Jeff Ament: My Life in Rock

[epilogue]

A degree of artistic freedom is mandatory for these individuals to be able to create which is something Pearl Jam proudly erased from their "creative" process because it wasn't democratic enough for their liking.

It also doesn't help that their rapid descent into mediocrity has been perceived by the press and general public as a "major comeback". From this point forward, as long as each album has a song that people can slow dance to at their wedding or get excited about because it appears in the background of a Grey's Anatomy scene, mission accomplished.

I know, that's the worst thing - their last two records have actually been somewhat successful, there's no way I can see them changing course now. They think they've got it all figured out.

This must be how old school Genesis fans felt in the mid-80's.

Actually, that's not fair. Genesis always put at least one creative song on their albums to throw the old school fans a bone.

Man I would love it if Pearl Jam put out a Land of Confusion

Don't you think that's how they view Bu$hleaguer?

[stip]

Seeing as uke songs was just a repackaging of pre-Riot Act songs he had never released, and ItW was a soundtrack, I'm not sure we are due for anything. He's never actually sat down out of the blue to write and record a solo album.

didn't he write an album for Into the Furnace, and just not put it out. Rodlease came from somewhere!

[McParadigm]

Seeing as uke songs was just a repackaging of pre-Riot Act songs he had never released, and ItW was a soundtrack, I'm not sure we are due for anything. He's never actually sat down out of the blue to write and record a solo album.

didn't he write an album for Into the Furnace, and just not put it out. Rodlease came from somewhere!

So another soundtrack, not a solo album motivated by the want to write and record a solo album. And instead he put out a song from 25 years ago.

[bodysnatcher]

prolific

[stip]

I'm not sure I would draw a hugely fine distinction between a soundtrack and a solo album. You still need to write all the songs for it--it's just the theme or inspiration is coming from a particular work of art. Into the Wild feels no less of an artistic statement from Ed just because he's reacting to someone else's story.

[digster]

I just don't see him particularly feeling a need to put out a solo album. I'm not even trying to make a statement on the quality of the songs, but the few solo tracks we've heard from him (Skipping, Better Days, No More, much of ITW and Uke Songs), have felt pretty similar to his recent PJ stuff; sentimental, mostly folk-based and kinda drippy.

[bodysnatcher]

I'd agree with that (stip). I think the other thing might be that it's a part of a whole package. He was asked to do it, and he was inspired by a movie (and I'm sure handsomely paid). Compared to an artistic inner desire to explore musical ideas and thoughts on his own.

But, who's to say he doesn't do this? He could have hundreds of songs sitting there. It's one thing to write solo material. It's a whole other beast to package it and want to release it to the public. If I had to guess, there's a lot of hesitation from the PJ dudes to do something like that, especially Ed, bc they know what comes with it (touring, fans, merch, etc etc ad nauseum). And if you're not mentally willing to do that, why release it?

[McParadigm]

I'm not sure I would draw a hugely fine distinction between a soundtrack and a solo album. You still need to write all the songs for it--it's just the theme or inspiration is coming from a particular work of art. Into the Wild feels no less of an artistic statement from Ed just because he's reacting to someone else's story.

I'm not drawing a line. I'm saying that he's never, out of the blue, decided to write and record a solo album. That has never happened. Either outside influencers came in to instigate the effort, or he already had a bunch of very old songs lying around ready to go.

It's not a question of "do you count these as solo albums?" It's a case of "has Ed's approach to his solo career given us any reason to be expectant?" And the answer is no.

[evenslow]

One thing no one has mentioned is its different for the lead singer of a band to release a solo album. He said in an interview at one point he has more of a responsibility to the group because he is the face of the band, like it or not. That's why he stuck to the soundtrack work or a boutique project like Ukulele Songs.

[stip]

I'm not sure I would draw a hugely fine distinction between a soundtrack and a solo album. You still need to write all the songs for it--it's just the theme or inspiration is coming from a particular work of art. Into the Wild feels no less of an artistic statement from Ed just because he's reacting to someone else's story.

