I can see the election having an effect on the band's creativity. Look, when Clinton was in office they put out 6 albums plus Mirrorball w/ Neil. Since Bush took office 8 years ago, they put out 2. Their age doesn't have anything to do with it either because a lot of bands write and record on tour. PJ doesn't but they should. They tour almost every year and it would be a perfect time to write some new material.
*edit* forgot that Ten came out in 1991 when Bush Sr was president so change the above to 5 albums.
If you think age has nothing to do with it, you're nuts. Very, very few bands maintain the kind of creative output in their later years that they typically had in their younger. Maybe Neil Young, but he's about it. PJ is never going to have the kind of output they did in the 90s and it has nothing to do with who the president is and everything to do with their age and lives... they all have families now that demand their time and attention. They don't have the freedom and passion of a 20-something with nothing to do other than focus on making music. They could afford to go from the road to the studio to the road to the studio because they didn't have kids to come home to. Now they do and they want to get off the road, see the family, spend time, and then go into the studio at their leisure. I don't blame them.
OK fine, call me nuts. but they're in their mid 40's, not in their 60's or anything. It seems everyone puts musicians up there with pro athlete's or something. Like once they hit 40 it's time to throw in the towel. 40 is not THAT old. I mean Jeff skateboards and Eddie surfs, activities that are more youthful IMO. Don't say their age is holding them back creatively. I agree with your comments about family. Family is important to everyone, but most of us leave our families daily to make a living, correct? I know I do. The band lives primarily in Seattle and probably see each other on a regular basis. I can't see how they couldn't get together a few times a month to throw some ideas around, possibly record a demo or something.
OK fine, call me nuts. but they're in their mid 40's, not in their 60's or anything. It seems everyone puts musicians up there with pro athlete's or something. Like once they hit 40 it's time to throw in the towel. 40 is not THAT old. I mean Jeff skateboards and Eddie surfs, activities that are more youthful IMO. Don't say their age is holding them back creatively. I agree with your comments about family. Family is important to everyone, but most of us leave our families daily to make a living, correct? I know I do. The band lives primarily in Seattle and probably see each other on a regular basis. I can't see how they couldn't get together a few times a month to throw some ideas around, possibly record a demo or something.
There's a difference between keeping up with hobbies like skateboarding or surfing, and the passion of a young performer. How many bands have continued to make good music in their 40s? The Stones, the Who... all their albums sucked by that age. Led Zep and the Beatles broke up before then. Bruce Springsteen and Dylan did come back to make solid albums, but there are YEARS in between those albums and they were more the exception than the rule. Even Neil Young hasn't come close to matching the highlights of his earlier work... except for when he brought a younger band in (PJ) to spark his creative spontaneity.
I'm not saying 40 is old. I'm saying that by then, you settle into your life and that reckless passion and spontaneity of youth fades. That's why kids are green party democrats in college, but become republicans by middle age. Why good bands start turning out generic but passable albums by their 40s, and why formerly avowed atheists suddenly start taking their kids back to church in middle-age.
No, they're not ancient and neither is being 40. No, it's not like being 60, but it isn't like being 20 either. Ed doesn't climb the rafters anymore, even if he does surf. He doesn't stage dive. etc. The band has slowed down. There's nothing wrong with it and it doesn't mean they can't make good music. But you can't say it has nothing to do with their age and everything to do with who's president... that's absurd.
Also, they've said in interviews that they DON'T do exactly what you describe there... they don't gather during the day to kick song dieas around and then go home to the families. It's not like your 9-5 job. They go home and do their thing and stay away from each other. When they tour, there's no going home to the kids at night. When they record, they get out of town to focus on the music. It's not like crunching numbers. Treating it that way, like some 9-5 job, is the surest way to make sure their music has absolutely NO passion.
This is exactly what I'm hoping for... put the 'jam' back into Pearl Jam. Hearing them talk about where the name came from in the Rolling Stone article got my hopes up that they'd get that back. Hasn't happened yet but I keep holding out hope. Those first two albums were so successful because it was the only rock out at the time that you could also get a groove on to... I miss that! We all know Stone's itching to get his funk on. Army Reserve is the best thing they've done in a while for that very reason.
ahh Army Reserve - that jam at the end of that song, Mikes colouring over the riff....it was the only song on PJ that brought memories of early albums back.
took the words outa my mouth with "the groove" part. there needs to be space in the music again. room for the instruments to breath a little....more Last Exit than WWS. sure i love the garagey Ed stuff, but there's been major overkill of that sound lately. time to give Stone & Mike space to play off each other again.
and less "clunk CLUNK clunk CLUNK" drumbeats killing the soft things that Stone does - Parachutes in particular suffered.
hopefully Ed, Stone, Jeff all bring their recent solo experiences to the fore, cos itd be magic if they get it right.
