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What is/was the last great Pearl Jam album?

rummyrummy British Columbia, Canada Posts: 4,464
edited March 2015 in The Porch
Not "What Is Your Favourite Album?" or "Do You 'like' a particular album" but what, in your opinion, was the last five-star/classic (or one-day-will-be-classic) Pearl Jam album (as of March 1, 2015)?

What is/was the last great Pearl Jam album? 153 votes

Ten
0%
Bentleyspop 1 vote
Vs.
0%
MMPooch 1 vote
Vitalogy
0%
vest71 1 vote
No Code
3%
red mosdrrexCJ23113boxer or the bagtominzinga 5 votes
Yield
28%
CantKeepmedowndarthveddermcgruff10primussucksAndySlashLedbetterman10bootlegger10T-Bone 82mr bunglelolobuggregalturbobrolocopdalowskyBALLBOYBIGDaddyWillukinsfridge05cdlongroadRW8297Tim SimmonsGM17961 43 votes
Binaural
5%
TroubledSoulDewieCoxUncle SnuffysamjamRiotZactcalvo17rummyJT_JamFan 8 votes
Riot Act
17%
BrokenGlassBinFrogNewJPagemrluthor9DuncsPeArLgOoNeRryph raphiOnlyownMymindmelflashJammalambopjfaninindianamrshock13boyo79hinsey21ComeToTXpledgeagrievanceScreaming TreealphawolfThief of Silencedogmatt 27 votes
Self Titled (Avocado)
15%
my_waveon2legsryanjeptidus10xgoldrushfoodboyWobbiethe wolfIndifference71ZodAMENt_TO_THATMawky1103Brane_of_JFKRobbyD462mayerdLeezestarr313goingonsixPJ_SoulBig Bank Hankwhoanelly15 23 votes
Backspacer
1%
corduroykellyRandallPink 2 votes
Lightning Bolt
27%
igotid88spearhead2-feign-reluctanceEBowieLowlightAmherstJammerredsox04Force Of NatureNWOntarioholo92callenNoloadDedvwNamiRoeghmannPA Jammeremf28Empty GlassPI23369RhinoJam 42 votes
Post edited by rummy on
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Comments

  • BHealyBHealy Flagstaff, Arizona Posts: 466
    Lightning Bolt
    I'm the only vote! That's embarrassing! They're all great! Not saying Lightning Bolt is my favorite or anything....
  • JammalamboJammalambo Posts: 1,321
    Riot Act
    I think there are great songs on every album this band has released..
    But to me, PJ up to (and included) Riot Act is 7 albums without one weak song..
    From self-titled and on, I always get the impression they're trying to 'force' their music into something they (the band) think will be more 'accessible' for their fans, or new fans..
    They were a band that didn't care what people think, they just did their thing (leading to amazing unique albums like No Code, Binaural, Riot Act, for example).
    all those leaked demos from self-titled, for example, are better than anything they put on record since 2006.
  • dannydanny Posts: 2,283
    yield
    danny d
  • bootlegger10bootlegger10 Posts: 16,231
    Yield
    Binaural could have been in my eyes if you took out the first three songs and replaced with Sad and Fatal. I just can't give it 5 stars with those three first songs (good songs but not great).
  • mcgruff10mcgruff10 New Jersey Posts: 29,102
    edited March 2015
    Yield
    Yield.
    Songs like Evacuation, cropduster, sleight of hand, and get right are plain terrible and ruin the next two albums. I never thought either album really was good live as evident of how sparse these two are represented at shows.

    Self titled was a nice comeback with a killer tour which makes me believe pj was very proud of that album. Backspacer was just plain fun but lacked some depth in terms of lyrics and staying strength live. Lb was a very pleasant surprise and the songs were pretty good live.
    However none of those albums were even close to yield.
    I'll ride the wave where it takes me......
  • rummyrummy British Columbia, Canada Posts: 4,464
    Binaural
    mcgruff10 said:

    Yield.
    Songs like Evacuation, cropduster, sleight of hand, and get right are plain terrible and ruin the next two albums. I never thought either album really was good live as evident of how sparse these two are represented at shows.

