Vs: Official Album thread

[liebzz]

December 1993 I was at a friend's confirmation party. Her friend got her a copy of Vs. as her gift. At the time, I knew Pearl Jam because my friend was walking around day and night with a walkman that only had Ten in it, but I really didn't give it much of a chance at the time. In any event, the album was played front to back, and for the first time in my life, I was hearing music I had never heard before that felt like I had been hearing it my entire life. Within the week, I borrowed the Ten and Vs. CDs from my older brother and made a cassette tape containing Vs. on side A and Ten on side B. This existed in my tape deck nonstop for the next few years. This album changed the way I thought about and experienced music. It is the single moment in time that changed my life in a very significant way. I had it as my top album in life for many years on this basis alone. Some albums have eclipsed this over time, but my appreciation for this band and their music all stems from that moment.

[southp]

As a self-proclaimed Vs-fan I'm interested to see these types of stories about how pivotal the album was in our lives. Like I said previously, hearing Vs was the moment that Pearl Jam because "my band" and the most important thing in the world for me (at the time). While I loved Ten, I wasn't prepared to make those kind of sweeping statements on one album alone

So for my fellow Vs-heads, what is the next high-point in the catalog that could rival the anticipation and subsequent climax of discovering Vs? Was it the initiation of Ten and hearing the band for the first time? I thought that Ten was kind of diluted through the MTV/MuchMusic over-exposure of Jeremy/Alive/Even Flow. For me it was actually No Code. I was heavily invested in the band by 1996 and also had a chance to mature a bit more. The diversity of No Code and getting a chance to finally see them live hit me at just the right time in my life - much like Vs had 3 years prior.

[liebzz]

As a self-proclaimed Vs-fan I'm interested to see these types of stories about how pivotal the album was in our lives. Like I said previously, hearing Vs was the moment that Pearl Jam because "my band" and the most important thing in the world for me (at the time). While I loved Ten, I wasn't prepared to make those kind of sweeping statements on one album alone

So for my fellow Vs-heads, what is the next high-point in the catalog that could rival the anticipation and subsequent climax of discovering Vs? Was it the initiation of Ten and hearing the band for the first time? I thought that Ten was kind of diluted through the MTV/MuchMusic over-exposure of Jeremy/Alive/Even Flow. For me it was actually No Code. I was heavily invested in the band by 1996 and also had a chance to mature a bit more. The diversity of No Code and getting a chance to finally see them live hit me at just the right time in my life - much like Vs had 3 years prior.

I've had many pivotal moments as a fan, but album-wise, both the releases of Vitalogy and No Code were huge. I remember someone asking me what I thought of Vitalogy in the 2 weeks in between the LP and CD release, and when I said it was awesome - not as good as Vs. but better than Ten - the guy looked at me sideways and said "what the hell are you talking about!?"

No Code I can remember specifically sitting in my bedroom at 1AM increasing the volume little by little during Sometimes, and by the time Hail, Hail started, the blast was so sudden and loud that I literally jumped out of my chair and hit my head on the ceiling. This remains my favorite album once I was willing to let something eclipse Vs.

While I've had huge personal memories beyond these associated with these albums, it is because of Vs. thatI got into every other band I've listened to since that day. It was the starting point for my appreciation of rock music from that point forward. There are hundreds of bands that can thank Pearl Jam for the $15 I spent on their albums.

[nightmareblack0206]

Best time to be a PJ fan was when 10 Was thumping. .HOLY FUCK THEY WERE AMAZING!

[bodysnatcher]

this may be common knowledge, but was trying to find a specific date for another thread, and stumbled upon this:

The Who "Quadrophenia" released October 19, 1973
Pearl Jam "Vs" released October 19. 1993.. 20 years later.

Just kinda cool, I guess

[WtOB?]

I don't really know why I find Rearviewmirror boring. I don't dislike it. I'm tapping my foot to it right now.

It just seems like a standard, formulaic rock tune, it runs a little long (and then the band extends it longer in concert), and the lyrics don't particularly resonate with me. Plus, the band obviously likes it. It's the only non-hit on the best of album. I feel like it's overplayed and overrated.

It's probably one of my least favorite songs on Vs.

Saw things soo much cleareeeerrrr...
Achoo, achoo..

[TheDapperGent]

I traded my Guns n Roses Use Your Illusion 1 and 2 cassettes for vs. in homeroom, 7th grade. A kid named Adam. I'd already fallen in love with the band through the Alive video and 10 but Vs. took it to another level for me. Pearl Jam was with me for the long car ride from Buffalo, NY to Biloxi, MS as I moved after that school year and they were with me through the teenage hell I went through at school down here.

Looking back it was a good trade

[VinylGuy]

i sang with full power the next Go lyric for, more or less, 6 years:

" pleaseeee dont go awwaaayyyyyyyy"

[epilogue]

I still don't think I know/understand the words to Go. Probably never will.

[WtOB?]

Go. Fuck. Tuck, time, see. Shun. True invention.
What's not to understand ??

[VinylGuy]

I still don't think I know/understand the words to Go. Probably never will.

the great thing about it is that the lyrics are about a truck.


Great.

[epilogue]

Once fastened, supper pile
Noble begging shart
Tombed by a number scent
Pumped up on fucking guns!

[TheDapperGent]

Once fastened, supper pile
Noble begging shart
Tombed by a number scent
Pumped up on fucking guns!

Always fun.

[its_not_1974]

An ex heard the chorus as "Stomp the walrus" which is now impossible not to hear.

[warehouse]

An ex heard the chorus as "Stomp the walrus" which is now impossible not to hear.

ive also heard "stomp the wombat"

[epilogue]

An ex heard the chorus as "Stomp the walrus" which is now impossible not to hear.

PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE

[stip]

i was in love with a girl who thought the chorus of nothingman was muffin man

[epilogue]

i was in love with a girl who thought the chorus of nothingman was muffin man

Did this girl marry you one day?

[knee tunes]

i was in love with a girl who thought the chorus of nothingman was muffin man

Did this girl marry you one day?

she was a cinnamon girl who wasn't very familiar with the muffin man

[knee tunes]

salt beams
salt beams
clearer
clearer