RANK THE ALBUMS

[Norah]

I agree with all of that except for the part about Riot Act. I like those songs more than you do.

[epilogue]

Newly revised ranking:

1. Vitalogy
2. Ten
3. Riot Act
4. Yield
5. No Code
6. Vs.
7. Backspacer
8. S/T.
9. Binaural

You have Ten too high and No Code too low. But you're coming around.

No Code jumped like two spots! That's gotta count for something.

[Norah]

Newly revised ranking:

1. Vitalogy
2. Ten
3. Riot Act
4. Yield
5. No Code
6. Vs.
7. Backspacer
8. S/T.
9. Binaural

You have Ten too high and No Code too low. But you're coming around.

No Code jumped like two spots! That's gotta count for something.

I said you're coming around.

[epilogue]

Newly revised ranking:

1. Vitalogy
2. Ten
3. Riot Act
4. Yield
5. No Code
6. Vs.
7. Backspacer
8. S/T.
9. Binaural

You have Ten too high and No Code too low. But you're coming around.

No Code jumped like two spots! That's gotta count for something.

I said you're coming around.

Ten literally changed my life. There are few other albums that can make that claim.

[Birds in Hell]

I do really like every one of PJ's album. Even the bottom records I still think are quite good

I do think there's at least some aspect of every Pearl Jam record I can enjoy except for Backspacer. The (admittedly somewhat limited) charms of the self-titled record became more evident over time, I think it and Riot Act have a similar ratio of good songs to misfires in retrospect, but Backspacer actually seems even slighter than it did on release. It's dull, featureless and forgettable music. While I might say I would never have persisted with Pearl Jam's post-Yield output were it not for the fact that it was made by a band whose work I've previously enjoyed, I can't even muster up that level of half-hearted enthusiasm for Backspacer. I can't think of any other band I've ever followed as a fan presenting such a dramatic change in regards to how enjoyable I find their work without some other explaining factor like a major line-up change.

It's a really weird record (and not in the good way.)

I agree with all of that except for the part about Riot Act. I like those songs more than you do.

Last time I listened to Riot Act I was really struck by how unsatisfying it felt as a listening experience. I recall enjoying Can't Keep in the past but I found myself getting annoyed at how McCready's hesitant noodling really holds the song back from developing into something interesting. I still think Cropduster and All or None are wonderful but the rest felt either like simply weak songs or good ideas that the band were unable to see through to proper fruition.

[epilogue]

I do really like every one of PJ's album. Even the bottom records I still think are quite good

I do think there's at least some aspect of every Pearl Jam record I can enjoy except for Backspacer. The (admittedly somewhat limited) charms of the self-titled record became more evident over time, I think it and Riot Act have a similar ratio of good songs to misfires in retrospect, but Backspacer actually seems even slighter than it did on release. It's dull, featureless and forgettable music. While I might say I would never have persisted with Pearl Jam's post-Yield output were it not for the fact that it was made by a band whose work I've previously enjoyed, I can't even muster up that level of half-hearted enthusiasm for Backspacer. I can't think of any other band I've ever followed as a fan presenting such a dramatic change in regards to how enjoyable I find their work without some other explaining factor like a major line-up change.

It's a really weird record (and not in the good way.)

I agree with all of that except for the part about Riot Act. I like those songs more than you do.

Last time I listened to Riot Act I was really struck by how unsatisfying it felt as a listening experience. I recall enjoying Can't Keep in the past but I found myself getting annoyed at how McCready's hesitant noodling really holds the song back from developing into something interesting. I still think Cropduster and All or None are wonderful but the rest felt either like simply weak songs or good ideas that the band were unable to see through to proper fruition.

Hearts are breaking...

[digster]

The fact that there's no album following Binaural on that list is kinda rough.

[Norah]

Joey, what's your problem with Binaural?

[Birds in Hell]

I think Binaural is less consistent than any of their records up to that point but clearly superior to any released since.

[epilogue]

Joey, what's your problem with Binaural?

The thing is all over the place. There are some GREAT tunes on that guy, but the first three songs really hurt it, for me. And people can talk about how it doesn't matter or whatever but the leftovers really are stronger than some of the included songs.

But let's keep in mind that just because it's my "least" favorite PJ album doesn't mean it's bad, by any stretch. I'd still give the thing a solid 7 maybe even a 7.5 out of 10. Not bad, at all.

[epilogue]

I think Binaural is less consistent than any of their records up to that point but clearly superior to any released since.

Yes. Except Riot Act.

[Norah]

I think Binaural is less consistent than any of their records up to that point but clearly superior to any released since.

Yes. Except Riot Act.

But...you rank Backspacer and Self Titled both as better than Binaural.

[epilogue]

I think Binaural is less consistent than any of their records up to that point but clearly superior to any released since.

Yes. Except Riot Act.

But...you rank Backspacer and Self Titled both as better than Binaural.

And those two.

[Birds in Hell]

I think Binaural is less consistent than any of their records up to that point but clearly superior to any released since.

Yes. Except Riot Act.

But...you rank Backspacer and Self Titled both as better than Binaural.

And those two.

[stip]

Newly revised ranking:

1. Vitalogy
2. Ten
3. Riot Act
4. Yield
5. No Code
6. Vs.
7. Backspacer
8. S/T.
9. Binaural

You have Ten too high and No Code too low. But you're coming around.

No Code jumped like two spots! That's gotta count for something.

it's a phase. those other two albums are better

[epilogue]

I think Binaural is less consistent than any of their records up to that point but clearly superior to any released since.

Yes. Except Riot Act.

But...you rank Backspacer and Self Titled both as better than Binaural.

And those two.

LISTEN HERE, SPEENO! ANYONE WHO DOESN'T HAVE RIOT ACT IN THEIR TOP 4 ISN'T ALLOWED TO GIVE ME ANY LIP

[epilogue]

Newly revised ranking:

1. Vitalogy
2. Ten
3. Riot Act
4. Yield
5. No Code
6. Vs.
7. Backspacer
8. S/T.
9. Binaural

You have Ten too high and No Code too low. But you're coming around.

No Code jumped like two spots! That's gotta count for something.

it's a phase. those other two albums are better

We'll see. You may be right. But I've had those other two above it for a long time. The No Code move is recent. Like within the last day, recent. But listening to No Code over the last few weeks, I've just realized that the good songs on the album overcome whatever is wrong with the album. It's flawed, but the strengths are STRENGTHS. Yaknow?

[LetMeSleep]

I think Binaural is less consistent than any of their records up to that point but clearly superior to any released since.

I don't think Binaural's track list is good at all. RA ST and BS all have better sequenced runs. Sure the songs may not be as good as a group.

[digster]

I don't really agree with the notion that Binaural is sequenced poorly (but then again, the first 3 songs are fine by me)...I certainly find it hard to see how they could have taken the songs they had from track 4 on and found a better sequence.

For me, though, when it comes down to it, the sequencing is, if not irrelevant, pretty unsubstantial. The majority of Binaural is better than every song on their past two records.

[epilogue]

Is Binaural Pearl Jam's most divisive album?

And, B, THIS DOESN'T NEED TO BE IT'S OWN THREAD. Fuck.