Drive to work...

jboelhow

Hello everyone,
I have a 45-50 minute drive to work (not that you really care, I know but it helps explain this). So I thought this morning I would listen to all my PJ albums in a row (No boots/concert cds though) and then just write about them. If you want to play along at home you will need to listen to Ten sometime today. I do car pool sometimes so this little game may not be everyday...

Thoughts on Ten: Pain, anger, raw. I remember why I got into PJ my freshman year in college, I felt their music. "Why Go" is my number two song of all time (out of all songs). (I use to listen to it before I competed in Long Jump in college), but I felt so trapped my freshman year. "Why Go" just gave my feelings words that I could scream along with. "Deep" is almost hard to listen to because of the last verse. The song makes you feel like your drowning, that you can't find ground to stand on. "Once" is a great opening song. It gets your "insane" side out in the open right away. It makes feeling the music easy through out the rest of the album. Just like so many other PJ fans, Ten is the raw nerve ending, teen/young adult angst, Holden like, album that makes us feel alive because we can feel the pain of our lives and the world's. Through the diverse characters of this album we get to see life in the shadows, but that's the beauty. There is still life in the shadows and we should not ignore those ideas and feelings.

See you tomorrow...

jboelhow

First thoughts on Vs: I thought of Diego on Ice Age when they do the ice rollercoaster and he hits Manny and says “Who’s ready for round two?” because you can easily let the CD start over and achieve the same feelings. This album shows us Pearl Jam’s spirit. Where other artist have troubles with their sophomore album, PJ steps forward and delivers such an honest and truthful album that it may be their best CD.
“Daughter” is a classic, hands down. But the other songs can stand on their own too. PJ spans the spectrum in theme and music with Vs. “W.M.A” rivals N.W.A’s “F- the Police” in theme. Where N.W.A hits you with raw pain, PJ makes you think, “he won the lottery when he was born”.
The longest title in the PJ library (Elderly…) reveals such a sad truth about many people’s lives. Not that people in small towns have sad lives, but that many seem/feel trapped, and that “hearts and thoughts they fade, fade away…”
I could and should go on about each song. They all deserve recognition, but I do not have time. But I can’t wait for the drive home to listen to the CD again.

jboelhow

Missed yesterday because my little girl had ear infections…

First thoughts on Vitalogy: Heavy. A wrestling match that you can’t win. This album comes at you in so many different ways; it hits your head, your ears, and your heart. I will admit to not really liking this album, until today. It may be that I actually listen to the CD with a purpose and that helps understand the album. And makes it an incredible musical experience.
The album starts heavy. The first four songs are so well messed with vocals, music, and lyrics that they almost suffocate you. They are songs that do not have one aspect stand out. Which make them difficult at first to get, to enjoy, because you have to swallow them like a big old vitamin pill. But this meshing makes them incredible. Who else could pull off a song about simply playing a record???
“Nothingman” and “Better man” simply crush your heart; they leave you on the mat trying to catch your breath. “Nothingman” may be the best broken-heart song of all time. “once divided/nothing left to subtract/some words when spoken/can't be taken back”, is simply a truth everyone understands, the whole song is that way.
Then the album really starts to challenge us. There is a wrestling match between us as fans and what we expect PJ to be, what PJ wanted to be and to become. “Bugs” is a wet wily, a song that digs in your ear and mind. It creeps you out, yet your mind wants to understand. I think it is a love song. How strange that sounds, I know, just look at the lyrics. (I do have to get ready for the day so I need to hurry).
Vitalogy simply is an album that wrestles with us and we lose, we are over taken by the diversity of music, we are challenges by what we expect and what is delivered. Then we are put in a choke hold with “hey foxymophandlemama, that’s me”, it strangles us with a reality that is both sane, but crazy… “i think i deserve to be loved, don't you?/to be loved, don't you?/but i keep it to myself/ keep it to myself/keep it to myself...” You want to get out of the song, to break the hold. The music allows you to your feet, but then the words push you back down. The ref grabs your hand, lifts it up, and it drops. “You’re Out!”

