Which album started Pearl Jam's "latter days"

Long RedLong Red Posts: 185
edited April 2020 in The Porch
Was walking around the track at a local school listening to Avocado and it got my brain into the cycle of ranking PJ's latter-day albums...the ones which the band released during the second half of their career.

In my mind, it's always been either Binaural or Riot Act that kicked off this portion of the band's life. And I usually lean toward RA as the beginning. 

It's kind of a pointless thought exercise (what isn't these days), but which album do you think signals the second half of the band's career? Is it Binaural or Riot Act? Or a different album altogether?

***EDIT: btw, "latter days" doesn't mean of a lesser quality. 
Post edited by Long Red on
«1

Comments

  • It’s Avocado for me
  • Ledbetterman10Ledbetterman10 Posts: 16,843
    I'd go with Binaural for a couple reasons...

    -First album of the new millennium (they're a "90's band" after all)
    -First album with Matt Cameron
    -First album without Brendan O'Brien (besides Ten of course)
    -The dawn of the "official bootleg" era

    So that's a lot of change. Seems like a good enough point to separate early days from latter days. 
    2000: Camden 1, 2003: Philly, State College, Camden 1, MSG 2, Hershey, 2004: Reading, 2005: Philly, 2006: Camden 1, 2, East Rutherford 1, 2007: Lollapalooza, 2008: Camden 1, Washington D.C., MSG 1, 2, 2009: Philly 1, 2, 3, 4, 2010: Bristol, MSG 2, 2011: PJ20 1, 2, 2012: Made In America, 2013: Brooklyn 2, Philly 2, 2014: Denver, 2015: Global Citizen Festival, 2016: Philly 2, Fenway 1, 2018: Fenway 1, 2, 2021: Sea. Hear. Now. 2022: Camden, 2024Philly 2

    Pearl Jam bootlegs:
    http://wegotshit.blogspot.com
  • on2legson2legs Standing in the Jersey rain… Posts: 14,946
    Backspacer. 
    1996: Randall's Island 2  1998: East Rutherford | MSG 1 & 2  2000: Cincinnati | Columbus | Jones Beach 1, 2, & 3 | Boston 1 | Camden 1 & 2 2003: Philadelphia | Uniondale | MSG 1 & 2 | Holmdel  2005: Atlantic City 1  2006: Camden 1 | East Rutherford 1 & 2 2008: Camden 1 & 2 | MSG 1 & 2 | Newark (EV)  2009: Philadelphia 1, 2 & 4  2010: Newark | MSG 1 & 2  2011: Toronto 1  2013: Wrigley Field | Brooklyn 2 | Philadelphia 1 & 2 | Baltimore  2015: Central Park  2016: Philadelphia 1 & 2 | MSG 1 & 2 | Fenway Park 2 | MSG (TOTD)  2017: Brooklyn (RnR HOF)  2020: MSG | Asbury Park  2021: Asbury Park  2022: MSG | Camden | Nashville  2024: MSG 1 & 2 (#50) | Philadelphia 1 & 2 | Baltimore


  • DM282158DM282158 Posts: 542
    I’d say Riot Act. First one post-Roskilde. 
    Boston '06
    Mansfield '08
    Hartford '10
    Worcester, Hartford '13
    Global Citizen, NY '15
  • cutzcutz Posts: 11,770
    TBD ?
  • RiotZactRiotZact Posts: 6,240
    I'd go with Binaural for a couple reasons...

    -First album of the new millennium (they're a "90's band" after all)
    -First album with Matt Cameron
    -First album without Brendan O'Brien (besides Ten of course)
    -The dawn of the "official bootleg" era

    So that's a lot of change. Seems like a good enough point to separate early days from latter days. 
    I agree completely, and that’s far from an insult because it’s my second favorite album of all time. I would also add that this is the first album that a healthy percentage of most crowds couldn’t name a single song off of. 
  • hrd2imgnhrd2imgn Posts: 4,895
    DM282158 said:
    I’d say Riot Act. First one post-Roskilde. 
    This, I feel their careers changed after that.  I also feel it was the first with Matt without major shit going on in half the bands lives
  • static111static111 Posts: 4,889
    on2legs said:
    Backspacer. 
    Agreed
    Scio me nihil scire

    There are no kings inside the gates of eden
  • ZodZod Posts: 10,524
    I don't really feel it's in half.  I feel likes it's in thirds.  Ten to Yield, Binaural to Avacado, and Backspacer to Gigaton


  • tusevuntusevun Posts: 231
    Backspacer til now has produced the majority of terrible songs this band has created. Probably 95%
  • nycratsnycrats Posts: 1,351
    Zod said:
    I don't really feel it's in half.  I feel likes it's in thirds.  Ten to Yield, Binaural to Avacado, and Backspacer to Gigaton


