comment on RS.com

josevolution

To me the live aspect of this band is what really matters , i'll listen to LB for about a month straight when it comes out then i won't at all for months ...
it's all about the set list people the set list !!!
I don't care if they experiment ever again as long as the set list don't become predictable i'm a happy camper and so far that is one thing that hasn't changed at all .........

backseatLover12

I just want to point out to those who were arguing here that Dimi may be the "resident super-huge-mega-awesome-they-can-and-never-will-do-no-wrong fan", but I have been in threads where he completely dislikes when EV rants on stage about politics and social issues. You can't be an apologist if you hate the band's politics. Because the band is all about the politics. It's something that seemingly has not changed much, aside from the volume of it.

Bands change, people change, bands break up all. the. time! I think rather than complain or get defensive about merely a band, we should just be grateful that they still tour, regardless of making new music. I also think that people should not be obsessive, as well. (It's not healthy)

There are MANY bands out there and many of them are incredible. Shop around, and don't vote all your dollars at the PJ merch store.

ForceofNature101

I am one of those who would want for the whole album to come out before going on a rant about how uncreative they are

If the album drops and there are some great tracks that are either just really awesome and/or really different it would render that comment irrelevant

DewieCox

I think every band, even the greats, peter out eventually. History doesn't bode well, but it takes a pretty bad PJ album to be pretty well unlistenable for me. I'm hoping they can put out at least a solid album.

I see so many people keep saying that it's about the live shows and I kinda see the point, but if the studio work was up to sniff I think fewer people would feel that way. I just think the real artistry is achieved in the studio.

PureandEasy

Are any of you familiar with the Who's New Song? Every band has a sound, a familiarity to their body of work, And from the discussion here, it sounds as though some think PJ knows it doesn't matter what they put out there, everybody wants to cheer it. Like they've lost their fire.

I don't believe that, it's just not black and white as some of you might think.

nupur1586

just cos you don't like one-two recent tracks, doesn't mean they are no good... i bet there are songs even in masterpieces like Yield or No Code as well, that some of us may not enjoy as much.. but then every song's different from the other, you like some and you don't like others... isn't that how it's supposed to be?
Ed sums it up nicely, - 'Oh, I could be new... you underestimate me.'

slightofjeff

mca47 wrote:

I tend to agree with the OP.
I used to get excited when PJ was about to release a new album. Some may say "you're getting older and have other priorities now" which may be true...but I'm a music lover and always will be. I was excited for Avocado coming off of my least favorite album Riot Act. I was hoping for something fresh, new, exciting. Couple good songs but for the most part...meh. Backspacer was not a good album. Again, a couple good songs...but for the time they apparently put into that album to release THAT! :fp:
Now we have "Lightning Bolt" to look forward to. :yawn: I got to hear three songs off of it at Wrigley and there is absolutely nothing new there.
PJ has gotten stale. Still put on a good show live....but even that has become a bit predictable of late.

A lot of it is simply a matter of taste, personal preference and how one's tastes evolve. Personally, Backspacer is my favorite Pearl Jam album since Yield. And it's not really close. Avocado would be second.

Those two albums hit me where I live, in that time and place. And it was a time and place I evolved into. I wouldn't have liked Backspacer as much if it came out in 2006. I wouldn't like Avocado so much if it came out now.

But here's the thing: YOU think they've gotten stale. YOU think Backspacer is no good. But just because you think that doesn't make it so for a lot of people.

I, on the other hand, find it difficult to say the band is "petering out" or has "lost its fire" when IMO their last album was their best work in over a decade.

Meanwhile, I listened to Future Days from Wrigley one time and -- I shit you not -- I wept. It spoke directly to my life at this point in time. It was like it was written specifically for me.

That this band can still do that to me at this jaded point in my life tells me I've got something special.

