do you find it difficult to reconcile your beliefs with...

pandora

For me it was never what the band stood for...it was always the music and Eddie's beautiful voice that one can lose themselves in. The lyrics I personalized into my own life. I could have cared less if they were for the guy I voted for or not, against corporations, for or against the war, none of that mattered to me. The politics actually could have turned me off if I didn't love the music so much and need it too.
I think Fixer is an awesome song with a great message for young people. Stop thinking about yourselves all the time and put others needs ahead of your own. Be a fixer in your life and in others lives. I don't listen to the radio much but I'm glad it made the waves and more people are turned on to Pearl Jam. I want them to find the happiness I have found these 20 years, the happiness found in loving their music. Share the love.

cajunkiwi

Jeanwah wrote:

whygohome wrote:

I'm not disagreeing with what you are saying, but I'm wondering if you could elaborate. What is the 180 degree flip? What is the different tune?

I don't quite understand how some people don't see the drastic change the band had made since their formative years, if you've been a fan for the long haul. I loved the guys for being true to themselves, standing up for what they believed in, as well as being anti-greed, anti-corporate and outspoken politically, socially and environmentally. That really inspired me to have more integrity myself. But it's all changed in the last couple years; with putting out Baskspacer, they make a "radio-friendly" song (The Fixer) for the sole purpose of gaining a new audience and being commercial, they're playing private and corporate gigs, and instead of putting the art of music front and center, it's about money. This is JUST my opinion. I understand they have families, so do I. But there's a way to secure your financial future without compromising your ideals. Which they did, or their ideals just went way of more money and commercialization. And for that, I now accept it, but it was a tough pill to swallow for many months.

As much as this is continuing to take the discussion further away from catefrances' point, I agree with you. In the early days Pearl Jam made some kickass music, took on Ticketmaster on behalf of their fans, and raised a middle finger to MTV. I have a version of Even Flow from back in the day that starts off with EV going on a rant about the people who took limos to their show.

For me, the turn happened when they let the TV show "Friends" use Yellow Ledbetter. It was a sign that the band was now at least, to some degree, factoring money into their decisions. I find it hard to believe that Vs-era Pearl Jam would let a sitcom use one of their songs, or would write music for a Julia Roberts chick flick. I also think Backspacer was a blatantly commercial album that was written to get the band more airplay - and I know I'm not alone there, because in addition to the protests over the sound of the album from some fans, the band members themselves were admitting it in interviews they gave prior to the album's release. Personally, it's my least-favourite PJ album for that reason - it's a little too pop for me, and doesn't have the depth of prior albums. That's not to say it isn't a wash for me - I absolutely love Force of Nature - but I find myself skipping over more songs on that album than any other PJ album - including the oft-maligned Riot Act (which will always have a special place in my heart because they went and did something completely different with You Are, and I freaking love that song too).

So, like you, I went through a phase after the album's release where I felt let down by the band, and didn't listen to them for a while. That phase didn't last too long though - they've written far too much awesome music over the years, and at the end of the day one album I don't like is a tiny price to pay for eight I do, and the number of songs from them I love FAR outweighs the number I dislike - and there are VERY few bands I can say that about.

On another note - how would you feel if the band (or any band/artist you liked) collaborated with someone you couldn't stand? I get a kick out of the number of rappers who worship at the altar of Justin Bieber and act like Jesus gave them a hug if he ever says he wants to collaborate with them - it seems to be a desperate ploy for popularity, they'll gladly work with Bieber if it means more people will buy their albums. So, hypothetically speaking, how would you feel if Pearl Jam worked with someone you didn't like? If they were in the studio one day and said, "Say, this song needs female vocals in the bridge - does anyone have Lady Gaga's number?"

JonnyPistachio

You know, we can scrutinize the shit out of every decision they make, but ultimately, we don't know why they do what they do for the most part. I was honestly surprised that YL was used in that Friends episode, but do you think the producers of Friends really offered PJ enough money to care about that? It was a long standing show that a lot of people loved, and quite frankly, the song fit well where they put it... just like how PJ puts it in their sets. And i think it only played for a few seconds if I remember correctly.

Otherwise, in my opinion, it is silly to criticize things like the Target deal because no matter what, PJ wants people to hear their music, and how else do people suggest they put out a record? The tired antiquated way of Sony and records gathering dust at random shops? I think the Target deal was a great idea and an attempt to try something new.

Now I agree that Backsper has a different sound. One of my least favorites to date, but I think they are always just trying something different. We can say that about most of the last 4-5 albums.

All this stuff surely has something to do with money, but I would just assume that now that the limelight(oustide of their touring), has eased up, its probably a little easier for them to not take things so damn seriously and just have some fun. I think they've earned that.

cajunkiwi

JonnyPistachio wrote:

You know, we can scrutinize the shit out of every decision they make, but ultimately, we don't know why they do what they do for the most part. I was honestly surprised that YL was used in that Friends episode, but do you think the producers of Friends really offered PJ enough money to care about that? It was a long standing show that a lot of people loved, and quite frankly, the song fit well where they put it... just like how PJ puts it in their sets. And i think it only played for a few seconds if I remember correctly.

