60 Days of Pearl Jam; Part Deux

Wobbie

i shit and i stink wrote:

Hey, any chance of the rest of this countdown? I've been following the other one and it's interesting to compare the two. shame tremor christ is so low here :(

Glady!! The response has been overwhelming. :roll: :roll:

64-52. The "This song would be among my favorites from a band had they not been done by Pearl Jam who has too many amazing songs to compete with" Tier, pt. 2

64 - Crazy Mary (Sweet Relief)

Cover song originally by Victoria Williams and it's hilarious how much they completely blew her out of the water with their version. If I was including how this song was played live, it may very well be top 10-15, because Boom (usually) tears it up on the keys and Ed actually sings it normally. On this studio version, he sounds very weird for most of the song, so that’s why it dropped a few spots. Take a bottle drink it down pass it around is such a fun, singable chorus. Female backing vocals by... somebody... maybe Williams?

63 - Tremor Christ (Vitalogy)

Some of the band's most haunting lyrics. What is it that makes you tremor? This one tells an amazing story, which Pearl Jam doesn't really tend to do for the most part. Of course you'll find a handful, but it's always great to see them do it.

62 - Satan's Bed (Vitalogy)

I've always associated Tremor Christ and Satan's Bed together, and so they had to appear back to back. Who set's the standard...born to be rich? paris hilton! Catchy catchy riff and a catchy catchy chorus. I'm not too big a fan of the overrated, "I'll never suck satan's ****" line because it's pretty pretentious. I mean seriously, the way they cut out the music when he says that, it's like they were trying too hard with it. But yea, it's a surf song... ? Fun to crack that whip too.

61 - Around the Bend (No Code)

Terrific closer to perhaps my favorite album. Sounds like something you'd here on K-DST back in San Andreas with a really great piano track laid down. It's the only Pearl Jam song I'd consider being my wedding song just for the beauty of the music. It's a shame it doesn't get much live treatment but when it does, they drop it the right way.

60 - Footsteps (Lost Dogs)

Beautiful. Favorite line is "I've got scratches all over my arms, one for each day since I fell apart." Lyrically it's much better than its brother "Times of Trouble" by Temple of the Dog, but Cornell's vocals in that are rather divine. And it uses a piano as compared to the harmonica in Footsteps. Each of those instruments fit the mood of their respective songs to a tee, but I don't know. I'm thinking Times of Trouble is keeping me from putting Footsteps higher. It is the conclusion to the Alive/Once/Footsteps trilogy and keeping that in mind the song because even more powerful. McCready liked the riff so much when he used it in Times of Trouble he just decided, hey why not! Let's just do something else with it. It's a much simpler song than ToT sporting no percussion whatsoever adding to the isolation present within the man in the song who happens to be in prison. It fits content-wise with dead man and does a better job of it.

59 - Why Go (Ten)

Edge of psychotic meltdown. At least that's what they tell this girl. It's a great premise and one of my all-time favorite line is used "She's been diagnosed by some stupid **** and mommy agrees." A lot of agression in this one. A very singable chorus where anyone can pick up on the first time listening, which is always fun to have. Mike just ****ing wails it.

58 - No Way (Yield)

The song virtually disappeared on the 06 tour which is disappointing. It's irony lies (intentionally or unintentionally) in the indifferent/passionate lyrical content. I stopped trying to make a difference/I just need someone to be here for me. The song wants results but is willing to do nothing about it. Let's call on an angel as a quick fix. Like a lot of Yield I feel like its a satire. Here it's wanting the difference but without willing to do anything tangible about it. Musical the song rocks, but for reasons mentioned before is why I love it.

57 - Can't Keep (Riot Act)

You need to hear the Benaroya version. Ed... solo... on a ukelele... amazing. It was dedicated to Elliott Smith who had just died and it blew the roof off the place. Now, I know I'm being hypocritical here by placing this higher because of a live performance while stating before that had I counted live performances others would have been higher, but whatever this is my list. You can't keep me here. To gain some credibility, I guess I'll need to boast the full band/album version. I love how everything fits like a glove. The guitar to the drums are nearly in-sync. The vocals attaching itself to that, pushing forward every chance it gets, while always reverting back when you think it's going to finally spring forward. This matches the lyrics in that the narrator is trying to get out "you can't keep me here" yet something always does, bringing it right back to the beginning. For some reason, he just can't let loose and break completely free. He "wants to break free" and "wind out" but never really does. It's a fantastic opener to Riot Act, and one of the few openers that doesn't really set the tone but overshadow some of its tracks. Testament to the quality of the song more than the quality of the rest of the album though. It's that good.

56 - W.M.A. - (Vs.) dedicated for the Moth

A special place in my heart as its the one and only song that I am able to play on the bass. The song stands for White Male American, and I think it's appropriate if I left you the story of it's meaning.

I think I'd probably stayed at the rehearsal studio the night before and it had been a couple of days since I had a shower and I've got my old shoes on and I don't look too great, a little grunge on my teeth or whatever. And I'm sitting there with this guy who's of a darker color than me, and along come these cops, they run around with their bikes trying to look cool. So here they come, they're heading straight for us. And they just ignored me and [started] hassling him. Compared to me, this guy looks as respectable as ****. But they started hassling him, and that just blew me the **** away. So I started hassling them...And one thing led to another...I was just really wound up by it...I had all this ****ing energy rushing through me. I was mad. Really ****ing angry. I got back to the studio and the guys had been working on this thing and I just went straight in and did the vocals, and that was the song. - Eddie Vedder

It's a really messed up story but it happens every day probably. He won the lottery when he was born. The drum track is ridiculous on this one and Jeff seriously brings the funk in a completely badass way. Catchiest Pearl Jam bassline (if not, it's right up there with Rats), but here's my problem. PLAY THE ****ING SONG LIVE! I'm guessing Matt can't handle it as the only reason (that is the reason the put Leash on hiatus, no?) they don't play it because they use it often as a Daughter tag (often bashing the president as the WMA). 1994, Fox Theater Atlanta, an amazingly clear, full band is performed. One of my favorite performances to listen to. Shake your hips to this one.

55 - Come Back (Pearl Jam)

I'm kind of being hypocritical with this selection since I must admit the lyrics are pretty cheesy, which is the reason I put Thin Air so high up on the list. But hey, this song is awesome. Mike's guitar is the best he's done on the past three albums perhaps and I've said it before and I'll say it again but him and Stone mesh together like no other Rhythm/Lead I've likely heard in my lifetime. The lyrics can strike at anyone since probably 99% of us have someone we want to come back into our lives. Eddie struggles with the "reallll posssibilityyy" part but hey, who cares? I kinda of do since that part always irks me. But the "its ok" ending is masterful. The last half of the song (when the lyrics take a back seat and the music kicks in) is where the song really lifts off. Ed just wails come back and you feel it.

Apparently the song is "Two Months Later" and was written as a sequel to Man of the Hour. This is one of the great things about this band. Song interconnectivity! It's a masterful art and they've got it. They don't only rely on the individual strength of the song but use others to build upon that strength. That's part of the reason why they are so effective. It's like a mystery and for you to figure out, and once you do, you can go... "AHHH!" It makes you feel nice.