If you don't feel the same, that's cool. It happens to a lot of us when it comes to a lot of things we used to love. But, I have to admit, I kind of feel sorry for you. I wish you could feel what I feel when it comes to this band and some of these new songs.

slightofjeff

nupur1586 wrote:

just cos you don't like one-two recent tracks, doesn't mean they are no good...

That's another thing that's always fun about this board: "I've listened to half-assed audience recordings of two songs being played live for the first time ever, where you can barely make out the lyrics, and I can tell you without equivocation that they suck."

Come off it.

PureandEasy

You know what, what it comes down to is this, we respond to songs differently. What really matters is how it touches you. I have been a Who fan since I was 14 years old and to this day, their music still reaches that inner gut inside me, it's so palpable.

By the way, I turned 50 last month.

The Juggler

maki_j wrote:

Somewhat agree with this based on the past 2-3 albums, including what we know about LB. Although you also have to remember they've been playing for over 20 years and done so many albums that you have to ask is there anywhere else they could go? I just think they are tapped out creatively. I can't think of a single major band that has lasted this long that has still remained capable of doing a 180 on every other album and coming up with something fresh - that usually only happens when a new guitarist comes in. :nono:

Here is a thought... after LB dies down they should put out a complete album of full band acoustic, or another mirror ball type project (2-3 song disc) or heres an even better idea... go someplace completely unfamiliar and lock yourselves away TOGETHER for 6 months and create something epic. From what I hear they don't get together much anymore (getting old and have families) that they do a lot of prep separately and then meet for short stints trying to put it all together. That's just my take from what I've read.

your 2nd paragraph is right on point.

Ledbetterdays

What it comes down to for me is feeling like the fans care more than they do at this point. I do agree that it sounded like O'Brien was frustrated with them. Every new album I hope for something great, even though we know better if we use music history as a guide. Very few late career masterpieces. I get frustrated feeling like this band could have been even more important and relevant in music history and I feel like it is because they chose it to be that way. When you hear the songs they leave off of albums or do not finish it just speaks to their desire to always turn away from what would be easy. There are days I admire it and days that it frustrates to no end.

dimitrispearljam

slightofjeff wrote:

mca47 wrote:

I tend to agree with the OP.
I used to get excited when PJ was about to release a new album. Some may say "you're getting older and have other priorities now" which may be true...but I'm a music lover and always will be. I was excited for Avocado coming off of my least favorite album Riot Act. I was hoping for something fresh, new, exciting. Couple good songs but for the most part...meh. Backspacer was not a good album. Again, a couple good songs...but for the time they apparently put into that album to release THAT! :fp:
Now we have "Lightning Bolt" to look forward to. :yawn: I got to hear three songs off of it at Wrigley and there is absolutely nothing new there.
PJ has gotten stale. Still put on a good show live....but even that has become a bit predictable of late.

A lot of it is simply a matter of taste, personal preference and how one's tastes evolve. Personally, Backspacer is my favorite Pearl Jam album since Yield. And it's not really close. Avocado would be second.

Those two albums hit me where I live, in that time and place. And it was a time and place I evolved into. I wouldn't have liked Backspacer as much if it came out in 2006. I wouldn't like Avocado so much if it came out now.

But here's the thing: YOU think they've gotten stale. YOU think Backspacer is no good. But just because you think that doesn't make it so for a lot of people.

I, on the other hand, find it difficult to say the band is "petering out" or has "lost its fire" when IMO their last album was their best work in over a decade.

Meanwhile, I listened to Future Days from Wrigley one time and -- I shit you not -- I wept. It spoke directly to my life at this point in time. It was like it was written specifically for me.

That this band can still do that to me at this jaded point in my life tells me I've got something special.

If you don't feel the same, that's cool. It happens to a lot of us when it comes to a lot of things we used to love. But, I have to admit, I kind of feel sorry for you. I wish you could feel what I feel when it comes to this band and some of these new songs.

im not fan of Backspacer as you are,but im big FAN of your posts-comments!!
i love to read you!!