I'm not drawing a line. I'm saying that he's never, out of the blue, decided to write and record a solo album. That has never happened. Either outside influencers came in to instigate the effort, or he already had a bunch of very old songs lying around ready to go.

It's not a question of "do you count these as solo albums?" It's a case of "has Ed's approach to his solo career given us any reason to be expectant?" And the answer is no.

Gotcha.

[stip]

One thing no one has mentioned is its different for the lead singer of a band to release a solo album. He said in an interview at one point he has more of a responsibility to the group because he is the face of the band, like it or not. That's why he stuck to the soundtrack work or a boutique project like Ukulele Songs.

Someday, presumably, they will retire and it'll be interesting to hear them talk about who the foot draggers were in the later years.

[digster]

I think the more likely reason is he's just not a particularly prolific guy. Folks like Thom Yorke and Jeff Tweedy have released solo jaunts. Eddie has said he writes quickly, but I always got the impression he was doing that to try to maintain some immediacy rather than him writing a ton. I never got the impression he was like a Neil Young-esque work horse.

[Mine]

One thing no one has mentioned is its different for the lead singer of a band to release a solo album. He said in an interview at one point he has more of a responsibility to the group because he is the face of the band, like it or not. That's why he stuck to the soundtrack work or a boutique project like Ukulele Songs.

Which is why i'm saying he lacks the balls to do a proper solo project.

I think while doing Lightning Bolt promotion he said it was a prolific period for him and he wished they would start recording new material soon.

[Mine]

One thing no one has mentioned is its different for the lead singer of a band to release a solo album. He said in an interview at one point he has more of a responsibility to the group because he is the face of the band, like it or not. That's why he stuck to the soundtrack work or a boutique project like Ukulele Songs.

Someday, presumably, they will retire and it'll be interesting to hear them talk about who the foot draggers were in the later years.

This will sound cynical but my guess is they'll start talking after one of them dies.

[epilogue]

I'm not sure I would draw a hugely fine distinction between a soundtrack and a solo album. You still need to write all the songs for it--it's just the theme or inspiration is coming from a particular work of art. Into the Wild feels no less of an artistic statement from Ed just because he's reacting to someone else's story.

I'm not drawing a line. I'm saying that he's never, out of the blue, decided to write and record a solo album. That has never happened. Either outside influencers came in to instigate the effort, or he already had a bunch of very old songs lying around ready to go.

It's not a question of "do you count these as solo albums?" It's a case of "has Ed's approach to his solo career given us any reason to be expectant?" And the answer is no.

Gotcha.

I hate to take McP's side on anything because he so willingly and lovingly rips me to shit whenever I post about anything, but, yeah, he's totally right. 100%

[tragabigzanda]

pearl jam sucks now

[bodysnatcher]

If you really look at it, half of the last two PJ albums have been Ed solo efforts

[VinylGuy]

Remember that one interview where Ed said that after his divorce he took a bunch of ecstasy and tried to make electronic music? REALLY hoping that sees the light of day.

Me too.

And yes, its weird but at the same time i appreciate Ed imput as a solo artist...i dont need him to become a Corgan type of solo artist..even Yorke..i dont know why but whenever he release stuff it feels more important.

[tragabigzanda]

pearl jam sucks now

[VinylGuy]

Remember that one interview where Ed said that after his divorce he took a bunch of ecstasy and tried to make electronic music? REALLY hoping that sees the light of day.

Me too.

And yes, its weird but at the same time i appreciate Ed imput as a solo artist...i dont need him to become a Corgan type of solo artist..even Yorke..i dont know why but whenever he release stuff it feels more important.

The uke record felt like a non-event for me.

For me too, but it was pretty successful for non Pj fans, almost like a novelty. I didnt care much because most of those songs,,i already had them, knew about their stories and stuff, but it was a pretty big event for other people. It was more of an event than, lets say....the last Thom Yorke album.