I still fucking love "Avocado" (i'll never call it S/T ... thpppttttttttttt)
Great album. Binaural and Riot Act have their place in PJ history,
but i sort of think of those albums as "The Bush Twins" ... just kind've angry \ depressed songs written in the Roskilde \ George W. \ Eddie Leaving Beth era ... real MOODY albums.
Avocado was like, we done broke through all that shit, son, YOU READY TO ROCK AGAIN?
You ready to love? to live?
LETS DO IT.
BAMMM!
I think, in the face of the fact that Ed acknowledges most of the album was written about the loss of Johnny Ramone, it is interesting that the album seems to transcend raw sadness, and gives a range of emotions not present since Yield.
Really really love Avocado.
If I was to smile and I held out my hand
If I opened it now would you not understand?
I still fucking love "Avocado" (i'll never call it S/T ... thpppttttttttttt)
Great album. Binaural and Riot Act have their place in PJ history,
but i sort of think of those albums as "The Bush Twins" ... just kind've angry \ depressed songs written in the Roskilde \ George W. \ Eddie Leaving Beth era ... real MOODY albums.
Avocado was like, we done broke through all that shit, son, YOU READY TO ROCK AGAIN?
You ready to love? to live?
LETS DO IT.
BAMMM!
I think, in the face of the fact that Ed acknowledges most of the album was written about the loss of Johnny Ramone, it is interesting that the album seems to transcend raw sadness, and gives a range of emotions not present since Yield.
Really really love Avocado.
I think S/T is a solid album, but I don't think it has any more emotional range than Binaural or Riot Act.
I kinda think it's the other side of the same coin as RA. Both have pretty similar themes, but S/T has them presented in lighter more straight forward fashion.
I still fucking love "Avocado" (i'll never call it S/T ... thpppttttttttttt)
Great album. Binaural and Riot Act have their place in PJ history,
but i sort of think of those albums as "The Bush Twins" ... just kind've angry \ depressed songs written in the Roskilde \ George W. \ Eddie Leaving Beth era ... real MOODY albums.
Avocado was like, we done broke through all that shit, son, YOU READY TO ROCK AGAIN?
You ready to love? to live?
LETS DO IT.
BAMMM!
I think, in the face of the fact that Ed acknowledges most of the album was written about the loss of Johnny Ramone, it is interesting that the album seems to transcend raw sadness, and gives a range of emotions not present since Yield.
Really really love Avocado.
Binaural came out before bush. or are you too young to remember?
At first, it took a while for pearl jam's self titled album to grow on me (a few weeks) but it definitely stands out. Riot Act was awesome at the time, but I don't go back to it as often. Binaural just gets better and better with time. Either way, love them all.
Binaural came out before bush. or are you too young to remember?
lol.
i think i'm too old and stoned to remember clearly.
i was 20 when it came out.
thanks for that though.
i think i'm losing my grip on the past!
::eek::
although, i've always been a bit timeline challenged.
the kinda guy who thinks something that happend last month was a year ago, and something that happened a year ago was last month.
bush, rokskilde, binauaral.
binaural, rokskilde, bush.
fuck it.
i surrender.
If I was to smile and I held out my hand
If I opened it now would you not understand?
its all good brother. I'm about the same age. I associate PJ albums with major life events so the timeline is tattooed in my head.
I hear some folks on the board talking shit about the avocado album like its sub par, but I think it was a brilliant album. It came off as an album that wasn't over-thought or forced; it was raw and clean. The ending of the disc took a little while to grow on me and for a while I thought Come Back was a joke ("the reeeeel poss-a-bili-teeeeee") but I really came to love the song. I really hope I get to hear inside job at one of the shows this fall.
one of the worst songs written by any band at any time.....and that goes for parachutes too....
just my humble opinion....
Well, now I know who not to take seriously.
Post edited by aurynsdad on
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The only pj album that I disliked. Other than Inside Job I really cant stand any of the tunes. I hated agreeing with casual fans reviews about that album but for once I had to.
Loved it since day one. A lot of rockers and a few slow jams along with the order they are in make for a great record. The only song that took years for me to appreciate is parachutes.
I love Avocado. Although I a starting to thing it is getting dated now. I guess it's because it is so tied to the war. However most songs do work apart from that perspective. Al except World wide suïcide. It used to be one of my favorites, but I am less into it now.
It's not who I am underneath, but what I do that defines me.
As a grown man who was lucky enough to appreciate ten when it was released through lightning bolt, my favorite and most personally relevant album has continually changed, but I can definitely say that the one that I am able to connect with deepest lyrically and appreciate musically is the Avocado. I think Inside Job is one of the best if not the best song created to date, and deserves greater recognition. If you don't think so, listen to it while following the lyrics again. It's the real deal. This album is amazing.
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One of my favorites. They got back to their punk/rock sound and ditched the "being experimental" thing. Classic PJ rocking with Life Wasted, WWS, classic slow downers like Gone, and classic ballads like Comeback.
