Every Pearl Jam Album, Ranked

darthvedder

https://www.spin.com/2019/11/pearl-jam-albums-ranked/

mcgruff10

I agree with this list.  Overall Pretty solid.

bootlegger10

These articles are interesting.  It is always neat to see how other people approach lists.  Typically, when I put a list together I want it to be correct.  They have taken a different approach. 

Sorry Yield fans, it is not number 1.   I hope that Stone Gossard finds you all and punches you in the mouth.   Stone writes two gems in Ten and Vs.

Backspacer at number 5 or 6 is pretty bad.

F Me In The Brain

I like that he put RA and Binaural near the bottom.  Don't like that No Code is where it is but the first 5 are, well, the best 5....no matter how you sort them.  Depending on the day I could agree with this sorting.

PureandEasy

I will "re-post" what I put in the song ranking post . . .   Music is different to each person.  There will never be an end to the argument of best ever anything when it comes to art.  What needs to end is the argument itself.  It's subjective and as long as it touches you emotionally, that's all that matters.  Your opinion is as good as the opinion of the person next to you.  

That being said, Binaural is my favorite PJ album.  

elderman

Yield and No Code keep switching places as my #1 album.

Kevinman

elderman said:

Yield and No Code keep switching places as my #1 album.

Same here.

brianlux

I only got as far as "Riot Act... our least favorite."

bootlegger10

There should be two lists.  One being personal favorite and one being objective favorite.  

Objectively only Ten or Vs. can have the top spot.  

Personally anyone can have their favorite.

pearljammr78

the cringe-worthy track “Mankind,” which, regrettably, features guitarist Stone Gossard on lead vocals.

Don’t agree with the list or most of the other stuff that is written. But that is gospel. Cringe worthy. 😂😂😂

rummy

bootlegger10 said:

There should be two lists.  One being personal favorite and one being objective favorite.  

Objectively only Ten or Vs. can have the top spot.  

Personally anyone can have their favorite.

I ... agree. 

mookeywrench

But on “Sirens,” the guys tear it up, doing their best to channel the Dead Kennedys.

That's sarcasm, right? 

brianlux

bootlegger10 said:

There should be two lists.  One being personal favorite and one being objective favorite.  

Objectively only Ten or Vs. can have the top spot.  

Personally anyone can have their favorite.

Good idea, but what is objective about Ten or Vs as the top spots?  Sales?  Number of songs played live?  Number of YouTube hits?  Those are certainly indicators of popularity, but is the most popular necessarily the best?  And what exactly makes a record the "best"?

What I'm getting at is that I'm not sure there can be an objective "best" because there are always going to be differing perspectives on what the criteria are for being "objective".  A song writer might see middle period albums more fitting as objectively best because the songs are generally more sophisticated both structurally and lyrically.  Or a records producer might say a later album is objectively best because it has more or less compression or is a more sonically balanced recording.  What is objective within those parameters varies because of varying perspectives. 

So what I'm trying to get at is that "objective" is hard to define in terms of what make a certain record the "best" record.

PB11041

I took a dump better than the writing on this list.

Gern Blansten

darthvedder said:

https://www.spin.com/2019/11/pearl-jam-albums-ranked/

so fucked up....ranking riot act below backspacer is just not possible in any way, shape or form

F Me In The Brain

Gern Blansten said:

darthvedder said:

https://www.spin.com/2019/11/pearl-jam-albums-ranked/

so fucked up....ranking riot act below backspacer is just not possible in any way, shape or form

Sure it is.  The person is speaking for what they like.

I agree, in the basic ranking of Riot Act below Backspacer.

Could write an entire article myself, on what Backspacer means to me and why it does so...based on so many factors going on in my life when it came out.

Riot Act, for some of those same reasons, does not carry the same weight for me.  There are 3-4 songs that I absolutely love on Riot Act, but that does not add up to more than Backspacer.

Why does anyone think that their estimation of what record is better is any more meaningful than another person's?

That shit makes me laugh. 

Clearly I recognize that I am in the minority -- the vast minority -- and I am perfectly fine with that. 

mcgruff10

F Me In The Brain said:

Gern Blansten said:

darthvedder said:

https://www.spin.com/2019/11/pearl-jam-albums-ranked/

so fucked up....ranking riot act below backspacer is just not possible in any way, shape or form

Sure it is.  The person is speaking for what they like.

