Better Band Season 3 VITALOGY

Branden

On the 25th anniversary of the vinyl release of Pearl Jam's Vitalogy, Friday November 22nd, 2019, the Better Band Podcast will begin covering the songs from that album!
New episodes Tuesdays after that, on Apple Podcasts, Google Play, and/or http://betterbandpod.com/...
Thanks for listening!

PB11041

Glorified KC

Hi Branden,

When will you start looking for guests on Season 4?  I’d like to try to get on one of those episodes.

aurelgugus

And season 5! Maybe I could steal the opening track from @Sobelberg8

Sobelberg8

If you want Sometimes, have it. I’ll take Hail Hail. There’s zero chance anyone else is getting Brain Of J although there’s no major in depth conversation to be had about it, basically a gush fest

aurelgugus

Sobelberg8 said:

If you want Sometimes, have it. I’ll take Hail Hail. There’s zero chance anyone else is getting Brain Of J although there’s no major in depth conversation to be had about it, basically a gush fest

My bad, I was thinking of season 6.

Branden

The Better Band Podcast - Season Three Introduction <>

Vitalogy was released on vinyl on November 22, 1994, making this the 25th anniversary! Join us as we take a look at what makes this one of Pearl Jam’s most popular and strangest albums…
This holiday season, please consider visiting https://www.feedingamerica.org/ to find your local food bank and embody the spirit of community that this band inspires.

Branden

The Better Band Podcast - Last Exit (S3.Ep1)

We begin Season 3 with good ole reliable Randy Sobel from the Live On 4 Legs Podcast (https://www.patreon.com/liveon4legs). Join us as we try to stay on topic as we discuss the Vitalogy opener “Last Exit,” Spinal Tap, and Rocko’s Modern Life…

Branden

The Better Band Podcast - Spin The Black Circle (S3.Ep2)

Just in time for Record Store Day Black Friday, Ryan Bauer returns, and we try to stay on topic while discussing Pearl Jam’s love letter to vinyl records “Spin The Black Circle,” Pringles, and moshing…

Branden

The Better Band Podcast - Not For You (S3.Ep3)

Our guest this episode, Kevin Lessard, joins us for a look at Pearl Jam’s Gen X disaffected youth anthem “Not For You,” capitalism, and German pop music…

PB11041

Branden said:

The Better Band Podcast - Not For You (S3.Ep3)

Our guest this episode, Kevin Lessard, joins us for a look at Pearl Jam’s Gen X disaffected youth anthem “Not For You,” capitalism, and German pop music…

Always took the Muhammed reference to be directed at Ali and his liking for this particular poem (videos below)

Truth

This poem, a favorite of Ali's, is attributed to Inayat Khan, an early 20th Century founder of the Sufi Order.

TRUTH

The face of truth is open,
The eyes of truth are bright,
The lips of truth are ever closed,
The head of truth is upright.

The breast of truth stands forward,
The gaze of truth is straight,
Truth has neither fear nor doubt,
Truth has patience to wait.

The words of truth are touching,
The voice of truth is deep,
The law of truth is simple:
All that you sow you reap.

The soul of truth is flaming,
The heart of truth is warm,
The mind of truth is clear,
And firm through rain or storm.

Facts are but its shadows,
Truth stands above all sin;
Great be the battle in life,
Truth in the end shall win.

The image of truth is Christ, (posters note, Ali changes the reference to Muhammed in at least one of his readings on TV)
Wisdom's message its rod;
Sign of truth is the cross,
Soul of truth is God.

Life of truth is eternal,
Immortal is its past,
Power of truth will endure,
Truth shall hold to the last.

https://www.cleveland.com/sports/2016/06/the_poetry_of_muhammad_ali_in.html

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=USkZ6HvH4iI (he clearly lies here and attributes it to himself)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sVMdVkONn4U (changes the religious references here)

Branden

The Better Band Podcast - Nothingman (S3.Ep4)

*CW: Domestic Abuse, Mental Health Issues*
We invite first time guest, Andrew Plath, onto the podcast to break down the song “Nothingman,” cilantro, and mythology…

Glorified KC

Is there going to be a Tremor Christ episode?

