ITT We Nominate Pearl Jam's Peak Year

[given2trade]

Best year was Merkinball and the year previous and the year after. That is my favorite PJ era I believe.

So 94-96ish. I realize that is not a year, but it all overlaps into a particular small period for me.

way to plagerize bro

[Yeddie Yedder]

Peak power: 1994
Peak creativity: 2000
Peak live: 2003

I would say this. The Riot Act tour was insane. Caught 4 shows that tour.

[matt reeder]

I'm surprised so many of you are ranking 2003 so high. A lot of that tour was slop city. I mean, don't get me wrong, there are tons of great shows and moments on that tour but I'll take 2000 and 2006 over 2003 and it isn't even close.

I think we can all agree that the band's peak was not that abortion of a version of "In My Tree" they were playing from 2003-2006...

My vote on the band's peak would be 1995 as well, but you can make arguments for 1994 and 1998 as well.

[Norah]

exactly

[Birds in Hell]

I'm surprised so many of you are ranking 2003 so high. A lot of that tour was slop city. I mean, don't get me wrong, there are tons of great shows and moments on that tour but I'll take 2000 and 2006 over 2003 and it isn't even close.

On point, MR.

[hlniv]

So, there have been plenty of nominations now.

Where's the poll?

[hlniv]

They're going to peak on the colbert late show. I can feelz it

Can a band peak with a performance of only one song?

THIS IS SO GOOD

This is so good, it's actually two songs!!

[Yeddie Yedder]

I think we can all agree that the band's peak was not that abortion of a version of "In My Tree" they were playing from 2003-2006...

fair point.

[BurtReynolds]

They're going to peak on the colbert late show. I can feelz it

Can a band peak with a performance of only one song?

THIS IS SO GOOD

This is so good, it's actually two songs!!

i was hoping people were talking about the second one. the first one is boring. that second one is killer though.

[Bammer]

I am enjoying all the love for 1998, and I would tend to agree that was the peak.

On a somewhat related note, I'm jealous of strat in that it's generally accepted around here that 1997 was the year of strat. I guess I can relinquish that to him, it was a fine year for me but if I really dig down deep I think it probably is most appropriate to recognize 1998 as the year of Bammer.

[Norah]

Fuck that, we can determine the peak month. I've got it narrowed down to March 1998 or August 2000.

[LoathedVermin72]

Whatever month they recorded Go

[PHATJ]

Release was the peak. It's all been downhill from there.

[Leatherhead]

I wanna say 1998, but Binaural is better than Yield, so it's 2000.

[coptheriotact]

1998 overall

but 2003 -2006 is a great live period.

[ducko]

As much as I love 98 and Yield in general, it is associated with the Matt Cameron era so that brings it down a notch. I love matt but he doesn't bring the peak for me.

What is a peak? When they were/are never better? You'd have a hard time convincing me that their peak was anything other than 94 unless you can expand the definition of peak. In 94 their power, tour, creativity, live and recorded elements were tough to beat.

I could consider 95, but by then their live shows were not as tight, Ed's voice was rasped and messed up and they were struggling with other things.

I am also flabbergasted that some consider 2003 tour to be their peak. I'd say it was creative at best.

Always a great debate topic this - well done chaps.

[stip]

If I had to pick a peak day I would say the Atlanta 94 concert. Pearl Jam's live performances had a reputation for being amazing but this was the first time a wide audience was able to hear one. It was a massive concert, covered almost every song, and the whole performance of Ten and Vs songs is filtered through the creative process that was birthing Vitalogy.

[evenslow]

If I had to pick a peak day I would say the Atlanta 94 concert. Pearl Jam's live performances had a reputation for being amazing but this was the first time a wide audience was able to hear one. It was a massive concert, covered almost every song, and the whole performance of Ten and Vs songs is filtered through the creative process that was birthing Vitalogy.

Good point. You could do a lot worse than Atlanta 94 as their best moment.

[PHATJ]

If I had to pick a peak day I would say the Atlanta 94 concert. Pearl Jam's live performances had a reputation for being amazing but this was the first time a wide audience was able to hear one. It was a massive concert, covered almost every song, and the whole performance of Ten and Vs songs is filtered through the creative process that was birthing Vitalogy.

Good point. You could do a lot worse than Atlanta 94 as their best moment.

This is a solid choice. That show was incredible.

[Higgs]

If I had to pick a peak day I would say the Atlanta 94 concert. Pearl Jam's live performances had a reputation for being amazing but this was the first time a wide audience was able to hear one. It was a massive concert, covered almost every song, and the whole performance of Ten and Vs songs is filtered through the creative process that was birthing Vitalogy.

Good point. You could do a lot worse than Atlanta 94 as their best moment.

This is a solid choice. That show was incredible.

I wouldn't argue too hard against this.