The Pearl Jam vs Led Zeppelin showdown.
Posted: Thu October 03, 2013 10:26 am
Time is my greatest enemy but I've used some of it, unwisely, to create the Pearl Jam vs Led Zeppelin showdown. My results will more than likely earn me a flaming but I myself was shocked at my findings. I first took a look at the track lists of Zeppelin's albums and thought, 'Pearl Jam don't stand a chance going album for album with LZ' but after comparing song for song on them Pearl Jam came out as the victor. Some of the matches were extremely close, so I've labeled them as such but even if I would call those matches a tie, PJ would still edge out Zeppelin in a close war. Before this is all said and done, I'll have PJ take a shot at the defending champs, The Beatles, but I will only use the slow and medium tempo songs for that competition.
First up, Ten Vs Led Zeppelin (self titled):
close. good times bad times vs why go. result: why go. why: mainly mike's solo and the repetitive song structure LZ was known to use with songs like this and Rock and Roll, for example.
communication break down vs once. result: CBD. why: "once" doesn't wear really well, mainly due to the lyrical content.
close. baby i'm going to leave you vs evenflow. result: even flow. why: BIGTLY is a simple blues song with some breathing room for soloing. It's close only because I like the song a lot, otherwise it would be a landslide victory for evenflow.
you shook me vs jeremy. result- jeremy by far. why: see above. simple blues song vs a polished gem.
close. dazed and confused vs alive. result: alive. why: i don't give points based on length. alive is simply the better song- great solo, great chorus, great everything, a classic anthem.
your time is gonna come vs black. result: black. why: black is a beautiful song and rival for the best on the album.
close. black mountain side vs oceans. result: oceans. it was close only because i'm a sucker for instrumentals.
close. how many more times vs porch. result: porch. why? the chorus, guitar solo and vedder's voice are all great. how many more times drags on/loses steam.
i can't quit you baby vs garden. result: TIE
Final: TEN WINS!
--------------------------
Led Zepellin 2 vs VS:
close. whole lotta love vs animal. result: animal. why? i'm a bit biased here because i don't like WLL but we have to admit that bridge with Plant's sexual moanings is super cheesy and hard on the ears.
what is and what should never be vs rats. result: WIAWSNB
the lemon song vs glorified g. result: glorified g. catchy riff and great soloing vs simple blues tune (a cheesy one but i still like it) with good slide guitar.
heartbreaker vs go. result: TIE.
close. living loving made vs dissident. result: mike's guitar edges it for dissident. that tone is hard to beat and so is vedder yelling the chorus toward the end.
ramble on vs rearview mirror. result: rearview mirror. why? rearview mirror is great and ramble on is good.
moby dick vs eldery woman. result: elderly woman. why? elderly woman has a great melody. moby dick is an instrumental, which many would argue isn't a complete rock song, although i appreciate them a lot.
bring it on home vs leash. result: TIE. BIOH doesn't have a lot to offer and Leash is hindered by it's extremely angst ridden lyrics. The lyrics don't work well unless you're a pissed off teen, IMO. I like the guitar in Leash though.
very close. thank you vs daughter. result: daughter. why? the intro and guitar solo edges it for "daughter".
Final: Vs wins!
----------------------
Led Zeppelin 3 vs Vitalogy:
immigrant song vs spin the black circle. result: TIE.
friends vs tremor christ. result: TIE.
not for you vs celebration day. result: TIE.
last exit vs out on the tiles. result: last exit. why? last exit is one of the best songs on vitalogy. ONTT is one of the least on LZ 3.
close. gallows pole vs immortality. result: immortality. why? immortality's lyrics are great but that's subjective. the haunting beginning riff of Immortality and the breakdown of the guitars at the end edge this one for Immortality. Immortality seems to be the more complex tune here also.
bron yar stomp vs satans bed. result: TIE.
hats off to roy harper vs whipping. TIE.
since i've been loving you vs corduroy. result: corduroy. why? i like SIBLY a lot but it's another simple blues tune with room for soloing. corduroy is one of pearl jam's best songs and has an awesome riff and bridge.
tangerine vs betterman. result: betterman. i like tangerine but betterman is a great melody and has a great guitar breakdown at the end. betterman is a great song.
close. that's the way vs nothingman. result: nothingman. why? i like "that's the way" a lot because i like plant's tone in it but it's extremely simple and the chorus is very weak. nothing man has a great bridge and a better chorus.
Final: VITALOGY WINS!
