Pearl Jam albums are really frontloaded

[mikejasond]

I know a lot of people would want to put their best foot forward first, so I know this isnt quite unusual, however Pearl Jam seems to really have this prominent in their catalog

Ten is one of their most solid albums with very little filler, but the first half of the album is DEFINITELY the most iconic half (Even Flow, Alive, Black, Jeremy). The second half is a bit of a falloff, even if the only actual filler tracks are probably "Garden" and "Deep", still those come at the end of the album.

Vs...hmm...I wonder if this is an exception? Go, Animal, Daughter, is a CRAZY streak to start the album, but Glorified G (while I love it) is a bit fillery, and the second half has RVM, Elderly Woman, and Indifference. This one might be evenly distributed honestly. Huh...interesting

Vitalogy is maybe the biggest offender. Last Exit -> Nothingman is an incredible run and then Whipping starts and the album completely falls off a cliff. From Whipping to the end of the album there are really only three tracks worth a damn (Corduroy, Better Man, Immortality) and then a TON of filler padding it out. Those 3 tracks are awesome, but this album is definitely a huge falloff in the second half.

No Code...it's not as clear cut...it does have Red Mosquito and Present Tense waiting in the wings...but the first tracks are overall the strongest, from Sometimes -> Off He goes, compared to the next 7 tracks after it.

Yield is another one that starts off very solid from Brain of J -> Given to Fly, but then only really has Do the Evolution, and In Hiding waiting in the wings (I also like Low Light a lot ) but overall another album where the first 4-5 tracks stand out.

Binaural is the exception, starting with their weakest 3 songs (Sorry guys, I hate these 3) and then reaching a consistent mediocrity from there on out so it doesnt fit the formula really

Riot Act does fit it, except the falloff is dramatically quick, the first 3 tracks are the best on the album, and then everything is bland until All Or None.

ST, Life Wasted -> Marker is definitely the strongest stretch of the album

Backspacer may be the most consistent record they've ever released

I don't even know with LB that one is all over the place. But overall I think the first half Getaway -> Infallible is stronger than the second, Pendulum -> Future Days.

I dunno. I feel like besides Binaural and Backspacer and maybe vs?, the albums generally have much weaker second than first halfs

[E.H. Ruddock]

I know a lot of people would want to put their best foot forward first, so I know this isnt quite unusual, however Pearl Jam seems to really have this prominent in their catalog

Ten is one of their most solid albums with very little filler, but the first half of the album is DEFINITELY the most iconic half (Even Flow, Alive, Black, Jeremy). The second half is a bit of a falloff, even if the only actual filler tracks are probably "Garden" and "Deep", still those come at the end of the album.

Vs...hmm...I wonder if this is an exception? Go, Animal, Daughter, is a CRAZY streak to start the album, but Glorified G (while I love it) is a bit fillery, and the second half has RVM, Elderly Woman, and Indifference. This one might be evenly distributed honestly. Huh...interesting

Vitalogy is maybe the biggest offender. Last Exit -> Nothingman is an incredible run and then Whipping starts and the album completely falls off a cliff. From Whipping to the end of the album there are really only three tracks worth a damn (Corduroy, Better Man, Immortality) and then a TON of filler padding it out. Those 3 tracks are awesome, but this album is definitely a huge falloff in the second half.

No Code...it's not as clear cut...it does have Red Mosquito and Present Tense waiting in the wings...but the first tracks are overall the strongest, from Sometimes -> Off He goes, compared to the next 7 tracks after it.

Yield is another one that starts off very solid from Brain of J -> Given to Fly, but then only really has Do the Evolution, and In Hiding waiting in the wings (I also like Low Light a lot ) but overall another album where the first 4-5 tracks stand out.

Binaural is the exception, starting with their weakest 3 songs (Sorry guys, I hate these 3) and then reaching a consistent mediocrity from there on out so it doesnt fit the formula really

Riot Act does fit it, except the falloff is dramatically quick, the first 3 tracks are the best on the album, and then everything is bland until All Or None.

ST, Life Wasted -> Marker is definitely the strongest stretch of the album

Backspacer may be the most consistent record they've ever released

I don't even know with LB that one is all over the place. But overall I think the first half Getaway -> Infallible is stronger than the second, Pendulum -> Future Days.

I dunno. I feel like besides Binaural and Backspacer and maybe vs?, the albums generally have much weaker second than first halfs

Don't we have a thread about album openers? If so I will be merging this discussion into that, mjd.

[mikejasond]

I know a lot of people would want to put their best foot forward first, so I know this isnt quite unusual, however Pearl Jam seems to really have this prominent in their catalog

Ten is one of their most solid albums with very little filler, but the first half of the album is DEFINITELY the most iconic half (Even Flow, Alive, Black, Jeremy). The second half is a bit of a falloff, even if the only actual filler tracks are probably "Garden" and "Deep", still those come at the end of the album.