OK fine, call me nuts. but they're in their mid 40's, not in their 60's or anything. It seems everyone puts musicians up there with pro athlete's or something. Like once they hit 40 it's time to throw in the towel. 40 is not THAT old. I mean Jeff skateboards and Eddie surfs, activities that are more youthful IMO. Don't say their age is holding them back creatively. I agree with your comments about family. Family is important to everyone, but most of us leave our families daily to make a living, correct? I know I do. The band lives primarily in Seattle and probably see each other on a regular basis. I can't see how they couldn't get together a few times a month to throw some ideas around, possibly record a demo or something.
There's a difference between keeping up with hobbies like skateboarding or surfing, and the passion of a young performer. How many bands have continued to make good music in their 40s? The Stones, the Who... all their albums sucked by that age. Led Zep and the Beatles broke up before then. Bruce Springsteen and Dylan did come back to make solid albums, but there are YEARS in between those albums and they were more the exception than the rule. Even Neil Young hasn't come close to matching the highlights of his earlier work... except for when he brought a younger band in (PJ) to spark his creative spontaneity.
I'm not saying 40 is old. I'm saying that by then, you settle into your life and that reckless passion and spontaneity of youth fades. That's why kids are green party democrats in college, but become republicans by middle age. Why good bands start turning out generic but passable albums by their 40s, and why formerly avowed atheists suddenly start taking their kids back to church in middle-age.
No, they're not ancient and neither is being 40. No, it's not like being 60, but it isn't like being 20 either. Ed doesn't climb the rafters anymore, even if he does surf. He doesn't stage dive. etc. The band has slowed down. There's nothing wrong with it and it doesn't mean they can't make good music. But you can't say it has nothing to do with their age and everything to do with who's president... that's absurd.
Also, they've said in interviews that they DON'T do exactly what you describe there... they don't gather during the day to kick song dieas around and then go home to the families. It's not like your 9-5 job. They go home and do their thing and stay away from each other. When they tour, there's no going home to the kids at night. When they record, they get out of town to focus on the music. It's not like crunching numbers. Treating it that way, like some 9-5 job, is the surest way to make sure their music has absolutely NO passion.
If that's what PJ does, fine by me. They have every right in the world to take as much time as they want to record an album or tour. They are their own boss and I get that. Sure, they're creative spark has subsided as most great bands have over the years, but look at Eddie's ITW project. When you get inspired by something, as he did by Sean's film, age in no way plays a part. Sure, ITW isn't 1990's Eddie but I think you'd be hard pressed to find a PJ fan who thinks it absolutely sucks. Sure there's some who don't like it but the many outweigh the few. It show's that he has matured in his songwriting which isn't a bad thing. In regards to the politics, it's obvious that the band has specific political beliefs. It's hard to come up with a boot out there after 2000 where Ed doesn't mention Bush by name or the problems he and his administration has caused. Yes, they are not 20 year old's anymore. Who is in the White House can play some part on their outlook on music but not all of it. Maybe PJ down the line can buck the trend and possibly rock the world with some great music in the future. Only time will tell. Personally, I like the trend they are on and have thought their most recent album was quality. Change can be a good thing, I guess.
If that's what PJ does, fine by me. They have every right in the world to take as much time as they want to record an album or tour. They are their own boss and I get that. Sure, they're creative spark has subsided as most great bands have over the years, but look at Eddie's ITW project. When you get inspired by something, as he did by Sean's film, age in no way plays a part. Sure, ITW isn't 1990's Eddie but I think you'd be hard pressed to find a PJ fan who thinks it absolutely sucks. Sure there's some who don't like it but the many outweigh the few. It show's that he has matured in his songwriting which isn't a bad thing. In regards to the politics, it's obvious that the band has specific political beliefs. It's hard to come up with a boot out there after 2000 where Ed doesn't mention Bush by name or the problems he and his administration has caused. Yes, they are not 20 year old's anymore. Who is in the White House can play some part on their outlook on music but not all of it. Maybe PJ down the line can buck the trend and possibly rock the world with some great music in the future. Only time will tell. Personally, I like the trend they are on and have thought their most recent album was quality. Change can be a good thing, I guess.
