A shift in favorite PJ albums

brianlux

First, a minor confession:  For quite awhile up until about six years ago, Pearl Jam music was in regular rotation in my listening.  Maybe too much so.  I kind of OD'd on Pearl Jam music (I know, for many of you that is impossible, but my tastes vary over time and run pretty wide, so it happened.)  Rather suddenly, all those albums started collecting dust as I moved into other favorites and new finds.

Anyway, a few weeks ago, I figured it was time to get back into spinning some those records again and I noticed something interesting happened: my top three favorites PJ LPs shifted backwards a bit.  My previous top three had been No Code, Yield, and Riot Act.  Listening to all this music, I found Vitalogy took a big leap up to the top, closely followed by No Code and Yield, but Riot Act (an album I staunchly defended for years and still think is great), took a bit of a plunge.  I asked myself, "Why was Vitalogy not higher on my list before?"  Never too late, I guess.

What's shifted for you over the years?

BrainofBGA

Shifted up over time (most notable anyway)
Yield
No Code

Shifted Down:
Gigaton and LB - up until Dark Matter they were probably near my top 5-6) now they’re bottom 2-3. 

Ten - it’s a classic, not whistling Dixie there, but just don’t listen to it and I rank it 5-6 at the moment. Being surpassed by Yield and No Code. 

On a side note Vitalogy has just about been my top 1-2 since I can remember. There’s just something about it. VS - Yield was their most challenging period as a band, they weathered the storm, got through it and made great albums like Riot Act and Avacado. And still make great albums like Dark Matter. 

lastexitlondon

I listen to more 10 than anything really it's just so raw and the tempo of the originals is a groove 

goldrush

In the weeks building up to the Sydney shows, my son and I listened to every PJ album in order - he wanted to listen to songs he’d never heard before, and I was enjoying watching him experience them for the first time.

I wouldn’t say that my rankings or favourites have changed that much, but what I did notice was that my enjoyment of lesser-played albums has increased.

For example, I rarely listen to Vs. I probably overplayed it when it came out, but Vitalogy blew it away and it’s been near the bottom of the pile for me since then. It’s still down there, but I can appreciate how good it is again now (just not as good as the 8 or 9 that are above it!)

Lightning Bolt and, to a certain extent, Ten are others that have been neglected over time that I have really enjoyed again.

someonesbrain

brianlux said:

Listening to all this music, I found Vitalogy took a big leap up to the top, closely followed by No Code.

There's an easy explanation for this shift: these are the best 2 albums they released (in that particular order), ... and you finally noticed it. ;-))

on2legs

For years, Yield was my favorite album.  But within the last few months I’ve slowly realized Vitalogy is my new favorite album.  It’s amazing. 

brianlux

someonesbrain said:

brianlux said:

Listening to all this music, I found Vitalogy took a big leap up to the top, closely followed by No Code.

There's an easy explanation for this shift: these are the best 2 albums they released (in that particular order), ... and you finally noticed it. ;-))

That's kind of how it feels... I finally noticed it.  I'm not sure why it took so long, but it's great to really by into it!

on2legs said:

For years, Yield was my favorite album.  But within the last few months I’ve slowly realized Vitalogy is my new favorite album.  It’s amazing. 

Right!  I think part of what got my focus on Vitalogy going is simply the attention it's gotten due to the alum's 30th Anniversary.  I read about that and thought, "Well what the heck, I should listen to that one, it's been a long time."  And it just hit me how great it is.

Weston1283

Every time I hear Gigaton, I dislike it more.  The first Pearl Jam album that is aging in the wrong direction for me.

It is solidly in the position of my least favorite PJ album.

brianlux

Weston1283 said:

Every time I hear Gigaton, I dislike it more.  The first Pearl Jam album that is aging in the wrong direction for me.

It is solidly in the position of my least favorite PJ album.

I haven't been a fan of any of the last four.  But that's OK because the albums that do work for me are right up there.  And I always figure, even even the never make another album that I like as much as Vitalogy or No Code, they're still one of the best live band out there, now or at any time.  Of all the bands I've seen live, the top three best live in concert for me have been The Jimi Hendrix Experience, and early The Who (both in 1968), and Pearl Jam.  That's pretty good company!

battle1

Weston1283 said:

Every time I hear Gigaton, I dislike it more.  The first Pearl Jam album that is aging in the wrong direction for me.

It is solidly in the position of my least favorite PJ album.

I agree with Weston.  

BF25394

Like a million other people, Ten was the album that made me a Pearl Jam fan, but it has been surpassed by pretty much everything that followed to the point where I don't get all that excited to hear its songs, whether it be live or on the radio. I do still enjoy a good "Release" opener and "Jeremy" is weirdly underplayed.

benlw86

I agree with Gigaton potentially going in the wrong direction. My love of Binaural has strengthened with every listen for 24 years. It is top 3 for me. The songs and audio are stunning. No Code, Yield, Vitalogy get better and better. I loved ST but starting to hear the production frustration.

