Article-Ottawa Citizen- Ten live picks
Veddernarian
Posts: 1,924
Arts
Sifting through Pearl Jam gems?; Here are the perfect starting 10 It's a long haul, we know, but these should get you going
Mike Devlin
Canwest News
1 October 2009
Ottawa Citizen
Final
G4
Pearl Jam has issued 263 official bootleg concert recordings.
Crazy? Perhaps a little bit.
However, these fully sanctioned live documents -- each a double-disc or triple-disc release, bringing the total to nearly 600 albums of live material -- say something significant about the Seattle band, a fans-before-fame outfit whose eternally restless spirit is to the benefit of its ardent supporters.
The group's ninth studio album, Backspacer, is in stores this week, and with that arises a longtime debate. Diehards will undoubtedly love it, but far outnumbering those are fans from years ago who no longer identify with Pearl Jam in the modern era.
Here's an easy way to please both camps, if you will: Dig into the band's immense catalogue and track down this list of cover songs. You'll be glad you did. Among these are some of the best singles of the band's career.
1. Crazy Mary (from 1993's Sweet Relief: A Benefit for Victoria Williams)
www.youtube.com/watch?v=kqrXfklUarY
At the time of its release, Pearl Jam's laconic version of Crazy Mary was equal to an alt-rock earthquake. The rock 'n' roll thoroughbreds were still high from the success of their smash debut, Ten, when this countryish duet struck fans in the solar plexus. The song, though heartfelt and beautifully rendered, was a tremendously polarizing document for a brief spell.
Mind you, when the band's second album, 1993's Vs., arrived two months later -- and set the single-week sales record with 950,378 copies sold -- all perceived sins were forgiven.
2. Leaving Here (from 1996's Home Alive: The Art of Self-defence)
www.youtube.com/watch?v=dUq23BtpsaI
Pearl Jam frontman Eddie Vedder is huge fan/student of Pete Townshend, so it wasn't a surprise Pearl Jam paid tribute to one of the Who's older singles, which itself is a spirited version of a 1963 Motown classic. Pearl Jam unearthed a high-octane blast of Bill Haley-styled rock 'n' roll, proving once again why the Seattle quintet is such a sonic revelation. Less than a year earlier the band topped the charts with an acoustic stunner, Better Man.
Talk about range.
3. Last Kiss (from 1999's No Boundaries: A Benefit for the Kosovar Refugees)
www.youtube.com/watch?v=u0B-hJ_gotc
The band's most successful single to date (which reportedly raised $10 million in aid for Kosovo refugees) is their on-the-fly rendition of the J. Frank Wilson and the Cavaliers chestnut, Last Kiss. The tragic tale, sung over a spare-sounding backdrop, is unlike anything else in the Pearl Jam catalogue.
4. Timeless Melody (from Manchester, England, June 4, 2000, official bootleg) www.youtube.com/watch?v=J9bJlr-FNcw
Pearl Jam's tour of 2000 was a memorable one, as dates often featured the group's take on Timeless Melody, a standout single by a criminally under-appreciated Liverpool act, the La's. It has since disappeared from Pearl Jam's setlist, which is a shame. Vedder revisited the song, with almost awe-inspiring results, during a 2004 concert with Death Cab for Cutie, but the jingle-jangle gem hasn't been played since. It's way overdue for a comeback.
5. Rocking in the Free World (from 2007's Immagine in Cornice: Live In Italy)
www.youtube.com/watch?v=q-7MyOUeVd0
Neil Young and Pearl Jam are like brothers in arms artistically, philosophically, ethically -- hence the strong bond between the legend and his Seattle brethren. The union makes the most sense, however, when Vedder and Co., are ripping through Young's ferocious Rocking in the Free World. Young isn't present on the band's live concert DVD, Immagine in Cornice: Live in Italy, but it's an epic moment nonetheless.
6. Throw Your Arms Around Me (from Perth, Australia, Feb. 23, 2003, official bootleg)
www.youtube.com/watch?v=vkRNz0tR7tc
To hear Pearl Jam do a duet with Hunters & Collectors frontman Mark Seymour -- in his native Australia, no less -- on a stirring version of Throw Your Arms Around Me is a divine treat. Though the song is covered occasionally by Crowded House, Pearl Jam pay a pretty fine tribute. Vedder said during the concert he has played the tune "at every campfire I've ever been to," which is fitting. This one's an acoustic beauty.
