Results of the "Rank the Albums"

nustang70

I assigned a points value to each rank; 8 points for first, 7 for second, et cetera. I counted 85 votes (a few people forgot to rank one or another album) and then averaged the totals. I also skipped votes for Lost Dogs. I also tallied the number of first and last ranks each album recieved. So, the first number is the album's average (out of 8), the second is the number of first rank votes, and the last number is the total last rank votes, e.g. Yield averaged 5.92, had 19 #1 votes, and 1 #8 votes.
average rank # of first rank # of last rank
1. Yield 5.92 19 1
2. No Code 5.84 18 1
3. Vs. 5.58 23 2
4. Vitalogy 4.96 13 4
5. Ten 4.73 3 5
6. Avocado 3.51 2 12
7. Binaural 3.29 6 16
8. Riot Act 2.19 1 44


I had previously taken a similar survey a few months before the release of the Avocado album, and while I can't find it in the forum archives, I remember the general trends. Binaural and Riot Act were alot closer, and the other five were all very close as well. Ten, Vs., and Vitalogy (I can't remember the order) were the top three, followed closely by No Code and Yield (I think Yield was ahead of No Code). Binaural and Riot Act occupied significantly lower average ranks.

At the time, there was a current in the forum championing the supremacy of Yield; this time around, it seems like some fans are getting really into No Code and Binaural (I haven't been on the forums for a while; I've drawn this conclusion from the posts I've read recently). Binaural ranked lower than Avocado, but had three times as many top rank votes. It also seems like Avocado has lost its luster; I remember when it first came out most PJ fans (myself included) considered it to be at least far superior to the previous two albums.

Anyway, it is really interesting to see currents in the PJ fan community champion an album (Yield a few years ago, Binaural and No Code now). I'm just waiting for Riot Act to have its turn.

SVRDhand13

Cool stats! They don't surprise me all that much. It would be interesting to tally the public and not just the PJ freaks lol (not saying I'm going to do that though...)

JP2026766

Interesting stats, good work. I'm glad Yield won.

Evacuation Rules

nustang70 wrote:

It also seems like Avocado has lost its luster; I remember when it first came out most PJ fans (myself included) considered it to be at least far superior to the previous two albums.

Not me. I thought it was a piece of shit on first listen, and I still do. Riot Act and Binaural are FAR superior.

corduroid

this is a cool piece of work ~ thanks for doing it

nustang70

SVRDhand13 wrote:

Cool stats! They don't surprise me all that much. It would be interesting to tally the public and not just the PJ freaks lol (not saying I'm going to do that though...)

just go to http://www.rateyourmusic.com.

that gives you a pretty good indicator of the general public's opinion. it's really not that surprising though...

intodeep

That is really cool stuff thank you for doing this.

SVRDhand13

nustang70 wrote:

just go to http://www.rateyourmusic.com.

that gives you a pretty good indicator of the general public's opinion. it's really not that surprising though...

All the main albums have basically the same rating unlike here, which is interesting.

swallowedwords

I happen to think Pearl Jam (Avocado) is one of their best. Songs such as Comatose, Marker in the Sand, Army Reserve, Parachutes, and Life Wasted, are fucking brilliant. I used to really dislike Big Wave when I first started listening to the album, but even Big Wave is great to listen to now.

MattyJoe

I think Vs. is their best album. It's got so many classic Pearl Jam fan favorites on it. It's also the only album I can listen to all the way through and absolutely love every song (rarely do I skip songs on others, but I don't always like some as much as others on an album).

I still don't get the people who say Yield is their best album. Aside from the obvious Vs., I think No Code, Vitalogy, and Ten easily rival if not surpass Yield. There are some great songs on it, but there are some that aren't so great. For example, Faithful. Not that I hate the song but I've never been a big fan of the music and actually feel like the opening chords are a play off of Stairway To Heaven (the guitar part during "Ohhhh, it makes me wonder." It's the same rhythm and the same chord as the first one in that section of Stairway. They then just slide the same chord up the neck and back down). I've also never been a big fan of Pilate, never really "got" the song. But love Brain Of J, Given To Fly, Do The Evolution, Low Light, MFC, In Hiding. Just don't think it's their best.

swallowedwords

MattyJoe wrote:

I think Vs. is their best album. It's got so many classic Pearl Jam fan favorites on it. It's also the only album I can listen to all the way through and absolutely love every song (rarely do I skip songs on others, but I don't always like some as much as others on an album).

I still don't get the people who say Yield is their best album. Aside from the obvious Vs., I think No Code, Vitalogy, and Ten easily rival if not surpass Yield. There are some great songs on it, but there are some that aren't so great. For example, Faithful. Not that I hate the song but I've never been a big fan of the music and actually feel like the opening chords are a play off of Stairway To Heaven (the guitar part during "Ohhhh, it makes me wonder." It's the same rhythm and the same chord as the first one in that section of Stairway. They then just slide the same chord up the neck and back down). I've also never been a big fan of Pilate, never really "got" the song. But love Brain Of J, Given To Fly, Do The Evolution, Low Light, MFC, In Hiding. Just don't think it's their best.

Faithful is one of their best! Just my expert opinion.

JP2026766

swallowedwords wrote:

Faithful is one of their best! Just my expert opinion.

Yeah. Faithful is up there for me. I agree, musically it isn't crazy. But the opening/verse riff is awesome. And lyrically the verses are fantastic. Plus it just has a cool message.

Ladymelonhead

love this. its kinda funny tho- riot act and vitology would probably be considered my two faves, since they get the most spins in the cd player....