UNPOPULAR PEARL JAM OPINIONS

[BigRedLedbetter]

I am excited for the Colbert performance

Me too.

I hope it's a ballad!

[PHATJ]

I am excited for the Colbert performance

Me too.

I hope it's a ballad!

Olé!

[tyweed]

"State of Love and Trust" is overrated and should be retired from live performances.

To clarify, I think the studio version featured on the "Singles" soundtrack is really great, but it hasn't aged well in a live setting.

Like "Last Exit," it really misses the hard snap of Dave A's snare or the punky/jazz rattle of Jack's kit (The live decline of "LE" is a whole other topic unto itself). It just doesn't have the ferocity and precision of the studio version.

When I hear it on Matt Cameron-era bootlegs, it ends up seeming like an indecisive, throwaway rocker when they're too lazy to figure out something else to play -- "Oh, let's just throw SOLAT in there because most people seem to like it." It just does nothing for the overall vibe of the show, whereas a "Whipping," "Alone," "Blood," "Brain of J," "Save You" or even a "Green Disease" would actually add impact or meaning to the setlist. I think I heard it at four of the five shows I saw on the LB tour, and my reaction was always something like "And why are they playing this again?" or "I'm going to get another beer."

The lyrics don't really amount to much for me, personally, and the band doesn't bring anything interesting to it anymore.

[tyweed]

Wash is the best of the Ten era b-sides.

Agreed. Underrated and underplayed. One of their coolest early songs that becomes a special moment when played live.

[McParadigm]

Live decline of Last Exit?

That doesn't seem like a song that should be causing them problems.

*looks up Last Exit performances on youtube*

[McParadigm]

*barfs*

[tyweed]

Live decline of Last Exit?

That doesn't seem like a song that should be causing them problems.

*looks up Last Exit performances on youtube*

Poor word choice on my part. I probably should have said the "substandard live iteration of 'Last Exit'" -- meaning that "LE" doesn't have the same impact live as it does on Vitalogy. I think it is one of their very best songs -- it just fucking KILLS on record. The live version, though, just doesn't hammer like the studio version.

Again, part of it is the way Matt plays it compared to Dave A. Dave's snare attack is absolutely fundamental to why that song works as brilliantly as it does. I also think Stone doesn't nail those chords as decisively as he does on the studio version.

I should be jumping out of my skull when I hear it on bootlegs and in concert, but I'm always somewhat disappointed, which I hate to admit.

[Wendy Carlos's Twin]

To clarify, I think the studio version featured on the "Singles" soundtrack is really great, but it hasn't aged well in a live setting.

Like "Last Exit," it really misses the hard snap of Dave A's snare or the punky/jazz rattle of Jack's kit (The live decline of "LE" is a whole other topic unto itself). It just doesn't have the ferocity and precision of the studio version.

When I hear it on Matt Cameron-era bootlegs, it ends up seeming like an indecisive, throwaway rocker when they're too lazy to figure out something else to play -- "Oh, let's just throw SOLAT in there because most people seem to like it." It just does nothing for the overall vibe of the show, whereas a "Whipping," "Alone," "Blood," "Brain of J," "Save You" or even a "Green Disease" would actually add impact or meaning to the setlist.

I can agree with that. I lost interest in the song in 2003, because Eddie fucked it up every single time it was played, entering too early and forgetting about the middle-8 and going into another chorus, nearly causing chaos every time. He didn't sing it correctly once, on the entire tour. Every time, he made the same mistakes. You would think that they would have realized at some point that Eddie wasn't getting it, and dropped it, or at least asked him to fucking learn it. Then in 2006, Ed learned how to perform the song correctly again, but they played it way too fast from that point forward.

[McParadigm]

Live decline of Last Exit?

That doesn't seem like a song that should be causing them problems.

*looks up Last Exit performances on youtube*

Poor word choice on my part. I probably should have said the "substandard live iteration of 'Last Exit'" -- meaning that "LE" doesn't have the same impact live as it does on Vitalogy. I think it is one of their very best songs -- it just fucking KILLS on record. The live version, though, just doesn't hammer like the studio version.

