Yield's Impact and Staying Power
I love how if you read any reviews of Yield, the reviews are very positive, yet at the time, the album quickly dropped off the charts into obscurity. I suppose that's where the casual fans finally left, but it really seems to be the case on these boards that Yield is considered one of their best albums. I personally love the album, think it's incredibly underrated. I think the same of Binaural and Riot Act, but I digress. After scouring the boards for such a long time, everyone always in the end comes back to say something very strong about Yield. I'm just bringing this up more as something I noticed over time, but it's great to see such a great album getting such a loving treatment from us devoted fans.
To those who don't find this album as strong as the rest of us, hey, you're entitled to your opinion, nothing wrong with that. I'm not saying you're right or I'm right, all I was doing was making an observation and comment. HAVE AT YOU!
To those who don't find this album as strong as the rest of us, hey, you're entitled to your opinion, nothing wrong with that. I'm not saying you're right or I'm right, all I was doing was making an observation and comment. HAVE AT YOU!
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made him ... want to be everywhere
there's a ... lot to be said for nowhere."
I actually was just thinking about the album the other day, and its connection to my life. I think part of it was very coincidental, but I associate finding Yield, and finding Pearl Jam, with the time my "life" really began, as far as love, lust, depression, real happiness, alcohol, questioning religion, politics, etc. (basically growing up I guess.) Like I said, I was 13, so a lot of that probably would have happened around that time anyways, but at least I have a good album to with it, and I think if you listen to Yield, and the subject matter of the songs, it has a lot in common with these new found feelings and emotions I was dealing with.
8.21.00 Columbus | 6.24.03 Columbus | 7.9.03 NYC | 10.2.04 Toledo | 9.11.05 Kitchener | 5.20.06 Cleveland | 8.5.07 Chicago | 5.6.10 Columbus | 5.7.10 Noblesville | 5.9.10 Cleveland | 9.3.11 East Troy | 9.4.11 East Troy | 7.19.13 Chicago | 10.11.13 Pittsburgh | 10.1.14 Cincinnati | 4.8.16 Ft. Lauderdale | 4.9.16 Miami | 8.8.18 Seattle | 8.10.18 Seattle | 9.26.21 Dana Point | 10.1.21 Dana Point | 10.2.21 Dana Point | 9.16.22 Nashville | 9.17.22 Louisville | 9.18.22 St. Louis | 9.2.23 St. Paul | 9.15.23 Ft. Worth | 6.22.24 Dublin | 8.26.24 Noblesville | 9.27.24 Dana Point | 9.29.24 Dana Point
6.26.11 Detroit (EdVed) | 9.23.17 Louisville (EdVed) | 9.25.21 Dana Point (EdVed) | 10.01.22 Dana Point (EdVed) | 2.6.22 Newark (EdVed)
Some of the positives I see about it begin with the packaging. They did things right with the packaging on this one. It helps create a mood and tone for the music. I know that it may sound strange to start a critique of an album by praising its packaging, but the packaging for Yield is worth commenting on. As people bought this cd/album/whatever they had something tangible and well done to begin with. The stage was nicely set for the musical part of the journey to begin. As for the actual tracks...
Brain Of J starts out things with a nice pace, but I don't feel that this song rises above several other of Pearl Jam's openers. There's nothing wrong with it and it gets things rolling, but at the same time it isn't anything awe-inspiring. It isn't quite the kick in the chest of Go, the building momentum of Master/Slave/Once, etc. It's more like the perfectly capable Life Wasted. Solid and I'd probably give it about an 8 out of 10.
Faithfull then comes along and I'm just not a fan. I don't feel that the music is great or that Pearl Jam couldn't come up with something better to fulfill the message and convey the emotion that I think they wanted to share. I don't finish listening to Faithfull and think, "Wow, it's great being a Pearl Jam fan." I'd be hard pressed to give this more than a 5 out of 10.
No Way comes along and just does not hold a candle to the likes of Not For You or other songs that may be considered to be in a similar vein. My favorite part of the song is actually the little bit that sounds totally out of place in the song, you know that part that almost sounds like they were going to shift gears and turn it into some dark metal song or something? Well, I would have loved to hear that part of the song fleshed out instead of what ended up becoming the entirety of the song. No Way as one of my favorite songs? No Way... 5/10.
Then we are treated to Given To Fly. I think it would be hard to be a human and not enjoy this song. Critiques of similarity to Led Zep aside, I think this is an extremely solid song that goes somewhere. It's also a song complimented so well by the packaging of the cd. It grabs the mood of things and sails with it. I'd give it a 9 or 10.
Wishlist gets canned by quite a few people and I can understand why. However, I'm perfectly fine with the song. I enjoy it on the ablum and did while it was on the radio as well. I also feel that it works with the spirit of the album too. Wishlist and Given to Fly together works for me. It is not my favorite PJ song, but it's entirely solid to me. I'd give it an 8.
Pilate... they blew it. It's a mood killer song when we leave where Given to Fly and Wishlist have taken us to the land of "Like Pilate, I have a dog... Obeys, listens, kisses, loves...." Oh please... This COULD have been something, but it failed, miserably. Painfully... like Parachutes. It's on the wrong album at the wrong time with the wrong chorus. The positive aspects of this song get smoethered by Cheese with a capital "C" and I can't get give more than a 3/10.