I agree, in the basic ranking of Riot Act below Backspacer.

Could write an entire article myself, on what Backspacer means to me and why it does so...based on so many factors going on in my life when it came out.

Riot Act, for some of those same reasons, does not carry the same weight for me.  There are 3-4 songs that I absolutely love on Riot Act, but that does not add up to more than Backspacer.

Why does anyone think that their estimation of what record is better is any more meaningful than another person's?

That shit makes me laugh. 

Clearly I recognize that I am in the minority -- the vast minority -- and I am perfectly fine with that. 

I actually agree with you, could be a jersey thing.

F Me In The Brain

mcgruff10 said:

F Me In The Brain said:

Gern Blansten said:

darthvedder said:

https://www.spin.com/2019/11/pearl-jam-albums-ranked/

so fucked up....ranking riot act below backspacer is just not possible in any way, shape or form

Sure it is.  The person is speaking for what they like.

I agree, in the basic ranking of Riot Act below Backspacer.

Could write an entire article myself, on what Backspacer means to me and why it does so...based on so many factors going on in my life when it came out.

Riot Act, for some of those same reasons, does not carry the same weight for me.  There are 3-4 songs that I absolutely love on Riot Act, but that does not add up to more than Backspacer.

Why does anyone think that their estimation of what record is better is any more meaningful than another person's?

That shit makes me laugh. 

Clearly I recognize that I am in the minority -- the vast minority -- and I am perfectly fine with that. 

I actually agree with you, could be a jersey thing.

I guess my point is that I don't feel the need to tell everyone else what the best music is. 

Heck, I think that Michael Jackson was a total scumbag piece of shit practitioner of pederasty - and I frequently shared this opinion while he was still alive and abusing....and further, I think that his music makes me want to fucking puke.

However, many people find his music to be beautiful and soothing -- to make them feel better about the world.

To each their own. 

I rank Backspacer higher than Riot Act, and I refuse to support pederasty. 

Some have differing opinions.

bootlegger10

mcgruff10 said:

F Me In The Brain said:

Gern Blansten said:

darthvedder said:

https://www.spin.com/2019/11/pearl-jam-albums-ranked/

so fucked up....ranking riot act below backspacer is just not possible in any way, shape or form

Sure it is.  The person is speaking for what they like.

I agree, in the basic ranking of Riot Act below Backspacer.

Could write an entire article myself, on what Backspacer means to me and why it does so...based on so many factors going on in my life when it came out.

Riot Act, for some of those same reasons, does not carry the same weight for me.  There are 3-4 songs that I absolutely love on Riot Act, but that does not add up to more than Backspacer.

Why does anyone think that their estimation of what record is better is any more meaningful than another person's?

That shit makes me laugh. 

Clearly I recognize that I am in the minority -- the vast minority -- and I am perfectly fine with that. 

I actually agree with you, could be a jersey thing.

It isn’t a jersey thing.  It is about being objective.    Ten isn’t my favorite album but if the band says at a show they are playing Ten front to back it will get a larger response than telling the crowd they are playing Backspacer in its entirety.

vedpunk

I actually agree with most of the rankings.  I know this is unpopular on this forum but the songs on Backspacer are much more accessible, less skippable and Eddie’s vocals are the best since the turn of the century.

mcgruff10

bootlegger10 said:

mcgruff10 said:

F Me In The Brain said:

Gern Blansten said:

darthvedder said:

https://www.spin.com/2019/11/pearl-jam-albums-ranked/

so fucked up....ranking riot act below backspacer is just not possible in any way, shape or form

Sure it is.  The person is speaking for what they like.

I agree, in the basic ranking of Riot Act below Backspacer.

Could write an entire article myself, on what Backspacer means to me and why it does so...based on so many factors going on in my life when it came out.

Riot Act, for some of those same reasons, does not carry the same weight for me.  There are 3-4 songs that I absolutely love on Riot Act, but that does not add up to more than Backspacer.

Why does anyone think that their estimation of what record is better is any more meaningful than another person's?

That shit makes me laugh. 

Clearly I recognize that I am in the minority -- the vast minority -- and I am perfectly fine with that. 

