Has anyone ever done the "Jam-athon"? / My Completion and Reflection.

truckin24
truckin24 New Jersey Posts: 36
edited June 12 in The Porch
I am attempting to listen to every Pearl Jam studio album straight through back to back in chronological order today, and I was curious if anyone else had ever done this, and if so whether it changed your perspective on any albums? Regardless, I think it is a great way to spend my off day...

Led Zeppelin's marathon is called the "Zep-athon", so the "Jam-athon" is just the best name I could think to give this...

I plan on ranking all the albums and tracks conclusively after. I will also be including Lost Dogs, as I feel those singles deserve to be treated as an album, though it may be tough to rank as an overall album, the singles deserve to be ranked in the overall songs category.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ok wow. I have just finished. I have listened to 12+ hours of Pearl Jam today. I listened to every studio album, including Lost Dogs, and a few singles and b sides with probably less than 10 minutes of total stoppage time.

Here is what I have learned.

1. I forgot how much I listen to live recordings over studio recordings. Some of these it felt like I haven't listened to in years.

2. You can hear how much the band has shifted from the beginning as each album passes, it is very cool seeing all the different artistic directions they have explored.

3. I know I said I was going to rank the tracks, and I plan on doing that over some time, but it is near impossible to do efficiently immediately after completing this marathon. I will rank the albums from my favorite to least favorite though. 

            Ten, Vs., Yield, Vitalogy, No Code, Lost Dogs, Riot Act, Dark Matter, Binaural, Avocado, Backspacer, Lightning Bolt, Gigaton

4. While doing this I discovered things about almost every album I didn't remember previously that I very much enjoyed.

5. I plan on doing this again eventually but with a fully conclusive list of Christmas singles, B-Sides, and all Pearl Jam releases. 


This was fun to do, and it was just nice to hear some of the studio stuff that I have either never heard, or don't remember as well...


September 7th & 9th, 2024: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania  |  May 1st, 2025: Atlanta, Georgia
Post edited by truckin24 on
«1

