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Into the Wild & Self-Titled?

wilkinswilkins Posts: 68
edited September 2008 in The Porch
Does anyone else find it interesting that Into the Wild has sold a little over half of what Self-Titled has sold thus far? Putting the two albums into perspective, it would seem that ITW has far outsold what I expected it to, and S/T is more or less what I expected.

I realize to us 'fans' sales matter little, but I am constantly surprised to still see ITW on various best selling racks at music stores where I live. Around 370,000 copies sold in exactly 1 year for a soundtrack of this nature seems quite a feat, especially considering S/T has sold ~700,000 in 2+ years.

(As a disclaimer, I retrieved approximate sales figure from Wikipedia, for what it's worth)
Keep on rockin'!
Post edited by Unknown User on

Comments

  • pdalowskypdalowsky Doncaster,UK Posts: 15,087
    this doesnt surprise me at all, Eddie is a household name all over the world now, and a very popular and well respected musician.

    People Like REM, Bruce Springsteen and the Who would not have him as a special guest and get the raptuous applause if he wasnt the star he is
  • JulienJulien Posts: 2,457
    pdalowsky wrote:
    this doesnt surprise me at all, Eddie is a household name all over the world now, and a very popular and well respected musician.

    People Like REM, Bruce Springsteen and the Who would not have him as a special guest and get the raptuous applause if he wasnt the star he is
    here in Belgium, any people don't know Eddie. This is what s great with ITW: I know people who became "fan" of Ed and PJ after seeing ITW
    2006: Antwerp, Paris
    2007: Copenhagen, Werchter
    2009: Rotterdam, London
    2010: MSG, Arras, Werchter
    2012: Amsterdam, Prague, Berlin
    2014: Amsterdam, Stockholm
  • JackieboyJackieboy Posts: 78
    He's most likely a household name in nort and south america. Nobody knows who he is here iin Sweden.
  • kaligulakaligula Posts: 2
    I live in South Africa and although most music fans remember a few Pearl Jam singles from the early 90's almost all of them don't realise or appreciate the phenomenon that PJ was and still is.
    And if we are honest, what is PJ without Ed? I think ITW has gone some way to putting that into perspective and perhaps he will be recognised for the legend he is before all is said and done. I guess his total avoidance of fame (from his side) kind of prevents him from becoming a (self-indulgent) superstar like Bono (thank goodness!).
    I just wish they would come to South Africa - I had to travel all the way to Chicago last year to see PJ at Lollapalooza and that will probably end up being my only live experience of them ever :-(
  • bookembookem Posts: 91
    I think that if Into The Wild was not a soundtrack to a movie then it probably would not have sold so many copies. Don't get me wrong I think it is great and really love the music, but it has received a massive amount of exposure , particularly compared to PJ albums nowadays.

    I know quite a few people that went and saw the movie, really enjoyed it and the music, and as a result went out and bought the soundtrack. And these are people who had never heard of Eddie Vedder or Pearl Jam.
    _______________________

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  • knittedknitted Posts: 244
    itsevobaby - who managed a local (nz) record store when itw came out, said that people would hear it playing in his store and just buy it on the spot, with no idea who eddie is, they just liked it.

    coz it's really very good.
    http://www.sublime-retro.net

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  • AmherstJammerAmherstJammer Amherst, Massachusetts Posts: 1,510
    From my experiences Eddie is not a household name. When I tell people I work with, family etc.. I'm going to see Eddie Vedder or Pearl Jam I get who? who is that?

    If I say I'm going to see Bruce Springsteen they don't have to ask me who or what that is...
  • cookiescookies Posts: 113
    bookem wrote:
    I think that if Into The Wild was not a soundtrack to a movie then it probably would not have sold so many copies. Don't get me wrong I think it is great and really love the music, but it has received a massive amount of exposure , particularly compared to PJ albums nowadays.

    I know quite a few people that went and saw the movie, really enjoyed it and the music, and as a result went out and bought the soundtrack. And these are people who had never heard of Eddie Vedder or Pearl Jam.

    Well I think it is good that ITW is getting PJ more fans. Ed's talents are amazing and now more people may see the talents of Mike, Matt, Jeff, Stones and Booms. So I say Job well done ED Vedder you are the best frontman for the band.
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  • pdalowskypdalowsky Doncaster,UK Posts: 15,087
    well lets rephrase that world rock music fans know Vedder as a household name.....

    I'm sure your grandma hasnt,

    obviously he isnt David Beckham, but in the right circle - serious music audience he is....

    thank fuck he hasnt turned into a Bono
  • bookembookem Posts: 91
    cookies wrote:
    Well I think it is good that ITW is getting PJ more fans. Ed's talents are amazing and now more people may see the talents of Mike, Matt, Jeff, Stones and Booms. So I say Job well done ED Vedder you are the best frontman for the band.