---------------------------------------------
Houses of the Holy vs Yield:
close. the song remains the same vs faithful. result: faithful. why? TSRTS gets pretty cheesy toward the end with Plants odd singing (squealing) but I still like the song.
over the hills and far away vs given to fly. result: given to fly. why? the build up to the chorus on "given to fly" is great. i like them both but "given to fly" is the better song.
close. the crunge vs mfc. result: mfc. why? everything about mfc is very catchy.
dancing days vs in hiding. result: TIE.
the ocean vs do the evolution. result: do the evolution. why? "do the evolution" has a great riff and the backing vocals sound great in the bridge.
the rain song vs low light. result: the rain song. why? the rain song is not just more complex but is also a very beautiful sounding song.
dyer maker vs wishlist. result: TIE. two very catchy songs.
no quarter vs no way. result: no quarter. i like "no way" a lot but "no quarter" is a great epic tune.
Final: YIELD WINS!
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Led Zeppelin 4 vs No Code:
black dog vs in my tree. result: in my tree. why? im extra biased on this match because i don't like black dog but i honestly think "in my tree" is far better. vedder's singing and the drums on "in my tree" are both great. "black dog" is cheesy and doesn't flow or wear well.
rock n roll vs who you are. result: who you are. why? again, i don't like rock n roll. it has no melody or instrumental value. it has a generic riff that is a little catchy but the rest of the song is too hard on the ears, including the plant's delivery. the same can be said of vedder's vocal delivery here but the song is very catchy, including it's guitar bridge.
battle of evermore vs hail hail. result: TIE.
stairway to heaven vs smile. result: STH. no contest.
misty mountain hop vs habit. result. MMH. why? MMH's riff is great and habit isn't an easy listen for everyone.
four sticks vs off he goes. result: off he goes. why? vedder's delivery and the song is catchy with some noteworthy acoustic guitar.
when the levee breaks vs red mosquito. result: TIE.
going to california vs present tense. result: TIE. i think "present tense" is the better song but i was lenient toward "going to california" (cheesy vocal delivery from plant during the bridge and it's a very simple song) due to it's popularity.
When I set out to compare these two, I didn't think No Code had a chance but as you might have guessed.....
NO CODE WINS!
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
I was unable to use all the songs from each of those 5 Pearl Jam albums and there are 4 remaining Pearl Jam albums (6 more if I count Lightning Bolt and their double b-side album Lost Dogs). Led Zeppelin only has 4 albums remaining and only two of those made the try outs for this competition, Physical Graffiti and In Through the Out Door. If any of you pity Led Zeppelin at this point and would like to see them hobble through the finish line, I'll allow you to set the rules for the remainder of the competition. Thanks for your attendance.
First up, Ten Vs Led Zeppelin (self titled):
close. good times bad times vs why go. result: why go. why: mainly mike's solo and the repetitive song structure LZ was known to use with songs like this and Rock and Roll, for example.
communication break down vs once. result: CBD. why: "once" doesn't wear really well, mainly due to the lyrical content.
close. baby i'm going to leave you vs evenflow. result: even flow. why: BIGTLY is a simple blues song with some breathing room for soloing. It's close only because I like the song a lot, otherwise it would be a landslide victory for evenflow.
you shook me vs jeremy. result- jeremy by far. why: see above. simple blues song vs a polished gem.
close. dazed and confused vs alive. result: alive. why: i don't give points based on length. alive is simply the better song- great solo, great chorus, great everything, a classic anthem.
your time is gonna come vs black. result: black. why: black is a beautiful song and rival for the best on the album.
close. black mountain side vs oceans. result: oceans. it was close only because i'm a sucker for instrumentals.
close. how many more times vs porch. result: porch. why? the chorus, guitar solo and vedder's voice are all great. how many more times drags on/loses steam.
i can't quit you baby vs garden. result: TIE
Final: TEN WINS!
--------------------------
Led Zepellin 2 vs VS:
close. whole lotta love vs animal. result: animal. why? i'm a bit biased here because i don't like WLL but we have to admit that bridge with Plant's sexual moanings is super cheesy and hard on the ears.
what is and what should never be vs rats. result: WIAWSNB
the lemon song vs glorified g. result: glorified g. catchy riff and great soloing vs simple blues tune (a cheesy one but i still like it) with good slide guitar.
heartbreaker vs go. result: TIE.
close. living loving made vs dissident. result: mike's guitar edges it for dissident. that tone is hard to beat and so is vedder yelling the chorus toward the end.
ramble on vs rearview mirror. result: rearview mirror. why? rearview mirror is great and ramble on is good.
moby dick vs eldery woman. result: elderly woman. why? elderly woman has a great melody. moby dick is an instrumental, which many would argue isn't a complete rock song, although i appreciate them a lot.
bring it on home vs leash. result: TIE. BIOH doesn't have a lot to offer and Leash is hindered by it's extremely angst ridden lyrics. The lyrics don't work well unless you're a pissed off teen, IMO. I like the guitar in Leash though.
very close. thank you vs daughter. result: daughter. why? the intro and guitar solo edges it for "daughter".