54 - Porch (Ten)

MTV Unplugged is far and away the greatest performance of this one. I'm probably doing this an injustice in the rankings but this is getting difficult. The studio version isn't as great comparatively to when it's played live. This has been an issue I've been struggling with my list since I don't know if that's a negative or a positive. It's a jam song that's only three and a half minutes so that always strikes me as odd, but the song is awesome in itself. They switched the arrangement in '06 to a slower beginning. The song is synergy at its finest as no one really shines on the track so you are not thinking in terms of "hey Mike did awesome" or "Jeff nailed it!" but "The guys really brought it for this one."

53 - Down (Lost Dogs)

Just like Undone it should have made Riot Act. I know some say it wouldn't mesh but I think had it been on the original tracking, you'd believe that it would fit. The only reason it doesn't fit is because we've gotten used to the way it was actually done. I sense heavy Zeppelin influence musically, but I may be completely off. They played this two years back and Jeff completely destroyed it (in the bad way) haha, but that's just funny. When they break it down in the end, that's when you know this song is special. Simply fantastic done outro. And I loooove a good outro when I hear one!

52 - Glorified G (Vs.)

Howard Stern's favorite Pearl Jam song and I've come only recently to love it. It's quickly climbing the charts and if I made this in a few months it'd probably be higher. Dave brought his gun to practice one day triggering a heated argument in the band. Hence, the satirical "Got a gun... in fact I've got two (to?) but that's ok man cause I love God." The chorus sounds like "Glorified Virgins and a Pelican" which is hilariously awesome. A pretty funky song, with nice drum work from Dave (Guess he was inspired, no!?) The kindred to be an american part is sooo flipping awesome. Gets me every time. It may actually be the only song I listened to 10 straight times on loop without ever wanting to stop.

Wobbie

i shit and i stink wrote:

Hey, any chance of the rest of this countdown? I've been following the other one and it's interesting to compare the two. shame tremor christ is so low here :(

The "the dude didn't name this tier" tier; 51-41

51 - Hail, Hail (No Code)

The best rocker on No Code no doubt (depends on what you consider a rocker I guess). I kind of think of it is a better done Animal because for some reason I confuse the riff of the two no matter how many times I here either. This one is written in the perspective of a woman "are you woman enough to be my man?" (or gay guy I suppose), and Ed's always been great at writing in the person of his opposite gender. It's one of his "gifts" I guess. Hail, Hail flows perfectly out of Sometimes and is one of the great followups the band has to offer. A completely explosive kick your ass tune. Perhaps the reason it is more effective than Animal is my eyes is because it's on an album not filled with rockers. Hail, Hail really stands out on an album such as No Code, while Animal can get lost for me on Vs.

50 - Once (Ten)

The sequel to Alive apparently and the prequel to Footsteps apparently features a serial killer doing his thing. It's the first song of the first album ;_;. and right after it's short opener, Master/Slave, it's the first song Pearl Jam fans back in 91 experienced. Not me though, as I'm kind of a late bloomer. I was in kidnergarten when this came out haha, but I guess that's no excuse. This opener sets the tone for Ten as the anthem rock album. I don't know what Ed whispers toward the end but "I got a backseat lover on the side of the road. I've got a bomb in my temple and it's gonna explode. I got a fifteen gauge buried under my coat as I prey." is one of the great lines to just randomally shout out in everyday life. The oepenering riff bleeds distortion and its awesome. The chorus takes a fairy-tale saying (once upon a time) and makes it completely badass. I think Ed put the lyrics to this music as he was surfing if I remember the story correctly.

49 - Alone (Lost Dogs)

Some of my favorite lyrics roll in this one. I saw them last year in East Rutherford and they completely ****ed it up, hilariously. They had to stop and do it over. That's the thing about not playing the same setlist and breaking out songs you haven't played in years. That's also why I love Pearl Jam shows. Everything's a complete surprise and unpredictable unlike other concerts where every last thing is planned out to a tee. As far the song, it's pretty flipping amazing. Ed uses a high register until the final moments, with great harmonies. "She's standing naked, he's apologizing." A lot of stop and starts in this song, which is probably why they messed up when I saw them. And I've heard this Mike solo before somewhere dammit. Probably not, though.

48 - Rats (Vs.)

Far and away the greatest Jeff bassline. It's so funky! He's only the driving rhythm in a few song so it's cool to hear it when it happens. I love it. Who thought the band can make an awesome song about rats? It's just a fun song to listen to. A great sing along chorus. Michael's solo fits the funky mood. Not much more to say about this one other than to comment on just how fun it is. It's good to have songs like these in your arsenal.

47- Army Reserve (Pearl Jam)

The opening guitar riff gets me going. The song could do nothing more than that and it is top 75 easily. The verses are the things that make sure it stays up this low on the list though. The chorus on the other hand is what keeps it from obtaining total greatness. I saw a really heartfelt version down in ER zwei when Ed introduced one of the wives from the West Memphis Three, a murder case that Ed has really been active in over the years. So that was cool. Save yourself. The lyrics I can never seem to remember no matter how many times I hear this one, so that's more and more reason to keep listening... as if it needed it in the first place!

46 - Better Man (Vitalogy)

I really hope I didn't give this the Even Flow treatment and place it lower than it might have deserved because of its public perception. People ("hardcore" fans) hate it because of this I think but it really is a good song. Technically, it's a Bad Radio (Ed's crappy band before Pearl Jam) cover song, but it's all Ed so I guess it's not. Perhaps the band's biggest hit (Last Kiss?) and provokes the biggest sing-a-long in concert over the years. Recently Ed won't sing until the 2nd verse and let's the crowd do the opening. "Dedicated to the bastard that married my mama" it's one of those songs where you need to hear the chorus to understand the meaning as girls everywhere hear "can't find a better man" and automatically assume "Oh my gawsh! A love song!" It's about anguish, in a broken marriage. I can't get enough of the Save It For Later tag as that's such a badass song by the English Beat. Listen to the San Diego of 06 boot for the best version of both that cover and this song. "****ing beautiful."

45 - Nothingman (Vitalogy)

An amazing ballad with amazing lyrics. The leatherman/better man/nothingman concert trio is one helluva good time. Oh crap, I forgot leatherman on this list. Oh well, putting it in now would just mess with everything. Hey, well just use this spot for both... ahhh maybe not. Suspiciously left off a lot of 06 concerts (immortality too to a lesser extent wtf!). I guess they wanted to rock in '06. My dad's favorite song. I guess I was spawned from a Nothingman, making me a ... leatherman? Probably not. She once believed in every story he had to tell. I don't know if anyone's noticed but I sometimes just throw in random lyrics throughout my write-ups. I always though he who forgets will be destined to remember was a pretty nonsensical/pretentious line, but whatever. It's all good.

44 - Elderly Woman Behind a Counter in a Small Town (Vs.)

1, 2, 3, 4, 2, 3... This was Ed's practice routine transformed into an amazing song. Remember when I was talking about the perspective of the female? Here's where it shines. Some girl I know still to this day thinks it's called "Hearts and Thoughts" and I am tempted to beat her, but she is a woman so I don't do that. It's one of the conflicts in Vs. depicting the conflict against change and getting old. Never dreamed you'd return. At a PJ show, it's one of the songs everyone knows the words to. And I may sounds like I am beating a dead horse at this point but the acoustic Stone meshing with the electric Mike is masterful once again.