Do the Evolution... fun, a change of pace and ferocious. This takes me somewhere after the build of some of the other music, but again seems to make Pilate all the more orphaned. This song was a surprise and a treat in my eyes. A force to be reckoned with and a classic at the same time... 9 or 10 out of 10.
Red Dot... how much is there to say about this little fellow. It is what it is and I'm alright with it.
MFC comes along and keeps things moving. It falls in the solid end of things for me, but doesn't quite make it to the places the band has taken us before with songs like Rearviewmirror. A 7 or 8 seems fair in my book.
Low Light is pretty crappy in my book. I know that it gets plenty of praise, but I just don't hear it. I don't think it is total crap, but it isn't anything special to me. A 5 keeps it in perspective for me.
In Hiding gets almost annoying before it is through and there's almost some country twang happening with Ed here and there. I think this song would have worked better with a more delicate treatment. There are little snippets I enjoy in this song, but as a whole I don't think it is much to write home about. Another 5?
Push Me, Pull Me continues the somewhat annoying end of this album. It doesn't feel finished and actually seems like some studio wankery. Go back to the drawing board with this one and work it until it is a finished product. Because this isn't. I think I still like this one a touch better than In Hiding though so how about a 6?
All Those Yesterdays sort of completes the journey with a sub par offering from this particular band. It's a decent tune, but coming in the heels of other cloesrs such as Release, Indifference, etc... well, it just doesn't cut it. I don't think it is as good as almost any other closer from this band. That makes me knock it from being a 7 rank to a 6 because it doesn't succeed at its job for this album.
Hummus... are you kidding me? I don't want to stick around to listen to this. I don't want to have to suffer this to listen to the cd on repeat either. You pulled this shit with Foxymop and I still haven't forgiven you for it. Don't do this again to us! Hahah 1/10. This is where you want this journey to end? This is the end to the supposedly epic production from my favorite band? Hardly.
All this leads me to one conclusion and that is this:
This album just isn't in a league of its own. It's not even their best. It may have come at a time when people were just glad to have a rebound from No Code or something and it gave a new wave of people something to cling to instead of Ten. It carries on a tradition of studio foolishness that gave us the wasted spaces on Vitalogy and while there is plenty to praise on this album, there is plenty to harshly critique as well.
yields my favourite!
Wow! I completely disagree with your review of these five songs. These are actually some of my absolute fav PJ tunes...especially In Hiding and Low Light and Yield happens to be my fav PJ album. Interesting read though! Thanks for posting.
Daniel
Yeah, I agree with Dan...your reasoning is a little odd, but oh well. To each his own.
Maybe in Chicago if they play any Yield songs you can go get me a beer?
6/12/08 - Tampa, FL
8/23/09 - Chicago, IL
9/28/09 - Salt Lake City, UT (11 years too long!!!)
9/03/11 - East Troy, WI - PJ20 - Night 1
9/04/11 - East Troy, WI - PJ20 - Night 2
While I respect your opinion, I disagree on alot of what you said. Im not going to go track by track, but heres a few.
-In my mind, Faithfull is one of the bands best. I love the powerful guitar in it and think its a great song. I cant put my finger on it exactly, but the song just jams.
-No way is also a fave (and no, not because its rare live
-Lowlight to me, captures the same feel of the artwork that GTF captures for you (and me). A peaceful, beautiful song that I hold close to my heart. Very abstract lyrics which I like. To me, one of those reflective songs that im a sucker for.
theres a few more I disagree with (all those yesterdays, push me pull me). and theres a few that I agree with. Pilate could be a great song, but the chorus hurts it. And though I like In Hiding, something never did totally click with me.
All in all though, Yield is my favorite album. It flows perfectly and I wouldnt change it at all (even the flaws that I see) God Bless you Yield!!
I also agree about Pilate. The only part I like is the part that talks about looking back and seeing your reflection too clearly...unfortunatley after that beautiful part it goes into the chorus that hurts my ears! If only the song had been more like that! (3rd worse chorus in a PJ song for me after Sweet Lew and Evacuation)
Sometimes that works, but I think the verses have so much potential that its a big let down
Some of pj's other albums, I have to be in a certain mood to listen to. Here's to hoping they play some Yield in Chicago.
Agree here and with the original poster; Yield is an amazing album - the production is flawless. I'm hoping the new album follows along the same production path...as well as equally amazing tunes.
Holy hell ... did you really expect anyone to read all of this? That's what I come to this board ... fuckin' homework.
Sorry you don't think the album is best thing this band has ever produced. You are free to have an opinion, even if it is wrong.
for the least they could possibly do
R.i.p. My Dad - May 28, 2007
R.i.p. Black Tail (cat) - Sept. 20, 2008
Are you kidding? I'd like to know which PJ songs you actually like.
I've always wanted to get in a car and drive to seattle and only listen to YIELD
Its the best work pj has ever made. The way the vibe and the music and lyrics and cover art all fit together is amazing.
Sammi: Wanna just break up?
Yield and Vs. still stand as the only two albums where I can listen to every song.Every song still sounds fresh
I rate the songs in order to my own awesome tastes:
1.)Brain of J
2.)Given to Fly
3.)Pilate
4.)Faithfull
5.)MFC
6.)Do the Evolution
7.)All Those Yesterdays
8.)Low Light
9.)Wishlist
10.)No Way
11.)red dot
12.)Push Me Pull Me
"..That's One Happy Fuckin Ghost.."
“..That came up on the Pillow Case...This is for the Greek, With Our Apologies.....”