    Self titled was a nice comeback with a killer tour which makes me believe pj was very proud of that album. Backspacer was just plain fun but lacked some depth in terms of lyrics and staying strength live. Lb was a very pleasant surprise and the songs were pretty good live.
    However none of those albums were even close to yield.

    Well put...and you stated my exact 'dislikes' on albums #6 and #7, too.
  • rummyrummy British Columbia, Canada Posts: 4,464
    Binaural
    It would be funny/frustrating to see what a 'casual' fan might say...Ten? Vs? ...no later than Vitalogy, that's for sure.
  • pledgeagrievancepledgeagrievance Posts: 2,874
    Riot Act
    Riot Act. Last full on experiment
  • mrluthor9mrluthor9 Posts: 264
    Riot Act
    Jammalambo said:

    I think there are great songs on every album this band has released..
    But to me, PJ up to (and included) Riot Act is 7 albums without one weak song..
    From self-titled and on, I always get the impression they're trying to 'force' their music into something they (the band) think will be more 'accessible' for their fans, or new fans..
    They were a band that didn't care what people think, they just did their thing (leading to amazing unique albums like No Code, Binaural, Riot Act, for example).
    all those leaked demos from self-titled, for example, are better than anything they put on record since 2006.

    I totally agree with this
    All the rusted signs we ignore throughout our lives,.....choosing the shiny ones instead,......
  • JT_JamFanJT_JamFan Posts: 170
    Binaural
    This is a new development... A year ago it would have been Yield for sure, However, i recently invested in some better than average headphones and it's like i am listening to Binaural for the first time! There are bass notes i have never heard, guitar riffs that were lost in the room that are clear as a bell now.
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  • rummyrummy British Columbia, Canada Posts: 4,464
    Binaural
    JT_JamFan said:

    This is a new development... A year ago it would have been Yield for sure, However, i recently invested in some better than average headphones and it's like i am listening to Binaural for the first time! There are bass notes i have never heard, guitar riffs that were lost in the room that are clear as a bell now.

    I'm in the same boat. I've always loved Yield since day #1. I only recently discovered the greatness of (most of) the songs on Binaural.
  • october22october22 Posts: 2,533
    Riot Act
    Binaural is their best and Riot Act was the last "real" Pearl Jam record. After that, Ed's personality changed and their art changed for the worse in my opinion.

    I still like S/T a lot and LB but the tone of the band changed when Ed found contentment. Nothing wrong with that though! Just sayin'...
  • HughFreakingDillonHughFreakingDillon Winnipeg Posts: 39,441
    Self Titled (Avocado)
    I fucking love Avocado and listen to it all the time. I think going from that to Backspacer was the biggest drop in awesomness they have ever had on successive records.
    Hugh Freaking Dillon is currently out of the office, returning sometime in the fall




  • juddboz80juddboz80 Posts: 2,141
    Riot Act
    There are songs off binaural and riot act that I'm not a huge fan of but ten thru riot act was a hell of a run!!!! I've enjoyed stuff since and lightning bolt was a solid album with some age to self titled, bs, and lightning bolt I might have a different opinion!
    Cant buy what i want cause its free....
  • boyo79boyo79 Warrington, UK Posts: 6,525
    Riot Act
    october22 said:

    Binaural is their best and Riot Act was the last "real" Pearl Jam record. After that, Ed's personality changed and their art changed for the worse in my opinion.

    I still like S/T a lot and LB but the tone of the band changed when Ed found contentment. Nothing wrong with that though! Just sayin'...

    Gotta say I agree with that. I'd probably have Riot Act as my favourite. Those first 7 albums were/are immense. I used to include S/T in that but I'm not sure it's aged as well. Backspacer was the first PJ record I didn't like. LB has some great moments but some terrible ones too!