43 - Education (Lost Dogs)

*awesome drum beat* *awesome drum beat* .... YAAAAA!!!!/10

This is why I love Pearl Jam. They can take a social commentary on the questioning the relevance of a formal education and what it means within society and turn into an awesome song. AAAHHHHHHAAAAAHHHHH. Very deep lyrically, and Mike caps off the two and half plus song with a classic classic rock solo. The solo melts if that makes any sense whatsoever. Every time I heard this on a boot I thought it was Grievance and was in for pleasant surprise. Is my own equation relevant somehow?

42 - Garden (Ten)

Perhaps the most underrated song on Ten that's got pretty much everything. This is a Gossard track where he really shows how great a writer he is. I'm not sure whether or not he or Ed write the best songs (musically definitely Stone, lyrically definitely Ed) but overall is where I have the issue. Captivating chorus. Musically driven rather than lyrically. I was sleeping once through a shuffle and I remember the greatest version possibly of any song I've ever heard came on and I have yet to figure out where it was from. ;_; Danger.

41 - Jeremy (Ten)

Again with the Better Man/Even Flow syndrome because it's tricky to try and make your list your own and not someone else. Also, you want to be pretty bias between great songs and not just rank others over this just to be more obscure. It's the story of Jeremy, a boy who shot himself in his class and has the greatest video I have ever seen. Truly unbelievable. Emotional. Ed oozes with emotion, and the Jeff 12 string opener kicks all kinds of ass. That's black ass, white ass, asian ass, all ass. Big ass, small ass... ok that was weird. It has relevance to our society here today. I thought it was "Jeremy spoke endlessly for the first few listens." The Whoaoaaaaa ending is so flipping climactic and emotionally. Great. The recess lady's breast lol. =0 The little detetetetetete dede etetetete guitar part during the chorus is far and away the best part about the song though. And "spoken" harmonies are awesome. In an affluent suburb... 3:30...

i shit and i stink

Interesting that this guy and the other list both have nothingman above betterman. Of the 'man' tunes I had always assumed betterman was king. Certainly not leatherman anyway....

Wobbie

i shit and i stink wrote:

Interesting that this guy and the other list both have nothingman above betterman. Of the 'man' tunes I had always assumed betterman was king. Certainly not leatherman anyway....

I love Leatherman!! Hope to hear it in Seattle.

Wobbie

The "What happened to # 40 and 39?" Tier. I don't know - either I deleted them or the author did... :roll:

38 - Last Exit (Vitalogy)

The first twenty seconds are badass (the crazy jam.) Then the riff kicks in and Vitalogy is completely under way. I love it when the chorus kicks out and he speaks over some funky guitar work. Shed my skin at last. Pulsing drum beat... pulsing drum beat. I don't have much to say about this song other than I love to listen to it. It's one of those songs you forget about and then hidden away you're caught by surprise whenever you hear it. It's like a cute little present. This is This IS!!! .....my last exit. >_> about suicide perhaps?

37 - Severed Hand (Pearl Jam)

Filled with insightful jargon, but it's all the result of a road trip with the purpose of getting high. Which is brilliant. Porch riff anyone? >_> Mike's solo gets in does the job and gets out. Works nicely as a concert opener and would love to see it remain a staple. It has sort of a Corduroy feel to it as well. One of the songs from the new album that will stand the test of time in the Pearl Jam concert staples I think (or hope.) Just listen to those harmonies. <Got some kicks wanna take a ride? I said YEEAAAA!> It's so simple dare I say juvenile, yet it's so flipping brilliant. </You'll see dragons after three or four I said Yeaaa!!!!> One of the all-time great bridges as well. The guy asks himself life's toughest issues that are pretty out there and just goes **** it. "I'll answer this when I get home." They like to **** with you with the outro and intro for that matter live. You'll never know when it's beginning/ending! Whatever it takes to prolong the song, no?

36 - Smile (No Code)

Best use of Eddie's harmonica in a Pearl Jam song bar none. Sorry Footsteps/Drifting. A lot of Neil Young influence which is only natural considering they just finish collaborating an album with him. It's a very simple, riff driven classic rock song. I don't know why but I consider Mike's little solo (if you can call it that) to be one of his greatest, even better than the very acclaimed Alive solo. It's probably because I'm more of a fan than creative song fitting solo's than wah-wah look at mah skills solos. It's pretty perfectly fitting to the song. I miss you already. If you hear this live you know the **** is going down! Get front row and center because someone is getting that Hohner G Harmonica Ed is sporting. Fades out with lyrics which is cool too. This is how I feel.

35 - Do the Evolution (Yield)

Perhaps the best screaming Ed's ever done. It's one of those awesome socially conscious songs the band likes to break out every now and then. Also, there's a wicked video done by Todd McFarlane. It's done really well. The song overall is one huge satire (ie I can kill because in God I trust... admire me, admire my home, admire my son, he's my clone... ignorant indians got nothing on me...) And Stone's solos have always fit my liking more than Mike for what I mention upstairs in Smile and he has a badass little short one. So fitting. Where's my church I sing in the choir! haaaalllleeeluajahh!! Awesome lower harmony done right there. Live At the Garden DVD is worth the purchase just to hear this version. "This stage is bouncing while I sing in the choir!" Ed does so many different variations on the lyrics live (even forgetting them often which is odd considering they play this at least every other show). I'm the first mammal to **** my pants... my corduroy pants... just an example there. The last line is odd, which is 2010 watch it go to fire. Is Ed a prophet or something? I hope not.

34 - Light Years (Binaural)

I love songs that begin with a drum beat as opposed to a drum fill. Lyrically this song is pretty deep. "I've come up with riddles and jokes about war... i've understood feelings and i've understood words, but how can you be taken away." I feel like it's a much better done Come Back, giving homage to the one who has left us as opposed to looking internally for the longing. It don't seem fair. You seem to like it hear. I gotta tell yas, my favorite part of this song is so subtle that it's ridiculous but it's that lyric change in the 2nd chorus. I'm a huge fanboy to a lyrical changing choruses and this one's got it. Emotion. This is one song I love throwing my own harmonies into (maybe because they don't use them in the song itself) but regardless solo Ed carries enough emotion to drive this song forward. And here's a comment that seems like it's becoming a redundancy... great Mike solo... From this point out, I think I may just say Mike solo, and everything should be understood. It's one of 5 songs that are higher than this that I've never experienced live which is disheartening. I'm light years away from this song apparently!

33 - Long Road (Merkin Ball)

D chord........D chord........D chord........D chord.... that goes on for a while with this one. If you didn't hear the San Diego 06 version here's the story that Ed told regarding this song that makes you appreciate it so much more. Ed had a very important teacher in his life and while he was recording Merkin Ball and eating some Japanese food, he got the call that he died. So he went into a dark studio and starting playing that D chord for about 10 minutes, and he described it like ringing the bell for his teacher. Neil Young and the guys came into the studio and just picked up their instruments without saying a word and Long Road was born. A beautiful song dedicated to the notion that death exists and everyone must deal with it.

There's an alternate version with an Indian musician who's name I can't remember that's pretty cool though the Merkin Ball version is my favorite. It's such a powerful song, and makes for a great concert opener and was the first song during the Mansfield experiment (though personally, I love it out of the encore break). Ed and Neil played this during a 9/11 telethon that was held a few days after the events, so that version hit me hard, and also it was used in a great episode of Scrubs, a show that usually sports great music. A very simple, progression with nothing crazy going on instrumentally but that's not what this song is about. It's a beautiful song though on the recording I really wanted Ed to scream the chorus out like he does live. But alas, I suppose it's already filled with enough emotion.