Again, part of it is the way Matt plays it compared to Dave A. Dave's snare attack is absolutely fundamental to why that song works as brilliantly as it does. I also think Stone doesn't nail those chords as decisively as he does on the studio version.

I should be jumping out of my skull when I hear it on bootlegs and in concert, but I'm always somewhat disappointed, which I hate to admit.

I don't know one way or the other, but I just watched a 2013 black and white video (I think Hartford?) and Ed was vowelating the shit out of the end of every line in the verse. Add to that being a shade flat throughout and the band lacking any bounce or grip, and it truly ceased to be a song worth finishing.

[tyweed]

To clarify, I think the studio version featured on the "Singles" soundtrack is really great, but it hasn't aged well in a live setting.

Like "Last Exit," it really misses the hard snap of Dave A's snare or the punky/jazz rattle of Jack's kit (The live decline of "LE" is a whole other topic unto itself). It just doesn't have the ferocity and precision of the studio version.

When I hear it on Matt Cameron-era bootlegs, it ends up seeming like an indecisive, throwaway rocker when they're too lazy to figure out something else to play -- "Oh, let's just throw SOLAT in there because most people seem to like it." It just does nothing for the overall vibe of the show, whereas a "Whipping," "Alone," "Blood," "Brain of J," "Save You" or even a "Green Disease" would actually add impact or meaning to the setlist.

I can agree with that. I lost interest in the song in 2003, because Eddie fucked it up every single time it was played, entering too early and forgetting about the middle-8 and going into another chorus, nearly causing chaos every time. He didn't sing it correctly once, on the entire tour. Every time, he made the same mistakes. You would think that they would have realized at some point that Eddie wasn't getting it, and dropped it, or at least asked him to fucking learn it. Then in 2006, Ed learned how to perform the song correctly again, but they played it way too fast from that point forward.

Do you think they're allowed to do this?

[tyweed]

Live decline of Last Exit?

That doesn't seem like a song that should be causing them problems.

*looks up Last Exit performances on youtube*

Poor word choice on my part. I probably should have said the "substandard live iteration of 'Last Exit'" -- meaning that "LE" doesn't have the same impact live as it does on Vitalogy. I think it is one of their very best songs -- it just fucking KILLS on record. The live version, though, just doesn't hammer like the studio version.

Again, part of it is the way Matt plays it compared to Dave A. Dave's snare attack is absolutely fundamental to why that song works as brilliantly as it does. I also think Stone doesn't nail those chords as decisively as he does on the studio version.

I should be jumping out of my skull when I hear it on bootlegs and in concert, but I'm always somewhat disappointed, which I hate to admit.

I don't know one way or the other, but I just watched a 2013 black and white video (I think Hartford?) and Ed was vowelating the shit out of the end of every line in the verse. Add to that being a shade flat throughout and the band lacking any bounce or grip, and it truly ceased to be a song worth finishing.

Brutal. I'll save myself the agony and take your word for it. Makes me want to shake them and yell, "Don't you fucking realize what a potential shithammering powder keg you have here??!! Play it the way it's meant to be played!!"

[William Bloke]

Wash is the best of the Ten era b-sides.

Agreed. Underrated and underplayed. One of their coolest early songs that becomes a special moment when played live.

Yo. And Dirty Frank is excellent also.

[evenslow]

It's okay to like Ed.

You should move this to the Unpopular Opinions thread, it might cause some waves.

Thanks, tragabigzanda, for giving me the courage to come out.

Indeed, I like Ed.

[stip]

He's a witch!

[PHATJ]

He's a witch!

...and witches are made of wood, BURN HIM!!!

[bodysnatcher]

guys, Ed's a vampire.

[tragabigzanda]

pearl jam sucks now

[VinylGuy]

Thats amazing.

[Strat]

2006 ed was so handsome!

[Kevin Davis]

I have images turned off on my RM account, and when I click on the image of modern Ed it takes me to some error message that simply reads, "What happened?"