Comments

  • DE4173
    DE4173 Posts: 3,027
    👀👀👀👀👀
    1993: 11/22 Little Rock
    1996; 9/28 New York
    1997: 11/14 Oakland, 11/15 Oakland
    1998: 7/5 Dallas, 7/7 Albuquerque, 7/8 Phoenix, 7/10 San Diego, 7/11 Las Vegas
    2000: 10/17 Dallas
    2003: 4/3 OKC
    2012: 11/17 Tulsa(EV), 11/18 Tulsa(EV)
    2013: 11/16 OKC
    2014: 10/8 Tulsa
    2022: 9/20 OKC
    2023: 9/13 Ft Worth, 9/15 Ft Worth
  • Kwieneke
    Kwieneke Indiana Posts: 2,121
    I've considered it for a road trip but have not done it 
    Noblesville 5.7.2010. Lexington 4.26.2016. Nashville 9.16.2022. St Louis 9.18.2022.
    Chicago 1 9.5.2023. Chicago 2 9.7.2023. 
    *Noblesville 9.10.2023* (Gutted) 
    Seattle 5.30.2024  Noblesville 8.26.2024  Chicago 8.29.2024  Chicago 8.31.2024 
    Pittsburgh 5.16.2025 Pittsburgh 5.18.2025
  • Vitalogensia
    Vitalogensia Posts: 2,208
    I haven’t done it all in one sitting. I did play the albums in order on a road trip over a decade ago, took notes on where I was in the discography when passing states and such. I’ll have to go back and find that. 
  • mookeywrench
    mookeywrench Posts: 6,080
    I listened to everything 2002 the day before Riot Act was released.  Got burnt out and bored around Yield. Too much sitting around, plus ear fatigue of the same artist.
  • We All Believe
    We All Believe Eastchester, NY - Proud South Canadian. Posts: 846
    This is great. Will do this sometime soon. I haven't listened to Riot Act or Avocado in full in forever.
    May your days be long, til kingdom come.
  • Ryan
    Ryan Posts: 1,233
    I listened to everything 2002 the day before Riot Act was released.  Got burnt out and bored around Yield. Too much sitting around, plus ear fatigue of the same artist.
    Yeah this sounds like torture.
    It’s when people do this with an artist, while I doubt the artist themselves would ever binge on an artist they themselves like.  For instance, I doubt EV ever bothered or would suggest listening to The Who’s catalogue straight through.
    Too much other interesting stuff out there!  This is like eating only your favourite food at every meal. 
  • JeBurkhardt
    JeBurkhardt Posts: 5,341
    No, but I have listened to the XM Pearl Jam channel the entire 18 hour non stop (except gas, food and bathroom break) drive from Southern Illinois to Gunnison Colorado. 
  • Shaindli1
    Shaindli1 MA Posts: 2,496
    No, but I have listened to the XM Pearl Jam channel the entire 18 hour non stop (except gas, food and bathroom break) drive from Southern Illinois to Gunnison Colorado. 
    I listened to PJ radio the entire road trip from Worcester MA to Raleigh (three days), Raleigh to Pittsburgh (one day), and Pittsburgh to Worcester (two days).
    #Grievance2025 
  • JeBurkhardt
    JeBurkhardt Posts: 5,341
    Shaindli1 said:
    No, but I have listened to the XM Pearl Jam channel the entire 18 hour non stop (except gas, food and bathroom break) drive from Southern Illinois to Gunnison Colorado. 
    I listened to PJ radio the entire road trip from Worcester MA to Raleigh (three days), Raleigh to Pittsburgh (one day), and Pittsburgh to Worcester (two days).
    That is a lot of Pearl Jam!
  • josevolution
    josevolution Posts: 31,790
    Back in the way I probably would’ve of but I haven’t gotten through a whole album of theirs in a long time not even sure when was the last time I did 
    jesus greets me looks just like me ....
  • Shaindli1
    Shaindli1 MA Posts: 2,496
    Shaindli1 said:
    No, but I have listened to the XM Pearl Jam channel the entire 18 hour non stop (except gas, food and bathroom break) drive from Southern Illinois to Gunnison Colorado. 
    I listened to PJ radio the entire road trip from Worcester MA to Raleigh (three days), Raleigh to Pittsburgh (one day), and Pittsburgh to Worcester (two days).
    That is a lot of Pearl Jam!
    I'm kind of a fan.
    #Grievance2025 
  • JeBurkhardt
    JeBurkhardt Posts: 5,341
    Shaindli1 said:
    Shaindli1 said:
    No, but I have listened to the XM Pearl Jam channel the entire 18 hour non stop (except gas, food and bathroom break) drive from Southern Illinois to Gunnison Colorado. 
    I listened to PJ radio the entire road trip from Worcester MA to Raleigh (three days), Raleigh to Pittsburgh (one day), and Pittsburgh to Worcester (two days).
    That is a lot of Pearl Jam!
    I'm kind of a fan.
    same.
  • DE4173
    DE4173 Posts: 3,027
    I have done this, but over time. Commit to an artist and go through their discography album by album and then move on to another artist when completed. So far I've completed:
    Foo Fighters
    Tool
    Pearl Jam
    R.E.M.
    Nirvana
    The Doors
    Nirvana
    Royal Blood
    AC/DC
    Black Keys
    U2
    Van Halen
    Led Zeppelin
    1993: 11/22 Little Rock
    1996; 9/28 New York
    1997: 11/14 Oakland, 11/15 Oakland
    1998: 7/5 Dallas, 7/7 Albuquerque, 7/8 Phoenix, 7/10 San Diego, 7/11 Las Vegas
    2000: 10/17 Dallas
    2003: 4/3 OKC
    2012: 11/17 Tulsa(EV), 11/18 Tulsa(EV)
    2013: 11/16 OKC
    2014: 10/8 Tulsa
    2022: 9/20 OKC
    2023: 9/13 Ft Worth, 9/15 Ft Worth
  • julieooliern
    julieooliern Posts: 1,304
    DE4173 said:
    I have done this, but over time. Commit to an artist and go through their discography album by album and then move on to another artist when completed. So far I've completed:
    Foo Fighters
    Tool
    Pearl Jam
    R.E.M.
    Nirvana
    The Doors
    Nirvana
    Royal Blood
    AC/DC
    Black Keys
    U2
    Van Halen
    Led Zeppelin
    Impressive! 👏🏻
  • ally12
    ally12 Ottawa, ON, CAN Posts: 422
    Ohh I might give this a try
    2005: Ottawa / 2011: Ottawa / 2016: Ottawa / 2022: Ottawa / 2022:Quebec City /  2024: Vancouver / 2024: Vancouver / 2024: New York City
  • julieooliern
    julieooliern Posts: 1,304
    ally12 said:
    Ohh I might give this a try
    I was taking it as a challenge 
  • Vitalogensia
    Vitalogensia Posts: 2,208
    I haven’t done it all in one sitting. I did play the albums in order on a road trip over a decade ago, took notes on where I was in the discography when passing states and such. I’ll have to go back and find that. 
    I was driving from Pittsburgh to Iowa, pre-Lightning Bolt, for reference.  Here are my notes from that 10 or 11 hour trip, where I had to play a few deep cuts to make it to the end:

    - Ten (redux) started in PA, "State of Love and Trust" plays at the Ohio line [state motto: So Much To Discover]
    - Vs OH
    - Vitalogy OH
    - Yield OH, "Give to Fly" crossing into Indiana [Crossroads of America]
    - Binaural IN (storm began at the beginning of "Breakerfall" and lasted through "Evacuation")
    - Riot Act IN, "1/2 Full" crossing into Illinois [Land of Lincoln]
    - Pearl Jam IL
    - Backspacer IL (bird flew alongside the car during "Amongst the Waves")
    - Lost Dogs IL, ("Down" starts while driving past the birthplace of Ronald Reagan sign)
    - "Fatal" plays crossing into Iowa, over the Mississippi River
    - Bright red sun falls behind dark clouds on the horizon as "4/20/02" plays
    - Merkinball IA
    - "Olympic Dream" from Manifesting Morrison IA
    - "Leatherman" from Pittsburgh 2000 bootleg ends while pulling into the driveway.