7. Love, Reign o'er Me (from 2006 fan club single)
www.youtube.com/watch?v=wjB1r77JljM
A faithful version of the Who classic appeared during the closing credits of Reign Over Me, the Adam Sandler film from 2007. Sandler approached Vedder about covering the single. It was initially a release reserved for the Pearl Jam fan club, but due to demand, was eventually released as an iTunes-only download in conjunction with the film. It's well worth seeking out.
8. It's OK (from 2001's Touring Band)
www.youtube.com/watch?v=6-6xV0uAVpk
As far as covers go, this one is mighty obscure, but in Pearl Jam's infinite wisdom it flies high and mighty. When this cover of the Dead Moon original appeared on Pearl Jam's Touring Band DVD it was at the tail-end of Daughter, and though it has an impromptu air to it -- Vedder sings the lyrics from a sheet of paper -- it brings the crowd to a boil.
9. Masters of War (from 2004's Benaroya Hall)
www.youtube.com/watch?v=a1CgReS1e0U
The band's most recognizable version of the Bob Dylan classic came during a 1992 tribute to ol' Bob that featured only Vedder and guitarist Mike McCready. The lineup for the song has always been the same since, but later versions are far more effective, at least in terms of Vedder's tortured vox.
He has become a better singer as time passes, evidence of which can be heard during Pearl Jam's homecoming concert at Benaroya Hall.
10. Sonic Reducer (from 2006's Live in NYC 12/31/92).
www.youtube.com/watch?v=TE3NR04X30c
During the band's early concerts, rambunctious versions of the Dead Boys' punk classic, Sonic Reducer, were bankers. It only appears about once a year these days, on account of, we're guessing, the emotional and physical toll Sonic Reducer inflicts upon the band. Versions have been floating around for years on unofficial bootlegs, which the band corrected in 2006 when it offered limited-edition copies of a 1992 concert recording to those who pre-ordered Pearl Jam's self-titled effort.
Colour Photo: Stuart Davis, Canwest News Service / Eddie Vedder delivers some undoubtedly tortured, rocking vocals with Pearl Jam at GM Place in Vancouver on Friday. ;
Sifting through Pearl Jam gems?; Here are the perfect starting 10 It's a long haul, we know, but these should get you going
Mike Devlin
Canwest News
1 October 2009
Ottawa Citizen
Final
G4
Pearl Jam has issued 263 official bootleg concert recordings.
Crazy? Perhaps a little bit.
However, these fully sanctioned live documents -- each a double-disc or triple-disc release, bringing the total to nearly 600 albums of live material -- say something significant about the Seattle band, a fans-before-fame outfit whose eternally restless spirit is to the benefit of its ardent supporters.
The group's ninth studio album, Backspacer, is in stores this week, and with that arises a longtime debate. Diehards will undoubtedly love it, but far outnumbering those are fans from years ago who no longer identify with Pearl Jam in the modern era.
Here's an easy way to please both camps, if you will: Dig into the band's immense catalogue and track down this list of cover songs. You'll be glad you did. Among these are some of the best singles of the band's career.
1. Crazy Mary (from 1993's Sweet Relief: A Benefit for Victoria Williams)
www.youtube.com/watch?v=kqrXfklUarY
At the time of its release, Pearl Jam's laconic version of Crazy Mary was equal to an alt-rock earthquake. The rock 'n' roll thoroughbreds were still high from the success of their smash debut, Ten, when this countryish duet struck fans in the solar plexus. The song, though heartfelt and beautifully rendered, was a tremendously polarizing document for a brief spell.
Mind you, when the band's second album, 1993's Vs., arrived two months later -- and set the single-week sales record with 950,378 copies sold -- all perceived sins were forgiven.
2. Leaving Here (from 1996's Home Alive: The Art of Self-defence)
www.youtube.com/watch?v=dUq23BtpsaI
Pearl Jam frontman Eddie Vedder is huge fan/student of Pete Townshend, so it wasn't a surprise Pearl Jam paid tribute to one of the Who's older singles, which itself is a spirited version of a 1963 Motown classic. Pearl Jam unearthed a high-octane blast of Bill Haley-styled rock 'n' roll, proving once again why the Seattle quintet is such a sonic revelation. Less than a year earlier the band topped the charts with an acoustic stunner, Better Man.
Talk about range.