Vs...hmm...I wonder if this is an exception? Go, Animal, Daughter, is a CRAZY streak to start the album, but Glorified G (while I love it) is a bit fillery, and the second half has RVM, Elderly Woman, and Indifference. This one might be evenly distributed honestly. Huh...interesting

Vitalogy is maybe the biggest offender. Last Exit -> Nothingman is an incredible run and then Whipping starts and the album completely falls off a cliff. From Whipping to the end of the album there are really only three tracks worth a damn (Corduroy, Better Man, Immortality) and then a TON of filler padding it out. Those 3 tracks are awesome, but this album is definitely a huge falloff in the second half.

No Code...it's not as clear cut...it does have Red Mosquito and Present Tense waiting in the wings...but the first tracks are overall the strongest, from Sometimes -> Off He goes, compared to the next 7 tracks after it.

Yield is another one that starts off very solid from Brain of J -> Given to Fly, but then only really has Do the Evolution, and In Hiding waiting in the wings (I also like Low Light a lot ) but overall another album where the first 4-5 tracks stand out.

Binaural is the exception, starting with their weakest 3 songs (Sorry guys, I hate these 3) and then reaching a consistent mediocrity from there on out so it doesnt fit the formula really

Riot Act does fit it, except the falloff is dramatically quick, the first 3 tracks are the best on the album, and then everything is bland until All Or None.

ST, Life Wasted -> Marker is definitely the strongest stretch of the album

Backspacer may be the most consistent record they've ever released

I don't even know with LB that one is all over the place. But overall I think the first half Getaway -> Infallible is stronger than the second, Pendulum -> Future Days.

I dunno. I feel like besides Binaural and Backspacer and maybe vs?, the albums generally have much weaker second than first halfs

Don't we have a thread about album openers? If so I will be merging this discussion into that, mjd.

Its not about album OPENERS, its about the opening stretches of the albums. Not the opening songs.

[E.H. Ruddock]

I know a lot of people would want to put their best foot forward first, so I know this isnt quite unusual, however Pearl Jam seems to really have this prominent in their catalog

Ten is one of their most solid albums with very little filler, but the first half of the album is DEFINITELY the most iconic half (Even Flow, Alive, Black, Jeremy). The second half is a bit of a falloff, even if the only actual filler tracks are probably "Garden" and "Deep", still those come at the end of the album.

Vs...hmm...I wonder if this is an exception? Go, Animal, Daughter, is a CRAZY streak to start the album, but Glorified G (while I love it) is a bit fillery, and the second half has RVM, Elderly Woman, and Indifference. This one might be evenly distributed honestly. Huh...interesting

Vitalogy is maybe the biggest offender. Last Exit -> Nothingman is an incredible run and then Whipping starts and the album completely falls off a cliff. From Whipping to the end of the album there are really only three tracks worth a damn (Corduroy, Better Man, Immortality) and then a TON of filler padding it out. Those 3 tracks are awesome, but this album is definitely a huge falloff in the second half.

No Code...it's not as clear cut...it does have Red Mosquito and Present Tense waiting in the wings...but the first tracks are overall the strongest, from Sometimes -> Off He goes, compared to the next 7 tracks after it.

Yield is another one that starts off very solid from Brain of J -> Given to Fly, but then only really has Do the Evolution, and In Hiding waiting in the wings (I also like Low Light a lot ) but overall another album where the first 4-5 tracks stand out.

Binaural is the exception, starting with their weakest 3 songs (Sorry guys, I hate these 3) and then reaching a consistent mediocrity from there on out so it doesnt fit the formula really

Riot Act does fit it, except the falloff is dramatically quick, the first 3 tracks are the best on the album, and then everything is bland until All Or None.

ST, Life Wasted -> Marker is definitely the strongest stretch of the album

Backspacer may be the most consistent record they've ever released

I don't even know with LB that one is all over the place. But overall I think the first half Getaway -> Infallible is stronger than the second, Pendulum -> Future Days.

I dunno. I feel like besides Binaural and Backspacer and maybe vs?, the albums generally have much weaker second than first halfs

Don't we have a thread about album openers? If so I will be merging this discussion into that, mjd.

Its not about album OPENERS, its about the opening stretches of the albums. Not the opening songs.

That is what I meant. We had a long discussion on this forum about the first 3 songs of each album.

[Jorge]

Suggestion: a general "Mikejasond's Pearl Jam observations" thread.

[Kevin Davis]

By the way, mikejasond, RM has an expectation that, before you start a new topic, you search the entire board archive in case someone may have started a vaguely similar thread sometime in the last 3 years.

[mikejasond]

I know a lot of people would want to put their best foot forward first, so I know this isnt quite unusual, however Pearl Jam seems to really have this prominent in their catalog

Ten is one of their most solid albums with very little filler, but the first half of the album is DEFINITELY the most iconic half (Even Flow, Alive, Black, Jeremy). The second half is a bit of a falloff, even if the only actual filler tracks are probably "Garden" and "Deep", still those come at the end of the album.