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  • F Me In The BrainF Me In The Brain this knows everybody from other commets Posts: 31,762
    Lightning Bolt
    I love LB and think it is great. Obviously we are all fanatics for the band but on LB I really only pass on the last 2 songs, maybe 3.
    The love he receives is the love that is saved
  • vest71vest71 Posts: 239
    Vitalogy
    vitalogy is my all time favorite album, after that they have made many great songs and ok albums but not one that is so complete ( in my opinion ) as Vitalogy
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  • PJForceofNaturePJForceofNature Posts: 3,087
    Lightning Bolt
    In my opinion, they just keep getting better and better!
    "A beacon on dry land"
  • red mosred mos Posts: 4,953
    No Code
    No code is my favorite of theirs. However, I like all the albums as they all have greatness in them.
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  • samjamsamjam New York Posts: 9,283
    Binaural
    Went with Binaural in terms of what you said, "5 star classic." I do think LB is a great album, just not what I think of when I think 5 star classic. It's pretty fantastic, though and I'm more than happy with it! (Now I just have to hear Getaway live!!)
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  • rummyrummy British Columbia, Canada Posts: 4,464
    Binaural
    To add to the conversation, here's a fun little website for stats geeks like me:
    http://www.besteveralbums.com/

    Pearl Jam ranks relatively high - at least early on.
  • the wolfthe wolf Posts: 7,027
    Self Titled (Avocado)
    I'll go with Avocado. I love me some Backspacer and Lightning Bolt, and don't think they are bad albums by any stretch of the imagination. But great? Probably not. I think there are quite a few great songs on each record though.
    I'm happy with everything they've ever released.
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  • lolobugglolobugg BLUE RDGE MTNS Posts: 8,195
    edited March 2015
    Yield
    If we are using the term "great" then the last album that was flawless from start to finish was Yield.
    They have put out good albums since but each has had at least one "half-baked" idea included.
    Not a bad thing as most bands can't even come up with one good single.

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  • dmaradona10dmaradona10 Posts: 915
    Yield
    I went with Yield but there are some albums after it like Avocado that are really close.
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  • tino_11tino_11 Posts: 2,179
    edited March 2015
    Yield
    I went with Yield. Those first 5 albums were the band at it's absolute peak IMO. I also sense the change in the band after Riot Act and the albums have become less consistent, although all have their strong points. Avocado starts and ends strong but that middle section from Parachutes to Wasted Reprise doesn't grab me, Backspacer is a real mixed bag, and I love the first seven songs on Lightning Bolt, then it fades badly (Yellow Moon aside).

    Still plenty from Lightning Bolt to suggest they have another 5 star album left in them IMO.
    'F*** the pessimists. F*** 'em.' Eddie Vedder
  • NamiNami Newfoundland Posts: 5,999
    Lightning Bolt
    there are a couple songs on LB that i dont like but appeal to others. all and all its stll a great album... same with BS

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  • RunawaysoulRunawaysoul Germany Posts: 53
    Lightning Bolt
    Love them all, start to finish. There's the right time and mood for each PJ album/song, so to me they are all great.
  • Last-12-ExitLast-12-Exit Charleston, SC Posts: 8,661
    Lightning Bolt
    LB is the best album since yield.
  • HughFreakingDillonHughFreakingDillon Winnipeg Posts: 39,441
    Self Titled (Avocado)
    Last-12-Exit said:

    LB is the best album since yield.

    Better than avocado?
    Better than binaural?
    Better than riot act?

    Get this man some oxygen! Lol

    Hugh Freaking Dillon is currently out of the office, returning sometime in the fall




  • goldrushgoldrush everybody knows this is nowhere Posts: 7,776
    Self Titled (Avocado)
    If I was basing my choice purely on the thread title, the "last great Pearl Jam album" is Lightning Bolt. It really is a great record with some awesome songs. However, it's more like a 4 to 4.5 star almost-classic album.

    The last 5-star album they put out was Self Titled. That one still sounds great to me
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