Cold Confession and Let It Ride - Avocado Outtakes

[Release_Me]

His singing on LB really isn't 'top notch'. Or at least, if that's the top notch I have to wonder how tall the bedpost is.

To my ears as a vocal snob, it is. He doesn't miss any notes and the higher parts are sung perfectly. It's not a particularly demanding vocal for him but it is perfectly well executed throughout it's range.

[Release_Me]

Other than that, I think you're assuming I'm saying a bunch of stuff I'm not saying. This is a problem not just with you, but with a lot of modern-day PJ apologists. You make one criticism and suddenly it comes with a bunch of other criticisms that you haven't even mentioned.

I'm not assuming anything. I am not a PJ apologist, far from it. I realise they are past their best and most of it is because Ed is past his best. I said so clearly several times. They still have it in them to make great albums but there is no way they are going to top the first three. For me and many others I believe, Ed is what made and makes this band great. The rest are all very good and proficient musicians in their own right but without Ed, PJ would have been just another good rock band. He elevates them to a level beyond just good. Ten, Vs and even Vitalogy to some extent are all albums where Ed takes centre stage. I would go so far as to say many of the earlier songs wouldn't be as memorable if it weren't for Ed. I can't imagine anyone else singing Evenflow, Jeremy, Black, etc. and me taking those songs seriously. Ed's vocal melodies, delivery, lyrics (however you may perceive them) are all part of what gave Pearl Jam their X-factor. Most of Jeremy is just Ed wailing indistinctly. A lot of Porch is just yeah-yeahs. His unique style and melodramatic approach is a big part of Pearl Jam's earlier successes. He branched out a lot in Vitalogy but the album was still very Ed-centric. No Code is the first time he took a backseat and I immediately thought the band were poorer for it. Just my opinion.

About these two songs, my point is that I don't expect a big difference in the studio versons based on what I've heard from this band in the past. FD is more likely to benefit from some studio magic. LB could improve too. I already like these songs and will like them a bit more probably when I hear the studio cuts. If someone doesn't like them, I don't think they will after listening to the album versions either. If you are on the fence, you might be swayed a bit. I don't think dislike will become like.

[harmless]

I didn't say anything about the first three. I would be happy if we got anything close to the first seven.

[Release_Me]

I like Backspacer the best after the first three No Code-Riot Act I don't care as much for. I would take Self Titled over any of these as far as overall albums are concerned. I'm obviously in the minority here.

[stip]

I like Backspacer the best after the first three No Code-Riot Act I don't care as much for. I would take Self Titled over any of these as far as overall albums are concerned. I'm obviously in the minority here.

WELCOME TO THE BOARD!!!

[Release_Me]

I like Backspacer the best after the first three No Code-Riot Act I don't care as much for. I would take Self Titled over any of these as far as overall albums are concerned. I'm obviously in the minority here.

WELCOME TO THE BOARD!!!

Haha! Thanks

I like Yield the best from the No Code-Riot Act era. It contains some songs which are better for me than anything off S/T or Backspacer but just not enough of those songs to catapult it clearly above these two. I would put it at par with S/T overall. No Code, Binaural & Riot Act are just very difficult overall listens for me. I want to love them but I only care for certain songs from each.

[stip]

Thank god there is finally someone else with good taste in these parts

[harmless]

Thank god there is finally someone else with good taste in these parts

said Ed to Brendan during the process of fixin' Backspacer.

[PHATJ]

Thank god there is finally someone else with good taste in these parts

Oh for the love of Christ

[PHATJ]

Thank god there is finally someone else with good taste in these parts

said Ed to Brendan during the process of fixin' Backspacer.

[Noaheb]

His singing on LB really isn't 'top notch'. Or at least, if that's the top notch I have to wonder how tall the bedpost is.

[Blenheim Augustine]

Their decline is largely down to the decline in Ed's voice.

Avocado might have benefited from better vocals but Backspacer just had boring songs. I think the 'decline' is largely due to the fact that they don't take Pearl Jam seriously as an artistic venture or at least can't collectively agree what they want to be as a band. Jeff was so excited about the music they created from the 2011 sessions that he hadn't listened to any of it a year later. Not surprising given that RNDM's last album is far superior to Backspacer.

[LikeLukin]

Their decline is largely down to the decline in Ed's voice.

Avocado might have benefited from better vocals but Backspacer just had boring songs. I think the 'decline' is largely due to the fact that they don't take Pearl Jam seriously as an artistic venture or at least can't collectively agree what they want to be as a band. Jeff was so excited about the music they created from the 2011 sessions that he hadn't listened to any of it a year later. Not surprising given that RNDM's last album is far superior to Backspacer.

[Release_Me]

I was not talking about the creativity aspect or whether they are as artistic or not. That is pretty much subjective. I love Backspacer more than any other album except the first three so I don't agree it's boring or in any way inferior to the middle period albums (96-02). I like S/T a lot too, as much as Yield which I personally think is hugely overrated here. My point was about the decline in their performances of the songs. Ed's voice is not the same and he can't pull off what he used to but he knows how to use his voice better now. I didn't think the vocals to S/T were bad at all, I liked them.

In simple terms, he has a worn down instrument (vocal chords) which he can't replace and has to make do with. However, he has better technique now and that enables him to make full use of what he has left. Ed's voice (I'm talking about the way he sounded back then more than actual vocal ability) was a huge part of the first three albums and it allowed him to make otherwise average or merely good songs great. That's not going to happen now but I will be extremely happy if I can get something as good as Backspacer. That is possible. Another Ten, Vs, or Vitalogy level album is not. At least that's what I think.

[stip]

agreed.

[LikeLukin]

I have a difficult time respecting the opinion of anyone who thinks Backspacer is better than Yield.

[Noaheb]

I have a difficult time respecting the opinion of anyone who thinks Backspacer is better than Yield.

[harmless]

I have a difficult time respecting the opinion of anyone who thinks Backspacer is better than Yield.

[stip]

I have a difficult time respecting the opinion of anyone who thinks Backspacer is better than Yield.

we have to work twice as hard to be taken seriously

[harmless]

I have a difficult time respecting the opinion of anyone who thinks Backspacer is better than Yield.

we have to work twice as hard to be taken seriously

You'd better start working then! Stop slacking.