Branden

cdthomas1981 said:

Is there going to be a Tremor Christ episode?

Yes. There have just been some scheduling conflicts, so I wasn't able to get it recorded in time to place it between Not For You & Nothingman... There's also going to be some more skipping around the tracks before we're done with the album, but don't worry, I'm getting them all in there.

FlyTheW2016

Branden said:

The Better Band Podcast - Nothingman (S3.Ep4)

*CW: Domestic Abuse, Mental Health Issues*
We invite first time guest, Andrew Plath, onto the podcast to break down the song “Nothingman,” cilantro, and mythology…

Thanks for having me on Branden! I had a great time. And you're a legend for including that last man clip in the show notes 👍

Branden

The Better Band Podcast - Whipping (S3.Ep5)

Brett returns to finish up Side A/Division One and talk up another one of Pearl Jam’s hard hitting numbers “Whipping,” food banks, and make wild interpretations of the song.

Branden

The Better Band Podcast - Pry, To (S3.Ep6)

Somehow, we are able to spend almost fifteen minutes with guest, Emily Dunster, talking about VITALOGY interlude “Pry, To,” secret messages, and Lady Gaga…

Branden

The Better Band Podcast - Stupid Mop (S3.Ep7)

*CW: Depictions of Mental Illness*
Happy New Year! We skip to the end of VITALOGY real quick with guest Kevin Lessard, to figure out what’s goin on in Jack Iron’s debut with Pearl Jam, “Stupid Mop,” is “exploitainment” a word, and why are hot dogs so good?…

Branden

The Better Band Podcast - Corduroy (S3.Ep8)

If given an infinite supply of monkeys playing an infinite number of guitars, could they approach the majesty of Pearl Jam’s “Corduroy?” My guest, Patrick Boegel (Live On 4 Legs podcast), and I ponder that, stuffed bears, and difficult spellings.

Sign up to be a guest on an upcoming NO CODE or YIELD episode: https://forms.gle/v1mTmFbNpS3y5y5c9

References:
Hi-5 Sports: https://www.hi5sports.org/
Wildwood School: http://www.wildwoodschoolsite.com/
Studio 360 - “The Grunge Speak Hoax”: https://www.pri.org/

Who I Am

Baltimore

Branden

The Better Band Podcast - Bugs (S3.Ep9)

How much can one say about the Pearl Jam song “Bugs?” Join John Farrar (Live On 4 Legs podcast - https://soundcloud.com/liveon4legs) and I as we try to stay on topic, eat Paleo, and have a Spanish lesson.

References:
A Statistical Analysis of Pearl Jam Fandom:

 https://youtu.be/OEQAfUpp5p0
Live On 4 Legs #8:

Sign up to be a guest on an upcoming NO CODE or YIELD episode: https://forms.gle/v1mTmFbNpS3y5y5c9

Branden

The Better Band Podcast - Satan's Bed (S3.Ep10)

We’ve got Eddie Quintana back with us to talk about the VITALOGY deep cut, “Satan’s Bed,” ripping-off songs, and being super cool in school plays…

There are still plenty of songs from NO CODE & YIELD to cover if you wish to be an upcoming guest: https://forms.gle/v1mTmFbNpS3y5y5c9

Branden

The Better Band Podcast - Aye Davanita (S3.Ep11)

It’s another interlude track from VITALOGY, where guest Matt Massey joins us to spread the message: Be nice, Chicago!…

There are still plenty of songs from NO CODE & YIELD to cover if you wish to be an upcoming guest: https://forms.gle/v1mTmFbNpS3y5y5c9

Branden

The Better Band Podcast - I Got Id (S3.Ep12)

We take a break from Vitalogy to join Kate Cotton from The Porch Podcast ( https://www.facebook.com/pjporchpodcast/ ) in breaking down “I Got Shit,” the first song from the two song EP(?) MERKINBALL, the feels, and world travel…

There are still plenty of songs from NO CODE & YIELD to cover if you wish to be an upcoming guest: https://forms.gle/v1mTmFbNpS3y5y5c9

