Pearl Jam - The New Reality

SolarWorld

Flagg wrote:

SolarWorld wrote:

moozeekfan wrote:

So does that mean everyone's cool with them playing the annual Target corporate party on Tuesday in Minneapolis?

Apparently this was part of the deal to release Backspacer, so don't jump on their heads too much.

I could give two shits...

Something we can agree on.

Word.

luke.

they havent changed at all - they are still pearl jam and they are awesome. i think the 'new' pj has been over analysed to the point where it's not even really true ... they are no different on stage now and their music is from them still. They hold the same views as they did 20 yrs ago - i think the only difference is they are probably a little more content now.

BinauralJam

Here's my thing, for years they battled the Music Company's they were under, for what they did, how they did it. They never wanted to "Play the Game" like a lot of bands are more than willing to, (Make a video for BLACK back in the day). the second they fulfill the contract and aren't losing say 40% of all profits to said company there's like this promotional explosion. Why do i get the feeling if "Black" had been on backspacer, they would have atleast released a live verison video to buy on Itunes almost immediatly. Ed rant and raved about W, and i agreed with him 100%. But i'm not impressed with Obama either, whats Ed's opinion? who knows all of a sudden he's doesn't talk politics. If he's dissappointed w/Obama, i'd like to hear it, just because you helped put a guy in office doesn't mean you can't attack him for being a Schmuck ( sending 30,000 more troops to the middle east). Lets me just say there's a lot of ?????? I Love PJ, there my religon, i'm sorry if this comes off as harsh, it's because i care.

sling

KO282453 wrote:

Here's my thing, for years they battled the Music Company's they were under, for what they did, how they did it. They never wanted to "Play the Game" like a lot of bands are more than willing to, (Make a video for BLACK back in the day). the second they fulfill the contract and aren't losing say 40% of all profits to said company there's like this promotional explosion. Why do i get the feeling if "Black" had been on backspacer, they would have atleast released a live verison video to buy on Itunes almost immediatly. Ed rant and raved about W, and i agreed with him 100%. But i'm not impressed with Obama either, whats Ed's opinion? who knows all of a sudden he's doesn't talk politics. If he's dissappointed w/Obama, i'd like to hear it, just because you helped put a guy in office doesn't mean you can't attack him for being a Schmuck ( sending 30,000 more troops to the middle east). Lets me just say there's a lot of ?????? I Love PJ, there my religon, i'm sorry if this comes off as harsh, it's because i care.

When singing Wishlist recently, Ed was singing "I wish I was the President, I would get us the fuck out of Afghanistan" or something to that effect... So he's not totally mute on politics lately!

I think we all hold people we especially respect & love to higher standards as everyone else - as we should. I don't think there's anything wrong with questioning what PJ does... but they definitely can't please all the people all the time.

Roeghmann

LikeAnOcean wrote:

I think people are just way too obsessed and have too much time on their hands.

Couldn´t agree more

(foolish me - I still like the Band, I like Backspacer, I like the fact that they are returning to Europe, I like the concerts all that combined I LOVE PEARL JAM)

tbhooptie

It may have been said already.. but I think it all comes down to one thing.,.

"Lifes too short to be pissed off all the time.."

When you grow up (as the band has and as many of us have), we can still be pissed about politics and world events.. but then you look at your little girl / boy and you cant help but smile... take alot of that anger away...

I think that is where Ed is... and personally I love it... shows the maturity of the band.

pjfan021

you buy and listen to their records if you like them, you go to their shows if it's worth the cash. That's the format i follow. If i like something it's held up to those very easy to follow standards.

Mitch8415

Eh... the guys are in good places in their lives, and the music reflects that. Sometimes it's good to hear "Gems and Rhinestones" instead of "All the love gone bad, turned my world to black"...

If it's Not For You, then so be it... they'll make another record soon enough.

PhantomPainInMyBrain

Awesome post Johnny! It's so refreshing to read this thread and hear lots of positive vibes!

<GROUP HUG> ;-)

Stryker

CranMalReign wrote:

Everyone, hug your families and be happy that you're still arguing over Pearl Jam's latest career decision 20 years after the first graced the airwaves!

This is the best fucking advice I've heard all week.

