When Did Pearl Jam Peak?

2

Comments

  • EchosNobodyHears
    EchosNobodyHears Posts: 583
    7/19/13
    2008 - 6/28, 6/30
    2009 - 8/21,10/30, 10/31
    2010 - 5/15, 5/17, 5/20, 5/21
    2011 - 9/3/11, 9/4, 9/11, 9/12, 9/14
    2012 - 9/2
    2013 - 7/19, 10/15, 10/16, 10/19, 10/25
    2014 - 6/16. 6/17, 6/20, 10/1

    EV solo 8.1.08, 6.8.09, 6.15.11, 6.16.11
  • Spiritual_Chaos
    Spiritual_Chaos Posts: 31,502
    They evolved till Riot Act, so I would say that was their peak (after that it seemed they started looking back and questioning "if people did not want Riot Act than what are we and what should we be?). Commercial peak I guess was in 94-95 when they were a name on everyones lips.
    "Mostly I think that people react sensitively because they know you’ve got a point"
  • Adamcado
    Adamcado Posts: 74
    Spiritual_Chaos wrote:
    They evolved till Riot Act, so I would say that was their peak (after that it seemed they started looking back and questioning "if people did not want Riot Act than what are we and what should we be?). Commercial peak I guess was in 94-95 when they were a name on everyones lips.


    Sums up how I feel. It's like up until Riot Act they kept progressing...then after that, started going backwards...
    In a former forum life I was Cropduster84
  • MookieDancer
    MookieDancer Posts: 41
    Bands peak as their audience peaks. In their 20's. Sure the musicians will become better musicians and their 30's and 40's but their music that (in this case Pearl Jam) they wrote in their early to mid 20's is always going to be the most important. And it will MEAN then most to fans who were in their late teens to mid 20's at time of that peak. Because that is when you are the most receptive to music.

    After that life happens. Your wild days are behind you and your senses are dulled. Pearl Jam has stayed relevant and damned good because they have slowed down. Everyone wants to see Vedder stand on a stool scribbling on his arm during the musical break in Porch and wants him to scream throughout like he is 27. Not that guy anymore. And I am not that same fan.
  • JK109224
    JK109224 Posts: 644
    Leg 2 of the 1998 Summer Tour.
    Come to send, not condescend...
  • MayDay10
    MayDay10 Posts: 11,856
    Artistically, that is subjective. Ten IMO was the best.... especially when you include the B Sides. So I guess that was it. If its a peak though, it is a very gradual 23+ year decline that still has good elevation.

    Live. These shows they are putting on are phenomenal at nearly every stop. That 2010 US tour was insanity. Every show was unique. They play for a good length, high energy, never ever mail it in, and so much source material and not much is completely neglected. They have emerged as one of the few remaining surviving rock acts IMO.... and they are very good.
  • aghani
    aghani Posts: 6
    I think in general the music listening public focuses a bit much on looking for a "peak moment". I think a band can fluctuate, and if they don't break up they can tap new avenues of creativity.
  • YieldToNothing
    YieldToNothing Posts: 3,667
    DiRtyFranK38 wrote:
    creatively 1998/2000
    live 2000

    this right here...but i'd extend the peak as a live band to 2003. there were some fucking monster shows on that tour
    i have a paper here that entitles me to fast track status
  • DewieCox
    DewieCox Posts: 11,432
    98-03....putting out their most unique and creative music and were absolutely blazing live.


    If you're talking about success I'd say around 94.
  • rummy
    rummy British Columbia, Canada Posts: 4,466
    Adamcado wrote:
    Spiritual_Chaos wrote:
    They evolved till Riot Act, so I would say that was their peak (after that it seemed they started looking back and questioning "if people did not want Riot Act than what are we and what should we be?). Commercial peak I guess was in 94-95 when they were a name on everyones lips.


    Sums up how I feel. It's like up until Riot Act they kept progressing...then after that, started going backwards...


