Let's Actually Listen to the Album: Pearl Jam

[stip]

interesting observation about army reserve

[Brett]

Oh, and to boost my post count one more time, I figured I'd compile together my hypothetical, reimagined "Avocado" album.

1. "Severed Hand" (4:30)
2. "Let It Ride" (4:19)
3. "Unemployable" (3:04)
4. "Of the Earth" (6:52)
5. "Inside Job (Instrumental)" [sans cheese-ball piano] (~6:30)
6. "[untitled instrumental bit from end of album]" (0:30)
7. "Marker in the Sand" (4:23)
8. "Parachutes" (3:36)
9. "Wasted Reprise" (0:53)
10. "Cold Confession" (5:47)

Total running time of 40:24

I didn't put a great deal of thought into the sequencing, so feel free to call me on that.

[bada]

10 tracks with two interludes and a instrumental?

[Brett]

Haha, yeah, it's a little out there for a Pearl Jam album, and I was somewhat concerned that it would run short, but at about 40 minutes it's a good length. It won't overstay its welcome. I'll concede the possibility that the untitled interlude could be tacked back onto the end of "Inside Job," but I like it as it's own bit, and perhaps it could be expanded. Maybe in a different mood, I would consider adding back some of the songs I cut from the version we have, but not at this point.

[darthvedder81]

I don't know why people hate on this album so much. I think it's their best effort post-Binaural.

Life Wasted is pure classic PJ and Severed Hand rocks as hard as anything since Vs. (especially live). It's got a lot of variety in tempo and volume without feeling disjointed. Yes the production is harsh with weak bass but that's my only major complaint with it.

[Wendy Carlos's Twin]

The songs suck ass. There's barely a decent EP there.

[hlniv]

6. "[untitled instrumental bit from end of album]" (0:30)

I had to go back and listen for this, I had no idea what this was, couldn't place it. Totally forgot there was a little bit at the end like this, I guess i just never (ever) listen through to the end of the studio Inside Job. It's a little bit like torture.

[Birds in Hell]

Man, there is nothing close to Unemployable, Marker in the Sand or Army Reserve on the last two records. Really great, not dumb rock music with thoughtful and complimentary guitar parts.

[Birds in Hell]

Actually, I think Infallible might be the one song I can draw some kind of connecting thread to from the things I most enjoy about this material (though I find the end product somewhat less satisfying).

[E.H. Ruddock]

That brickwallhater edit has me enjoying this album today

[stip]

Same here

[VinylGuy]

I been listening to Life Wasted, Severed Hand, Unemployable and Big wave a lot. They are awesome, awesome songs.

[PHATJ]

That brickwallhater edit has me enjoying this album today

I need to DL that. I'm sure it makes the album 10X better.

[Strat]

Wow that brickwallhater version is MASSIVELY different. How does one do that?

[E.H. Ruddock]

WWS, Comatose and Army Reserve really benefit from this remaster. And Parachutes... I almost came

[darth_vedder]

Guys, I kinda like this album.

Spoiler: show

I also kinda hate it.

[Strat]

WWS, Comatose and Army Reserve really benefit from this remaster. And Parachutes... I almost came

Good lord WWS is a massive improvement. You can actually hear the band playing off each other, the nuances of the instruments come throw.

Playing it side by side, err, one after the other, really brings out how bad the original mastering is. Its so aggressively upfront you cant make anything out.

[darth_vedder]

WWS, Comatose and Army Reserve really benefit from this remaster. And Parachutes... I almost came

Good lord WWS is a massive improvement. You can actually hear the band playing off each other, the nuances of the instruments come throw.

Playing it side by side, err, one after the other, really brings out how bad the original mastering is. Its so aggressively upfront you cant make anything out.

Uh, how do I find this? I have those like rough draft things, is it the same?

[Rangi Guy]

WWS, Comatose and Army Reserve really benefit from this remaster. And Parachutes... I almost came

Good lord WWS is a massive improvement. You can actually hear the band playing off each other, the nuances of the instruments come throw.

Playing it side by side, err, one after the other, really brings out how bad the original mastering is. Its so aggressively upfront you cant make anything out.

Uh, how do I find this? I have those like rough draft things, is it the same?

Thanks to psychobain's post in the Tame Impala thread, I've stumbled across a guy called 'BrickwallHater' who, true to his name, hates brickwalling. So much so that he has taken the time to 'unmaster' a number of poorly mastered albums, including 'Avocado', with some impressive results. His torrent can be found with a quick google, and is definitely worth your time.

The fat muddy frequencies have been removed so it sounds much more like those April 04 demos/rough mixes, with better separation of instruments, crisper guitars and punchier drums. Better yet, you can actually listen to it on headphones without making your ears bleed, which is a plus in my book

[Strat]

Geezes its insane how big of a difference it is.