jboelhow

First Thoughts on No Code: The title fits so well. If you put the CD in your player and hit the random button, you probably would have the same listening experience. Not that the album doesn’t flow, or is disconnected. The songs are well crafted, there seems to be an underlining theme of “truth” that connects them. Yet, the listening experience is random, each song stands on its own.
For the first time PJ uses a mellow opening song, “Sometimes”. Which at first, startles you. But you then fall into the lyrics. Again, I think the theme of “truth” connects the songs, truth of self, of this world, of what life means. Then PJ smacks your eardrums with “Hail, Hail”. No build up, just straight to the song.
For me “Present Tense” is the best song on the album, not for music construction, but for personal connection. Like too many people, my childhood and even young adulthood, was hard. It is so easy to fall into the past, to let yesterday affect today. “Present Tense” is so simply stated, yet so true. Live today.
“I’m open” may be the saddest song ever. How many people have exchanged magic for fact? I like how the song doesn’t let you know if he got out of the room. It leaves you there with him creating a new self, but does he get up? Or does he just live a new life in his mind?
Side Notes: One of the pictures on the cover is cool for me; on the back second row from the bottom is the “Deep” dial picture, which also has “Oct 2” in different forms. That’s my birthday. One of those personal cool things that nobody else thinks is cool (Smile).
Also, I love the CD package concepts that PJ comes up with. I like MP3, but I love to have the whole package with most music. The liner notes, the lyrics, the pictures, stuff like that.

See you Monday...

eddies grrl

I think No Code is overall their best album, though Vs. still rocks the hardest for me. But "artistically" and "experimentally", No Code is the shit.

jboelhow

First thoughts on Yield: Sad. Not the weeping, tissue soggy, heart all in pieces, kind of sad. But that look in the mirror, see what you truly are, and what you have done in this life sad.
Of course the saddest song may be “Given to Fly”, “He floated back down 'cause he wanted to share/His key to the locks on the chains he saw everywhere/But first he was stripped and then he was stabbed/By faceless men, well, f****s/He still stands” In true PJ form there is always that moment of standing up for yourself. Ironically, last week in class we were discussing how people won’t let people shine, how we have to bring people down. It is hard for us to see people “fly”. (We were reading the short story “Flowers for Algernon”)
“Do the Evolution” is a wake up call to everyone, and does well in conjunction with “Faithfull”. Maybe we are the ones who have built that box that keeps us in fear? There is a political/human nature/ what the hell are we doing vibe with many of these songs, “Brain of J”, “Red Dot”, “Pilate” (which is an interesting song, about the relationship of power and devotion, this song has me thinking and researching a little of Pilate’s life)
A few songs are just sad, “All Those Yesterdays”, “In Hiding”, and “Low Light”. For what ever reason “Low Light” just hit me this morning. I want to hit the previous button on this song, but I couldn’t if I wanted to listen to the whole album. But I will listen to it a couple of times on the way home.

jboelhow

First thoughts on Binaural: Solid album. It is hard to come up with anything else, except for a touch of spiritual undertones. Even with the first song “breakerfall”, which by the way is a great opening song. It sets the mood, musically and lyrically. But the bold statement of the power of love sets the mind that these songs are exploring more than just pain, but wants us to find a greater force. Be it God, Love, Humanity, what ever you, as the listener, want to label it.
Of course, there is “god’s dice”, which battles the premises of why we live. Do we have control? Is the day we live today out of our hands? “soon forget” is along those same lines. Of course the man in the song chooses money over love, but the line “he's living a day he'll soon forget” hold true for us. In “god’s dice” we have the line “ah days like frame by frame, where do they go?” As I write I start to see that many of these songs deal with the spiritual side of our everyday life. “of the girl”, “slight of hand”, I can see why this CD was named Binaural; it was made to be listen with headphones on. You with the music, you with your thoughts, a path to travel in your own discovery of life, with PJ as your guide of course.
Side note: I’m really starting to enjoy those “odd” songs, like “soon forget”, “bugs”, etc. At first listen, you wonder “what the…” but as I’ve listened over these couple of weeks, these songs are like a sour candy that at first makes your face all scrunched-up, but yet you love the taste.

jboelhow

First thoughts on Riot Act: A musical Journal. This album is almost completely first person. It is a rich in subject matter, again the music and lyrics cover a nice range of topics and sounds. It is a different album from the rest because of the absence of songs that have a “story” or character sketch. Which I feel PJ is at their best when they construct those songs. “Jeremy”, “Daughter”, “Breakerfull”, etc. I did miss hearing a song like that this morning. But that is what PJ does so well, they are true to their music, and express their music for what it is at the time. They do not try to do what has worked before, to live on past accomplishments. I suppose just like me, we are living and their music expresses life as it is for them now.
This is a good album; “I am mine” is poetic. “Ghost” is eerie, makes a strong statement of loneliness, or disconnection from the reality Pop Culture creates. I have decide to have “Thumbing my way” played at my funeral. I honestly got teary eyed this morning during this song.
This has been fun. For anyone who read me morning rants, thanks. If you get the chance to just sit down and listen, listen with a purpose, enjoy!!!

