Worst Pearl Jam Song

mcgruff10 · July 2018

I think my top 5 from the studio albums are (that translate the worst live to me):
1. you are
2. evacuation
3. unemployable
4. cropduster
5. sleight of hand

Eugene · July 2018

mcgruff10 said:

I think my top 5 from the studio albums are (that translate the worst live to me):
1. you are
2. evacuation
3. unemployable
4. cropduster
5. sleight of hand

Man I love you are live. Especially spectrum night 4!! Bad ass!

rummy · July 2018

mcgruff10 said:

I think my top 5 from the studio albums are (that translate the worst live to me):
1. you are
2. evacuation
3. unemployable
4. cropduster
5. sleight of hand

I can appreciate this list from albums 6 to 8. I am, however, surprised by this relatively widespread dislike for You Are. I'm impartial to the song myself.

I'd add Big Wave to that list.

Happy Julio · July 2018

Also: Don't gimmie No Lip, Gremmie Outta Control, Supersonic, Gonna See My Friend, Sleight of Hand, Let the Records Play (Shania Twain version of Spin the Black Circle)

tbergs · July 2018

Happy Julio said:

Whale Song, Pilate, no way, help help, Bu$hleaguer, big wave

You lost me at Pilate....

tbergs · July 2018

mcgruff10 said:

I think my top 5 from the studio albums are (that translate the worst live to me):
1. you are
2. evacuation
3. unemployable
4. cropduster
5. sleight of hand

Sleight of Hand circa '00 is amazing. It has lost the impact and overall tone Ed could sing it in since then. Same with most of Binaural unfortunately. Those songs killed in '00. I actually really enjoyed Cropduster on the '03 tour. Another one that pretty much dies outside that album tour year.

tbergs · July 2018

mcgruff10 said:

I think my top 5 from the studio albums are:
1. you are
2. evacuation
3. unemployable
4. cropduster
5. sleight of hand

No one would have guessed You Are and Evacuation would be your top picks

mcgruff10 · July 2018

tbergs said:

mcgruff10 said:

I think my top 5 from the studio albums are (that translate the worst live to me):
1. you are
2. evacuation
3. unemployable
4. cropduster
5. sleight of hand

Sleight of Hand circa '00 is amazing. It has lost the impact and overall tone Ed could sing it in since then. Same with most of Binaural unfortunately. Those songs killed in '00. I actually really enjoyed Cropduster on the '03 tour. Another one that pretty much dies outside that album tour year.

Totally agree with you.

mcgruff10 · July 2018

tbergs said:

mcgruff10 said:

I think my top 5 from the studio albums are:
1. you are
2. evacuation
3. unemployable
4. cropduster
5. sleight of hand

No one would have guessed You Are and Evacuation would be your top picks

I am a man of mystery lol.

mcgruff10 · July 2018

rummy said:

mcgruff10 said:

I think my top 5 from the studio albums are (that translate the worst live to me):
1. you are
2. evacuation
3. unemployable
4. cropduster
5. sleight of hand

I can appreciate this list from albums 6 to 8. I am, however, surprised by this relatively widespread dislike for You Are. I'm impartial to the song myself.

I'd add Big Wave to that list.

I never saw big wave live so I can’t comment. I d like to see it once.

rummy · July 2018

mcgruff10 said:

rummy said:

mcgruff10 said:

I think my top 5 from the studio albums are (that translate the worst live to me):
1. you are
2. evacuation
3. unemployable
4. cropduster
5. sleight of hand

I can appreciate this list from albums 6 to 8. I am, however, surprised by this relatively widespread dislike for You Are. I'm impartial to the song myself.

I'd add Big Wave to that list.

I never saw big wave live so I can’t comment. I d like to see it once.

Good point. Neither have I. The song just doesn't do it for me in the versions I've heard in various bootlegs, I suppose.

thispureamericanriot · July 2018

I love Speed of Sound...especially the harmonies and vocal melody at:

"But this night has been a long one,
waiting on a sun that just don't come.
Can I forgive what I cannot forget

And live a lie?
I could give it one more try"

One of the best moments in the PJ catalog.