JohnPanama

You gotta do what you gotta do
Someone just said it best, the guys are in a better place now
They are happy rock and rollers with families and less angst
It feels good to expend positive energy
I'm completely ok with it
I saw them live at the spectrum on halloween night last year and it was one of the best days of my entire life
I had been fired from my job one month before
I had worked for 12 years straight after graduating college
My first time ever being fired
I was still experiencing signifcanct emotional distress from a 3 year relationship with an abusive woman
Yes, I am a man, and I was a victim of Domestic Violence
It is no joke. The wounds are similar to those who experience post-traumatic stress from childhood abuse.
It's a wound that never stops bleeding.

That show galvanized my entire being with hope, love and happiness.
I remember turning to the girl I had just met and telling her, this is one of the best days of my entire life. I am so happy right now. My smile was so wide. I turned to kiss her during Just Breathe and my spirit lifted high into the night, galvanized by everyone at the show, everyone on stage. Truly spiritual. Real. Me.
Pearl Jam cuts right to the real me and lifts him up high.

So I am not exaggerating when I say that Pearl Jam helps me get through life
This band is part of my life's journey...
I'm with them in this life until the day we're all pushing up daisies
Once in you feel part of this family, you know what I'm talking about

Ms. Haiku

I'm really happy they still inspire me - just look at that color coded concerts project I"m working on in Given to fly. It would be cool if I could color code all of their concerts by their 20th anniversary date in October, but I just looked at their 1991 shows, and there was a lot. Man, there are a gazillion shows!

If they stopped inspiring my creativity, which is more inspired since Philly O5, and Boston #1 06, then I wouldn't be on here.

YIPPEE!

theoceansmademe

Thorns2010 wrote:

Didn't read everything that was said, because well......yeah, bleh, same old same old.

I can't say for sure what is and isn't different about Pearl Jam now, but.......I just feel like something is different, something is wrong.

This really, truly is the only band that I've ever really have cared about. In my short time here on this earth, I've seen many bands come and go, but as they go along, as they get older, I don't know if where they are going is a place I want to go.

And that saddens me, because I still remember the first time I saw them in concert, the summer of 1998, and I was a very young soul at age 17. And I remember, at that moment, sitting way, way, way up in the nosebleeds, that this, right here, right in front of me, so small they were, but, this was MY band. From that day forward, I dove more headstrong into them then any other band.

But now? Things have changed, for the good, and the bad, and I just don't know if I can still be around for it. I like the constant, I like the way things were, not the way that they will be. And, in all things, the thing I fear most is change. This, I know isn't the bands fault, and I would never, ever blame them, but...........I find myself drifting further away from them.

Be it the fact that they don't seem to care anymore to do an extensive tour of the US, to the fact that,to this day, while yes, I've listened to Backspacer many more times than I can count, I can't say that I've connected to it, AT ALL.

They are good songs, don't get me wrong, but......while it is what the band needs right now, its not what I need. I suppose I'm just burnt out, and should probably just go away from the board for a while, but, somedays I wonder if I'll ever come back.

And, while I have no problems with them trying new things to make a buck, because, well, you gotta do what you gotta do, but if the rumors are true, and they do play the annual corporate party for Target.........well, I just don't know anymore. This to me, is a shell of the band I fell in love with many, many years ago.

You some excellent points.

I am much older than you. I was 21 when Ten was release.

So, Backsapcer is where I am at today (2 kids and wonderful wife) and hopefully if you choose a place you might be.

Backspacer to me is Ed pausing and looking at how wonderful life is. 2 kids, a wife, and very comfortable living.

The songs clearly show how life begins in a way when you bring on or help bring one into this world. The love one has for a child is pure, honest, and true.

Like Ed stated:
Suddenly the channel changed
The first time you saw blood

Cut to later, now you’re strong
You’ve bled yourself, the wounds are gone
It’s rare then where is nothing wrong
Survived & you’re amongst the fittest
Love ain’t love until you give it up"

But the downside of this point is life can be viewed in my aging parents. Well parent, since my father has died.

I witnessed my father in his final hours while dying from cancer. I do believe he was having thoughts to those Ed penned in The End:

Help me see myself
Cause I can no longer tell
Looking out from the inside of
The bottom of a well
I yell
It’s hell
But no one hears

So, someday Backspacer may have more meaning for you. I hope it does.

But you're right things do change and evolve. I will always support this band and look forward to new music. Especially if it continues to grow like backspacer did.

I was at Philly 1, 12 row. A long time fan was in front of me. We talked a bit. He was clearly drunk off his ass. He made a comment about his wife being at home with their baby and he sold his other ticket.

