Collaborative Writing = A Brilliant Record (Yield)

Citizen Zack

Ten is flat out one of the best rock albums ever to me - it opened my mind to music and still blows me away.

However, like a lot of you, I tend to gravitate toward Yield when asked about my favorite Pearl Jam record. I was thinking about this in depth recently and realized that this album has the most balance in song writing. Jeff wrote the music and lyrics for 2 songs, Stone did 2, and Ed did 2. The rest are Ed lyrics and Mike writing music for 3, Stone for 2, Jeff for 1. Total balance.

Brain of J - Ed & Mike
Faithfull - Ed & Mike
No Way - Stone
Given To Fly - Ed & Mike
Wishlist - Ed
Pilate - Jeff
Do The Evolution - Ed & Stone
Untitled - Jack
MFC - Ed
Lowlight - Jeff
In Hiding - Ed & Stone
Push Me, Pull Me - Ed & Jeff
All Those Yesterdays - Stone

It's such a perfect record. The songs, the track listing, the emotions it takes me through, the energy and the sincerity. And I really think it's such a perfect product because it has such a collective feel to it. And I don't mean to suggest that each member doesn't contribute their all to every album - but what makes the cut doesn't always include a lot of writing from everyone. Ed is such a brilliant lyricist to me and I always think of Stone and the mastermind of music writing. But Yield showcases all of them - Jeff is a hell of a writer of music and lyrics. Mike can write some great riffs. Stone can come up with some amazing lyrics. Yield is 5 amazing musicians throwing their best stuff in a pot and the result is brilliance. I love this record so damn much. Ten changed music in general for me. Yield changed my life. It's like my own little soundtrack.

Some of Yield's standout lines for me:

"You are, you are, every-thing, and everything is you, just be a darling and I will be too, faithful to you" - Ed

"Stunned by my own reflection, looking back sees me too clearly, and I swore I'd never go there again, not unlike a friend that politely drags you down" - Jeff

"There's still time, it's no crime to escape" - Stone

"I wish I was the verb 'to trust' and never let you down" - Ed

"Here's a token of my openness, of my need to not disappear" - Stone

"I swallowed my breath and went deep, I was diving, I surfaced and all of my being was enlightened" - Ed

"I'll find my way from wrong, what's real?, your dream I see" - Jeff

"A wave came crashing like a fist to the jaw, delivered him wings, hey look at me now" - Ed

And as an added bonus - pretty much all of Yield is amazing live. I love this album and I think the balanced writing has a lot to do with it.

dpmay

totally agree completely, have always thought that was the main strength of yield. i have been at least a little disappointed with every subsequent record with regards to the collaborative writing aspect.

good post.

Newch91

I love this album soooo much! It's my favorite PJ album. You've stated pretty much everything about Yield that I would've said. Even the b sides are great...Leatherman and U. I even love Hummus. Thank you Pearl Jam for a fantastic album.

callen

AND we got SVT to get into the recording of this masterpiece.

Wow.

DB15740

Great album indeed!!! I wrestle between Yield and No Code as my favorite album, but I can't seem to ever decide???

I get the feeling that something new is in the works, just starting to roll, and I hope to hear some good news sometime soon, but it's a simple feeling, or maybe just a vibe...

Happy Autumn folks!

theserialthrilla

i cant bring myself to have a favourite album or single...but this is one of the good kids one your know will not let you down or misbehave..

but for me all the albums are just a part of the family and you love them all equally.


Yeild just has that twinkle in its eyes

heyjose

Great post. And that's saying something considering how many there have been on Yield.

I've been wishing for subsequent releases to reach Yield's heights.. in terms of songwriting and sound. And they haven't.

Citizen Zack

heyjose wrote:

Great post. And that's saying something considering how many there have been on Yield.

I've been wishing for subsequent releases to reach Yield's heights.. in terms of songwriting and sound. And they haven't.

I love all their albums, even the ones after Yield, but I do hope to see a new album with the same kind of balanced writing that Yield had. I think Yield is proof that when all the guys contribute a lot to the writing, the result is excellent. They can all write really, really amazing stuff and I love it when it all comes together.

Binaural had a lot of input from everyone, although Mike only had 1 song writing credit that I can think of right now (Light Years). And I absolutely love Binaural. But that great balance and collaboration on Yield - that's what I love too see.

Newch91

Citizen Zack wrote:

heyjose wrote:

Great post. And that's saying something considering how many there have been on Yield.

I've been wishing for subsequent releases to reach Yield's heights.. in terms of songwriting and sound. And they haven't.

I love all their albums, even the ones after Yield, but I do hope to see a new album with the same kind of balanced writing that Yield had. I think Yield is proof that when all the guys contribute a lot to the writing, the result is excellent. They can all write really, really amazing stuff and I love it when it all comes together.

Binaural had a lot of input from everyone, although Mike only had 1 song writing credit that I can think of right now (Light Years). And I absolutely love Binaural. But that great balance and collaboration on Yield - that's what I love too see.

