Post-Riot Act Moneygrab

[Coach]

I have read through most of the last 25 pages or so since Friday, and thought I'd give a little perspective as a relatively new poster here in PJ land (since Wrigley and then the run-up to the album last year). I previously had an account on the old board(s) for years, probably back ten years at least, but I was gone so long, I had no idea what my name even was.

My original post creating this thread was intended partially to be an attempt at humor, but mostly an attempt to draw out the best responses I could. I knew it was a topic that inspired passionate debate around here.

First off, when I re-discovered RM last year, I found that I often enjoyed reading posts from a large quantity and variety of other posters. The quality of the comments, humor, and musical insight is unmatched on any other internet forum I think I had ever seen. On top of that, I was going through (and still am actually) a little resurgence of my PJ fandom, re-connecting with my 20 year infatuation with their best albums, their classic live shows, and the challenge to discover everything there is to discover about their career output. Despite the fact that both the S/T album and Backspacer had a shelf life of about 3 months for me, they still remained my go-to band, dwarfing the number of spins of any other artist.

That said, I found the oft-demonstrated RM snarky Pearl Jam dig to be usually humorous and justified in its direction. It became very clear to me that I actually shared many of these opinions, and that it was OK for those opinions to co-exist with an on-going appreciation for what their music has meant to me in my life. I accepted the fact that going forward from here, the band i have known for so long was no longer the same, but that it shouldn't stop me from enjoying what they did well.

Just because I post about the obvious moneygrabbing, fan-centric, popularity wish and the corresponding shift in their priorities due to age, family, politics, etc... does not mean I've stopped liking the band. I will always like this band, I just may not be impressed with what they actually are any more. They certainly are caricatures of themselves, and that's OK. And it's OK if we make a little fun of it, too.

While I read some other boards (mostly TV, Movies) this was surprising and nice to read.

[hlniv]

Well, granted, I haven't seen that many.

[Coach]

Well, granted, I haven't seen that many.

Me neither. Let's just say RM is the best.

[BurtReynolds]

Their music sucking is directly related to their beliefs, passions, etc. When they were raging against the machine, even if it was stupid, it inspired them to make great music. Their current influences only inspire them to write feel good bullshit like Amongst the Waves and sappy love songs, and music that sounds like farts.

I don't care that they've sold out or not, I never agreed with them in the first place. But that punk inspired, hypocritical, black and white, morally superior bullshit did make for great music.

True, but even their current/recent passions - politics/war - haven't translated into great music (i.e. Army Reserve).

To me, that's indicative of a change in belief as well. With Avocado, Ed moved away from just shouting his beliefs at people, and instead tried reasoning. He tried to "use his words". What resulted is clumsy, false sounding stuff like Army Reserve. Sure, the rational, level headed approach is more mature, but it makes for shit music in their case. I liked them better when they were pretending they had a punk idealogy.

[EJ]

I liked them better when they were pretending they had a punk idealogy.

And, if they dared to go this route again, it would seem beyond contrived.

btw, good post hlniv. I sit approximately where you do with regards to the band.

[BurtReynolds]

I liked them better when they were pretending they had a punk idealogy.

And, if they dared to go this route again, it would seem beyond contrived.

Probably. They can't fight to get it back again. They are done unless they come up with something new.

[EJ]

I liked them better when they were pretending they had a punk idealogy.

And, if they dared to go this route again, it would seem beyond contrived.

Probably. They can't fight to get it back again. They are done unless they come up with something new.

If I could have forecasted years ago the type of music they'd be making now, I would have said it would probably be close to a Mirror Ball sound. Seemed like a perfect template for this band.

[bodysnatcher]

PJ can only be to blame for us not liking their current ethos. All we are doing is engaging in behavior and ideology that they themselves taught us in the mid-90s.

[Kaius]

The quality of the comments, humor, and musical insight is unmatched on any other internet forum I think I had ever seen.

this is largely true as well, but i don't frequent other boards, in general there's a ton of very smart and well informed people here though

Ha, speak for yourself

[malice]

The quality of the comments, humor, and musical insight is unmatched on any other internet forum I think I had ever seen.

this is largely true as well, but i don't frequent other boards, in general there's a ton of very smart and well informed people here though

Ha, speak for yourself

i got no problem acknowledging the median intelligence level of people here is fairly high. and i've been introduced to a boatload of music that i'm sure i'd never know existed if it wasn't for RM - all of it pretty amazing stuff to someone who was quite sure there was no music worth listening to anymore. thanks RM. that points to a general well rounded approach to music that i just don't find elsewhere.

[Kaius]

The quality of the comments, humor, and musical insight is unmatched on any other internet forum I think I had ever seen.

this is largely true as well, but i don't frequent other boards, in general there's a ton of very smart and well informed people here though

Ha, speak for yourself

i got no problem acknowledging the median intelligence level of people here is fairly high. and i've been introduced to a boatload of music that i'm sure i'd never know existed if it wasn't for RM - all of it pretty amazing stuff to someone who was quite sure there was no music worth listening to anymore. thanks RM. that points to a general well rounded approach to music that i just don't find elsewhere.

I totes agree, malice. I was just giving you a hard time

[malice]

The quality of the comments, humor, and musical insight is unmatched on any other internet forum I think I had ever seen.

this is largely true as well, but i don't frequent other boards, in general there's a ton of very smart and well informed people here though

Ha, speak for yourself

i got no problem acknowledging the median intelligence level of people here is fairly high. and i've been introduced to a boatload of music that i'm sure i'd never know existed if it wasn't for RM - all of it pretty amazing stuff to someone who was quite sure there was no music worth listening to anymore. thanks RM. that points to a general well rounded approach to music that i just don't find elsewhere.

I totes agree, malice. I was just giving you a hard time

it's really much better for everyone if you disagree with me whenever possible.

[hlniv]

What? Wait... you mean it's acceptable to sometimes agree with others 'round here?

Well, that changes everything...

[Kaius]

The quality of the comments, humor, and musical insight is unmatched on any other internet forum I think I had ever seen.

this is largely true as well, but i don't frequent other boards, in general there's a ton of very smart and well informed people here though

Ha, speak for yourself

i got no problem acknowledging the median intelligence level of people here is fairly high. and i've been introduced to a boatload of music that i'm sure i'd never know existed if it wasn't for RM - all of it pretty amazing stuff to someone who was quite sure there was no music worth listening to anymore. thanks RM. that points to a general well rounded approach to music that i just don't find elsewhere.

I totes agree, malice. I was just giving you a hard time

it's really much better for everyone if you disagree with me whenever possible.

Fuck that. I'm not doing it.

[Jorge]

Kaius

[Kaius]

Kaius

It's doofensjmirtz to you

[McParadigm]

no it isnt

[malice]

no it isnt

[McParadigm]

HARRUMPH

[aurynsdad]

Their music sucking is directly related to their beliefs, passions, etc. When they were raging against the machine, even if it was stupid, it inspired them to make great music. Their current influences only inspire them to write feel good bullshit like Amongst the Waves and sappy love songs, and music that sounds like farts.

I don't care that they've sold out or not, I never agreed with them in the first place. But that punk inspired, hypocritical, black and white, morally superior bullshit did make for great music.

True, but even their current/recent passions - politics/war - haven't translated into great music (i.e. Army Reserve).

There are those of us that love that song, even if they can't get it to work live.