Branden

The Better Band Podcast - Swallow My Pride (S3.Ep13)

The Green River reunion track from the 1995 Fan Club Single, “Swallow My Pride” is discussed with someone who was there, Bob Remington (https://www.steamieweenie.com/). We also get into puppet shows, jazz, and the Summer Of Love…

YouTube Playlist: https://www.youtube.com/embed/videoseries?list=PLrdQLt_J8oECRABQNMzHSEoG7FdSn9VCF

I'm still looking for guests to talk about songs from NO CODE & YIELD for those wanting to throw their hats into the ring: https://forms.gle/v1mTmFbNpS3y5y5c9

Branden

Long Road (S3.Ep14) - https://shoutengine.com/TheBetterBandPodcast/long-road-s3ep14-92028

For side 2 of the MERKIN BALL single/EP, John Farrar (Live On 4 Legs podcast - https://soundcloud.com/liveon4legs) returns to guide us down the “Long Road,” shout-out teachers, and in a Better Band Podcast First: bust out guitars…

YouTube Playlist: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLrdQLt_J8oEDsdC6eeuV5if1KhQkVf8eH 

I'm always looking for new people to talk to, so if lock-down has got you feeling stir crazy, then let's talk some Pearl Jam! https://forms.gle/v1mTmFbNpS3y5y5c9

Branden

Immortality (S3.Ep15) - https://shoutengine.com/TheBetterBandPodcast/immortality-s3ep15-92228

*CW: Suicide*
We return to proper VITALOGY tracks with Harry Geyer (Listen Up!; Woah Woah What podcasts), to find out how he realized the power of “Immortality,” sweat, and the Roman numeral V…

YouTube Playlist: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLrdQLt_J8oEDJYPMGVztSPWxqXDa2deRb 

References:
LA Times - “All Revved Up” (transcription): http://www.fivehorizons.com/archive/articles/la112094.shtml 
PJ Stat Tracker iOS: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/pj-stat-tracker-unofficial/id459679953 
Boston Garden, 4-11-1994: https://archive.org/details/Pearl_Jam_Bootleg_1994-04-11

Branden

Tremor Christ (S3.Ep16) - https://shoutengine.com/TheBetterBandPodcast/tremor-christ-s3ep16-92406
We welcome guest Deb McMurtrey to the show to talk about that old children’s tale from the sea “Tremor Christ,” 7th grade dances, and taping songs off the radio…

Branden

Better Man (S3.Ep17) - https://shoutengine.com/TheBetterBandPodcast/better-man-s3ep17-92547

We’ve got good-good boy Joey Goodsir on to talk about Pearl Jam’s pop powerhouse “Better Man,” backyard parties, and Letterman…

References:
Single Podcast Theory, Episode 56 - (Wrigley 2018 "From The Road"): https://singlepodcasttheory.simplecast.com/episodes/a93e6ad3 
David Letterman inducts Pearl Jam into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame: https://youtu.be/l5d3aDdZk1w 
Mixlr: http://mixlr.com/ 

Branden

Out Of My Mind (S3.Ep18) - https://shoutengine.com/TheBetterBandPodcast/out-of-my-mind-s3ep18-92735
How much depth does an improvisational song that has been played four times have? Andrew Plath returns to find that out as we talk “Out Of My Mind,” if Stone is more of a Freak or Geek, and the Devil’s Lettuce…

Branden

Season Three Finale (S3.Ep19) - https://shoutengine.com/TheBetterBandPodcast/season-three-finale-s3ep19-93053
Thanks to everyone that took the time to talk to me about about the VITALOGY era of Pearl Jam!…
Randy Sobel (https://soundcloud.com/liveon4legs)
Ryan Bauer
Kevin Lessard
Andrew Plath
Brett Busconi
Emily Dunster
Patrick Boegel (Live On 4 Legs)
John Farrar (Live On 4 Legs)
Eddie Quintana
Matt Massey
Kate Cotton (https://soundcloud.com/user-174673627)
Bob Remington (https://www.steamieweenie.com/)
Deb McMurtrey
Joey Goodsir