=( so much death and longing in this post. But the great thing about Pearl Jam is that so many different song topics will be coming up. But this post was dedicated to those who miss someone.

32 - Red Mosquito (No Code)

Mike's intro solo sounds like a flipping mosquito buzzing around. That alone makes this top 40, no? I can't even begin to describe how awesome a talent that is. On an album such as No Code, I kind of forget it exists, and don't really listen to it that much which is probably why I appreciate it as such a great song. It's a nice safety net to fall back on. If I had known then, what I know now outro is amazing in itself aswell. A lot of improve potential I see in this little guy. Allows for extending jams at concerts (if they feel like it). I would like to get high to this song, though never have. Perhaps, it's number on my list of Pearl Jam songs to get high to but I need to look over the list again. Ok, it's got one competitor but I'll leave that for when I talk about that one.

31- Who You Are (No Code)

Note: This is the 5th 31 I've had because I keep changing my mind. On its way to 6th maybe.

They just needed their own "Who You Are/Who Are You" type song didn't they? Music and Melody are pretty much a match and this song is just running up and down the E-scale I believe. An amazing scale, don't get me wrong, and simplicity is my friend. Crap, it's getting late again. Awesome harmonies in such a way that it doesn't sound like a typical song, but more of a choir chanting an anthem. Masterful. Now I better got out of here before I change my mind about this again.

30 - Strangest Tribe (Lost Dogs)

I will tell you why I like this song. I'll tell you why I love this song. When I put it on loop on my playlist while I'm trying to sleep, I will be out by the second go around. Without fail. Now, for a semi-insomniac as myself, this song pretty much saved me from going completely saved. There is something about whenever it gets played, it's like I am hypnotized, where I can perfectly envision every note and every instrument coming together. Thank you Strangest Tribe. They never played this live because by the song would be over the entire audience would be out cold. Jigglypuff anyone?

29 - Man of the Hour (Big Fish?)

Song was written for Tim Burton's Big Fish, a movie I sat through just because I knew this song was going to play at the end. Luckily for me, the movie itself was very good so it was a win win situation. Having watched the movie, this song obviously was placed into a different context, but still it's definitely a song that's just as powerful for those who have or haven't seen the film. "Tidal waves don't beg forgiveness" is one of the great Pearl Jam opening lines. I never realized how many Pearl Jam songs deal with death and loss until I made this list, and we even have a few coming up. According to Vedder, it can be viewed as the prequel to Come Back, but so can a lot of other things. I haven't decided what's to be played at my funeral though, this or Given to Fly. I guess it depends if I want people to cry or be lifted haha. This one's a slight tear jerker. "And the man of the hour has taken his final bow, goodbye for now." I guess Ed does believe in the afterlife then? Atleast he does within the context of this song haha.

Wobbie

let's continue with the watered down version of the other, good list. Hey, at least two people are interested.

28 - 20. The "Any one of these songs could have landed in the Top 10 but didn't" Tier; pt. 1

28 - Leash (Vs.)

Play Leash you *******! Haha... let's examine the David Letterman incident.

...

...

crap, I can't find it.

Well what happened was the entire crowd has signs saying Leash and Eddie had his own sign saying "Leash will not be played tonight." Pretty funny. I know it's around, but I can't seem to find it. Rumors were that Matt couldn't handle Dave's drumming which is probably BS since he's flipping Matt Cameron.

So here is some song inter-connectivity for you. There is a girl who lives with oppressive parents (Daughter) the girl is called mentally unstable and placed in a mental institution (Why Go). The girl finally fights back against the oppression she deals with from everyone in her life (Leash). Finally, the girl gets away from everything. (Rearviewmirror) There's more to this that I will get into as the other songs appear but for now let's focus on Leash.

There is debate within the Jamily I believe on whether she lashes out and then is deemed mentally unstable or if she is deemed mentally unstable and then lashes out. The way I see it is there is a lot of imagery dealing with rebellion, and forming a bond between those who are treated the same as you. Thus, her "trouble souls unite" line is calling from those she has seen dealt harshly within her home. There is also imagery of "home" and while some see it as her physical "home" it can be interpreted as the home she was sent to in Why Go. It's a very interesting set of songs to dissect and analyze.

Musically, the song kicks as much ass as the girl does in the song. Nuff said.

27 - Hard to Imagine (Lost Dogs)

Paint a picture. Using only gray. One of my straight seven (no, I did not forget!). It was between this and Indifference for Vs.'s closer and I suppose they picked the right one, but still this song is a gem. A dream-like song, and pretty haunting, with a nice distinct change halfway through for the song's anthem closing. They rarely do that so it's awesome to see. Though Mike nor Stone see a solo here, they do display an amazing ability to drive the point of this song's meaning. IF THINGS WERE DIFFERENT THEN!! ALL IS DIFFERENT NOW! I TRY TO EXPLAIN!! SOMEHOW... They do that for a good two minutes, and I swear I could listen to that part for 10 more. Songs like this should never stop. It's a shame that an epic closer in hiding such as this one never got used. Hell, they just should have said **** it and busted it out for No Code... then again, I'm probably way over my head.

26 - Present Tense (No Code)

Words to live by no doubt, and one of Eddie's best vocal performances. It's actually quintessential Ed in that it showcases both his low, quiet voice and then his ability to belt it. Those first two notes gets me flipping excited, and to hear it as an opener in Atlantic City? Epic. Jeffy comes through here bringing the heat with rather simple yet powerful bass work. It's so haunting yet at the same time, has this contradictory feel good, positive message. Interesting approach. Very open-ended song and then they just bring it with the full band for an incredibly power pre-outro. Now, I would never call anything pre-outro but this is a special exception in that Present Tense has the (and I may come to take this back later) the greatest instrumental outro in Pearl Jam history. Seriously, they can do that simple little part for two and a half hours and call it a successful concert.

25 - Dirty Frank (No Code)

I love how this song is legitimately great musically, while still never takes itself seriously at all. To this day, I can never keep track of how many time the riff plays before the opening lines so it always catches my surprise during every listen (sometimes I'll get it right.) It's a song about the bus driver of Pearl Jam's bus... I think? Well, anyway I know it's a bus driver just not sure what he does. WHERE'S MIKE MCCREADY? MAH GAWD! HE'S BEEN ATE! My absolute favorite Jeff work is performed in this piece (<-- first person to refer to Dirty Frank as a piece ftw?). Seriously, who can get enough of that interlude. I understand why this was left off of Ten but it still should have made it. Glad to see it return to the live arsenal, but I never got to see it performed. =( One day perhaps. It's just so funky. I lied, it's more funky than Rats. At least I think I said Rats was the funkiest.

That Dirty Frank was a bad motha SHUT YOUR MOUTH. Hey man, I'm just talkin' bout Dirty Frank!

24 - Inside Job (Pearl Jam)

I made a mistake with this song. When Pearl Jam (s/t) was announced I heard a description of this song, and I started freaking out. I completely over-hyped it in my mind. When I got Avocado, I just had to hear it, so I skipped the entire album to play the closer first. This is a move I do not recommend doing. However, what I did come to realize was that my hyping was completely justified. This song is epic, and it was shock that it lived up to my expectations, a feat great in itself. Mike McCready wrote this one, lyrics and all, (his only song as such) and it did not disappoint. Masterful closer to the s/t. Now, I feel that had I listened to everything first, I would have appreciated Inside Job even more, but alas, that ship has sailed. What remains is a beautiful tune.

