Why are Pearl Jam not very 'heavy' anymore?

muppet

They're still loud. But I'm listneing to the Atlanta 94 boot and the band sounds incredibly heavy, particuarly on songs like Deep and Once. I don't hear this 'heaviness' anymore - nowdays, although still amazing, the guitars sound a bit weak and the drums sound flat. I'm talking more about the band than Vedder. Obviously that guy can't keep screaming the same way he did back in 94 (although he's still got a great set of pipes on him)

Is it just a case of the band maturing? They still make angry songs such as World Wide Suicide...

TheDecline13

i have been thinking the same. Eds voice was so awesome back then. (not saying it doesnt sound good now) maybe cuz there old?

weekapaug19

people grow older, styles change. Back then they were young and crazy, now they are older, and still rock out.

bruce

It's evolution baby!














(sorry, i had to before someone else did)

Red Burrito

"It's Evolution Baby"...I just think they have evolved in every aspect of their lives. Ideas, beliefs, style, technique, priorities, everything...so with it changes their approach to playing music.

I know that if I created a piece of music 15-17 years ago, I am postive that I would play it much differently now.

Red Burrito

bruce wrote:

It's evolution baby!















(sorry, i had to before someone else did)

We posted that at the same time!

SomethingCreative

I've felt since the first time I saw them in 05 (nw school) that they needed more jeff...overall heaviness? I don't know but more bass definitely should be on order. Lolla and Bonnaroo had excellent bass however so maybe they told jeff to turn up

petrocs

I dont want my Pearl Jam heavy...I have other music for that...I want my Pearl Jam just the way they are

Evolution6579

petrocs wrote:

I dont want my Pearl Jam heavy...I have other music for that...I want my Pearl Jam just the way they are

Amen.

U R A Crazy Breed

don't worry, they are getting old and have families...they will all put on weight soon.(maybe even Stone)

Bathgate66

theyre just showing the soft side more often.

not for me?

I like what the band has become.
Heavy doesn't necessarily mean good

MccreadySeason

I agree with whoever posted that, and yes i would like them to have the chainsaw ripping overdrive on some of their songs.

satanman

heavy?? thats cause of that guy who played drums at crazy speeds. Just watch rocking in the free world from Pink Pop 92

DewieCox

The guitars are much cleaner than they used to be, which I am sure is a case of the band maturing and realizing that distortion and too much bass muddies stuff up.

unifiedscene

SomethingCreative wrote:

I've felt since the first time I saw them in 05 (nw school) that they needed more jeff...overall heaviness? I don't know but more bass definitely should be on order. Lolla and Bonnaroo had excellent bass however so maybe they told jeff to turn up

I've noticed this on a lot of bootlegs... the bass is nowhere to be found. I hate to hate on Matt, but I think some of it is adjusting to his style. If you listen to the rhythm section in 94, it was much more loose and funky. The band felt lively and heavier. Lots of fills and Jeff improvising to make that deeper section of the songs more lively. Now, the bass always seems ot be lacking and the music loses some weight. The band is tighter, but things feel far more controlled. The rhythm section used to feel like part of the "anything can happen" vibe of a PJ show. Now it feels like they're just back there keeping time.

Lolla did seem different though, the way they came out with 'Why Go' was pretty awesome and set the tone that night it seemed.

Some of it might be the songs too... these days the rockers are very riff heavy, with nothing for the drums and bass but hum along like a shitty punk band. There used to be dynamics, songs would build and breathe and take their time. Compare a song like Deep to Comatose... the former is much slower, but also far far heavier. The latter speeds by, but it's more like a thrashing buzz than an epic rocker.

robfest2

Old

motorcitymadman

guitar tones and pedals is the simple answer.

they sounded a bit heavier on avocado. but i INSIST they play the older songs with the pedals and tones they were originally performed with. songs like SOLAT sound awful, clunky, and muffled since the post Vitalogy tones

Human Tide

Less distortion these days. I wish they'd add a bit more on tracks like RVM to make them sound a little stronger.

fortyshades

I thought their last album was a bit more heavier than "Riot Act". And live? I love the little nuances now; they throw a lot more subtilities in there now.

UpSideDown

this is probably the one things that I wish they would change uplive............guitars don't have the cutting/sharp sound that they used to. Sharpen up the distortion/tone!

mrfrogman

I think having O'brien produce will help the record sound a little "heavier". I really haven't cared for the sound of any of the non O'Brien albums. Guy knows how to produce a good rock record.

youngster

I like the evolution of the older songs like Jeremy and Alive. They sound more modern now. They were all in their mid 20's when those songs were written. After playing them 500+ times, they are sure to sound a little different now that they are 40ish.

