crunchy guitars again for the first time since Brain of J. This isn't Binaural, this still can be an in your face rock band. You have to get past the desire for this to keep re-amping itself and staying in your face like some of the earlier hard rockers, Go, Animal, Last Exit, STBC, and Brain of J. Once you do this, you start to appreciate Boom's organ for the first time in the recorded history of PJ, the little overlay he plays in the verses introduce a new type of sound to the group. Ed's voice gradually becomes less important in the song, and Matt and Jeff take over. This is where the song finds itself. The break down and "fuck me if I say something..." If only Matt would slow down this song live and go back to these awesome fills.

Love Boat Captain
Pretty boring beginning, but I get why. This song was written with a purpose, and I think it was perfectly spotted on this record. I love the build up here. Listen for that little transition that Mike plays at the end of the first chorus before the second verse kicks in. Mike is way underrated on this record. His solo here is short and sweet and fits perfectly. Back to the purposefully basic outro to match the intro, wraps the song great. This is an underappreciated tune.

Cropduster
I loved this one on the first spin of the record. Overall, I really wasn't into Riot Act right way, but for some reason, this one grabbed me. "I was the fool because I thought I thought the world. Turns out the world thought me. It's all the other way around. Way upside down" I love that lyric. The first half of this song is another example of Mike doing great little things that no one seems to notice. "Let the fluency set it down, there's an upside of down" The little harmony in the outro is more new ground, I loved it right away. It has held up and my appreciation of the rest of this album has finally caught up to it.

Ghost
This song has probably grown on me as much or more than any of this record. I remember listening through this when it came out waiting for another real rocker to show up. This one starts, but somehow, it wasn't what I was waiting for at first, so I skipped it. Over the years, and now as I listen to it here, it really stands out. The two separate and complimenary solos are perfect (again Mike is a below the radar star on this entire record). The break down bridge coming out of the 2nd solo, back into the chorus, Stone;s outro groove. This one really has it all if you listen for it. Unless you're just fixated on needing something special from Ed every song, than this one is PJ at its purest and its best. Ed is a bit player here, but that lets the song become itself.

These first five songs are 5 of the most underrated tunes in their catalog...

[hlniv]

I am Mine
An obvious single choice. Also clearly an Eddie Vedder song more than a Pearl Jam song, although by the end, they all find a spot. Generally, I think this is a plodding, somewhat boring tune. "The full moon is looking for friends at high tide" That's a good line, but generally this song is pretty repetitive and not very memorable until the solo and the last 30 seconds. It's accessible and an easy listen, and I understand how people enjoy it. I have enjoyed it in the past, but I don't think this one has aged well for me, it gets pretty bland the more you hear it.

Thumbing My Way
I've always placed this song towards the bottom tier of the catalog. But, as I sit here and listen to the studio cut closely, I'm not sure why. I'm guessing its because the live versions disappoint. Boom and Matt are beautiful here. The little percussion pick up at 3:45 is nice. I have under-appreciated this song. It's a nice close to side A of Riot Act.



I'll finish the LAL later.... have to go for now...

The first half of this record is pretty fucking outstanding.

[Brett]

No stip, my memory's not hazy of the song, just my initial impressions of it. This is over ten years ago, now.

Anyway, onto the last five! Unlike several of its brethren, "Help Help" is one song from the record that has only grown in my esteem. I love the sort of carnivalesque arrangements, and the oddly affected vocals. Pearl Jam's left turns were the reason I remained a fan after the initial honeymoon with the more "anthemic" songs wore off. The real lack of anything in that vein over the last ten plus years is part of the reason I don't hold the band in the same regard as I did circa 2001-05ish.

"Bu$hleaguer" also gets a bit of a pass because the songwriting and instrumentation is fantastic. The musical contrasts between the verses and choruses make the song "breathe" in a way that is stifled somewhat by the lyrics and vocals. I don't mind the spoken word bits, although like many, I'd love to hear that version with sung verses, but I agree with the fact that the lyrics are a bit trite and overdone (Okay, so I pay more attention to lyrics when it comes to Pearl Jam than I realized. They're the only band I can think of where the lyrical content frequently outweighs the musical. What the hell does that mean?)

I don't care if "1/2 Full" is similar to "Red Mosquito." Due to how I discovered PJ's music, I was familiar with the former well before the latter, so I think there's room for coexistence. Besides which, to me "1/2 Full" is like the dark twin, while "Red Mosquito" is the light. One of the few times I like Mike unleashing a crazy solo. And again, another great ending to this one. They were knocking it out of the park when it came to ending many of these songs; another place where they seem to falter in latter days.

Nobody's given props to "Arc" yet, so I will. One minute of looped, wordless vocals that climaxes the album in spectacular fashion? Yes, please. The sense of sadness and loss is palpable here; it's bigger than words and so Eddie doesn't use them. So many people talk about passion being a big part of Pearl Jam's music, which it is, and this song is that essence distilled into its purest form. Filler it is not.

"All or None" finishes the album in darkness. I referenced the "hopeless situation" line earlier, and that's really a good summation of this song. Then you hit that final verse and it all changes. Yeah Eddie still says it's worthless, all for naught, but I don't believe him. His words belie the truth of his delivery and the music. There's still some sort of light at the end of the tunnel. I don't know what, but it's there.

