Riot Act-What are the positives?

mcameronrocks

What is it with Riot Act that causes it to fall behind all of their albums? I am not saying that I don't agree, I listen to their other efforts much more then Riot Act. Here are a few highlights, for me, that cause me to give a few more "shout outs"

-Save You...as good of a rocker as they have on any album
-Love Boat Captain...Great emotions...especially with Rokslide
-Cropduster...Love the outro on this one.
-You Are...yet another reason why Matt Cameron was such a great addition to the squad.
-All or None...vintage PJ

IMO, 5 great songs on ANY album justifies it being a great album. That being said, let's change the "tone" that RA gets from most people....

What do you LIKE about this album? Remember...stay positive.

GS163319

You need to be in a Soundgarden state of mind to get Riot Act...

It's brilliant - but not always something to listen to. Following Uncle Neil's discography, not everything has to be the most listenable or accessible. Some works hit at very specific psychological times. Riot Act is like this. It's music for a very distinct mood.

mcameronrocks

GS163319 wrote:

You need to be in a Soundgarden state of mind to get Riot Act...

It's brilliant - but not always something to listen to. Following Uncle Neil's discography, not everything has to be the most listenable or accessible. Some works hit at very specific psychological times. Riot Act is like this. It's music for a very distinct mood.

I completely understand what you are saying. Most of the songs sneak up on me. I listen to their boots a lot and whan a Riot Act song comes on, it's often one I didn't appeciate on the album. I usually immediatly swith to the studio album to remind me.

red mos

Riot Act is a brilliant record. I honestly do not get the the hate for this record around here.

It has great songs and great melodies.

Sure the album has some somber lyrics but it was witten around events that unfolded like Roskilde, and 9/11 but it has some beautiful songs. I am mine, thumbing my way. LBC, cropduster, ghost, Arc, you are, ect.

I adore the lyric: "I know I was born, and I know that I'll die, the in between is mine" - Eddie Vedder. absolutely brilliant.

I really like Riot act, so no bashing here.

It may be one of those "got to be in the mood" kind of albums for people, but once the mood hits, they really adore and, appreciate it's greatness. I'm that way with Binaural.

gecko

I skip first three (don't like album version of Can't Keep), and I am good to go. Love Riot Act.

electronblue

i hold the Riot Act album very dear to my heart, and the cd is never far from my reach ~

Back_Pedal

I dislike it because it sounds so phoned in. Eddie doesn't sound somber, he just sounds like he doesn't even want to be in the studio because he has something better to do. There's a few decent songs, like Save You, You Are, etc but it's PJ's most uninspired sounding album, in my opinion.

gecko

Back_Pedal wrote:

I dislike it because it sounds so phoned in. Eddie doesn't sound somber, he just sounds like he doesn't even want to be in the studio because he has something better to do. There's a few decent songs, like Save You, You Are, etc but it's PJ's most uninspired sounding album, in my opinion.

I wanted to say it's sad that you like just few songs from a PJ album, then I remembered that's me & BS.

starmap3333

I like the whole album, especially Green Disease and Save You. LBC and You Are are great. Cropduster is amazing. Bushleaguer is the only song remotely "not up my alley" but I still enjoy and accept the track. Overall, Riot Act is the same as the rest: another offering of where Pearl Jam was at the time they wrote those tracks as they continued to change and evolve as the greatest rock band of all time.

Rbengle

I enjoy the less popular of the PJ albums. Riot Act and No Code, I believe, are their best albums. Riot Act is the one album I can listen to start to finish without feeling the need to skip a track.

Highlights:

Can't Keep
Save You
Love Boat Caption
Thumbing My Way
Green Disease
Bu$hleaguer
1/2 Full
All or None

...and on No Code (For the Record)

Sometimes
Hail Hail
In My Tree
Present Tense
Habit
Lukin
Off He Goes
Around the Bend

smarchee

the bass line that Jeff comes up with on Save You is a HUGE positive

InMyOrangeTree

Myself, I saw 4 shows on that tour (2003). Those songs will always take me to that time and place. I financed my trip by winning on "Jeopardy!" My first listen was on the way to NYC to see David Letterman. We tried to get tix for the shows that PJ were going to be on, but no dice. The first impression was of many classic rock riffs, KISS especially. Didn't love it at first. The shows however, they opened my eyes. I put Riot Act between Ten and Backspacer, so #4!

free2beme

starmap3333 wrote:

I like the whole album, especially Green Disease and Save You. LBC and You Are are great. Cropduster is amazing. Bushleaguer is the only song remotely "not up my alley" but I still enjoy and accept the track. Overall, Riot Act is the same as the rest: another offering of where Pearl Jam was at the time they wrote those tracks as they continued to change and evolve as the greatest rock band of all time.

Very well put, im with you

hopethatuchoke

Back_Pedal wrote:

I dislike it because it sounds so phoned in. Eddie doesn't sound somber, he just sounds like he doesn't even want to be in the studio because he has something better to do. There's a few decent songs, like Save You, You Are, etc but it's PJ's most uninspired sounding album, in my opinion.

Bingo. I think LBC and Help, Help are two of their absolute worst and cheesiest songs and Green Disease has become uber hypocritical with the way they are conducting their business these days. Bushleaguer is terrible from a song perspective but a funny subject matter. I love You Are and I dig 1/2 Full. Save You is a great tune but I would like to see it retired from selists for a tour or two. Cropduster sucked the life out of the Spectrum Night 3.

Overall BP said it best....it does sound rather phoned in.

Pearl James

The lyrics on this album are fantastic, unfortunately the music is very weak in my opinion for what I expect out of PJ.

Kilgore_Trout

its a great winter album IMO

i agree with whoever said you have to be in the right state of mind for it to work

i can also see how some might say it sounds "phoned in"... there is something missing for sure... but i blame that on the producer... if ed sounds bored than someone should've pushed him harder... and the levels could definitely use some tinkering in general

in any case... its not for lack of trying IMO... all the makings of a good album are there... all or none is one of my all time favorites... maybe one more classic rocker on there and it could've been top 3

Red_Dot

I really like Riot Act and some of my fav all time songs are on it:
All or None
You Are
Save You
Also love ½ full, help, help & Can’t keep

I understand that hate, I was never really a fan, but all of a sudden I started listening to it more and more and really connecting with it.
I like it a lot more than some of their other albums now, particularly Backspacer.

UpSideDown

All or none........

12345AGNST1

GS163319 wrote:

You need to be in a Soundgarden state of mind to get Riot Act...

I never thought of it like that but that's totally true. Riot Act definitely has the most soundgarden/ Matt Cameron style to it than any other Matt record. I like riot act, althought I like every PJ album.

Personally, I always thought Save You was DTE round 2. If they won't play DTE at a show they could easily play save you. I live that song. You Are is also amazing and is honestly probably my FAVORITE song to hear live. The guitar effects and drum groove is amazingggg.

DangDang

Eraserhead

My second fave album behind No Code.

All or None FTW!