I actually agree with you, could be a jersey thing.

It isn’t a jersey thing.  It is about being objective.    Ten isn’t my favorite album but if the band says at a show they are playing Ten front to back it will get a larger response than telling the crowd they are playing Backspacer in its entirety.

100% agree with you.  Yield and No code are my two favorite albums but I am thinking there were a lot of bored people in Moline and Milwaukee.   The jersey thing was a joke

bootlegger10

mcgruff10 said:

bootlegger10 said:

mcgruff10 said:

F Me In The Brain said:

Gern Blansten said:

darthvedder said:

https://www.spin.com/2019/11/pearl-jam-albums-ranked/

so fucked up....ranking riot act below backspacer is just not possible in any way, shape or form

Sure it is.  The person is speaking for what they like.

I agree, in the basic ranking of Riot Act below Backspacer.

Could write an entire article myself, on what Backspacer means to me and why it does so...based on so many factors going on in my life when it came out.

Riot Act, for some of those same reasons, does not carry the same weight for me.  There are 3-4 songs that I absolutely love on Riot Act, but that does not add up to more than Backspacer.

Why does anyone think that their estimation of what record is better is any more meaningful than another person's?

That shit makes me laugh. 

Clearly I recognize that I am in the minority -- the vast minority -- and I am perfectly fine with that. 

I actually agree with you, could be a jersey thing.

It isn’t a jersey thing.  It is about being objective.    Ten isn’t my favorite album but if the band says at a show they are playing Ten front to back it will get a larger response than telling the crowd they are playing Backspacer in its entirety.

100% agree with you.  Yield and No code are my two favorite albums but I am thinking there were a lot of bored people in Moline and Milwaukee.   The jersey thing was a joke

Yeah, I am trying to take the personal out of it.  Can people honestly say an album with Alive, Even Flow, Black, Jeremy, Garden, Release, porch, Oceans is not better (objectively) than an album with Just Breath, The Fixer and Amongst the Waves as the standouts?  

Not bashing on Backspacer.   Everyone has their own metrics in how to be objective but I just can’t see where Ten or Vs. doesn’t come out on top.

There is a difference between a best album and favorite album list.

Gern Blansten

bootlegger10 said:

mcgruff10 said:

bootlegger10 said:

mcgruff10 said:

F Me In The Brain said:

Gern Blansten said:

darthvedder said:

https://www.spin.com/2019/11/pearl-jam-albums-ranked/

so fucked up....ranking riot act below backspacer is just not possible in any way, shape or form

Sure it is.  The person is speaking for what they like.

I agree, in the basic ranking of Riot Act below Backspacer.

Could write an entire article myself, on what Backspacer means to me and why it does so...based on so many factors going on in my life when it came out.

Riot Act, for some of those same reasons, does not carry the same weight for me.  There are 3-4 songs that I absolutely love on Riot Act, but that does not add up to more than Backspacer.

Why does anyone think that their estimation of what record is better is any more meaningful than another person's?

That shit makes me laugh. 

Clearly I recognize that I am in the minority -- the vast minority -- and I am perfectly fine with that. 

I actually agree with you, could be a jersey thing.

It isn’t a jersey thing.  It is about being objective.    Ten isn’t my favorite album but if the band says at a show they are playing Ten front to back it will get a larger response than telling the crowd they are playing Backspacer in its entirety.

100% agree with you.  Yield and No code are my two favorite albums but I am thinking there were a lot of bored people in Moline and Milwaukee.   The jersey thing was a joke

Yeah, I am trying to take the personal out of it.  Can people honestly say an album with Alive, Even Flow, Black, Jeremy, Garden, Release, porch, Oceans is not better (objectively) than an album with Just Breath, The Fixer and Amongst the Waves as the standouts?  

Not bashing on Backspacer.   Everyone has their own metrics in how to be objective but I just can’t see where Ten or Vs. doesn’t come out on top.

There is a difference between a best album and favorite album list.

agreed....best vs favorite (article says ranked by their favorites)

I don't care how you rank the albums by favorite.  That is personal.  My daughter says Backspacer is her favorite album because that was likely her first real exposure to PJ.

But, as a guitar player (and amateur drummer) to say BS ranks above Riot Act creatively is just lunacy.