    I wholeheartedly agree.
    _______________________

    Sydney - 11.03.1998
    Melbourne - 18.02.2003
    Sydney - 07.11.2006
    Nijmegen - 28.06.2007
    New York - 24.06.2008
    London - 18.08.2009
    London - 25.06.2010
  • LineOneMightyFineLineOneMightyFine Posts: 347
    Dare I say ITW > Avocado? I'll take that dare. Yup, its a better album and will hold up much better over time for me. Not surprised that its still quite popular.
  • greaticedteagreaticedtea Posts: 229
    bookem wrote:
    I think that if Into The Wild was not a soundtrack to a movie then it probably would not have sold so many copies. Don't get me wrong I think it is great and really love the music, but it has received a massive amount of exposure , particularly compared to PJ albums nowadays.

    I know quite a few people that went and saw the movie, really enjoyed it and the music, and as a result went out and bought the soundtrack. And these are people who had never heard of Eddie Vedder or Pearl Jam.


    i agree with this. my friend had a friend of his from france over for a while this summer and i was giving them a ride home one night and playing the ITW soundtrack. the kid from france recognized the music from the movie but i don't think he knew who eddie or PJ was when we asked him
    MSG II 6/25/08
  • Kel VarnsenKel Varnsen Posts: 1,952
    bookem wrote:
    I think that if Into The Wild was not a soundtrack to a movie then it probably would not have sold so many copies. Don't get me wrong I think it is great and really love the music, but it has received a massive amount of exposure , particularly compared to PJ albums nowadays.

    I know quite a few people that went and saw the movie, really enjoyed it and the music, and as a result went out and bought the soundtrack. And these are people who had never heard of Eddie Vedder or Pearl Jam.

    Which is odd because the movie didn't do that great at the box office. Then again I didn't think that movie itself was that great either.
  • StaffanStaffan Posts: 606
    Jackieboy wrote:
    He's most likely a household name in nort and south america. Nobody knows who he is here iin Sweden.

    I know who he is and I'm in Sweden :D
    Everyday................is Pearl Jam Day.

    Except Sundays, that's Ed day.

    The mind is like a parachute, it doesn't work unless it's open. FZ

  • Indifference71Indifference71 Chicago Posts: 14,872
    Kel Varnsen wrote:
    Which is odd because the movie didn't do that great at the box office. Then again I didn't think that movie itself was that great either.

    With all things considered, ITW soundtrack has to be considered a pretty big success since the movie bombed at the box office. I thought it was OK, kinda dragged a little bit.
  • FitzFitz Posts: 169
    bookem wrote:
    I think that if Into The Wild was not a soundtrack to a movie then it probably would not have sold so many copies. Don't get me wrong I think it is great and really love the music, but it has received a massive amount of exposure , particularly compared to PJ albums nowadays.

    I know quite a few people that went and saw the movie, really enjoyed it and the music, and as a result went out and bought the soundtrack. And these are people who had never heard of Eddie Vedder or Pearl Jam.

    Yes thats a good point, the exposure a Movie pisses all over a CD Album all the time. Because of that you cannot offer a bad reaction to sales of Avocado and if its sold 700k then I regard that excellent. Remember also Pearl Jam have always wrapped themselves in the 'We're not selling out' Blanket. That is one of many things that make them so attractive but means you probably won't see big Album sales because of it also.
    "First of all, there’s the palpable camaraderie and good feeling you get from the entire band as they smile and nod at each other, and huddle together in various formations throughout the show --- They look like they really like each other. They look stoked!"
  • youngsteryoungster Boston Posts: 6,576
    bookem wrote:
    I think that if Into The Wild was not a soundtrack to a movie then it probably would not have sold so many copies. Don't get me wrong I think it is great and really love the music, but it has received a massive amount of exposure , particularly compared to PJ albums nowadays.

    I know quite a few people that went and saw the movie, really enjoyed it and the music, and as a result went out and bought the soundtrack. And these are people who had never heard of Eddie Vedder or Pearl Jam.

    I disagree. I think to a lot of people, if Eddie Vedder's name is on an album, more people would be inclined to buy it. If he was only featured in one or two songs, it wouldn't have done as well. but because it's basically a solo album, sales will continue to climb.
    He who forgets will be destined to remember.

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  • FitzFitz Posts: 169
    ejny wrote:
    Dare I say ITW > Avocado? I'll take that dare. Yup, its a better album and will hold up much better over time for me. Not surprised that its still quite popular.

    ITW is very good but I really cannot agree its better than Avocado. I actually cannot understand why so many Pearl Jam fans have a 'hang up' with it. I think its a superb piece of work and with this it makes me think PJ fans like to moan for the sake of moaning sometimes and are never happy.
    "First of all, there’s the palpable camaraderie and good feeling you get from the entire band as they smile and nod at each other, and huddle together in various formations throughout the show --- They look like they really like each other. They look stoked!"
  • GardenpartyGardenparty Posts: 1,910
    Fitz wrote:
    ITW is very good but I really cannot agree its better than Avocado. I actually cannot understand why so many Pearl Jam fans have a 'hang up' with it. I think its a superb piece of work and with this it makes me think PJ fans like to moan for the sake of moaning sometimes and are never happy.

    what do you mean by "hang up"?