Dark Matter wowed me. It is staying high. It's an all timer. It's wonderful from front to back.

benlw86

p.s. I seek out Release a lot these days. I think the Utrecht performance is the greatest vocal I have ever heard.

Also. Long Road. I recently bought the Philly 1 boot and stuck it on good quality headphones. I am not shy to say Ed sounds like it's 1992 in that.

KN219077

Weston1283 said:

Every time I hear Gigaton, I dislike it more.  The first Pearl Jam album that is aging in the wrong direction for me.

It is solidly in the position of my least favorite PJ album.

Sadly I agree, lightning bolt and gigaton are kinda falling flat, both have their moments but in general lack the replay draw for me.

KN219077

benlw86 said:

p.s. I seek out Release a lot these days. I think the Utrecht performance is the greatest vocal I have ever heard.

Also. Long Road. I recently bought the Philly 1 boot and stuck it on good quality headphones. I am not shy to say Ed sounds like it's 1992 in that.

That long road is 🔥 and it set the tone that night. I listen to it alot.

dades

I agree about Lightning Bolt, my least favourite PJ album,  Definitely  the least played album from me, the tour shows were amazing though. Followed by Gigaton, to me doesn’t hold a candle to earlier work.Ten brought me here, Alive to be presise.Yield is just a masterpiece, Vitalogy is the  the one I took to the record store to play before I bought a new deck, along with Quadrophenia, Moons drums are just amazing. Dark Matter showed me again what this band can do, and I will forever follow and have great thanks for what they have meant to me and continue to mean to me. I am forever grateful to have had PJ as a huge part of my life. More people need these things 🙏

brianlux

BF25394 said:

Like a million other people, Ten was the album that made me a Pearl Jam fan, but it has been surpassed by pretty much everything that followed to the point where I don't get all that excited to hear its songs, whether it be live or on the radio. I do still enjoy a good "Release" opener and "Jeremy" is weirdly underplayed.

I have to admit, Ten was never a favorite for me.  On the other hand, my first exposure to Pearl Jam was seeing them play "Alive" on  Saturday Night Live and that got my attention... like now!

HailHailVitalogy

I always thought Vitalogy and Yield were my favorite albums. I think Yield has the best first 4 songs.

As I’ve gotten older, No Code has become my favorite album. Red Mosquito has become one of my top 3 songs, and Philly 1 solidified that. The difference of Vitalogy to No Code is insane. They took their first big step towards the PJ we have now in 1996. Hail Hail, In My Tree, Red Mosquito, and Present Tense might all be in my top 10 songs. 

That said, I think their “best” album is Vs. 

Favorites: No Code, Vitalogy, Vs, Yield, Binaural, Riot Act, Dark Matter, Ten, Backspacer, Avocado, Gigaton, Lightning Bolt

Best: Vs, Ten, No Code, Yield, Vitalogy, Dark Matter, Binaural, Riot Act, Avocado, Backspacer, Gigaton, Lightning Bolt

brianlux

HailHailVitalogy said:

I always thought Vitalogy and Yield were my favorite albums. I think Yield has the best first 4 songs.

As I’ve gotten older, No Code has become my favorite album. Red Mosquito has become one of my top 3 songs, and Philly 1 solidified that. The difference of Vitalogy to No Code is insane. They took their first big step towards the PJ we have now in 1996. Hail Hail, In My Tree, Red Mosquito, and Present Tense might all be in my top 10 songs. 

That said, I think their “best” album is Vs. 

Favorites: No Code, Vitalogy, Vs, Yield, Binaural, Riot Act, Dark Matter, Ten, Backspacer, Avocado, Gigaton, Lightning Bolt

Best: Vs, Ten, No Code, Yield, Vitalogy, Dark Matter, Binaural, Riot Act, Avocado, Backspacer, Gigaton, Lightning Bolt

"Hail Hail" is an amazing song.  I remember seeing them play that on Letterman and being mightily impressed by not just the song and the band, but also by seeing Jack Irons play for the first time (on TV, that is).  What a drummer!  Years later I would learn that Irons lived next door to a friend of mine.  She said he was a super nice guy.  I would have loved to run in to him and said "hi", but I didn't know it at the time, and I only saw that friend at her place a few times, oh so many years ago.

lastexitlondon

Riot act for me has many songs I will always love.
Yield is my top 2. Changes around but it's always around.
Gigaton for me hold meaning and memories so I like it. 
Lightning bolt has a couple I can always love but mostly awful. 