F Me In The Brain

bootlegger10 said:

mcgruff10 said:

F Me In The Brain said:

Gern Blansten said:

darthvedder said:

https://www.spin.com/2019/11/pearl-jam-albums-ranked/

so fucked up....ranking riot act below backspacer is just not possible in any way, shape or form

Sure it is.  The person is speaking for what they like.

I agree, in the basic ranking of Riot Act below Backspacer.

Could write an entire article myself, on what Backspacer means to me and why it does so...based on so many factors going on in my life when it came out.

Riot Act, for some of those same reasons, does not carry the same weight for me.  There are 3-4 songs that I absolutely love on Riot Act, but that does not add up to more than Backspacer.

Why does anyone think that their estimation of what record is better is any more meaningful than another person's?

That shit makes me laugh. 

Clearly I recognize that I am in the minority -- the vast minority -- and I am perfectly fine with that. 

I actually agree with you, could be a jersey thing.

It isn’t a jersey thing.  It is about being objective.    Ten isn’t my favorite album but if the band says at a show they are playing Ten front to back it will get a larger response than telling the crowd they are playing Backspacer in its entirety.

So, is ranking determined by popularity?

Gern Blansten said:

bootlegger10 said:

mcgruff10 said:

bootlegger10 said:

mcgruff10 said:

F Me In The Brain said:

Gern Blansten said:

darthvedder said:

https://www.spin.com/2019/11/pearl-jam-albums-ranked/

so fucked up....ranking riot act below backspacer is just not possible in any way, shape or form

Sure it is.  The person is speaking for what they like.

I agree, in the basic ranking of Riot Act below Backspacer.

Could write an entire article myself, on what Backspacer means to me and why it does so...based on so many factors going on in my life when it came out.

Riot Act, for some of those same reasons, does not carry the same weight for me.  There are 3-4 songs that I absolutely love on Riot Act, but that does not add up to more than Backspacer.

Why does anyone think that their estimation of what record is better is any more meaningful than another person's?

That shit makes me laugh. 

Clearly I recognize that I am in the minority -- the vast minority -- and I am perfectly fine with that. 

I actually agree with you, could be a jersey thing.

It isn’t a jersey thing.  It is about being objective.    Ten isn’t my favorite album but if the band says at a show they are playing Ten front to back it will get a larger response than telling the crowd they are playing Backspacer in its entirety.

100% agree with you.  Yield and No code are my two favorite albums but I am thinking there were a lot of bored people in Moline and Milwaukee.   The jersey thing was a joke

Yeah, I am trying to take the personal out of it.  Can people honestly say an album with Alive, Even Flow, Black, Jeremy, Garden, Release, porch, Oceans is not better (objectively) than an album with Just Breath, The Fixer and Amongst the Waves as the standouts?  

Not bashing on Backspacer.   Everyone has their own metrics in how to be objective but I just can’t see where Ten or Vs. doesn’t come out on top.

There is a difference between a best album and favorite album list.

agreed....best vs favorite (article says ranked by their favorites)

I don't care how you rank the albums by favorite.  That is personal.  My daughter says Backspacer is her favorite album because that was likely her first real exposure to PJ.

But, as a guitar player (and amateur drummer) to say BS ranks above Riot Act creatively is just lunacy.

Or, is ranking determined by musical complexity/creativity?

I think both of those are good reasons for people to make their rankings...but it still represents what they feel are the criteria.

Gern Blansten

Right....I was incorrect in my first post as I was looking at it from a complexity/creativity standpoint.  If ranked by favorite then there is no reason to argue about it.

pearljammr78

mookeywrench said:

But on “Sirens,” the guys tear it up, doing their best to channel the Dead Kennedys.

That's sarcasm, right? 

I believe Mike says that Mind your Manners was a Dead Kennedys tribute in a sense. Sirens is an awesome November Rain tribute. And the writer picks Mind your Manners as the best track. 

DaughterX

I don't think Backspacer's better than Riot Act.

In my opinion it doesn‘t make much sense to rank art like these albums. It always depends on the individual taste in music and the criteria one thinks are important.

PB11041

Certain records are going to strike the heart and mind differently.

I don't care where people rank the records personally, but what does make my brain hurt is the mental gymnastics or weak subjective statements made to crap on a song or record or what have you.