    I enjoy ITW much more than S/T. It's actually in my car stereo right now whereas i haven't spun S/T in probably over a year.

    As well, the soundtrack got great exposure during the awards show period. However....Once has only sold a fraction of that amount and I think that may be better than ITW.

    Have to think the name Vedder has something to do with it.
    “I know this song so well, I can smoke a cigarette, have a drink, brush my teeth, take a shit, and mow the lawn while singing it. But I'll only be doing a couple of those things during this version.”
  • LONGRDLONGRD Posts: 6,036
    I might be the only fan who thinks ITW is a bit overrated. I'm glad it sold as much as it did, and for a soundtrack, it's very impressive.
    PJ- 04/29/2003.06/24,25,27,28,30/2008.10/27,28,30,31/2009
    EV- 08/09,10/2008.06/08,09/2009
  • Kel VarnsenKel Varnsen Posts: 1,952
    Indifference71 wrote:
    I thought it was OK, kinda dragged a little bit.

    That is sort of what I thought, kind of interesting story even though the main character was annoying. Sean Penn's direction was nothing special at all (then again the best thing that guy ever did was play Spicoli in Fast Times at Ridgemont High and that was back in 1982).
  • wilkinswilkins Posts: 68
    Good points about the exposure a movie creates, albeit ITW did not blow the doors off in terms of sales etc.

    I just find it surprising in my little town, where top 40 radio rules and people have very distinct musical tastes, the ITW soundtrack can still be a best selling record in stores. Then again, said top 40 and classic rock stations here played the hell out of Hard Sun...go figure...

    Now who is with me in wanting a new PJ record, one which feels spontaneous in creation yet probably not arriving in a spontaneous amount of time; is very well produced- S/T lacked emotion and the feel of records like Vitalogy and Vs.- is experimental, yet still identifiable as PJ; basically I hope for a new PJ record that really evokes an emotional response following listening but feels natural.

    I honestly believe the bands best work is still to come, but in listening to boots, I always come back to the 2000 tour as the best live shows. And I feel that same emotion after listening to those shows that lacks after listening to S/T and its subsequent tours. I cannot put my finger on it directly, just something about it, leaves me with a feeling.

    Anyone feel the smae or have any insight?
    Keep on rockin'!
  • FitzFitz Posts: 169
    Gardenparty wrote:
    what do you mean by "hang up"?

    I enjoy ITW much more than S/T. It's actually in my car stereo right now whereas i haven't spun S/T in probably over a year.

    As well, the soundtrack got great exposure during the awards show period. However....Once has only sold a fraction of that amount and I think that may be better than ITW.

    Have to think the name Vedder has something to do with it.

    I mean that PJ fans seem to have a problem with it, why I do not know as I believe its excellent. I don't feel its got anything to do with the name Vedder but more to do with the exposure it got. Looking back it got loads and certainly more than Avocado got, it was also easier exposure. The boys really had to work hard to promote Avocado whereas a Film doesn't need such hard work certainly from the stars or performers anyway.
    "First of all, there’s the palpable camaraderie and good feeling you get from the entire band as they smile and nod at each other, and huddle together in various formations throughout the show --- They look like they really like each other. They look stoked!"
  • LineOneMightyFineLineOneMightyFine Posts: 347
    Fitz wrote:
    ITW is very good but I really cannot agree its better than Avocado. I actually cannot understand why so many Pearl Jam fans have a 'hang up' with it. I think its a superb piece of work and with this it makes me think PJ fans like to moan for the sake of moaning sometimes and are never happy.


    I would agree that some fans do whine for the sake of whining, but in my case, I just prefer listening to ITW.

    Avocado was decent, but there wasn't enough subtleties in the music that reward with multiple listens, if that makes sense. Plus, it didn't connect with me on an emotional level. There isn't one song on ITW where I can't say that. Just my opinion...
  • FitzFitz Posts: 169
    ejny wrote:
    I would agree that some fans do whine for the sake of whining, but in my case, I just prefer listening to ITW.

    Avocado was decent, but there wasn't enough subtleties in the music that reward with multiple listens, if that makes sense. Plus, it didn't connect with me on an emotional level. There isn't one song on ITW where I can't say that. Just my opinion...

    Thats ok, differing opinions is great. whining for the sake of whining is not. I'm ok with that!
    "First of all, there’s the palpable camaraderie and good feeling you get from the entire band as they smile and nod at each other, and huddle together in various formations throughout the show --- They look like they really like each other. They look stoked!"
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