23scidoo · July 2018

thispureamericanriot said:

I love Speed of Sound...especially the harmonies and vocal melody at:

"But this night has been a long one,
waiting on a sun that just don't come.
Can I forgive what I cannot forget
And live a lie?
I could give it one more try"

One of the best moments in the PJ catalog.

Agree..

mcgruff10 · July 2018

rummy said:

mcgruff10 said:

rummy said:

mcgruff10 said:

I think my top 5 from the studio albums are (that translate the worst live to me):
1. you are
2. evacuation
3. unemployable
4. cropduster
5. sleight of hand

I can appreciate this list from albums 6 to 8. I am, however, surprised by this relatively widespread dislike for You Are. I'm impartial to the song myself.

I'd add Big Wave to that list.

I never saw big wave live so I can’t comment. I d like to see it once.

Good point. Neither have I. The song just doesn't do it for me in the versions I've heard in various bootlegs, I suppose.

So I listened to big wave on a boot and it is ok live. Doesn’t be seem like I am missing much.

LukinAtU · July 2018

Can’t Deny Me
Ole

thispureamericanriot · July 2018

mcgruff10 said:

I think my top 5 from the studio albums are (that translate the worst live to me):
1. you are
2. evacuation
3. unemployable
4. cropduster
5. sleight of hand

Love all those songs. Always enjoyed Evacuation and Cropduster. You Are, Unemployable and Sleight Of Hand have grown on me lately. In fact, I woke up from a dream this morning with Unemployable stuck in my head!

foodboy · July 2018

can't deny me
ole
just breathe

1ThoughtKnown · July 2018

The only songs by PJ I do not like are Sweet Lew, Gremmie Out of Control, Dirty Frank and Sleeping By Myself.

The rest of the catalogue is absolutely stellar.

HesCalledDyer · July 2018

northerndragon said:

YELLOW LEDBETTER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Followed by SIrens and Just Breathe.

Already got Ledbetter & Sirens but I’ll trade you my The End card for your Just Breathe.

thispureamericanriot · July 2018

I'd go further and say I'm generally not a fan of PJ songs that are Ed solo with ukulele/guitar and no other band members on the track. To me, I consider those EV solo songs and not necessarily PJ songs, so I usually skip them, but I do like Just Breathe. It's songwriting 101.

Gern Blansten · July 2018

tbergs said:

mcgruff10 said:

I think my top 5 from the studio albums are (that translate the worst live to me):
1. you are
2. evacuation
3. unemployable
4. cropduster
5. sleight of hand

Sleight of Hand circa '00 is amazing. It has lost the impact and overall tone Ed could sing it in since then. Same with most of Binaural unfortunately. Those songs killed in '00. I actually really enjoyed Cropduster on the '03 tour. Another one that pretty much dies outside that album tour year.

Cropduster is a defining PJ tune in my book....right up there with Corduroy and I Got Shit.

Gern Blansten · July 2018

thispureamericanriot said:

I'd go further and say I'm generally not a fan of PJ songs that are Ed solo with ukulele/guitar and no other band members on the track. To me, I consider those EV solo songs and not necessarily PJ songs, so I usually skip them, but I do like Just Breathe. It's songwriting 101.

Agreed. I'm not sure I could have classified any PJ song as bad until Backspacer. I don't like the sappy stuff and/or the Ed solo tunes.

Just Breathe
The End
Future Days

Blacksheep76 · July 2018

Bugs...No question

Jerome230 · July 2018

F Me In The Brain said:

Yellow Poon

Jerome230 · July 2018

[inadvertent doublepost]

thispureamericanriot · July 2018

Gern Blansten said:

thispureamericanriot said:

I'd go further and say I'm generally not a fan of PJ songs that are Ed solo with ukulele/guitar and no other band members on the track. To me, I consider those EV solo songs and not necessarily PJ songs, so I usually skip them, but I do like Just Breathe. It's songwriting 101.

Agreed. I'm not sure I could have classified any PJ song as bad until Backspacer. I don't like the sappy stuff and/or the Ed solo tunes.

