Gigaton: Official album thread

[Monkey_Driven]

Far from No Code and Yield in quality (which arguably is Pearl Jam at their very best), and not as replayable over time. But it's a good modern Pearl Jam album. If Dark Matter is of a similar quality, I think Pearl Jam has made a really good comeback/recovery, after Lightning Bolt was their weakest album.

I agree with this...though i think Pearl Jam at their very best was more the Vitalogy-Merkinball-No Code era.

Looking at the entire catalogue there's never been a jump in quality between albums like we saw with Lightning Bolt into Gigaton. Huge comeback/recovery.

Absolutely, if Dark Matter (and the subsequent tour(s)) can match Gigaton it will be a true new era for the band.

[Anders]

Far from No Code and Yield in quality (which arguably is Pearl Jam at their very best), and not as replayable over time. But it's a good modern Pearl Jam album. If Dark Matter is of a similar quality, I think Pearl Jam has made a really good comeback/recovery, after Lightning Bolt was their weakest album.

I agree with this...though i think Pearl Jam at their very best was more the Vitalogy-Merkinball-No Code era.

Looking at the entire catalogue there's never been a jump in quality between albums like we saw with Lightning Bolt into Gigaton. Huge comeback/recovery.

Merkinball is stunning, and I an glad to include it in a Merkinball-No Code-Yield trilogy.

Vitalogy has some of their finest moments, but not quite as good an album as Yield.

Yes, the jump between Lightning Bolt and Gigaton was substantial, but they need one more solid album (Dark Matter) to complete the comeback/recovery.

[VinylGuy]

Far from No Code and Yield in quality (which arguably is Pearl Jam at their very best), and not as replayable over time. But it's a good modern Pearl Jam album. If Dark Matter is of a similar quality, I think Pearl Jam has made a really good comeback/recovery, after Lightning Bolt was their weakest album.

I agree with this...though i think Pearl Jam at their very best was more the Vitalogy-Merkinball-No Code era.

Looking at the entire catalogue there's never been a jump in quality between albums like we saw with Lightning Bolt into Gigaton. Huge comeback/recovery.

Absolutely, if Dark Matter (and the subsequent tour(s)) can match Gigaton it will be a true new era for the band.

And the band kinda noticed that LB was not good with time.

[Ms Harmless]

Far from No Code and Yield in quality (which arguably is Pearl Jam at their very best), and not as replayable over time. But it's a good modern Pearl Jam album. If Dark Matter is of a similar quality, I think Pearl Jam has made a really good comeback/recovery, after Lightning Bolt was their weakest album.

I agree with this...though i think Pearl Jam at their very best was more the Vitalogy-Merkinball-No Code era.

Looking at the entire catalogue there's never been a jump in quality between albums like we saw with Lightning Bolt into Gigaton. Huge comeback/recovery.

Absolutely, if Dark Matter (and the subsequent tour(s)) can match Gigaton it will be a true new era for the band.

And the band kinda noticed that LB was not good with time.

did they?

[Anders]

Far from No Code and Yield in quality (which arguably is Pearl Jam at their very best), and not as replayable over time. But it's a good modern Pearl Jam album. If Dark Matter is of a similar quality, I think Pearl Jam has made a really good comeback/recovery, after Lightning Bolt was their weakest album.

I agree with this...though i think Pearl Jam at their very best was more the Vitalogy-Merkinball-No Code era.

Looking at the entire catalogue there's never been a jump in quality between albums like we saw with Lightning Bolt into Gigaton. Huge comeback/recovery.

Absolutely, if Dark Matter (and the subsequent tour(s)) can match Gigaton it will be a true new era for the band.

And the band kinda noticed that LB was not good with time.

did they?

Probably not.

[epilogue]

This album is really good.

[Jaeti]

F-I-V-E. S-T-A-R-S.

[VinylGuy]

Yeah currently being number 3 on my PJ ranking

[ridleybradout]

I just listened to my 'Gigaton Live' comp for the first time in years and really enjoyed the first half, which backed up my thoughts that although Gigaton was a surprisely great album for this stage in their career (especially after LB as others have mentioned), it falls apart in the back half.

