Pearl Jam (self titled): Official Album Thread

[darth_vedder]

Now that I'm thinking more about it, I'm not sure if Avocado blows Backspacer and LB out of the water, but I do like it more.

For me, it's like the last two where I feel they are all just spotty albums. I think I'm in the minority though, in that I like "Big Wave". Other than the opening lyrics, it's a pretty cool song. Actually, if you just try to tune Ed out, the band really nails it.

Army Reserve is a pretty cool song too. The vocal delivery is a little clunky, but the music is quite nice. I guess a common theme with a lot of my grievance with modern day PJ is Ed himself. He went from the biggest strength of the band to the biggest weakness.

[LoathedVermin72]

Yeah that's one of my least-favorite Pearl Jam songs.

Me too. I pretty much have an irrational hatred towards it.

It's definitely irrational

[dimejinky99]

we talking about unemployable?

if so i agree..it's a plodding uninspired mess...

[stip]

they were talking about gone, which I do like more than unemployable. But unemployable, gone, inside job, and big wave make for a pretty uninspired side 2.

Big Wave does have pretty great music--I really liked that demo version that surfaced a few months ago

[Monkey_Driven]

Ed looks great in that video.

And sounds great.

[hlniv]

You guys "Gone" is probably the best song on this album

No it's not. Duh

[Jorge]

The chorus to "Gone" is Ed's absolute low point as a songwriter. An unmelodic, strained mess

[hlniv]

This album is much better and enjoyable to listen to if you just don't listen that close. I think most big PJ fans have grown accustomed to listening very closely and forming opinions based off of those intricate listens.

The avocado album is a great car listening album. It's great to have on the outside speakers while your staining the deck. Or gardening. Etc... Etc...

The songs are, for the most part, very good tunes. Outside of Life Wasted, Gone and Inside Job, the actual songwriting and musical structures are some of my favorites of any PJ album. And I'll even find myself enjoying the three exceptions when I'm not focused.

The problem with this album is that there is nothing intricate (except maybe Parachutes), and focused listening generates enough distraction that enjoyment is compromised. The production, the recording, some lyrics, the performances, it all contributes.

So, basically, just put it on and only half listen to it, and you will find yourself really enjoying it. It's like the polar opposite of Binaural.

[bodysnatcher]

If I were to try and pinpoint it, I would say "Gone" was where my undying passion for the band became bruised.

Like that moment in Rocky 4 when Rocky cuts the Russian.

[epilogue]

I love Gone. I certainly don't think it's one of Pearl Jam's best songs. But it's a really lovely song that I think gets too much shit. I love it, love it, love it.

Also, Unemployable and Big Wave are fucking fantastic songs. And Army Reserve....

Yeah, guys, the first three tracks are probably the three weakest on the record save Inside Job.

[stip]

I love Gone. I certainly don't think it's one of Pearl Jam's best songs. But it's a really lovely song that I think gets too much shit. I love it, love it, love it.

Also, Unemployable and Big Wave are fucking fantastic songs. And Army Reserve....

Yeah, guys, the first three tracks are probably the three weakest on the record save Inside Job.

lets not start saying things we can't take back. Each of those has been a top 10 song at one point


The gone chorus DID feel really refreshing after the bleak records that preceded S/T It didn't hold up for sure, but I think I flagged it as an early standout moment. It was just so nice to hear Eddie soaring after so long.

[epilogue]

I love Gone. I certainly don't think it's one of Pearl Jam's best songs. But it's a really lovely song that I think gets too much shit. I love it, love it, love it.

Also, Unemployable and Big Wave are fucking fantastic songs. And Army Reserve....

Yeah, guys, the first three tracks are probably the three weakest on the record save Inside Job.

lets not start saying things we can't take back. Each of those has been a top 10 song at one point

I stand by my statement.

[stip]

This album is much better and enjoyable to listen to if you just don't listen that close. I think most big PJ fans have grown accustomed to listening very closely and forming opinions based off of those intricate listens.

The avocado album is a great car listening album. It's great to have on the outside speakers while your staining the deck. Or gardening. Etc... Etc...

The songs are, for the most part, very good tunes. Outside of Life Wasted, Gone and Inside Job, the actual songwriting and musical structures are some of my favorites of any PJ album. And I'll even find myself enjoying the three exceptions when I'm not focused.

The problem with this album is that there is nothing intricate (except maybe Parachutes), and focused listening generates enough distraction that enjoyment is compromised. The production, the recording, some lyrics, the performances, it all contributes.

So, basically, just put it on and only half listen to it, and you will find yourself really enjoying it. It's like the polar opposite of Binaural.

Lyrically I think it is grappling with some complex stuff, although the very loose narrative running through it gets in the way of that a bit. But you're right musically. S/T really needs to be understood as a reaction to Binaural and especially Riot Act--an album of loud, straightforward, immediately accessible songs meant to appeal to fans who were less satisfied with the dour, intricate, restrained performances on those albums.

[epilogue]

S/T really needs to be understood as a reaction to Binaural and especially Riot Act--an album of loud, straightforward, immediately accessible songs meant to appeal to fans who were less satisfied with the dour, intricate, restrained performances on those albums.

Seems to me both Binaural and Riot Act -- but especially Riot Act are on the same level. Look at metacritic (which I know you use a lot) and the scores are about even. All three albums were certified Gold in the US and Platinum in Australia, if I'm not mistaken.

So, I guess I don't understand what you're getting at. Maybe YOU feel that way about S/T and that context gives you some greater understanding. But I'm not sure who all these fans are that were so dissatisfied. What are you saying exactly? I feel like I'm confused.

[Monkey_Driven]

God, I haven't listened to this album in forever.

[tommymtcom]

God, I haven't listened to this album in forever.

I put it on every couple of years just to make sure I still hate it. It's probably due another hate spin sometime soon.

[Monkey_Driven]

God, I haven't listened to this album in forever.

I put it on every couple of years just to make sure I still hate it. It's probably due another hate spin sometime soon.

It's just an odd record to me. I don't really hate it or love it. It just exists. Seems like the band has similar feelings since they seem to rarely play anything on it anymore.

[LoathedVermin72]

The gone chorus DID feel really refreshing after the bleak records that preceded S/T It didn't hold up for sure, but I think I flagged it as an early standout moment. It was just so nice to hear Eddie soaring after so long.

This is part of why I like it. The uplifting chorus seems unimaginable when you're hearing the somber opening verses. The progression is very unexpected.

[Strat]

The gone chorus DID feel really refreshing after the bleak records that preceded S/T It didn't hold up for sure, but I think I flagged it as an early standout moment. It was just so nice to hear Eddie soaring after so long.

This is part of why I like it. The uplifting chorus seems unimaginable when you're hearing the somber opening verses. The progression is very unexpected.

its almost as if he is just getting in the car and getting the fuck out of a problem, you know?

[LoathedVermin72]

The gone chorus DID feel really refreshing after the bleak records that preceded S/T It didn't hold up for sure, but I think I flagged it as an early standout moment. It was just so nice to hear Eddie soaring after so long.

This is part of why I like it. The uplifting chorus seems unimaginable when you're hearing the somber opening verses. The progression is very unexpected.

its almost as if he is just getting in the car and getting the fuck out of a problem, you know?