The Bands Growth.
Sleep.With.Innocence
Posts: 607
Unfortunately I didn't get to grow up with the band. I was 11 when Riot Act came out, so the first record I truly got to grow into with the rest of the band and fanbase was Avocado.
So instead of listening to all the albums in order (and truly seeing how the band progressed as musicians and people) I had to take it all in at once. That being said I think the growth between Ten and Avocado is huge, which is why we haven't had a replica of Ten. As the band matured and became more politically active, we began to see a shift in their music.
I personally take the easiest example to expression my point of growth. It's easiest to see so through the words of Eddie Vedder.
1992 Leash - "Delight, delight, delight in our youth. Get outta my fuckin face." This entire song conveys a very rebellious message to society, but that's where Eddie was at at the moment. He didn't want to rely on anything but his youth. Instead of seeking hope in others, he delighted in his adolescence.
2002 Love Boat Captain - "And the young, they can lose hope cause they cant see beyond today,...
The wisdom that the old cant give away." If you honestly think about it, Eddie Vedder is almost taking a direct stab at himself with this one. This song quiet bluntly says "all you need is love" and it couldn't be any truer.
Eddie Vedder best describes his intentions in this quote: "I was happy to get that line because I'm talking about people much older than us, people who are 70 or 80 and they've got attitudes that don't have the deep peaks and valleys as someone who in adolescence who is faced with some things and they go, "Fuck this, this sucks, how can we have any hope?" These are people who been through the invention of the horseless carriage to the car to the TV set and are dealing with internet. How do they view it? It's almost with disdain. This is the wisdom they can't give away, that is what I'm talking about and that youth doesn't have that time line beneath them. So they just see something in front of them and think there's no hope, no getting over it, what's the point and so on. They are also bombarded with information more than ever these days, and negativity and cynicism and I can understand why they would feel that way. But they don't have to. There really are positive actions that can be taken."
Again, it almost seems like he is talking to himself 10 years ago. It has been amazing to sit back and listen to the entire Pearl Jam catalog at once. Seeing personally how Eddie Vedder grew through his music really is a beautiful thing, my only regret is that I didn't get to grow up with him.
With everyone's talk of change, I thought I'd make this post and enlighten everyone with my observations. They haven't made Ten part 2 not because they've wanted to change their sound, but because as time progressed they've grown into a new one.
Sorry if this type of thread has already been made, just sharing my thoughts!
So instead of listening to all the albums in order (and truly seeing how the band progressed as musicians and people) I had to take it all in at once. That being said I think the growth between Ten and Avocado is huge, which is why we haven't had a replica of Ten. As the band matured and became more politically active, we began to see a shift in their music.
I personally take the easiest example to expression my point of growth. It's easiest to see so through the words of Eddie Vedder.
1992 Leash - "Delight, delight, delight in our youth. Get outta my fuckin face." This entire song conveys a very rebellious message to society, but that's where Eddie was at at the moment. He didn't want to rely on anything but his youth. Instead of seeking hope in others, he delighted in his adolescence.
2002 Love Boat Captain - "And the young, they can lose hope cause they cant see beyond today,...
The wisdom that the old cant give away." If you honestly think about it, Eddie Vedder is almost taking a direct stab at himself with this one. This song quiet bluntly says "all you need is love" and it couldn't be any truer.
Eddie Vedder best describes his intentions in this quote: "I was happy to get that line because I'm talking about people much older than us, people who are 70 or 80 and they've got attitudes that don't have the deep peaks and valleys as someone who in adolescence who is faced with some things and they go, "Fuck this, this sucks, how can we have any hope?" These are people who been through the invention of the horseless carriage to the car to the TV set and are dealing with internet. How do they view it? It's almost with disdain. This is the wisdom they can't give away, that is what I'm talking about and that youth doesn't have that time line beneath them. So they just see something in front of them and think there's no hope, no getting over it, what's the point and so on. They are also bombarded with information more than ever these days, and negativity and cynicism and I can understand why they would feel that way. But they don't have to. There really are positive actions that can be taken."
Again, it almost seems like he is talking to himself 10 years ago. It has been amazing to sit back and listen to the entire Pearl Jam catalog at once. Seeing personally how Eddie Vedder grew through his music really is a beautiful thing, my only regret is that I didn't get to grow up with him.
With everyone's talk of change, I thought I'd make this post and enlighten everyone with my observations. They haven't made Ten part 2 not because they've wanted to change their sound, but because as time progressed they've grown into a new one.
Sorry if this type of thread has already been made, just sharing my thoughts!
Post edited by Unknown User on
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Comments
"its almost with disdain" eddie says of the older folks view of their current world.
I've seen that in my elderly parents before they left this world.
I feel it starting in myself, lately half wishing my kids stick to the doggies cause if I have grandchildren I'm going to be afraid to leave them behind here in this world.