The concert begins and this guy isn't relating to any of the new songs like Unthought, Just Breathe, or The End. But his drunk ass is playing the air guitar to SOLAT and RITFW. I am so happy not to be stuck like this poor dude.

Embrace every minute of this life and continue to grow.

theoceansmademe

Ledbetterman10 wrote:

Johnny Sitar wrote:

The bottom line is, do you like the music? If you do, stay for the ride. It's been a doozie so far. And I think it's only going to get better.

I'll be sticking around for the long haul. Hopefully you will too.

I'll be around for the long haul too but I'm always going to be critical of complete crap like Backspacer.

couldn't disagree more about Backspacer.

The album is a clear reflection of who the band is today with songs like Amongst, Breathe, Unthought, Speed of Sound.

Then we are treated to rockers like Got Some, J. Guitar, Supersonic.

I love backspacer and have now listen to it well over 100 times.

corduroykelly

They don't need to do things to put food on the table. I'm pretty sure they are all loaded with cash for 10 lifetimes, and ironically according to you when they were younger they didn't give a shit about how many records they sold but yet they sold the most records when they were younger.

and Backspacer is incredible upbeat rock and roll

Kevin Wilson

PJ is PJ and I'll never dog what they do. Guess I'm part of the minority as since their conception they've done everything possible to curb the price of ticket sales ect...(example the no code tour ticketmaster boycott). They have nothing but respect from me. I could go on and on but I think the loyal fans will know what I mean.

PJ 4-ever naysayers never!!!

TenaciousLibbs

I'll posit a theory that I don't think has been addressed yet:

I think the band irreversibly changed when Matt Cameron joined, specifically because they shifted from being a studio band to being a truly great live band, and because they started releasing every show live. Sure, their lives shows were always great in terms of energy, but they didn't become an exciting band to "follow" live until the Matt era.

Although Matt joined for the '98 tour, I don't really consider his tenure to have started until the Binaural era. The band, now backed by (IMO) the best drummer of his generation, started extending their jams even longer on songs like Porch, Betterman, and RVM. Abbrussezze had the energy and Irons had the groove, but that always came through best in the studio takes (I love Irons but thought his live playing was always sloppy).

Starting with the Binaural era, the band started releasing every show on an official bootleg. With this sudden rush of material, and more importantly, access, I suddenly stopped listening to the studio albums and started listening to all of the bootlegs to hear the different versions.

A drummer myself, I consider Matt my biggest influence (more for his work with SG, but also Pearl Jam). I think that the four records he's played on have been the bands worst cohesive statements creatively. Like many people have said before, there are some gems on each but they don't hold up as overall records like the first five do. I can't explain why this happened or why I feel this way, but I do.

But it doesn't matter. I'm as big a fan as ever. I rarely put the studio recordings on my ipod (save for new material like Backspacer), but I now get pleasure from following Pearl Jam Live.

As far as I'm concerned, there are two Pearl Jams - the band that existed from 1990-1999, where we had the mystique of the studio records in the pre-internet era, maybe attending a single concert if we were lucky enough, and little else to go on. The current, pearl jam, 2000-current, is a touring jam band that opened its vaults, let down its guard, and encouragesdus to engage them and follow their every move.

mysticweed

ms. wes c.addle wrote:

Great fucking post. I agree.

I think if their new album were too similar to ones previous, people would bitch about the fact that its always the same... never try anything new. blah blah fucking blah.

People are always going to bitch. People feel that the band owes them tour dates.

Take it for what it is. Great fucking music, deep fucking lyrics, amazing fucking concerts.

I'm in.

DITTO, SISTER
We have been blessed with 20 fucking years and I, too will wait around for more!

DiRtYyELLoWoCeAn

GREAT POST! Kudos Johhny!

LikeAnOpeningBandForTheSun

NacreRock wrote:

MrSmith wrote:

positivity nazis must enforce the positivity!!!!! happiness is compulsory!

And I think it's only going to get better.

nah no its not, it going to get progressively worse over time, but thats ok. They've wrote so many brilliant albums and even the later albums that arent brilliant have a few brilliant songs. they dont tour as much anymore and will probably only play a show once a decade that i can go to, but thats ok too. we're all getting older.

im just going to enjoy it until they finally break down and do the Toto and Loverboy cover albums they are dying to do and stop touring altogether. but for now i can still get plenty of enjoyment out of the band.

Ummmm....what?

you dont have to understand it, you just have accept it. they're pushing 50 for christ sake.