    Fun trip down memory lane.  
  • truckin24
    truckin24 New Jersey Posts: 36
    I haven’t done it all in one sitting. I did play the albums in order on a road trip over a decade ago, took notes on where I was in the discography when passing states and such. I’ll have to go back and find that. 
    I was driving from Pittsburgh to Iowa, pre-Lightning Bolt, for reference.  Here are my notes from that 10 or 11 hour trip, where I had to play a few deep cuts to make it to the end:

    - Ten (redux) started in PA, "State of Love and Trust" plays at the Ohio line [state motto: So Much To Discover]
    - Vs OH
    - Vitalogy OH
    - Yield OH, "Give to Fly" crossing into Indiana [Crossroads of America]
    - Binaural IN (storm began at the beginning of "Breakerfall" and lasted through "Evacuation")
    - Riot Act IN, "1/2 Full" crossing into Illinois [Land of Lincoln]
    - Pearl Jam IL
    - Backspacer IL (bird flew alongside the car during "Amongst the Waves")
    - Lost Dogs IL, ("Down" starts while driving past the birthplace of Ronald Reagan sign)
    - "Fatal" plays crossing into Iowa, over the Mississippi River
    - Bright red sun falls behind dark clouds on the horizon as "4/20/02" plays
    - Merkinball IA
    - "Olympic Dream" from Manifesting Morrison IA
    - "Leatherman" from Pittsburgh 2000 bootleg ends while pulling into the driveway.

    Fun trip down memory lane.  
    This is awesome!! Thanks so much for sharing!! This is motivating me to keep going. I just started Backspacer. I have been listening pretty much nonstop since this morning...
    September 7th & 9th, 2024: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania  |  May 1st, 2025: Atlanta, Georgia
  • NewJPage
    NewJPage Posts: 3,320
    Do Neil Young next
    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
  • trees
    trees Columbus OHIO Posts: 2,063
    I do on the drive to the pj show iam going to then all the live bootlegs of shows ive been too on the way home 


    PJ Cuyahoga Flalls OH 8/26/1998
    PJ Noblesviile IN 8/18/2000
    PJ Cincinnatti OH 8/20/2000
    PJ Columbus OH 8/21/2000
    PJ Columbus OH 6/24/2003
    PJ Hamilton Ontario 9/13/2005
    PJ Phiadelphia PA 10/3/2005
    PJ Cleveland OH 5/20/2006
    PJ Columbia SC 6/16/2008.....
    e.V Chicago IL 8/21/2008
    e.V Philly PA 6/11/2009
    e.V Bailtimore MD 6/14/2009...
    PJ Chicago IL 8/23/2009
    .PJ...Philly PA 10/27/2009 PJ.Philadephia PA 10/28/2009.
    PJ Columbus OH 5/6/2010
    PJ Cleveland OH 5/9/2010.
    BRAD Columbus OH 10/5/2010
    e.V St.Louis MO 7/1/2011
    .PJ.. East Troy WI 9/3/2011..PJ..East Troy WI 9/4/2011
    Neil Young & Crazy Horse Cleveland OH 10/8/2012
    RNDM Chicago IL11/13/2012
    Alice In Chains/SoundGarden Columbus OH 5/19/2013
    AIC Fort Wayne IN 5/21/2013
    PJ Pittsburgh PA 10/11/2013
    AIC Cincinnati OH 5/17/2014
    AIC Cleveland OH 5/19/2014
    AIC Indianapolis IN 8/19/2014
    PJ Cincinnati OH 10/1/2014
    AIC Cincinnati OH 8/06/2015
    RNDM Chicago IL 3/15/2016
    PJ Columbia SC 4\21\2016
    PJ Lexington KY 4/26/2016
    PJ Chicago IL 8/20/2016
    Soundgarden Columbus OH 5/20/2017 Canceled RIP Chris
    AIC Columbus OH 5/18/2018 
    PJ Chicago IL 8/18/2018 PJ Chicago IL 8/20/2018
    PJ St Louis Missouri 9/18/2022
    AIC Cuyohoga falls Oh. 8/16/2019
    SHAWNSMITH Rip 2019Mark Lanegan Band 5/18/19