Don't like the production on this one, hit me straight away when I first listened to it, sounded flat which was probably intentional to make it sound raw but for me only works on a couple of songs. Life Wasted is in my top 10 pj songs, I like Wws, Comatose and Army Reserve alot, the rest range from good to just ok to not good. Parachutes is the worst song they've recorded IMO, hate it, and some songs like Unemployable or Gone, although ok, I just don't have any interest wanting to listen too. Inside Job starts nice but ends up a cheesefest. Just sounds like they were trying to hard and had run out of ideas on some songs.
Overall, a mixed bag for me. As an album I find it very difficult listening all the way through, unlike No Code or Yield. Not disappointed in it like Backspacer but it didn't excite me like their previous 7.
If Ed had "cash in the bank..." instead of "money in the bank..." I would have liked this album 10x more.
Seriously though, This album had some pretty great tunes when it first came out. I really enjoyed Life Wasted, Severed Hand, World Wide Suicide, Comatose...I thought the opening of the album was pretty solid. Unemployable is the worst song Pearl Jam has ever released (that's including Rock Around Barack). There are some songs in the middle of the album that don't hold me like the beginning of the album does. And it's not because they don't "rock." I like Parachutes and Gone (except for the one line I mentioned), I just find stuff like Marker, Big Wave, Wasted Reprise, Army Reserve uninteresting for Pearl Jam tunes. Come back is a beautiful tune and Inside Job is one I could listen to live at every show and never get sick of.
Looking at this album there's 3-4 songs I don't have on my iPod. Overall, I still give this album a 7/10. Even one of my least favourite PJ albums still ranks higher than a lot of albums I've ever listened to.
This Album will always be my favorite in the sense that it brought me back to loving PJ. Like so many others I was a huge PJ fan in the 90's and I went through two cassettes of No Code (my car didn't have a CD player back then) but I will admit I lost touch with PJ after Yield. Quite honestly, I didn't even know Binaural and Riot Act was released until years after. Then, I heard WWS on the radio driving one day and I was like wow this is awesome. I remember thinking, I don't remember this PJ song, I began wondering what had happened to this band that I had loved so much. I went home and thanks to the internet, I soon discovered the "Avacado" Album and was blown away. It was like reconnecting with old friends from college and the songs resonated so well with my life at the time. I played Inside Job every morning for weeks, and that song really gave me some motivation to keep positive during some hard times. So in short, while every album has it's highs and lows, this one will always be special because it brought me back to a band that's music brings me joy in happy times, comfort in sad times, and so much more.
I thought it was better than Binaural or Riot Act when it came out. I tend to like Binaural a little better these days. Definitely think they improved on Backspacer and have their best album since Yield with Lightning Bolt. Brendan O'Brien producing seem to make a difference.
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it's middle of the pack for me. I loved WWS, Life Wasted, and Unemployable right off the rip. it took a couple of years for me to appreciate come back. Now, I love it. But I still don't get army reserve. I've never felt it was a good fit. I've tried, I've really tried. I just don't like the damn song. lol.
I was actually listening to this cd in my car today and realized it is definitely one of my Favorites! Every time I hear the guitar solo for "Severed Hand" I get the inspiration to play my guitar, SUCH A JAMMIN SONG!!
One of my least favorite from the catalog, I still pop it in once in a while though.
It is Pearl Jam, so there are some amazing songs on Avocado: Comatose, Comeback, Inside Job.
The problem for me is that it has some songs I'll never like on it: Marker in the Sand, Gone, Parachutes...I never listen to it front to back because of those tracks.
I just didn't care for this whole era with the band...they made a great "comeback" with Backspacer and Lightning Bolt though!
I thought it was better than Binaural or Riot Act when it came out. I tend to like Binaural a little better these days. Definitely think they improved on Backspacer and have their best album since Yield with Lightning Bolt. Brendan O'Brien producing seem to make a difference.
Agreed! Brendan and Pearl Jam are perfect together, all their best records are with him. Vs through Yield and the last two. When I heard he was coming back for Backspacer, I knew it would be back to true form for the boys and it has been since. I LOVE Backspacer and Lightning Bolt!
Interesting. I think that Brendan is responsible for Backspacer being one of the worse albums of 2009 and for what is most wrong with LB.... He used to do good things for PJ, but not anymore. They badly need a new producer for the next album IMO.
With all its sham, drudgery, and broken dreams, it is still a beautiful world. Be careful. Strive to be happy. ~ Desiderata
Interesting. I think that Brendan is responsible for Backspacer being one of the worse albums of 2009 and for what is most wrong with LB.... He used to do good things for PJ, but not anymore. They badly need a new producer for the next album IMO.
Strongly disagree, but to each his or her own. All the albums that Brendan didn't produce are on the bottom half of the list for me...Avocado, Riot Act, and especially Ten.
Interesting. I think that Brendan is responsible for Backspacer being one of the worse albums of 2009 and for what is most wrong with LB.... He used to do good things for PJ, but not anymore. They badly need a new producer for the next album IMO.
Strongly disagree, but to each his or her own. All the albums that Brendan didn't produce are on the bottom half of the list for me...Avocado, Riot Act, and especially Ten.
Yes, of course it's a matter of opinion. Riot Act and Selt-titled are in my top 5 (Ten isn't, but that doesn't mean it's not a great album too). While Backspacer is a steaming pile of musical crap for me, and his influence on LB made it not as good an album as it could have been IMO.