[warehouse]

pearl jam's hipster record

[bada]

Not enough huuuurrrrsssss.

The music. The chords. The keyboard strings in the background. I can see Eddie Vedder on a mountain top with arms outstretched. Mike is on an adjoining mountaintop, ripping a solo.

That's what I see when I hear Force Of Nature. "One man stands the edge of the ocean a beacon on dry land with arms wide opuuuuuuaaaaan!".

[stip]

Scott stapp is such an asshole for ruining mountaintop posturing.

[Anders]

I'll do an LAL now.

Can't Keep - I always liked this song, and it sounds even better now than it did then. Much better than the Uke version. The band adds a whole landscape to the music. The lyrics are interesting, I tend to think of personal issues, rather than war, global warming, politics, etc. Could this be about a breakup, about a person leaving to live life to the full?!The grass may or may not be greener, but no matter you can't keep me here. Good start to the album.

Save You - Probably about Mike and his struggles, Ed is singing straight to him. Solid lyrics. 'Too important for us, we'd be lost without you'. I wish Vitalogy-Ed sang this song. The music punches through, and is quite appealing, yet Ed's vocal performance lacks something to take it to the upper levels of Pearl Jam songs.

Love Boat Captain - Roskilde 2000. One of my darkest moments. Love is the only cure. Great song, top ten Pearl Jam song for me.

Cropduster - Don't ask me to sing it, I wouldn't remember how. Surprisingly for a forgettable song it's great. 'I was the fool because I thought I thought the world, turns out the world thought me'. I like this better for each year that passes.

Ghost - I hate the 'away, away' singing. Way to kill a song. Mike annhiliates here, and Jeff and Stone gives the song a sense of urgency. Weakest lyrics so far, about life in a big city and the stress of modern life. Close, but no cigar.

I Am Mine - Less confused than the previous song, here the voice says 'I am born and I will die, the in between is mine'. Almost a battle cry compared to Ghost. Ed gives a solid performance, and the music is really good. The final solo nails it.

Thumbing My Way - The bands best post-2000 lyrics, about the loss of a loved one. Fantastic song, so beautiful.

[Anders]

You Are - This feels a bit like a gimmick song, and love is a tower of strength? It really screams b-side. Still it has some interesting music.

Get Right - I enjoy this more after Backspacer. I wish Ed from Save You sang this song. Meaningless lyrics, but at least it's fun, and the guitar shreds.

Green Disease - I think this is about war, greed, money, hate, 9/11, Bush. It's an underrated song. Ed is at his Riot Act best here, and the music is energetic and straight.

Help Help - Tell me lies, tell me lies, help me. Really? Another anti-war song, but really poor. Not even b-side material. Boring guitars, and awful lyrics.

Bushleaguer - Massive potential wasted on the part of the lyrics that are directed directly at Bush. Very cool music and lyrical performance.

1/2 Full - Another song about greed. The haves be having more. Good music, and I really like the last minute. Could have been a great song.

Arc - Feels a bit incomplete or out of place, but I like it.

All Or None - One of the highlights in the band's career. It's almost as if it's hidden on Riot Act's weaker side. It's about an internal struggle to make the best out of life, surrender or give it everything. Life seems hopeless at times, it's as if that is what you are trying to achieve, but you try to run on, it's all or none.

I like Riot Act better than I used to. It has some remarkable songs. It's a shame it is let down by a poor run after the halfway point. Swap 3-4 songs,with songs of equal quality to the best, and we would have a masterpiece.

[Kaius]

I'm going to LAL this tonight

[stip]

I hope the Backspacer LAL gets this much love!

[Lament]

When I loved Riot Act in 2002 it was cause I was just an apologetic fanboy. When I love it in 2014 it's cause I'm an elitist hipster snob.

The circle of life is a beautiful thing.

[gems and rhinestones]

When I loved Riot Act in 2002 it was cause I was just an apologetic fanboy. When I love it in 2014 it's cause I'm an elitist hipster snob.

The circle of life is a beautiful thing.

[stip]

When I loved Riot Act in 2002 it was cause I was just an apologetic fanboy. When I love it in 2014 it's cause I'm an elitist hipster snob.

The circle of life is a beautiful thing.

Which pearl jam album would manic street preachers enjoy the most

[Lament]

Which pearl jam album would manic street preachers enjoy the most

For what it's worth, they're actually fans. Richey blasted them circa-Ten, but after Vs. came out said they struck him as an American answer to the Smiths. In an interview in 1993 where he was asked if there was anything that inspired him at the time, he answered with "Rearviewmirror, by Pearl Jam." Nicky was at the Cardiff show in 2000. In his lists of his favorite side projects/solo projects of all-time, James had Brad's Shame at #1. In an interview from fall of 2009 where they were asked what they'd been listening to on the tour bus, either Nicky or James answered "The Fixer."

"I see The Clash in Pearl Jam, and to a certain degree I see Zeppelin in Pearl Jam. They just started doing it better. I mean, there's no point in lying about it." -James Bradfield, 1994