Light Years is simply magical. To me, that makes the whole album, and I love Binaural.

JonnyPistachio

Citizen Zack wrote:

"Stunned by my own reflection, looking back sees me too clearly, and I swore I'd never go there again, not unlike a friend that politely drags you down" - Jeff

And as an added bonus - pretty much all of Yield is amazing live. I love this album and I think the balanced writing has a lot to do with it.

Great points. I had to re-read this line from Pilate a few times. I guess I might have taken some of this song for granted before. Great lyrics, thanks for highlighting them.

This record changed my life too dude. Me and my good friends refer to SVT as 'the bible'... :P

BH198990

The Mighty Jack Irons.

Cheers!

Citizen Zack

JonnyPistachio wrote:

Citizen Zack wrote:

"Stunned by my own reflection, looking back sees me too clearly, and I swore I'd never go there again, not unlike a friend that politely drags you down" - Jeff

And as an added bonus - pretty much all of Yield is amazing live. I love this album and I think the balanced writing has a lot to do with it.

Great points. I had to re-read this line from Pilate a few times. I guess I might have taken some of this song for granted before. Great lyrics, thanks for highlighting them.

This record changed my life too dude. Me and my good friends refer to SVT as 'the bible'... :P

I think Pilate is often overlooked. It's a really cool song though and it fits perfectly right in the middle of this album. I dig Jeff's perspective in songwriting. His stuff is unique. His two contributions to Yield - Pilate and Lowlight - are incredible. Jeff's songs are always very introspective and thought-provoking (Nothing As It Seems, Sleight of Hand, Other Side, etc - the guy can write really, really great songs).

gecko

Jeff's songs are beautiful.
Reminded by this tread, watched SVT last night, it took forever as I was rewinding all the time, especially for In Hiding, that one is magic. Will listen to the album when walking, it's a perfect day.
Just wanted to add something to the great tread.

Citizen Zack

gecko wrote:

Jeff's songs are beautiful.
Reminded by this tread, watched SVT last night, it took forever as I was rewinding all the time, especially for In Hiding, that one is magic. Will listen to the album when walking, it's a perfect day.
Just wanted to add something to the great tread.

Thanks for keeping the discussion going. SVT is awesome. It's my favorite Pearl Jam video release - even better than the live concert footage. I love the intimate, behind the scenes look at this album. As you mentioned, In Hiding is a highlight, with the cool background info of Stone coming up with the riff and recording on a cassette so he could bring it into the studio. I wish they'd do another video like SVT. Man, I can't tell you how much I love Yield. There are no words...

Citizen Zack

Newch91 wrote:

Light Years is simply magical. To me, that makes the whole album, and I love Binaural.

Light Years is one of my favorite songs by any artist, ever. 'Magical' is a great way to describe it. Simply beautiful. It's poetry at its finest. If Mike was only to have 1 writing credit on Binaural, he hit a home run with Light Years. It's the one song I'm wanting to hear live more than any other. 0 for 13. Hopefully one day..

Newch91

Citizen Zack wrote:

Newch91 wrote:

Light Years is simply magical. To me, that makes the whole album, and I love Binaural.

Light Years is one of my favorite songs by any artist, ever. 'Magical' is a great way to describe it. Simply beautiful. It's poetry at its finest. If Mike was only to have 1 writing credit on Binaural, he hit a home run with Light Years. It's the one song I'm wanting to hear live more than any other. 0 for 13. Hopefully one day..

Exactly. I don't care if that was his only song on that album; it's my favorite McCready song with my favorite Eddie lyrics. Beautiful song.

Citizen Zack

Nothing like a beautiful Saturday morning at the dog park with some Yield.

Jeanwah

I don't think the band can possibly reach the height that Yield has reached with another album. I agree the collective contributions is what made the album so beautiful, as well as the collective mood everyone was in while making it. I would love to see more full collaborations on their future albums.

scottstappsucks

Mike's guitar on Given to Fly sounds similar to how it does on Mad Season's River of Deceit, amazing. I wish Mike would write more music for songs these days.

tremors

I've lost count of the number of times I've swallowed down and digested the lines

Stunned by my own reflection
It's looking back, sees me too clearly
And I swore I'd never go there again
Not unlike a friend that politely drags you down


This was when I first realised Ed could really translate other people's words into something just as powerful as his own - and make them 'come alive' within Pearl Jam; and I think he has done this many times since, for me particularly with Jeff's lyrics - doing them complete justice with his voice.

I agree, Yield is a triumph on a band level - getting beyond Ed's central status - as comes over so well on SVT too.

I've said this before but I think Yield cements Pearl Jam's utter domination of the 1990s in terms of quality of musical output. 5 scintillating albums - each with its own magic. Brilliant stuff.

satansbed

the thing about pilate is it has some of the most insightful lyrics theyve written but then they go and ruin it, well ruin it is strong it just annoys me