With all its sham, drudgery, and broken dreams, it is still a beautiful world. Be careful. Strive to be happy. ~ Desiderata
I like Avocado, but lightnig Bolt surpassed it in the last few months as my 8th favorite PJ album. But I thnk I will go find a good version of Army Reserve on youtube.
I think it's interesting that there is such a debate on the albums from the second half of their career (Binaural to LB). There seems to be much less debate on the first five records.
And I think Brendan O'Brien is the key to their sound on record. I know a lot of people on this board would disagree with me and probably reverse my ranking completely. I especially don't understand all the dislike for Backspacer. I thought that was a great record. Maybe lacked a little depth at times, but really accessible and flowed start to finish.
"Darkness comes in waves, tell me, why invite it to stay?"
Comments
I still fucking love "Avocado" (i'll never call it S/T ... thpppttttttttttt)
Great album. Binaural and Riot Act have their place in PJ history,
but i sort of think of those albums as "The Bush Twins" ... just kind've angry \ depressed songs written in the Roskilde \ George W. \ Eddie Leaving Beth era ... real MOODY albums.
Avocado was like, we done broke through all that shit, son, YOU READY TO ROCK AGAIN?
You ready to love? to live?
LETS DO IT.
BAMMM!
I think, in the face of the fact that Ed acknowledges most of the album was written about the loss of Johnny Ramone, it is interesting that the album seems to transcend raw sadness, and gives a range of emotions not present since Yield.
Really really love Avocado.
If I opened it now would you not understand?
I think S/T
I kinda think it's the other side of the same coin as RA. Both have pretty similar themes, but S/T has them presented in lighter more straight forward fashion.
Binaural came out before bush. or are you too young to remember?
At first, it took a while for pearl jam's self titled album to grow on me (a few weeks) but it definitely stands out. Riot Act was awesome at the time, but I don't go back to it as often. Binaural just gets better and better with time. Either way, love them all.
lol.
i think i'm too old and stoned to remember clearly.
i was 20 when it came out.
thanks for that though.
i think i'm losing my grip on the past!
::eek::
although, i've always been a bit timeline challenged.
the kinda guy who thinks something that happend last month was a year ago, and something that happened a year ago was last month.
bush, rokskilde, binauaral.
binaural, rokskilde, bush.
fuck it.
i surrender.
If I opened it now would you not understand?
I hear some folks on the board talking shit about the avocado album like its sub par, but I think it was a brilliant album. It came off as an album that wasn't over-thought or forced; it was raw and clean. The ending of the disc took a little while to grow on me and for a while I thought Come Back was a joke ("the reeeeel poss-a-bili-teeeeee") but I really came to love the song. I really hope I get to hear inside job at one of the shows this fall.
Highlights:
Army Reserve
Severed Hand
Comatose
Lowlights
Parachutes
Come Back
Gone
Unemployable
Marker in the Sand (loved it at first, now it doesnt do it for me)
shouldnt have 5 lowlights. Generously leaving Big Wave off too.
I guess it's because it is so tied to the war. However most songs do work apart from that perspective.
Al except World wide suïcide. It used to be one of my favorites, but I am less into it now.
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2014 Berlijn
Overall, a mixed bag for me. As an album I find it very difficult listening all the way through, unlike No Code or Yield. Not disappointed in it like Backspacer but it didn't excite me like their previous 7.
Seriously though, This album had some pretty great tunes when it first came out. I really enjoyed Life Wasted, Severed Hand, World Wide Suicide, Comatose...I thought the opening of the album was pretty solid. Unemployable is the worst song Pearl Jam has ever released (that's including Rock Around Barack). There are some songs in the middle of the album that don't hold me like the beginning of the album does. And it's not because they don't "rock." I like Parachutes and Gone (except for the one line I mentioned), I just find stuff like Marker, Big Wave, Wasted Reprise, Army Reserve uninteresting for Pearl Jam tunes. Come back is a beautiful tune and Inside Job is one I could listen to live at every show and never get sick of.
Looking at this album there's 3-4 songs I don't have on my iPod. Overall, I still give this album a 7/10. Even one of my least favourite PJ albums still ranks higher than a lot of albums I've ever listened to.
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It is Pearl Jam, so there are some amazing songs on Avocado: Comatose, Comeback, Inside Job.
The problem for me is that it has some songs I'll never like on it: Marker in the Sand, Gone, Parachutes...I never listen to it front to back because of those tracks.
I just didn't care for this whole era with the band...they made a great "comeback" with Backspacer and Lightning Bolt though!
It has a lot of good songs on it and so for me, it has held up.
In fact, I love some of the songs on that cd!
I'd rank the post-2000 albums:
1) Backspacer
2) Lightning Bolt
3) Avocado
4) Binaural
5) Riot Act
And I think Brendan O'Brien is the key to their sound on record. I know a lot of people on this board would disagree with me and probably reverse my ranking completely. I especially don't understand all the dislike for Backspacer. I thought that was a great record. Maybe lacked a little depth at times, but really accessible and flowed start to finish.