Final: Vs wins!
----------------------
Led Zeppelin 3 vs Vitalogy:
immigrant song vs spin the black circle. result: TIE.
friends vs tremor christ. result: TIE.
not for you vs celebration day. result: TIE.
last exit vs out on the tiles. result: last exit. why? last exit is one of the best songs on vitalogy. ONTT is one of the least on LZ 3.
close. gallows pole vs immortality. result: immortality. why? immortality's lyrics are great but that's subjective. the haunting beginning riff of Immortality and the breakdown of the guitars at the end edge this one for Immortality. Immortality seems to be the more complex tune here also.
bron yar stomp vs satans bed. result: TIE.
hats off to roy harper vs whipping. TIE.
since i've been loving you vs corduroy. result: corduroy. why? i like SIBLY a lot but it's another simple blues tune with room for soloing. corduroy is one of pearl jam's best songs and has an awesome riff and bridge.
tangerine vs betterman. result: betterman. i like tangerine but betterman is a great melody and has a great guitar breakdown at the end. betterman is a great song.
close. that's the way vs nothingman. result: nothingman. why? i like "that's the way" a lot because i like plant's tone in it but it's extremely simple and the chorus is very weak. nothing man has a great bridge and a better chorus.
Final: VITALOGY WINS!
---------------------------------------------
Houses of the Holy vs Yield:
close. the song remains the same vs faithful. result: faithful. why? TSRTS gets pretty cheesy toward the end with Plants odd singing (squealing) but I still like the song.
over the hills and far away vs given to fly. result: given to fly. why? the build up to the chorus on "given to fly" is great. i like them both but "given to fly" is the better song.
close. the crunge vs mfc. result: mfc. why? everything about mfc is very catchy.
dancing days vs in hiding. result: TIE.
the ocean vs do the evolution. result: do the evolution. why? "do the evolution" has a great riff and the backing vocals sound great in the bridge.
the rain song vs low light. result: the rain song. why? the rain song is not just more complex but is also a very beautiful sounding song.
dyer maker vs wishlist. result: TIE. two very catchy songs.
no quarter vs no way. result: no quarter. i like "no way" a lot but "no quarter" is a great epic tune.
Final: YIELD WINS!
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Led Zeppelin 4 vs No Code:
black dog vs in my tree. result: in my tree. why? im extra biased on this match because i don't like black dog but i honestly think "in my tree" is far better. vedder's singing and the drums on "in my tree" are both great. "black dog" is cheesy and doesn't flow or wear well.
rock n roll vs who you are. result: who you are. why? again, i don't like rock n roll. it has no melody or instrumental value. it has a generic riff that is a little catchy but the rest of the song is too hard on the ears, including the plant's delivery. the same can be said of vedder's vocal delivery here but the song is very catchy, including it's guitar bridge.
battle of evermore vs hail hail. result: TIE.
stairway to heaven vs smile. result: STH. no contest.
misty mountain hop vs habit. result. MMH. why? MMH's riff is great and habit isn't an easy listen for everyone.
four sticks vs off he goes. result: off he goes. why? vedder's delivery and the song is catchy with some noteworthy acoustic guitar.
when the levee breaks vs red mosquito. result: TIE.
going to california vs present tense. result: TIE. i think "present tense" is the better song but i was lenient toward "going to california" (cheesy vocal delivery from plant during the bridge and it's a very simple song) due to it's popularity.
When I set out to compare these two, I didn't think No Code had a chance but as you might have guessed.....
NO CODE WINS!
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
I was unable to use all the songs from each of those 5 Pearl Jam albums and there are 4 remaining Pearl Jam albums (6 more if I count Lightning Bolt and their double b-side album Lost Dogs). Led Zeppelin only has 4 albums remaining and only two of those made the try outs for this competition, Physical Graffiti and In Through the Out Door. If any of you pity Led Zeppelin at this point and would like to see them hobble through the finish line, I'll allow you to set the rules for the remainder of the competition. Thanks for your attendance.