My current and probably future star ratings:

5/5
Dance of the Clairvoyants

4/5
Who Ever Said
Quick Escape
Get It Back (rightly left off the album, but better than everything below)

3/5
Superblood Wolfmoon
Seven O'Clock
Take the Long Way
Alright

2/5
Never Destination
Buckle Up
Retrograde
Comes Then Goes
River Cross

[Birds in Hell]

Man, I love Get It Back!

Maybe (?) my favorite post-Binaural Pearl Jam song.

[Val]

I just listened to my 'Gigaton Live' comp for the first time in years and really enjoyed the first half, which backed up my thoughts that although Gigaton was a surprisely great album for this stage in their career (especially after LB as others have mentioned), it falls apart in the back half.

I’m with you on this.
I have zero interest in the likes of Retardgrade, River Fuss, Comes Then Wipes and all their Ukulele Songs dropout siblings.

[ridleybradout]

Man, I love Get It Back!

Maybe (?) my favorite post-Binaural Pearl Jam song.

I just listened to it again for the first time in years and bumped it up to 4 stars

I always suspected it was a Matt Cameron song and just saw on the credits on Apple Music that it is (100% credit)

[guitar_davey]

To me, Get It Back is the most classic-feeling PJ song since Riot Act.

[stip]

i just listened to get it back the other day for the first time in a good while. That song doesnt really do much for me. its the pearl jam lane i like the least. Let it Ride is another one folks seemed to really dig that fell flat for me. What do peole like about it?

[Strat]

i just listened to get it back the other day for the first time in a good while. That song doesnt really do much for me. its the pearl jam lane i like the least. Let it Ride is another one folks seemed to really dig that fell flat for me. What do peole like about it?

Its subtle. Somewhat unique. Not trying to be catchy or anthemic but just lets the song speak for itself. There's groove.

The way the song is written feels natural. Both outro's feel like a natural progression of playing the instrument rather than shoehorning in some massive anthemic outro. Creates a more authentic emotional release for me.

[guitar_davey]

i just listened to get it back the other day for the first time in a good while. That song doesnt really do much for me. its the pearl jam lane i like the least. Let it Ride is another one folks seemed to really dig that fell flat for me. What do peole like about it?

For me, it's got that warm-sounding acoustic rock vibe that was a huge part of PJ's sound since the first record. Maybe it's because it feels like it should be on Lost Dogs, which at this point is "old" Pearl Jam. I also like the way it lifts off at the end -- I was about to credit Mike for a good solo, but now I'm listening and wondering if it's actually Stone.

[guitar_davey]

i just listened to get it back the other day for the first time in a good while. That song doesnt really do much for me. its the pearl jam lane i like the least. Let it Ride is another one folks seemed to really dig that fell flat for me. What do peole like about it?

Its subtle. Somewhat unique. Not trying to be catchy or anthemic but just lets the song speak for itself. There's groove.

The way the song is written feels natural. Both outro's feel like a natural progression of playing the instrument rather than shoehorning in some massive anthemic outro. Creates a more authentic emotional release for me.

I agree with Strat on all of this. It's got that Pearl Jam mystique to it without it sounding like they're trying to do that.

[E.H. Ruddock]

With the new album out for the next tour, I'm assuming we'll get probably two of the following songs each show from this album and not much more.

DotC
SBWM (gross)
7 O'Clock
Never Destination
River Cross

[guitar_davey]

With the new album out for the next tour, I'm assuming we'll get probably two of the following songs each show from this album and not much more.

DotC
SBWM (gross)
7 O'Clock
Never Destination
River Cross

I'd argue that Who Ever Said is the band's darling from that record and will get the most play.

[stip]

With the new album out for the next tour, I'm assuming we'll get probably two of the following songs each show from this album and not much more.

DotC
SBWM (gross)
7 O'Clock
Never Destination
River Cross

Dance, Who Ever Said, QE, and Retrograde were the songs they played the most, I think.