Just Breathe
The End
Future Days

True. I'm not saying there are any "bad" PJ songs, but if I were to classify Ed ukulele/acoustic vs. PJ songs, I'd go with the three you mentioned above and add Soon Forget and Drifting. I think those five songs would have fit nicely onto EV's solo album and freed up room for better B Side songs to have made it onto albums (Stone's Fatal certainly comes to mind). Not complaining, just saying. Thanks!

tbergs · July 2018

thispureamericanriot said:

Gern Blansten said:

thispureamericanriot said:

I'd go further and say I'm generally not a fan of PJ songs that are Ed solo with ukulele/guitar and no other band members on the track. To me, I consider those EV solo songs and not necessarily PJ songs, so I usually skip them, but I do like Just Breathe. It's songwriting 101.

Agreed. I'm not sure I could have classified any PJ song as bad until Backspacer. I don't like the sappy stuff and/or the Ed solo tunes.

Just Breathe
The End
Future Days

True. I'm not saying there are any "bad" PJ songs, but if I were to classify Ed ukulele/acoustic vs. PJ songs, I'd go with the three you mentioned above and add Soon Forget and Drifting. I think those five songs would have fit nicely onto EV's solo album and freed up room for better B Side songs to have made it onto albums (Stone's Fatal certainly comes to mind). Not complaining, just saying. Thanks!

Oh man, I never thought of it that way, but you're right. We know the gems they left off Binaural in place of Soon Forget so that does make it easier for me to cast that song out as a PJ tune. I guess I don't really know what could have replaced some of those other solo type EV songs, which are all good songs, but would have been better served as Ed solo stuff. I guess I would have preferred Of the Earth making an album over one of them.

thispureamericanriot · July 2018

Oh man, I never thought of it that way, but you're right. We know the gems they left off Binaural in place of Soon Forget so that does make it easier for me to cast that song out as a PJ tune. I guess I don't really know what could have replaced some of those other solo type EV songs, which are all good songs, but would have been better served as Ed solo stuff. I guess I would have preferred Of the Earth making an album over one of them.

Of The Earth woulda been great inclusion - I'd love to hear studio version of that song! Also, you made me think about Binaural with all the extra tracks added...double album like Exile On Main Street or Mellon Collie. In some ways Vitalogy was an album that did included all it's B-sides if you consider the "non-songs". Vitalogy would have still been very strong without those extra songs IMO. Some people like them, some don't. All I know is my Vitalogy vinyl has side 4 exclusively dedicated to Stupid Mop...I never play it that side. :(

Vitaology without "non-songs":
1. Last Exit
2. Spin The Black Circle
3. Not For You
4. Tremor Christ
5. Nothingman
6. Whipping
7. Corduroy
8. Satan's Bed
9. Better Man
10. Immortality

bobby dazzlers · July 2018

How You Remind Me....it's the worst

rummy · July 2018

thispureamericanriot said:

Oh man, I never thought of it that way, but you're right. We know the gems they left off Binaural in place of Soon Forget so that does make it easier for me to cast that song out as a PJ tune. I guess I don't really know what could have replaced some of those other solo type EV songs, which are all good songs, but would have been better served as Ed solo stuff. I guess I would have preferred Of the Earth making an album over one of them.

Of The Earth woulda been great inclusion - I'd love to hear studio version of that song! Also, you made me think about Binaural with all the extra tracks added...double album like Exile On Main Street or Mellon Collie. In some ways Vitalogy was an album that did included all it's B-sides if you consider the "non-songs". Vitalogy would have still been very strong without those extra songs IMO. Some people like them, some don't. All I know is my Vitalogy vinyl has side 4 exclusively dedicated to Stupid Mop...I never play it that side. :(

Vitaology without "non-songs":
1. Last Exit
2. Spin The Black Circle
3. Not For You
4. Tremor Christ
5. Nothingman
6. Whipping
7. Corduroy
8. Satan's Bed
9. Better Man
10. Immortality

If I had the power to retrack (the amazing) Vitalogy, it would look like this:
Side 1
1. Last Exit
2. Spin The Black Circle
3. Not For You
4. Nothingman
5. Tremor Christ
6. Pry To
Side 2
1. Corduroy
2. Whipping
3. Satan's Bed
4. Better Man
5. Immortality
6. Aya Davanita

Worst Pearl Jam Song

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