Tama

I found it really interesting to read your takes on all of the albums. It seems to me that Pearl Jam albums just grow on you. I've been listening to Pearl Jam for about 12 years. The first song I fell in love with was Elderly Woman... When I saw them play that in concert, I was so excited. So, that's my Pearl Jam background.
I just wanted to comment on Thumbing My Way (which I first heard in concert, and was wonderful). I like how this song can have different interpretations. "Heaven" can literally be the place where we go when we die. To me "heaven" is someone he's missing and wants to go back to... but maybe it's too late. Either way, the song is sad.
Anyway, good job on your reviews of the albums!

jboelhow

Thanks for the complement Tama. I agree that "heaven" is wide open to interpretation with "Thumbing my way", I think for the song it is being with that person.

KCPJFan

No Code is their best album......no diggity....no doubt.....

jboelhow

Bonus CDs: First thoughts on Apple, by Mother Love Bone: Great driving CD. You got over an hour drive, put this CD in. There is such a unique mix of fun and serious lyrics that you sing along to, then go “wow, what a great line,” then get back to singing. Best song to sing along with “Stargod Champion”. This one will get you stared at by other drivers.
Of course, “Crown of Thorns” is a poetic song. The CD Apple does not have the famous “Chloe Dance/Crown of Thorns” mix. Still, Wood’s simple yet emotional delivery is perfect.
Gossard and Ament are great on this CD. The musical compositions are easy to follow, yet sound so elegant, so involved. I don’t advise this when driving, but you can easily close your eyes and let the music move you.

Nothingbetter

Thanks for sharing, jb. It was nice to read your take on the CD's. I just hope you weren't writing while driving

jboelhow

Bonus Bonus: First thoughts on Temple of the Dog’s self-titled CD: Heavy, like your big brother sitting on your chest treating you like a typewriter. First off, I never got into Soundgarden. They have good songs and stuff, but for me I never really liked them. Therefore, this is not one of my favorite albums. It is hard to get through. “Reach Down” runs 11:11, the music is good, I can get into it, but with this whole CD the song seems to long.
“Hungry”, obviously, is a song that highlights Eddie and Chris’s vocals. At the end when they are mixed, beautiful. “Pushing Forward Back” is a great rebellion song. “Say Hello 2 Heaven” is a wonderful tribute to Andrew Wood.
The one song I do not like is “All Night Long”. This may be the worse sex song ever. Lyrically and musically. “And If it doesn’t begin/ Don’t worry that I’ll take offense” added to the melancholy musical composition, it grates on me. I guess I like my songs more upbeat when the subject matter is the possibility of spending the night with someone.

jboelhow

Your welcome Nothingbetter. It has been fun. Writing while driving, not complete sentences I don't.

MoonlightDrive81

cool interpretations. you really got me thinking about no code.

jboelhow

MoonlightDrive81, thanks. I've been rearranging the order of PJ's albums in my head/heart. Ten was my number one CD if anyone ever asked, but now I don't know, No Code has a deep theme running through it, and right now I'm into it lyrically.
Let me/us know what you hear when you listen to it.

LeaderOfMen

I dont disagree with any interpretation that youve made, or any dislikes of this album. I would have to say that this album is amazing in every single way, every single song. All night thing is the best "sex" song, in my opinion.

jboelhow

LeaderOfMen, thanks for taking the time to read my opinion. The beauty of music is the ability for it to affect people in different ways. I knew people would disagree with my interpretations. It's cool that you voiced yours.

christmas clean

Thanks for sharing.
Whenever I do an 'album-a-thon' I always feel really drained afterwards. Thinking back over my life since 1990 it pretty emotional as it is for every one I suppose. Ten to me is a very dark album and also reflects a dark time in my life. I even find it 'painful' to listen to. I have a love / hate relationship with it ha ha.
I was nodding my head to mostly everything you said in general .

jboelhow

christmas clean wrote:

Thanks for sharing.
Whenever I do an 'album-a-thon' I always feel really drained afterwards. Thinking back over my life since 1990 it pretty emotional as it is for every one I suppose. Ten to me is a very dark album and also reflects a dark time in my life. I even find it 'painful' to listen to. I have a love / hate relationship with it ha ha.
I was nodding my head to mostly everything you said in general .

I understand the drain christmas clean. Specially with PJ, or any other band that actually writes intellectual lyrics. It is interesting to go with PJ from "Jeremy" to "Love Boat Captain" though. Ten is deep in the emotional pain area... Thanks for reading my outlooks on the CDs.