A lot of human elements in this song and it is perhaps Pearl Jam's greatest musical achievement. Acoustic guitar, piano, drums kicking in halfway through the song... in fact, you need to listen to it to perhaps understand what I am talking about, but the song sounds as if it is tearing itself apart the entire time. That may sound completely ridiculous, and probably is. The lyrics can be viewed as cheesy, justifiably so, but it certainly fits the song, which is the problem with a lot of cheesy lyrics. A lot of Christian elements, and Mike's gone through a lot of rough patches in his life, and so there is an authenticity found. You can tell the lyrics weren't emplaced to write a "meaningful song" but are actually a scope into Mike's mind. Brilliance.

So, let's give it up for Pearl Jam's s/t. You've gone as far as you can go here. Though you are the first out, you are definitely one of the more consistent albums the band has put out. It was flipping serious business.

23 - Rearviewmirror (Vs.)

One of the catchiest riff's Pearl Jam's ever put out. Also, there finest car/get away songs that they've done which is an accomplishment all in itself. This is the girl from Leash finally getting her **** together and getting away from it all. Interesting note her, is that in Daughter (also about the girl) the shades go down, but here "finally the shades are raised." Melody ascends in RVM while descends in Daughter. Also, the imagery of the plate. Just throwing that out there. Awesome. It's these nuances that make this band exceptional. The vocals clash with the music in an awesome way, in that if you take the same vocal track and put it to a slow acoustic track it still would work. Beautiful. There's no real guitar solo, but if you listen it's actually of going on over the lyrics, and while that technically does quantify as a guitar solo, it is a musical guitar lead... >_> Maybe I made that up. Saw things so much clearer once you were in my rear view mirror. It's so simple if you think about it, yet it works. Just listen to it. You'll then understand why it's one of their best.

22 - Of The Girl (Binaural)

Try listening to this without tapping something. For me, it's impossible. Nice high registered vocals once again, and amazing usage of the Binaural recording technique. You'll need a really great speaker system to fully appreciate the quality of Of The Girl. I don't even know how to describe this anymore. It kicked off the greatest show of all time (benaroya) with an amazing rendition. When I first heard the song, I thought it sounded weird and downright awkward but I think you need a few listens to know what's coming to hear it favorably. It's just like a crazy jam with Mike and Stone having no clue what the other is doing yet still manage to create something completely non-cohesive yet fluent at the same time. Odd. How he makes this get away... beautiful chorus... ?

21 - Fatal (Lost Dogs)

Here's a Gossard tune that convinces me he is the best overall writer of songs. Why didn't you make Binaural? Evacuation for crying out loud made Binaural, and you didn't? Awesome acoustic tune, but the background electric entrance 31 seconds in (oh and I didn't look just up that time, that's how deep me an Fatal roll, ya here?) may perhaps be the best part of the song. The opener of the straight seven that I've come to adore is the best. Unfortunately, we are all done with my seven. =( The reason I held these in such a high regard is because I guess its found in such a weird place from all different eras of the band, yet they are perfect together. If he's truly out of sight...

20 - Alive (Ten)

Anthem guitar rock at its finest. I think this is the first PJ song recorded and performed but don't quote me on that. Such a cool, pumping riff you got there. It tells the story of a boy who found out his father is not really his father and that his real father is dead. Sorry you didn't see him, but I'm glad we talked. This really happened to Ed, though the next part did not. (At least I hope not). The mother tries to sexually replace the dead father now with her son. The chorus has become an anthem with people shouting "I'm still alive!" as it's a good thing, but Ed is saying it as a curse. Storytellers coming up here now.... throughout the years seeing these people however chant it, has changed it's meaning and ergo the curse has been lifted.

It's the first part of the Alive/Once/Footsteps chronicles, so hopefully Ed does not become a murderer in his old age, if this is indeed a true story. Perhaps, he already is! Mike's solo....

Wobbie

I've gone this far....I'm not quitting until I reveal #1 (note: not my list)

19 - 11. The "Any one of these songs could have landed in the Top 10 but didn't" Tier

19 - Love Boat Captain (Riot Act)

I guess it has something to do with the TV show...? I think this is the only song Boom is credited for having a hand in writing, and if that's the case.... wtf!! Get to the drawing board Boom, because you contributed to a kickass track. True story coming up... I snuck into my nearest church to play this one on a B3 organ because Lord knows that playing it on those cheesy Rock organ presets wasn't going to cut. So I did, and the priest came rushing in and kicked my ass out. That story is enough to show how awesome this song is but I'll try to talk about it anyway.

Let the show begin! is an awesome live lyric change and always gets a huge applause even if LBC is like the 7th song played. Also, the LBC hoodie is AWESOME! If you see someone rolling around in that, it very well may be me so say hello. Weird usage of C ----> Cm but hey, that's why it's awesome I guess. The wisdom that the old can't give away. Stupid human beings.

18 - In My Tree (No Code)

Just to start off. I am a fan of the '03 version. I am. Love Boom's jungle solo.

Anyway, what can you say about Jack's drumming. It's so transitive and smooth and fits the theme/music to a tee. The reason why this song is so good. The song is about getting high as an escape. A fine message. Ed's glove fitting vocals accentuates one of my all time favorite lines. "I'm holding on to my innocence." And he roars it in his old man voice, dirty as hell, and yet he's still got his innocence. That's right his innocence.

Just like most of No Code (I'm looking at you Red Mosquito) the music gives way to the image that the lyrics are painting. I wave to all my friends. They don't seem to notice me. Haha, I wish I wrote that.

17 - Sleight of Hand (Binaural)

I heard someone once say what this song was about. I myself have no clue, but when I heard this description it was brilliant and opened my eyes to the greatness that is Sleight of Hand. It's about a cop dealing with his first killing. It's so simple yet makes so much sense. Was he moved by sleight of hand? Routine was the theme (a line right out of my head personally) Images of uniforms, lost on a road he knew by heart (his route). I don't care if this is not what was intended, this is what the song is about. Drifting... drifting... There's a perfect version on Benaroya that I once listened to at 3:45 in the morning once and my head nearly exploded. Classy place.

This was the song I was referring to before when I said this may be the one song I want to get high to along with Red Mosquito. But hell, this one is good enough. It's so different than most of what Pearl Jam has showcased, but it's the same, only because of its brilliance.

He waves goodbye to himself. I'll see you on the other side.

Couldn't faced his killing, so ended up killing himself... ? Such a lucid piece of art. But anyway, now we wave goodbye to Binaural. You had a nice run there! I'll see you on the other side.


16 - Daughter (Vs.)

You guys ready!? Haha... gotta love Stone. This song proves that you don't need to sacrifice being a hard rock song by using an acoustic guitar as your driving force. Though it is acoustic, it never sacrifices ass-kicking ability. Are little girl makes her last appearance on the list, in her first song chronologically speaking. Ed shifts in and out of third person here. "A young girl..." verses with "Don't call me daughter" choruses. A great line is "She will rise above" and the great thing about it is that a lot of times this gets unresolved in the story. Songs will say she will rise above yet its only speculation. Here, as seen through Rearviewmirror, you can see it formulate. Even going through her rougher stages (Why Go), this line is placed into context only because of this song interconnectivity. I may be speaking about this arc too much haha, but it really is a fascinating aspect to Pearl Jam's music. Shades go down...

