Reasons to Like All of Pearl Jam’s Albums (Pt.1)
pleatherman
Posts: 472
Intro.
I sometimes wonder. Being such an avid fan of pearl jam, am I sacrificing a portion of my objectivity in regards to the quality of their music. Others out here don't seem to have a problem stating their strongly felt opinions on how terrible pearl jam can be. Sure, it's hard to gauge any widespread trend in viewpoint since the negative voices always tend to be the loudest. Hopefully one thing remains the same, we all love this band. Yet that same passion can lead to highly opposing reactions in anything pearl jam does or will do. Even the title of this thread could very well start a similar one, but replacing "like" with "dislike". (After all, "hate" is such a strong word.) Who knows, some of us could enjoy the same piece of music for the exact reasons others can’t stand it. I would like to shine some light on a few of the extraordinary and redeeming aspects I discover in every record the band has released. True, they are all flawed in their own way but I believe they have never released a bad album; or a good one, even. To me, they have all ranged from great, to awesome, to super-sensationally stellar!
I would just like to apologize ahead for any and all generalizations I impress upon these albums. A truly comprehensive review of their discography would expand into a million word dissertation, easy. I will also brush on the circumstances of every album’s development as a way to, perhaps, better understand its nature. O.K. Time to get to work.
1.) Ten- The reissue really compelled me to take another gander at this one. As a favor, brainwash yourself into thinking you've never heard a radio station in your life. There, now we can enjoy this album without being encumbered by played-out (understatement) songs or the hordes of copycats that practically border on parody. What we are left with is the first album by a melting pot of musicians: borrowing the anthems naturally bred in classic rock as a vehicle for capturing modern life of those broken souls just trying to survive it all. And none of that would be possible without a singer spurring our emotions like a tidal wave. For many of us, ‘Ten’ served as a gateway drug to our untreated pearl jam addiction; an introduction most cataclysmic. As long as this album still resonates, for better or worse, your adolescent defiance will never go away. To think, Pearl Jam began almost as an accident. The results of which changed our lives. Kind of like penicillin!
Background Info: Initially developed by jamming on Stone's songs in his parents' attic. Vedder’s absence during this embryonic period limits his role, for the most part, to melody and lyrical content. The rate at which the completed songs appear underscores the group's hunger to succeed. The break-neck speed of writing/recording also helps to augment this as their least diverse record. Rarely before has a band developed themselves into a collective unit so quickly. Although hard work cannot be overstated, it almost seems like serendipity.
To be Continued with... Vs.
I sometimes wonder. Being such an avid fan of pearl jam, am I sacrificing a portion of my objectivity in regards to the quality of their music. Others out here don't seem to have a problem stating their strongly felt opinions on how terrible pearl jam can be. Sure, it's hard to gauge any widespread trend in viewpoint since the negative voices always tend to be the loudest. Hopefully one thing remains the same, we all love this band. Yet that same passion can lead to highly opposing reactions in anything pearl jam does or will do. Even the title of this thread could very well start a similar one, but replacing "like" with "dislike". (After all, "hate" is such a strong word.) Who knows, some of us could enjoy the same piece of music for the exact reasons others can’t stand it. I would like to shine some light on a few of the extraordinary and redeeming aspects I discover in every record the band has released. True, they are all flawed in their own way but I believe they have never released a bad album; or a good one, even. To me, they have all ranged from great, to awesome, to super-sensationally stellar!
I would just like to apologize ahead for any and all generalizations I impress upon these albums. A truly comprehensive review of their discography would expand into a million word dissertation, easy. I will also brush on the circumstances of every album’s development as a way to, perhaps, better understand its nature. O.K. Time to get to work.
1.) Ten- The reissue really compelled me to take another gander at this one. As a favor, brainwash yourself into thinking you've never heard a radio station in your life. There, now we can enjoy this album without being encumbered by played-out (understatement) songs or the hordes of copycats that practically border on parody. What we are left with is the first album by a melting pot of musicians: borrowing the anthems naturally bred in classic rock as a vehicle for capturing modern life of those broken souls just trying to survive it all. And none of that would be possible without a singer spurring our emotions like a tidal wave. For many of us, ‘Ten’ served as a gateway drug to our untreated pearl jam addiction; an introduction most cataclysmic. As long as this album still resonates, for better or worse, your adolescent defiance will never go away. To think, Pearl Jam began almost as an accident. The results of which changed our lives. Kind of like penicillin!
Background Info: Initially developed by jamming on Stone's songs in his parents' attic. Vedder’s absence during this embryonic period limits his role, for the most part, to melody and lyrical content. The rate at which the completed songs appear underscores the group's hunger to succeed. The break-neck speed of writing/recording also helps to augment this as their least diverse record. Rarely before has a band developed themselves into a collective unit so quickly. Although hard work cannot be overstated, it almost seems like serendipity.
To be Continued with... Vs.
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Comments
I sometimes wish cds had the ability to imprint the number of times they've been played. From that, I can extrapolate what my true desert island album would be. Due to mood, weather, and change of environment or perspective, deciding my favorite of the bunch always proves elusive. The wishy-washy answer I stole from Kat or Sea is thinking of all of their studio work as one colossal record. That's all well and fine but what about when it comes time to make a P.J. mix tape (really a compact disk) for the uninitiated. Trying to squeeze the best of pearl jam into 80 minutes?!?! I might as well come up with a definitive quantum theory of gravity.