Back to subject I cherish PJ and the changes the band has gone thru in my 20 years of loving their music.
Hoping to finish my life in 20 or so with them.
Thanks for the compliment!
But I'd say wisdom is a stretch, that's something you gain over time as you learn to persevere through life's struggles and hardships. I think Eddie hit the nail on the head in Love Boat Captain.
For as much as they grow and change, they also have a "core" that is consistent. They may add to that core with new loves, but they don't completely abandon what they had previously felt, and continue to see, as essential.
Very true! I'm a firm believer that that "core" that you speak of is what has held them together. It's hard to sum up what that core is, but I think you are starting to take a stab at the bigger picture. That "core" that is consistent throughout all of their records (and lives) is why we love Pearl Jam, and hold them and their music so dearly to our hearts.
Funny i've always thought of this as Ed has stayed his course with a lot of things, but evolved in many other ways too.
in response to the OP, you made some great points. I also think it's actually harder than we think to really see how the band has evolved musically. And from the get-go there are so many reasons why there will never be a Ten-part 2. That reason is that that album was more a Gossard/Ament album with guest singer Ed Vedder. Then there are the storires of how Ed took too much control for Vitalogy. And i think this turning point was most important as the band has stated that from No code to Yield, they really started to collaborate more.
Personally, I then think the style kinda stayed the same of the next few albums after Yield, but most importantly was Eddies evolution after discovering the Uke and doing the Into the Wild album. Yes, he has come very far and has become an amazing lyricist in so many different ways.
It trips me out to see over the years which album fans take interest in.
It only takes one song to get your attention and its all over.
With this new album new fans will come aboard and will be trying to get tickets, poster etc.. and be just as craze as the rest of us LOL......
Also keep in mind ED is not the only one who writes songs over the years.
I kind of relate to this post in many ways. I have had the same experience with Led Zepplin.
Being I young zepplin fan, it was kind of cool to buy one album and think man that fucking rocks...
And then being able to buy another album the next day was pretty cool.....
so not growing up with PJ is what it is, but on the other hand you are able to experience the whole PJ catalog
on your leisure.
If I may, what was the first PJ song that you heard that sucked you in?
Alive was the first song I heard, I really liked it but it didn't "suck me in." I listened to Ten a lot, but I was never really sold out on it. Black was the first song I felt I could relate to, but it didn't start the obsession. Rearviewmirrow was huge for me, but I'd say the song(s) that really made me obsessed with Pearl Jam were Given To Fly/In Hiding. It's all down hill from there.
Each album had one or two songs that really sucked me in.
Ten - Release/Black
Vs. - Rearviewmirror
Vitalogy - Immortality
No Code - In My Tree/Red Mosquito
Yield - Given To Fly/In Hiding
Binaural - Sleight of Hand
Riot Act - Thumbing My Way
Avocado - Inside Job
Sorry, that's such a hard question to answer. Almost every Pearl Jam song has played it's part.
Pretty cool man.... Got to love it...
Curious, did you discover PJ because one your parents is a fan of the band? Or did you just here Alive on the radio one day and liked it so much you decided to check out their other albums? Either way it's very cool to see a newer generation of fans discovering this great band!
Keep on rockin' and if you haven't seen them live yet, then you're gonna be in for a real treat!!
Peace...
RM
-They desperately want to show that they can still ROCK.
Look at Avocado, why did PJ had to make an album that tries to imitate Vs./Vitalogy which were made over 12 years ago? They found midtempo path with "No Code" which grew on until "Riot Act" but I guess after that they got midlife crisis and now they just wanna show off. :roll:
Soundgarden - 1996-10-15
Pearl Jam - 2000-06-30
Fugazi - 2000-10-10
The Mars Volta - 2003-03-24
Sammi: Wanna just break up?
We have very similar taste ... except for Inside Job
for the least they could possibly do
Neither of my parents are fans. When I was in middle school a lot of my friends were into Nirvana. In 6th grade me and a few of my friends organized this "secret santa" ordeal. I had heard Alive and Evenflow on the radio, and I liked the feel of both songs. The girl that drew my name had a huge thing for me, so she said she'd get me whatever. I told her to get me Ten, and the rest is history.
Going to my first show(s) in Chicago, can't wait!
I'm not saying that their musical talents are becoming old, or outdated, if anything it's the opposite. I think they've aged like a fine wine, and Avocado is proof of that.
This post is a testament to the wisdom that the guys have learned throughout their musical careers, and I believe that the Eddie Vedder Leash/LBC is a great example of that.
i got both of my nephews into PJ. one is now 20 years old and the other is 16. both are great musicians and love PJ.
i love hearing the perspective of a younger fan. makes us older folk think about how much we bitch about dumb things.
at the end of the day, the music is awesome, the band is awesome, and they make ME feel awesome.
thanks.
"To question your government is not unpatriotic --
to not question your government is unpatriotic."
-- Sen. Chuck Hagel