NorthShoreBlues

unifiedscene wrote:

I've noticed this on a lot of bootlegs... the bass is nowhere to be found. I hate to hate on Matt, but I think some of it is adjusting to his style. If you listen to the rhythm section in 94, it was much more loose and funky. The band felt lively and heavier. Lots of fills and Jeff improvising to make that deeper section of the songs more lively. Now, the bass always seems ot be lacking and the music loses some weight. The band is tighter, but things feel far more controlled. The rhythm section used to feel like part of the "anything can happen" vibe of a PJ show. Now it feels like they're just back there keeping time.

Lolla did seem different though, the way they came out with 'Why Go' was pretty awesome and set the tone that night it seemed.

Some of it might be the songs too... these days the rockers are very riff heavy, with nothing for the drums and bass but hum along like a shitty punk band. There used to be dynamics, songs would build and breathe and take their time. Compare a song like Deep to Comatose... the former is much slower, but also far far heavier. The latter speeds by, but it's more like a thrashing buzz than an epic rocker.

yup. good post. Its the Dave vs. Matt thing. I'm going to start a new thread: bring back Dave Petition and if Eddie doesn't like it, tough shit, go sing for a different band! Just kidding . . . but i think the sound has alot to do with what everyone else has already said, its the evolution of the band, and yes they are getting old. Just think if you compare them with other longevity acts then it goes something like this:
PJ= 18 years
Stones started in 1962, so plus 18 is 1980, Emotional Rescue/Tatoo You, '81 Tour, man they didn't sound anything like they did in 1969/1972
The Who started in 1964/1965, so plus 18 is 1982/1983, Farewell Tour with Kenny Jones on drums, whoa, they sounded nothing like they did as on Live at Leeds
U2 started 1979/1980, so plus 18, so thats 1998, post Popmart pre-Vertigo, nothing close to what they sounded like on first few albums, but that may be a bad example b/c they didn't rock out as much as the stones and the who used to.
I think we have to face facts, our band is getting old . . . but its ok

PJamGrunge10

DewieCox wrote:

The guitars are much cleaner than they used to be, which I am sure is a case of the band maturing and realizing that distortion and too much bass muddies stuff up.

This is the problem. Some songs just don't sound good without distortion and such.

Like Corduroy. It sounds terrible live when compared to the album version.

Cosmo

Aren't 'Heavy Riffs' usually associated with younger bands? I mean, you can hide behind volume and distortion when you aren't so good at your instruments. As you get older and better... you want to hear what you can do... right?
...
Maybe I'm wrong... but, that's what I have experienced.

LikeAnOcean

Because "heavy" musics sucks.. unless you are full of angst, but thats your problem. Listen to metal instead.

muppet

SOLAT319 wrote:

From the comments above, I take it you were NOT at Hartford show and did NOT see that particular version of BLOOD. Just to give you an idea, this is how I described it to my friends who were not at that show:

"42-year old Eddie kicked 28-year old Eddie's ass with Blood last night."

So, I suggest you get the bootleg at once and tune in to Blood right away!

P.S. the reference to 28-year old Eddie actually happens to come from that show you mention in your post. Because Blood from that show easily kicked every other version's ass out there. That was until Hartford 08 version came along of course

I was thinking of Blood when I was posting the thread actually, that does seem to be one of their few songs where they really go all out.

I'm no good with music terminiology so bear with me, but I think this performance of Insignificance illustrates what I'm trying to say:

http://nl.youtube.com/watch?v=bin1to8MAsw

It's a fantastic performance but the guitars in the chorus sound so...soft?

And I don't think that 'heavy' automatically equates to angst and bullshit heavy metal bands. I'm not saying Pearl Jam should start shredding and become Megadeth. I was listening to a performance of Murder Inc by Bruce Springsteen. There's a heavy song.

slightlystoned

I would love to hear some crazy fuckin Jeff bass parts on the next album. Give me more Rats bass lines.

pjfan020

i think a lot of it does have to do with the distortion and overdrive mike and stone use. I agree that if they beefed up their tone just a little bit it would add a lot...not saying that i'm unhappy when i listen to them, but i think their tone is just a little too thin..giving jeff a little more reign like people said wouldn't be bad imo.

einatshaul

Because they stick to healthy diets, and excersice a lot.