HailHailVitalogy

Yeah I’d like to add that the songs I want to hear most at the shows are on Binaural and Riot Act

brianlux

lastexitlondon said:

Riot act for me has many songs I will always love.
Yield is my top 2. Changes around but it's always around.
Gigaton for me hold meaning and memories so I like it. 
Lightning bolt has a couple I can always love but mostly awful. 

Riot Act was my #1 favorite for a good while.  Maybe too long?  I might have worn it out on me.  But yes, it has some really fine songs.

HailHailVitalogy said:

Yeah I’d like to add that the songs I want to hear most at the shows are on Binaural and Riot Act

I was thrilled that they played "Ghost" the one time I saw the band.  It's kind of an odd song, but I always liked that it has this really unusual form unlike the more typical  A/A/B/A pop song or whatever.  I sat down and sketched it out one time but can't remember it off hand.

I will forever feel like I'm missing out with Binaural.  I know it has some great songs, and I know this sounds a bit far-fetched, but there's something about the sound of that album that makes it difficult for me to listen to.  I've often wondered if it has something to do with my hearing disorders and issues with vertigo.  In any case, I know it's high on the list of a lot of fans!

Spartanacus

Trying to figure out the best or your favorite PJ album is a very hard task.  As far as least favorite...I think you have to go with Backspacer.

brianlux

Spartanacus said:

Trying to figure out the best or your favorite PJ album is a very hard task.  As far as least favorite...I think you have to go with Backspacer.

Something has to be a least favorite, right, lol.  The cover on the LP is so cool though!  I ended up selling my copy of the LP but sometimes wish I'd kept it for the few songs I like on it like "Just Breath" and "Amongst the Waves".

lastexitlondon

Backspacer and lightening bolt are cut a drift from all others for me as least favourite by a way.

brianlux

lastexitlondon said:

Backspacer and lightening bolt are cut a drift from all others for me as least favourite by a way.

Yeah, I struggles with both and let them go.  Not to dis those who like them, but for me some favorites from the two combined would have made a nice little "mini album". 

julieooliern

For the last 34 years it has been Ten, Vs and Vitalogy. This year something happened. I find I am totally into Binaural. Yield, Backspacer, and Riot Act are right up there too. Even 🥑  holds a special place in my heart now. Weird, right? I think when I was younger I wouldn’t give any of their new stuff a chance because I was so stuck on the Ten/Vital era…

BF25394

julieooliern said:

For the last 34 years it has been Ten, Vs and Vitalogy. This year something happened. I find I am totally into Binaural. Yield, Backspacer, and Riot Act are right up there too. Even 🥑  holds a special place in my heart now. Weird, right? I think when I was younger I wouldn’t give any of their new stuff a chance because I was so stuck on the Ten/Vital era…

"This year something happened" for me, too. They released Dark Matter, and that has been the album I have wanted to listen to more than any other Pearl Jam album for the last eight months. I'm still listening to it two to three times per week. The CD has still not left my car since release.

brianlux

julieooliern said:

For the last 34 years it has been Ten, Vs and Vitalogy. This year something happened. I find I am totally into Binaural. Yield, Backspacer, and Riot Act are right up there too. Even 🥑  holds a special place in my heart now. Weird, right? I think when I was younger I wouldn’t give any of their new stuff a chance because I was so stuck on the Ten/Vital era…

Love that avacado emoji thingy!  

BF25394 said:

julieooliern said:

For the last 34 years it has been Ten, Vs and Vitalogy. This year something happened. I find I am totally into Binaural. Yield, Backspacer, and Riot Act are right up there too. Even 🥑  holds a special place in my heart now. Weird, right? I think when I was younger I wouldn’t give any of their new stuff a chance because I was so stuck on the Ten/Vital era…

"This year something happened" for me, too. They released Dark Matter, and that has been the album I have wanted to listen to more than any other Pearl Jam album for the last eight months. I'm still listening to it two to three times per week. The CD has still not left my car since release.

I keep meaning to give Dark Matter another chance- see if it grows on me.

julieooliern

BF25394 said:

julieooliern said:

For the last 34 years it has been Ten, Vs and Vitalogy. This year something happened. I find I am totally into Binaural. Yield, Backspacer, and Riot Act are right up there too. Even 🥑  holds a special place in my heart now. Weird, right? I think when I was younger I wouldn’t give any of their new stuff a chance because I was so stuck on the Ten/Vital era…

"This year something happened" for me, too. They released Dark Matter, and that has been the album I have wanted to listen to more than any other Pearl Jam album for the last eight months. I'm still listening to it two to three times per week. The CD has still not left my car since release.

Absolutely love Dark Matter too! It’s crazy! I never thought I’d get past Ten. Who knew?! Maybe The Who?! Maybe they knew??? 😂

Weston1283

I think Dark Matter being so good also hurts Gigaton for me.  It’s likely production related, but listen to Dark Matter and then go right into the Gigaton album.  It is shocking how flat and empty Gigaton sounds in comparison.