Really nice live tags placed on this song. Another Brick in the Wall II, Its OK, War, the my two hands with Ben Harper at Live at the Garden is my favorite probably. Boo at the WMA tag though. Play the damn song! Ed basically uses Daughter tags nowadays to bash Bush and was censored at Lollapalooza for it haha...

15 - Sad (Lost Dogs)

This was top 5 on my list at one point, that's how highly I regard this song. This one is all from Eddie's brain, with him righting the catchiest riff this side of Rearviewmirror. Ahhh... Jeff's bass... ah... The content is what makes this song so great. "There is no God with a plan. And his holiness is proof, that it's sad." That hits you! Great imagery over a better melody. I should just write out the lyrics as my right up, because it's greatness speaks for itself. He's searching for escayayayayape! I always like to believe this song is about the guy from that Cure song who said "I will always love you." who's lover dies, now written in the third person. This is only because of the line "He will always love you." But that's just personal speculation and has no base beyond that.

14 - Immortality (Vitalogy)

Artistic beauty at its finest. THE closer for Vitalogy (atleast how I listen to it). Ed's gruff vocals are perfect, and there is a wonderful instrumental/ed solo (not really instrumental I guess) on Immagine in Cornice (I have no clue how to spell it, ya know the new DVD). Apparently, it's "about" Kurt Cobain, but who knows for sure. Cigar box on the floor certainly references that specifically, but Ed has denied that it's about him. BOTH AN ACOUSTIC GUITAR SOLO AND ELECTRIC GUITAR SOLO... that's top 20 material right there. Some die just to live. Really great poetry going on here over a very cohesive melody. Musically perhaps, their best.


13 - State of Love and Trust (Singles Soundtrack)

*awesome riff* *kickass drum pounds* WOOOO!!!!

Long time ago this was my favorite Pearl Jam song. I don't know why that has changed, as I haven't stopped loving it nor have I found any flaws in it. Well, nothing is completely flawless but whatever. Ed is completely insane in this song. I listen for the voice inside my head. Nothing. I'll do this one myself. Mikkee Heeelppp!!! <--- He's says this live often right before his solo, and then Ed takes this eargasmic solo and decides to sing over it. Thank you Ed. Hey na na na na hey that's something! Such juvenile lyrics there but they are perfect. My favorite part of the song is "Won't you help me." It's so raw, so real. He sounds completely genuine in his request. The RVM version destroys this though adding some sort of bogus radio effect. But the version that landed 13th is this version so it's cool!

The song was written for that cheesy movie Singles that I didn't like all too much. Seriously, *****, get the breast implants! But regardless, Jeff was hilarious in the movie. Not because he did anything hilarious, but because he was Jeff Ament... in a movie. But Ed had the best line. "A compliment for us is a compliment for you." I have a feeling we'll be reprising this movie later though.

Listen to the Unplugged version... NOW!

12 - Corduroy (Vitalogy)

Tell me that opening 1st and 5ths trading off back and forth back and forth doesn't get you flipping excited to be alive. Your also excited this song is not Alive, it's Corduroy! The reason to this day that I wear corduroy pants, so that's something worth hanging on to. THE WAITING TROPHY MAN!! <--- tell me right now that you didn't think this was the opening line and I'll call you a liar. Very punky as a matter of fact. I think a lot of other Pearl Jam songs try to be Corduroy but just don't match up. (even though most of the songs were written well before Corduroy). Maybe one can say that it flushed out all of the errors the band made in previous songs of this type, combined all of the great aspects and BAM! Dished out Corduroy, the best song on Vitalogy. Second song I've ever heard live. That was exciting.

Goodbye Vitalogy. Another album completed. Woo.

11 - Yellow Ledbetter (Jeremy B-side)

A b-side. A ****ing b-side. What the hell kind of band is this? Their 11th best song (relatively speaking of course!) out of 140th made a B-side? Hopefully, this proves once and for all how deep this band rolls. The pride of Mike McCready and the ultimate concert closer. Also the quintessential song for non-coherent lyrics but hey, I've got it down. I don't wanna stay. Make me cry. Direct Hendrix influence here, a "homage" coughripoffcough to Little Wing haha, and if you've never heard them tag it on to the end of this, it's a must listen. It's so anthematic! I don't want to stay at all. His brother's coming home in a box or a bag. That's powerful. The intro/outro guitar solo's are brilliant and even made a top 20 guitar solos of all time list pretty recently (Mike also cracked it with Alive). They wrote this song, and Ed just improved over it thus getting inaudible lyrics. But something came out. Ed's fascination with porches is also prevalent here. They don't wave. Most people here know why this is a classic, and I know a lot would put or was expecting this number 1. My job is to convince you my reasoning for a different top 10.

HeavyHands

imalive,

I know it's not you who authored this, but...

"Hate the chorus, love the verses. Black Pilate I have you don't..."

Really?

i shit and i stink

SOLAT and Courdoruy outside the top ten. It hurts!

I was happy to see Love Boat Captian so high though, it's such an underrated song.

Thanks for continuing this, i know it hasn't got much response but I was wondering earlier what this guy has an his top ten.

Wobbie

Thank you HeavyHands and i shit and i stink for your continued support!

It's almost done.

Wobbie

The Top Ten (almost). We've made it this far...there's no turning back.

Somehow, this dude had an STP song at #10. WTF?? What little credibility he had, is diminished a bit more.

9 - Faithful (Yield)

Some of my favorite Ed lyrics all thrown into one song? Awesome. I think McCready wrote it just going by sound, but I'd have to double check I guess. Verse/Chorus/Instrumentals/Chorus/Verse. Very interesting structure, and it works great. It's a musical palindrome! Whatever the notion, we lacen our prayers to the man upstairs. He's used to all of this noise. I'm through with screaming. But then the "We're Faithful" "We All Believe." The song is a spiritual journey filled with a load of questions and doubt. However, we still remain faithful through this questioning. Nobody hears it goes it goes. in the end, we don't know what is true up there, because we don't seem to be getting any answers. So in the last verse, he just breaks down and says that we should just be faithful to each other and not different gods, tearing ourselves apart. Differences in religion bring us away from humanity, yet putting our faith in each other drags us back into it. I could have sworn the "keeps us in a box of fear" was "box of beer." But the first makes sense! Such an emotional song.

8 - I Got Id/I Got **** (Merkin Ball)

Note the name of this song is I Got Id. (id, ego, super-ego) Not ID. Eddie is not saying that he has valid identification in this song. Ed is the only remaining band member on the official recording with Uncle Neil Young playing guitar and long-time producer Brendan O’Brien on bass. (Jack Irons is on drums). Song appears as "I Got Id" because being released as a single they couldn't officially call it ****. I think the label made them change it... ?

Some of the most desolate imageries one can find in a song. "My lips are shaking, my nails are bit off. It's been a month since I heard myself talk. Only advantage this life's got on me, picture a cup drifting in the middle of the sea." The opening guitar riff is pretty simple (even I can play it) but it just sounds so epic. For a song that is lyrically driven such as this, there aren't THAT many words to be seen in this. But the words that are there are so good so it doesn't matter. I must admit though. I can never crack what some of this song means. Who is the person he keeps talking about? Who is the "you?" as this person sounds if he is complete isolation for a rather long period of time. "I've got all these questions, don't know who I'm gonna ask." Is he reverting back to a time so far gone by? "I've got memories I've got ****." Who helped this guy walk the line when they held him in that night? And what's up with the "I've never held you in real life" line? "If only once, I could feel love." The song is so eerie and odd.