Vs...hmm...I wonder if this is an exception? Go, Animal, Daughter, is a CRAZY streak to start the album, but Glorified G (while I love it) is a bit fillery, and the second half has RVM, Elderly Woman, and Indifference. This one might be evenly distributed honestly. Huh...interesting

Vitalogy is maybe the biggest offender. Last Exit -> Nothingman is an incredible run and then Whipping starts and the album completely falls off a cliff. From Whipping to the end of the album there are really only three tracks worth a damn (Corduroy, Better Man, Immortality) and then a TON of filler padding it out. Those 3 tracks are awesome, but this album is definitely a huge falloff in the second half.

No Code...it's not as clear cut...it does have Red Mosquito and Present Tense waiting in the wings...but the first tracks are overall the strongest, from Sometimes -> Off He goes, compared to the next 7 tracks after it.

Yield is another one that starts off very solid from Brain of J -> Given to Fly, but then only really has Do the Evolution, and In Hiding waiting in the wings (I also like Low Light a lot ) but overall another album where the first 4-5 tracks stand out.

Binaural is the exception, starting with their weakest 3 songs (Sorry guys, I hate these 3) and then reaching a consistent mediocrity from there on out so it doesnt fit the formula really

Riot Act does fit it, except the falloff is dramatically quick, the first 3 tracks are the best on the album, and then everything is bland until All Or None.

ST, Life Wasted -> Marker is definitely the strongest stretch of the album

Backspacer may be the most consistent record they've ever released

I don't even know with LB that one is all over the place. But overall I think the first half Getaway -> Infallible is stronger than the second, Pendulum -> Future Days.

I dunno. I feel like besides Binaural and Backspacer and maybe vs?, the albums generally have much weaker second than first halfs

Don't we have a thread about album openers? If so I will be merging this discussion into that, mjd.

Its not about album OPENERS, its about the opening stretches of the albums. Not the opening songs.

That is what I meant. We had a long discussion on this forum about the first 3 songs of each album.

Well this isn't quite the first THREE songs necessarily either

[mikejasond]

Suggestion: a general "Mikejasond's Pearl Jam observations" thread.

Thats no fun.

[E.H. Ruddock]

By the way, mikejasond, RM has an expectation that, before you start a new topic, you search the entire board archive in case someone may have started a vaguely similar thread sometime in the last 3 years.

We don't want to turn into the Pit, KD.

[mikejasond]

By the way, mikejasond, RM has an expectation that, before you start a new topic, you search the entire board archive in case someone may have started a vaguely similar thread sometime in the last 3 years.

We don't want to turn into the Pit, KD.

Isnt that based more on user base than on topic titles? Why not just have 1 topic and call it "The Pearl Jam topic"

[Jorge]

That sounds great. Let's do that.

[Kevin Davis]

By the way, mikejasond, RM has an expectation that, before you start a new topic, you search the entire board archive in case someone may have started a vaguely similar thread sometime in the last 3 years.

We don't want to turn into the Pit, KD.

I understand the preference for fewer threads. In this case I don't know that the existent thread would be easily found in the kind of cursory search that is reasonable to expect someone to perform. I also remember being a new poster and finding the militant obession with thread-merging kind of silly.

[Brett]

I'm going to disagree on probably most of this thesis.

The back half of Ten is better.
You're probably right about Vs., but for the fact "Rearviewmirror" is on the second half.
Vitalogy through Yield all space their highlights fairly evenly throughout.
Binuaral is a great run from start to finish, but most of it's strongest tracks are again on the second side.
Riot Act's first act is stronger, but not significantly so.
The best part of "Avocado" is near the middle, "Severed Hand" through "Unemployable."
I can't comment about Backspacer, because, as usual, just looking at the tracklist doesn't help me remember which song is which. It's really that unmemorable.
Lightning Bolt is like "Avocado" in that it's best tracks fall roughly in the middle of the album.

[LoathedVermin72]

ugh everything

[E.H. Ruddock]

ugh everything

IDGAF anymore

[LoathedVermin72]

ugh everything

IDGAF anymore

yeah I'm with you buddy

[ABNorman]

The Pearl Jam topic

[mikejasond]

How could anybody think the back half of Ten is better than the front half? Release and Porch are awesome, but Oceans, Garden, Deep feel like filler after the stellar first half which is untouchable.

But you also said Vitalogy spaces its highlights evenly throughout which is equally ridiculous. Yes, Corduroy, Better Man, Immortality are amazing tracks but they are surrounded by ridiculous nonsense like Bugs and Aye Davenita, as well as filler tracks like Satan's Bed and Whipping. Last Exit, STBC, Not For You, Tremor Christ, NothingMan is an incredible run of songs in a row, and then there are 3 more meaningful tracks across 9 more songs on the album

[LoathedVermin72]

"Oceans" is the second best song on Ten, and "Garden" and "Deep" are also awesome. Hardly filler.

"Satan's Bed" and "Whipping" are both better than "Nothingman".

[E.H. Ruddock]

How could anybody think the back half of Ten is better than the front half? Release and Porch are awesome, but Oceans, Garden, Deep feel like filler after the stellar first half which is untouchable.

Tracks 6 - 11 are way better than the first 5 on Ten. I feel like I can't discuss it in this thread though because it does not jive with your opinion in your thread title.