Otherwise, in my opinion, it is silly to criticize things like the Target deal because no matter what, PJ wants people to hear their music, and how else do people suggest they put out a record? The tired antiquated way of Sony and records gathering dust at random shops? I think the Target deal was a great idea and an attempt to try something new.

Now I agree that Backsper has a different sound. One of my least favorites to date, but I think they are always just trying something different. We can say that about most of the last 4-5 albums.

All this stuff surely has something to do with money, but I would just assume that now that the limelight(oustide of their touring), has eased up, its probably a little easier for them to not take things so damn seriously and just have some fun. I think they've earned that.

To be perfectly honest, the Target deal never bothered me all that much. It got the album out there to people, and also allowed them to stock it in the smaller independent stores too, which was cool.

Jeanwah

cajunkiwi wrote:

On another note - how would you feel if the band (or any band/artist you liked) collaborated with someone you couldn't stand? I get a kick out of the number of rappers who worship at the altar of Justin Bieber and act like Jesus gave them a hug if he ever says he wants to collaborate with them - it seems to be a desperate ploy for popularity, they'll gladly work with Bieber if it means more people will buy their albums. So, hypothetically speaking, how would you feel if Pearl Jam worked with someone you didn't like? If they were in the studio one day and said, "Say, this song needs female vocals in the bridge - does anyone have Lady Gaga's number?"

I don't know...I guess it would depend on who they collaborated with? But I'd at least give it a hear before making any judgement. EDIT: Sorry to not elaborate on the topic more but the whole subject about PJ has drained me and I don't care to think about it anymore. It's in the past... And yeah, BS was their weakest work in my opinion.

eyedclaar

My hero was a staunch environmentalist that littered every road he traveled with beer cans. Why? Because roads are ugly and have already ruined whatever landscape they cut across, while beer cans are beautiful and a potential job if humans ever really embrace recycling. Now, I find his rationale somewhat humorous, but I certainly can’t accept littering under any circumstances.

Godfather.

eyedclaar wrote:

My hero was a staunch environmentalist that littered every road he traveled with beer cans. Why? Because roads are ugly and have already ruined whatever landscape they cut across, while beer cans are beautiful and a potential job if humans ever really embrace recycling. Now, I find his rationale somewhat humorous, but I certainly can’t accept littering under any circumstances.

and if you get caught it ain't cheep !...at least in California.

Godfather.

catefrances

cajunkiwi wrote:

...
To be perfectly honest, the Target deal never bothered me all that much. It got the album out there to people, and also allowed them to stock it in the smaller independent stores too, which was cool.

ive never understood this. surely if an indie store wanted to stock backspacer, or any album for that matter, all theyd have to do is call the band and ask to be shipped copies. i dont see how target was needed for that. anyhoo...

in regards to yellowledbetter being used in friends... recently ive become aware of the use of a song by one of my fave bands in an advertisement. the advert shows a guy running to COGs song run. when i first heard i thought ooh thisll be interesting. i thoguht it was fohuman rights or something similiar. the videoclip for this song, when it came out, addressed australias policy of refugee detention... so you can understand my absolute shock when at the end the guy turns onto his property and slams into something invisible revealing what was being advertised as the real estate section of one of our major newspapers. amd how if you dont advertise in DOMAIN, your house may as well be invisible.

i was stunned. i didnt understand how this song by this band could be used for such a blatantly capitalist enterprise. COG are such a righteous political band it made absolutely no sense to me. it is beyond my realm of reasoning to understand why this has happened and i wont understand it until i find out why they allowed it. maybe even then i still wont understand. i cant even watch that advertisement anymore. has what i seee as the selling of their collective soul stopped me listening to COG? no it hasnt. has it got me thinking about their music differently? no it hasnt. has it got me questioning the band? yes it has. im really not someone who would approach my favourite musician for some casual conversation just cause they are my favourite musician... however in this case i need an answer. whether COG feel the need to answer.. thats up to them.

whygohome

BinFrog wrote:

unsung wrote:

I somewhat find it odd that the band wouldn't make MTV videos for years but now has its own satellite radio station.

In my mind these are 2 completely separate and unrelated issues. Their stance on videos was based on a few things: thinking MTV was a joke, thinking videos never really show what the song is about, wanting listeners to interpret the songs their own way, wanting to bow out of the spotlight, etc.

PJ has always been about the music. To have their own station accessible to millions of people? That's like a freaking goldmine to them. THAT is what they are about...and it's why they have had an internet station on their site for months now. They like their music being accessible, and now it is.

Agreed.