    I completely agree with this

    if I had to break it into halves, it’s gotta be avocado. Something about the media blitz they did and all the promos (aol interview performances etc) they seemed so....happy and easy going as opposed to always pissed off. Then backspacer had target commercials..
    '98: Camden 1 '00: JB2 '03: MSG1 '04: Boston 1 '05: AC1
    '06: Irving Plaza, East Rutherford 1 & 2 '07: Lolla '08: Camden 2, MSG2, Beacon
    '09 :Philly 1 & 2 '10: Buffalo, Newark, MSG1, MSG2
    '11: PJ20 1 & 2 '12: Missoula '13: Wrigley, BK2, Philly 1 & 2, Hartford
    '14: Ams 1 & 2, Cincy, St Louis, Detroit, Moline '15: Central Park
    '16 Philly 1 & 2, MSG 1 & 2, Toronto 1 & 2, Fenway 1, Wrigley 1
    '17 Brooklyn hall of fame ‘18 Fenway 1 '21 Jersey Shore '22 MSG  '24: MSG1, MSG2
  • Avocado is when I felt a change.   The time between Backspacer and Lightning Bolt is where I started to see a change from band to business.    
    Like a word misplaced...nothing said...what a waste
  • Long RedLong Red Posts: 185
    tusevun said:
    Backspacer til now has produced the majority of terrible songs this band has created. Probably 95%
    You're missing the point of this thought exercise. 
  • TheGossmanTheGossman Posts: 1,120
    Backspacer for me.  
    9/4/98, 8/4/00, 12/8/02, 12/9/02, 4/15/03, 4/16/03, 4/19/03, 4/25/03, 4/26/03, 4/28/03, 4/29/03, 4/30/03, 7/8/03, 7/9/03, 9/28/04, 9/29/04, 10/6/04, 9/1/05, 9/2/05, 5/16/06, 5/17/06, 5/27/06, 5/28/06, 5/30/06, 6/1/06, 6/3/06, 8/5/07, 6/11/08, 6/12/08, 6/14/08, 6/16/08, 6/24/08, 6/25/08
  • Tim SimmonsTim Simmons Posts: 7,716
    s/t

    first album with the longest break between records. Their first on their own. When they came back, to me, they just felt different than anything before. 
  • NewJPageNewJPage Posts: 3,309
    Avocado is when I felt a change.   The time between Backspacer and Lightning Bolt is where I started to see a change from band to business.    
    yep
    6/26/98, 8/17/00, 10/8/00, 12/8/02, 12/9/02, 4/25/03, 5/28/03, 6/1/03, 6/3/03, 6/5/03, 6/6/03, 6/12/03, 6/13/03, 6/15/03, 6/18/03, 6/21/03, 6/22/03, 7/12/03, 7/14/03, 10/3/04, 10/5/04, 9/9/05, 9/11/05, 9/16/05, 5/16/06, 5/17/06, 5/19/06, 6/30/06, 7/23/06, 8/5/07, 6/30/08, 8/23/09, 8/24/09, 5/4/10, 5/7/10, 9/3/11, 9/4/11, 10/11/13, 10/17/14, 8/20/16
  • ceskaceska Posts: 1,115
    Ten through Yield = Peak PJ
    Riot Act and Binaural = Really good albums, but not quite Top 5 material.
    Avocado, onwards = Everything after

    I'll take Backspace and Gigaton over Avocado and Lightning Bolt, as far as albums I listen to all the way through in one sitting..
  • Of The AggieOf The Aggie The ATX Posts: 1,528
    Binaural...first album I really didn't care for after first listen and still really don't like it very much
  • Long RedLong Red Posts: 185
    Binaural...first album I really didn't care for after first listen and still really don't like it very much
    Guys, guys, guys....

    "Latter day albums" does not mean "the albums I don't like for personal reasons."

    This is about the album that marks a shift in the band's approach to personal expression, as perceived by you, the listener. A change in tone, a change in promotion, a change in overall aesthetic, a growth or maturity. 
  • Avocado. First album on the new label. More promotion. A lot more TV. Felt different. Plus after, and including Avocado, is there weakest work (Except for Gigaton).
  • rider10rider10 Posts: 41
    I see Pearl jam as having 3 distinct Eras. 

    1. Ten through Yield

    2. Binaural through Self Titled

    3. Backspacer through Gigaton

    So to answer your Question I see Backspacer as the beginning of their latter era.
  • hrd2imgnhrd2imgn Posts: 4,895
    edited April 2020
    Long Red said:
    Binaural...first album I really didn't care for after first listen and still really don't like it very much
    Guys, guys, guys....

    "Latter day albums" does not mean "the albums I don't like for personal reasons."