    I totally agree with this....
  • rummy
    rummy British Columbia, Canada Posts: 4,466
    MookieDancer wrote:
    Bands peak as their audience peaks. In their 20's. Sure the musicians will become better musicians and their 30's and 40's but their music that (in this case Pearl Jam) they wrote in their early to mid 20's is always going to be the most important. And it will MEAN then most to fans who were in their late teens to mid 20's at time of that peak. Because that is when you are the most receptive to music.

    After that life happens. Your wild days are behind you and your senses are dulled. Pearl Jam has stayed relevant and damned good because they have slowed down. Everyone wants to see Vedder stand on a stool scribbling on his arm during the musical break in Porch and wants him to scream throughout like he is 27. Not that guy anymore. And I am not that same fan.
    ...and for the most part this.
  • Backspacer_Backer
    Backspacer_Backer Posts: 1,023
    For my fan experience personally, I'd say they peaked from 1998-2000. Creatively, I can't pinpoint one peak, unless you look at it like some have here. They were on fire from 1991-1994. Very few bands in the history of rock music have produced that many GREAT songs in such a short period of time.
  • electronblue
    electronblue Posts: 3,502
    quarter-to-ten
    ********************************
    "Forgive every being,
    the bad feelings 
    it's just me"


  • bootlegger10
    bootlegger10 Posts: 16,260
    Peaked at Yield. Binaural was the first album for me to include filler (God's Dice, Evacuation, Breakerfall).

    Now if Sad and Fatal made that record I would have to change my mind.
  • wwsuicide
    wwsuicide Posts: 1,400
    Tuesday October 15, 2013......or whenever my copy of Lighting Bolt arrives!
  • rival.
    rival. Chicago Posts: 7,775
    DiRtyFranK38 wrote:
    creatively 1998/2000
    live 2000

    :clap: this




    commercially speaking, 94/95. '95 tour they were selling out arenas in the philippines. the philippines!
  • satansbed
    satansbed Posts: 2,139
    I thinking looking at it through have the peaked or not isn't the best way to look at it.

    how i look at it is that the first act of their career was Ten to yield (biggest band in the world), the second act was to backspacer(the what ever happened to those guys stage) and the third act is pj20 till death.(legacy act)
  • Stephen Flow
    Stephen Flow Posts: 3,327
    bootlegger10 wrote:
    Peaked at Yield. Binaural was the first album for me to include filler (God's Dice, Evacuation, Breakerfall).

    Now if Sad and Fatal made that record I would have to change my mind.

    If you consider God's Dice, Evacuation & Breakerfall "filler", I'd like to know what you consider Stupid Mop, Aye Davanita & Pry, to. :?

    To answer the question of the OP... tough to answer for me because I keep enjoying everything they put out. Some people would say they dropped off after Vitalogy... others will say after Yield... some may even say after Ten & Vs.... I think the majority of the people here probably would say 2000ish with the least favorite album being Riot Act. I feel that the last 3 albums have been good but not what others want PJ to be... it's tough when a band lasts so long... no bands are going to output albums that everyone loves as much as the first one or three.
  • Stephen Flow
    Stephen Flow Posts: 3,327
    satansbed wrote:
    I thinking looking at it through have the peaked or not isn't the best way to look at it.

    how i look at it is that the first act of their career was Ten to yield (biggest band in the world), the second act was to backspacer(the what ever happened to those guys stage) and the third act is pj20 till death.(legacy act)

    I think if you break it down to the average music fan it would be something like this...

    During Ten & Vs. - "Fuck yeah these guys rock!"
    During Vitalogy - "This is different but these guys still rock!"
    During No Code, Yield, Binaural - "This sounds pretty good but what happened to the 'grunge' sound?"
    During Riot Act, Avocado, Backspacer - "Pearl Jam? Those guys still make music?"
  • SPEEDY MCCREADY
    SPEEDY MCCREADY Posts: 26,902
    Live shows?
    94
    Take me piece by piece.....
    Till there aint nothing left worth taking away from me.....

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