Musically and lyrically the song matches itself as both as haunting as the other. And when you have haunting and haunting, it doesn't add... it doesn't multiply... it exponeniates! And why does he choose to say "my lips are shaking" a second time to finish the song off? Why that line? It doesn't seem like the most important to me.

Hey! I finally figured out the meaning. "I've all these questions, don't know who I'm gonna ask." That's the whole point. I'm asking these questions too, but got no one to ask. Brilliant...

7 - Given to Fly (Yield)

Given to Going to California to Fly! They actually played Going to California into Given to Fly with Plant and it was awesome, but that goes without saying! Now correct me if I'm wrong, but is this song about dealing drugs? The guy first does it in the first verse (had a smoke in the tree) in the chorus it describes his high (he's flying). Next verse, he starts dealing (wanted to share his key to the locks on the chains he saw everywhere). And gets held down by the cops (first he was stripped and then he ws stabbed... but ****ers he still stands.) And he continues to do it (still gives his love he just gives it away). No way man! It's about peace and love! Who cares what it's "about" though. It's such a lucid song. That opening riff becomes embedded inside of you and you can feel it. This song should be played at my funeral. It can be viewed as being angelified (is that a word), when you get your wings, no? Because now I can fly!

A lot of buildup in this song musically. The post chorus "Why's" are always nice to listen to. They hit the reset button after the first chorus and just do it all over again, and they could have hit it a third or fourth time for good measure. Verses are filled with low register with a roaring high-register for the pre-chorus and beyond. Inspiring! The song literally sounds as if it was Given to Fly.

The song means a lot to me personally, and I just listened and listened and listened during some rough periods I had. It's interesting. You can listen to depressing songs when you are depressed, or you can listen to inspiring ones. I chose the latter but any method is personal I guess. It's one of those "just ****ing go for it" songs without ever getting the message across cheesily or directly which is incredibly difficult to do. So that warrants something at least.

Someone check my aim name please.

6 - Release (Ten)

Pearl Jam chooses concert openers for specific purposes. You have the ones that set the tone that this show will rock: Go, Severed Hand, Corduroy. You have the ones that set the tone that the show will be filled with slower tracks: Long Road, Of the Girl. And then you have the opener that sets the tone that the show will be epic: Release.

The opening riff is a simple practice, warm-up riff the band used in order to get into Pearl Jam mode. One day, Eddie put lyrics for it and thank God he did. The closer to Ten became the band's concert opener. "Oh dear dad, can you see me now? I am myself, like you somehow." The vocal performance is legendary. It's a rather simple song musically, but they use that simpleness and harness into power and emotion. Once you hear that riff, you can't help but know that you are in store for something epic. From the moaning in the beginning to the crying in the end, this song just builds up into an amazing ballad. Probably the reason for it's effectiveness as a concert opener too. "I will wait up in the dark for you to speak to me." This is the way I felt as a child. It's amazing Ed can take emotions like that, turn them universal, but somehow keep it insanely personal. "I'll ride the wave where it takes me! I hold the pain, release me!" Sounds emo, but instead of whining, it's pure desperation. (I like emo, don't bash me)... I'll leave you with one last thing about this song, the greatest tragedy I have so far in my Pearl Jam experiences... and it's the only thing left for me to do. Perhaps it's the reason that I consider this song so sacred.

I have never gotten to hear it live... yet.

i shit and i stink

'Release' is overrated, as usual. Apart from the STP song at number ten, Faithfull and I Got Id are nice choices for the top ten.

satansbed

this always keeps me entertained

Wobbie

satansbed wrote:

this always keeps me entertained

I'm glad 2 or 3 of you like it.

I'm going to keep you in suspense until Sunday for the Top 5.

Wobbie

drumroll, please :roll:

The Top Five

5 - Breath (Singles Soundtrack)

The Breath campaign of 1998 is one of the greatest moments in Pearl Jam history. Having not played it four years, people just barraged the band with signs and signs all saying one word. Breath. For two nights the band oddly refused to play it, with Ed joking about it, so at least he recognized the dedication! "YOU ****ING ****SUCKERS. YOU ****ING ****S! YOU ****ING. WE COME UP HERE AS A COLLECTIVE BAND AND WE GIVE AND WE GIVE, AND YOU KNOW WHAT YOU DESERVED. IT'S LIKE AN ORGANIZED RELIGION HERE." Third night in a row, at Madison Square on 9/11/98, they played it. The next night, hundreds of "Thank You" signs made its way through the arena. Legendary. How's that?

Do do do do dooo dodododododoo... Amazing display of a hard rock song driven not by it's musicality oddly enough but it's melodic and lyrical content. In many ways it is the quintessential Pearl Jam song. Jeff has that warm fuzzy cuddly bass buzzing about the song, and once again the imagery of the porch returns. What's the fascination Ed? The bridge is perhaps my favorite of all time as well. If I knew where it was! I would take you there! There's much more than this! At Live at the Garden, he changes it to "not much more than this" which was nice to hear. It's the quintessential song because everyone does "their" thing. You have the classic Stone riff, the great Jeff bassline, Ed's raging melodies, *insert drummer here*'s pounding force, and Mike's solo. Nothing more needs to be said about Mike's solo, remember? I think he actually pocketed this solo and used it for another song, but why shouldn't he have? He's Mike McCready!

The song is the second written for "Singles," the horrible movie. However, just to hear this and State of Love and Trust is reason enough to watch this. It's amazing that two of their best were written for a movie soundtrack, but since the movie was based around the grunge scene as it's backdrop, I suppose they needed to bring out the goods for this one. It's hard to imagine what can top this...

If I didn't say it already, would you think Hard to Imagine would be next? Maybe it'll make a reprise. >_> ?

4 - Indifference (Vs.)

Epic. It's just a basic jazz song musically, really. But the vocals and lyrics are filled with the greatest irony of all. Passionate Indifference. I'm gonna put myself through all this crap, and I don't give a ****, because hey, how much difference does it make? But in fact, the music matches this Indifference, so what I said before is basically bs. Don't listen to everything I say, ok? The baseline is hypnotic and (I don't think ever changes)... ba-dum... da-dum... over and over, with a really tripped organ (the instrument's first Pearl Jam song appearance? can't be too sure). Perhaps their least in your face song, but it's completely in your face at the same time because you are sitting looking at this guy waste away and do nothing about it.

The opening line says it all, really. I will light the match this morning so I won't be alone. But listen, dude. You are alone. Alone. And that's what has caused your anguish. The song runs down a list of these pretty horrible things one can do to oneself, but still who cares? "I will stare the sun down, until my eyes go blind." "I'll keep taking punches until their will goes tired." "I will swallow poison, until I grow immune." He's putting himself through these impossible situations, and will wait not until he quits, but until he becomes so used to the pain, nothing will matter anymore.

Ladies and Gentlemen... Ben Harper. He squeals on this song, but gives it special meaning whenever he plays it. He forgets the words, but how much difference does that make? Beautiful harmonies when he and Ed sing together. My lap-top battery is about to shut off, but I'll keep on typing until it gives out. Because how much differe

3 - In Hiding (Yield)

Unlike a lot of other songs on this list, this one is hear for only one reason, and one merit: the strength of the song. There is no personal meaning, nor do I have a story behind tell regarding me and the song. Listening to it is a musical revelation. Ation, not Ution. There are no external reasons for liking this song that I can come up with other than the fact that In Hiding is the best song on my favorite CD (eehhh... maybe it's No Code, but 3 in the top 10 speaks for itself.)