    This is about the album that marks a shift in the band's approach to personal expression, as perceived by you, the listener. A change in tone, a change in promotion, a change in overall aesthetic, a growth or maturity. 
    Then we are talking Viltology, first Ed dominated record

     Then it would be No Code

    Then again on Binaural

    Later again with Avocado, also known as Avacado. Start of the faux punk

    Then again on Bacspacer

    Then once more on LB

    This band has never been the same since Stone and Jeff sort of gave it over to ED
    Post edited by hrd2imgn on
  • Avacado
    5-28-06
    6-20-08
    10-27-09
    10-28-09
    5-21-10
    4-28-16
  • LCLC Posts: 278
    Avocado.  Live shows changed in 2006 as well.....hard to describe but the vibe was just different.
    8-29-00 Mansfield, 6-29-03 Montreal, 7-2-03 Mansfield, 7-3-03 Mansfield, 7-11-03, Mansfield, 9-28-04 Boston, 9-29-04 Boston, 10-8-04 Kissimmee, 9-15-05 Montreal, 9-16-05 Ottawa, 5-12-06 Albany, 5-13-06 Hartford, 5-24-06 Boston, 5-25-06 Boston, 6-28-08, Mansfield, 6-30-08 Mansfield, 5-15-10 Hartford, 5-17-10 Boston, 7-19-13 Chicago, 10-15-13 Worcester, 5-2-16 New York City, 8-5-16 Boston, 8-7-16 Boston
    EV- 2008, 2011 Boston
  • mcgruff10mcgruff10 Posts: 28,397
    edited April 2020
    The cash grab of 2013 when we went from reserved to ga on the floor.  The vibe of the shows completely changed imo.  GA was a competition now; how long can you line up for?  I saw fans leave before the end of brooklyn 1 in order to line up for brooklyn 2.  Merch was now more important then the show.  People lining up for hours to get a t-shirt or a $2 sticker?!  Um excuse me, what?
    Setlists became a lot more predictable.  Songs didn't really change as much (look at porch 2006 compared to a porch from 13-18, the 13-18 is the same).  Tags were the same.  Yeah we got a couple of new covers but a 2013 pj show was pretty much the same in 2018.  So I guess it was LB for me.  
    Post edited by mcgruff10 on
    I'll ride the wave where it takes me......
  • mysticweedmysticweed Posts: 3,710
    on2legs said:
    Backspacer. 

    Yeah, to me about half of backspacer bLEW. LB and GT are better than that but (and I can hear the groans now) to me nothing will ever compare to ten and vs
    fuck 'em if they can't take a joke

    "what a long, strange trip it's been"
  • mcgruff10 said:
    The cash grab of 2013 when we went from reserved to ga on the floor.  The vibe of the shows completely changed imo.  GA was a competition now; how long can you line up for?  I saw fans leave before the end of brooklyn 1 in order to line up for brooklyn 2.  Merch was now more important then the show.  People lining up for hours to get a t-shirt or a $2 sticker?!  Um excuse me, what?
    Setlists became a lot more predictable.  Songs didn't really change as much (look at porch 2006 compared to a porch from 13-18, the 13-18 is the same).  Tags were the same.  Yeah we got a couple of new covers but a 2013 pj show was pretty much the same in 2018.  So I guess it was LB for me.  
    :) "The cash grab of 2013"   Haha!   It's true and they definitely took notice; been playing that game ever since.   The sad this is, the merch has gotten cheaper and cheaper every year.   2013 hats, pennants and shirts were decent quality....in 2018 that crap felt like traveling carnival quality merch.         
    Like a word misplaced...nothing said...what a waste
  • BettrMan21BettrMan21 Posts: 278
    Backspacer was when it felt like they'd moved into a different phase of their careers.
  • hrd2imgn said:
    Long Red said:
    Binaural...first album I really didn't care for after first listen and still really don't like it very much
    Guys, guys, guys....

    "Latter day albums" does not mean "the albums I don't like for personal reasons."

    This is about the album that marks a shift in the band's approach to personal expression, as perceived by you, the listener. A change in tone, a change in promotion, a change in overall aesthetic, a growth or maturity. 
    Then we are talking Viltology, first Ed dominated record

     Then it would be No Code

    Then again on Binaural

    Later again with Avocado, also known as Avacado. Start of the faux punk

    Then again on Bacspacer

    Then once more on LB

    This band has never been the same since Stone and Jeff sort of gave it over to ED


    "This band has never been the same since Stone and Jeff sort of gave it over to ED"
    Absolutely agreed. That's not always a bad thing, cuz Ed can write a fucking song, but it has felt more like Eddie Vedder featuring Pearl Jam lately. At least they still are out there rocking for us and themselves.

    I think the shift to "latter days" began with Backspacer.




    Lollapalooza 1992 Mansfield MA
    STL 2014
    Wrigley Aug 20th 2016
    St Louis 2022

    I'm a lucky man to count on both hands the ones I love.
  • The JugglerThe Juggler Posts: 48,527
    edited April 2020
    RiotZact said:
    I'd go with Binaural for a couple reasons...

    -First album of the new millennium (they're a "90's band" after all)
    -First album with Matt Cameron
    -First album without Brendan O'Brien (besides Ten of course)
    -The dawn of the "official bootleg" era

    So that's a lot of change. Seems like a good enough point to separate early days from latter days. 
    I agree completely, and that’s far from an insult because it’s my second favorite album of all time. I would also add that this is the first album that a healthy percentage of most crowds couldn’t name a single song off of. 
    Yeah this would be a good indicator. 

    To me it seems like they kind of have three eras: the 90's, most of the early 2000's and then post Backspacer.......which all neatly fit into three separate decades. Hopefully this next decade is better than the last one (off to a great start IMO)!
    Post edited by The Juggler on
    www.myspace.com
Sign In or Register to comment.