3. Last Kiss (from 1999's No Boundaries: A Benefit for the Kosovar Refugees)
www.youtube.com/watch?v=u0B-hJ_gotc
The band's most successful single to date (which reportedly raised $10 million in aid for Kosovo refugees) is their on-the-fly rendition of the J. Frank Wilson and the Cavaliers chestnut, Last Kiss. The tragic tale, sung over a spare-sounding backdrop, is unlike anything else in the Pearl Jam catalogue.
4. Timeless Melody (from Manchester, England, June 4, 2000, official bootleg) www.youtube.com/watch?v=J9bJlr-FNcw
Pearl Jam's tour of 2000 was a memorable one, as dates often featured the group's take on Timeless Melody, a standout single by a criminally under-appreciated Liverpool act, the La's. It has since disappeared from Pearl Jam's setlist, which is a shame. Vedder revisited the song, with almost awe-inspiring results, during a 2004 concert with Death Cab for Cutie, but the jingle-jangle gem hasn't been played since. It's way overdue for a comeback.
5. Rocking in the Free World (from 2007's Immagine in Cornice: Live In Italy)
www.youtube.com/watch?v=q-7MyOUeVd0
Neil Young and Pearl Jam are like brothers in arms artistically, philosophically, ethically -- hence the strong bond between the legend and his Seattle brethren. The union makes the most sense, however, when Vedder and Co., are ripping through Young's ferocious Rocking in the Free World. Young isn't present on the band's live concert DVD, Immagine in Cornice: Live in Italy, but it's an epic moment nonetheless.
6. Throw Your Arms Around Me (from Perth, Australia, Feb. 23, 2003, official bootleg)
www.youtube.com/watch?v=vkRNz0tR7tc
To hear Pearl Jam do a duet with Hunters & Collectors frontman Mark Seymour -- in his native Australia, no less -- on a stirring version of Throw Your Arms Around Me is a divine treat. Though the song is covered occasionally by Crowded House, Pearl Jam pay a pretty fine tribute. Vedder said during the concert he has played the tune "at every campfire I've ever been to," which is fitting. This one's an acoustic beauty.
7. Love, Reign o'er Me (from 2006 fan club single)
www.youtube.com/watch?v=wjB1r77JljM
A faithful version of the Who classic appeared during the closing credits of Reign Over Me, the Adam Sandler film from 2007. Sandler approached Vedder about covering the single. It was initially a release reserved for the Pearl Jam fan club, but due to demand, was eventually released as an iTunes-only download in conjunction with the film. It's well worth seeking out.
8. It's OK (from 2001's Touring Band)
www.youtube.com/watch?v=6-6xV0uAVpk
As far as covers go, this one is mighty obscure, but in Pearl Jam's infinite wisdom it flies high and mighty. When this cover of the Dead Moon original appeared on Pearl Jam's Touring Band DVD it was at the tail-end of Daughter, and though it has an impromptu air to it -- Vedder sings the lyrics from a sheet of paper -- it brings the crowd to a boil.
9. Masters of War (from 2004's Benaroya Hall)
www.youtube.com/watch?v=a1CgReS1e0U
The band's most recognizable version of the Bob Dylan classic came during a 1992 tribute to ol' Bob that featured only Vedder and guitarist Mike McCready. The lineup for the song has always been the same since, but later versions are far more effective, at least in terms of Vedder's tortured vox.
He has become a better singer as time passes, evidence of which can be heard during Pearl Jam's homecoming concert at Benaroya Hall.
10. Sonic Reducer (from 2006's Live in NYC 12/31/92).
www.youtube.com/watch?v=TE3NR04X30c
During the band's early concerts, rambunctious versions of the Dead Boys' punk classic, Sonic Reducer, were bankers. It only appears about once a year these days, on account of, we're guessing, the emotional and physical toll Sonic Reducer inflicts upon the band. Versions have been floating around for years on unofficial bootlegs, which the band corrected in 2006 when it offered limited-edition copies of a 1992 concert recording to those who pre-ordered Pearl Jam's self-titled effort.
Colour Photo: Stuart Davis, Canwest News Service / Eddie Vedder delivers some undoubtedly tortured, rocking vocals with Pearl Jam at GM Place in Vancouver on Friday. ;
Up here so high I start to shake, Up here so high the sky I scrape, I've no fear but for falling down, So look out below I am falling now, Falling down,...not staying down, Could’ve held me up, rather tear me down, Drown in the river
0