The song starts off with a powering riff that Stone kept using as his practice routine until someone in the band stopped and said wow that's awesome. He was all, Hey guys look at me! Awesome Riff Stone. Gossard really is a riff-master if you think about it. You can put his name up against anybody and he'd be able to hold his ground. The song is about being afraid and rising above that. I should have locked the front door, no way in or out. Pulled the curtains down. Literally this guy is In Hiding. I'MM IN HIDDDING!! Raucous sing-along chorus, and if you have the Vic bootleg from this year, you'll know how amazing this song can be with a crowd that understands it. In Hiding has the greatest pre-chorus I've ever heard and I just love Stone's little distorted backing to it. "I swallowed my words to keep from lying. I swallowed my breath, went deep, I was diving." Song hits reset (like Given to Fly, also on Yield interesting) and the third chorus plays out as the revelation where this guy overcomes his problems. It's been about three days now since I've been a ground. No longer overwhelmed and it seems so simple now. When Eddie says "it's funny when things change so much it's all state of mind" he gives a little chuckle. Very subtle, but you know its there. Subtleties such as this can turn a great song into a legendary one. In Hiding, for me at least, is legendary. I actually don't know/am not sure if it gets a ton of respect, if any at all. But it should.... obviously.


2 - Off He Goes (No Code)

*fools around with the bass and drums* 1 2.. 1 2..

An acoustic song propelled by a simple story about a guy trying to find his way, told in the perspective of an old friend. Here is his story.

Verse 1: The man recalls the last time he has seen his friend. He describes him to be extremely tense, suggests that he should relax, but he's always moving much too fast. As usually, the guy leaves without any prospect of seeing him again. Maybe he will, maybe he won't. "There he goes, with his perfect, holy unkempt glow."

Mike has a short melodic solo interacting with acoustic guitar riff that propels the song.

Verse 2: "He's yet to come back." The man wonders about his friend... what he is going through. He's seen a picture yet he doesn't look the same as he remembered. "... yea we go way back..." With this line he turns to the listener, and is basically tries to convince us that he really does know this guy. Because from what we can see so far, he's nothing more than a passer-byer in his life. He answers our question of where the hell is this guy? "Where? I don't know." Off he goes. With his perfectly... unkept hope... there he goes...

Another Mike solo interlude.

Verse 3: Our friend has come back into the man's life, much to his surprise. The friend is smiling and strong. Nothing has changed, but the surrounding bull**** that has grown. The man is finally beginning to see his friend what he truly is. And while they are talking as if he never left at all, the man knows what is about to go down. " I saw the strain creep in... He seems distracted and I know just what is gonna happen next... Before his first step... he is off again."

Outro

The story isn't resolved and we never know what comes of the man or his friend. In my opinion, the story just cycles itself never changing. The man appears and disappears in need of searching for himself. We actually learn more about the narrator and the kind of person he is throughout the song, even though all he talks about is his friend, who after six minutes of music still remains a mystery to us. The song is said to be written by Ed about Ed, him being the friend referring to him through the eyes of one of his friends and shows himself in the third person. It takes a special writer to be able to do that.


1 - Black (Ten)

I dare you to sing Black and not feel it. I dare you, - Eddie Vedder

The definition of simplicity wrapped in complexity is Black. The song that was never released as a single yet still managed to hit #3 on the charts. The song with so much emotion, I've literally seen people cry while listening to it at shows. <--- though that's even a little weird for me. *looks at this thread* Ok! You can get weirder. Coming in at number one is my favorite song of all time and the most beautiful song ever written. Black.

One night in late 1999, my friend approached me and said he just heard this wicked song called Black by Pearl Jam. I gave it a listen and it in fact literally changed my life. The song has been done a million times. This guy misses his woman. What made this song different? I actually do not know if I have the answer to that question. I'm guessing it has to do with the word play/Ed's emotion, yet I'm not sure. It sounds genuine. It's not "I miss you." it's not "I want you back." It's "I know someday you'll have a beautiful life, I know you'll be a star, in somebody else's sky but why can't it be mine?" That's ****ing real. The song is incredibly human. It's trying to cope with something so universally insignificant yet so personally significant within everyday life, facing with memories of someone you've missed out on. One event can "turn my world to black." It changes everything. Who you are, what you do how you think. "All that I am. All that I'll be." Present and future, nothing will ever be the same. "All the pictures [memories] have been washed in black... tatooed everything." Black is such an interesting simple imagery, because it gives no room for anything else. When this guy looks back on his past, he gets nothing but Black.

The song is build-up as I've said before, not so much musically, but mentally. The guy in the song is talking. Telling the facts. As he dives deeper into his mind, he starts to go flipping nuts. It doesn't get any better, but progressively worse. The song isn't about getting over it, it's about completely losing your ****ing mind. She gave you everything, yet now you having nothing to show for it. Nothing. Twisted thoughts spin around his head... he's spinning woah he's spinning. The sun drops away. All light... all imagery of light within this song is completely shot. Gone. Forever.

Lyrically the song ends, but that is the point where it really starts to get interesting. Do do do dododo. It's so repetitious. Over and Over and Over. It's so damn haunting. This is this guys mind right now. He's ****ing flipped out of his mind. He's screaming over these basically happy "do's" and such pain. The "do's" are his mind masking what he feels trying to escape all pain that he possibly feels yet over that the shouting is still there, it still persists. Nothing will change that, no matter what he can tell himself.

Thanks to both of you who followed this thread!

pearljamtrojans

You have a third follower, ha!

Great read, really enjoyed it...

i shit and i stink

Okay, I preferred the other guys list and writing, but this list had a very, very solid top ten and didn't have Release in the top 5, which I was happy about. I'd have expected Corduroy, RVM or SOLAT in there, but you have to say that the top 5 is fucking great. 'Breath' is so underrated, 'In Hiding' has taken a on a whole new menaing for me recently and about half the people on these boards have 'Black' as number 1 on another thread running right now about the greatest song the band have.

I have no idea what it is about that song that can make it stand out so much compared to about 200 others in PJ's catalogue but it just has something untouchable, indescribable, majestic...

Thanks for the effort, it was a nice read - after my initial reaction to this guy being a dope - and he pulled out some interesting stuff, especially towards the end. If you post the whole thing on the front page of a new thread it might be nice for posterity and easier for people to get into, no scanning through to find the lists...
Thanks again, T

Wobbie

i shit and i stink wrote:

Thanks for the effort, it was a nice read - after my initial reaction to this guy being a dope - and he pulled out some interesting stuff, especially towards the end.
Thanks again, T

no....thank you!

I stumbled across this on the internet a few years back. For some reason (OCD?), I copied and pasted it into a document. I tried to find it again on the net, with zero success. I have no idea who wrote it other than I doubt he's hanging around "here." :?

i shit and i stink

Come on! Admit it, you wrote it yourself!

HeavyHands

imalive wrote:

Thanks to both of you who followed this thread!

You're welcome. It's always interesting to read other people's justifications for why they choose the things they do whether I agree with them or not. Thanks for providing the content.