Fair enough. I'm just saying that I don't think the fact that they released 5-6 albums in the 90s vs 2-3 albums since has anything to do with who was president. The political climate does influence the songs they write, but it does not influence how many songs they write and how often they're released. The reason they release fewer albums now is age and families, not the guy in office.
Comments
OK fine, call me nuts. but they're in their mid 40's, not in their 60's or anything. It seems everyone puts musicians up there with pro athlete's or something. Like once they hit 40 it's time to throw in the towel. 40 is not THAT old. I mean Jeff skateboards and Eddie surfs, activities that are more youthful IMO. Don't say their age is holding them back creatively. I agree with your comments about family. Family is important to everyone, but most of us leave our families daily to make a living, correct? I know I do. The band lives primarily in Seattle and probably see each other on a regular basis. I can't see how they couldn't get together a few times a month to throw some ideas around, possibly record a demo or something.
9/29/04 Boston, 6/28/08 Mansfield, 8/23/09 Chicago, 5/15/10 Hartford
5/17/10 Boston, 10/15/13 Worcester, 10/16/13 Worcester, 10/25/13 Hartford
8/5/16 Fenway, 8/7/16 Fenway
EV Solo: 6/16/11 Boston, 6/18/11 Hartford,
There's a difference between keeping up with hobbies like skateboarding or surfing, and the passion of a young performer. How many bands have continued to make good music in their 40s? The Stones, the Who... all their albums sucked by that age. Led Zep and the Beatles broke up before then. Bruce Springsteen and Dylan did come back to make solid albums, but there are YEARS in between those albums and they were more the exception than the rule. Even Neil Young hasn't come close to matching the highlights of his earlier work... except for when he brought a younger band in (PJ) to spark his creative spontaneity.
I'm not saying 40 is old. I'm saying that by then, you settle into your life and that reckless passion and spontaneity of youth fades. That's why kids are green party democrats in college, but become republicans by middle age. Why good bands start turning out generic but passable albums by their 40s, and why formerly avowed atheists suddenly start taking their kids back to church in middle-age.
No, they're not ancient and neither is being 40. No, it's not like being 60, but it isn't like being 20 either. Ed doesn't climb the rafters anymore, even if he does surf. He doesn't stage dive. etc. The band has slowed down. There's nothing wrong with it and it doesn't mean they can't make good music. But you can't say it has nothing to do with their age and everything to do with who's president... that's absurd.
Also, they've said in interviews that they DON'T do exactly what you describe there... they don't gather during the day to kick song dieas around and then go home to the families. It's not like your 9-5 job. They go home and do their thing and stay away from each other. When they tour, there's no going home to the kids at night. When they record, they get out of town to focus on the music. It's not like crunching numbers. Treating it that way, like some 9-5 job, is the surest way to make sure their music has absolutely NO passion.
ahh Army Reserve - that jam at the end of that song, Mikes colouring over the riff....it was the only song on PJ that brought memories of early albums back.
took the words outa my mouth with "the groove" part. there needs to be space in the music again. room for the instruments to breath a little....more Last Exit than WWS. sure i love the garagey Ed stuff, but there's been major overkill of that sound lately. time to give Stone & Mike space to play off each other again.
and less "clunk CLUNK clunk CLUNK" drumbeats killing the soft things that Stone does - Parachutes in particular suffered.
hopefully Ed, Stone, Jeff all bring their recent solo experiences to the fore, cos itd be magic if they get it right.
If that's what PJ does, fine by me. They have every right in the world to take as much time as they want to record an album or tour. They are their own boss and I get that. Sure, they're creative spark has subsided as most great bands have over the years, but look at Eddie's ITW project. When you get inspired by something, as he did by Sean's film, age in no way plays a part. Sure, ITW isn't 1990's Eddie but I think you'd be hard pressed to find a PJ fan who thinks it absolutely sucks. Sure there's some who don't like it but the many outweigh the few. It show's that he has matured in his songwriting which isn't a bad thing. In regards to the politics, it's obvious that the band has specific political beliefs. It's hard to come up with a boot out there after 2000 where Ed doesn't mention Bush by name or the problems he and his administration has caused. Yes, they are not 20 year old's anymore. Who is in the White House can play some part on their outlook on music but not all of it. Maybe PJ down the line can buck the trend and possibly rock the world with some great music in the future. Only time will tell. Personally, I like the trend they are on and have thought their most recent album was quality. Change can be a good thing, I guess.
9/29/04 Boston, 6/28/08 Mansfield, 8/23/09 Chicago, 5/15/10 Hartford
5/17/10 Boston, 10/15/13 Worcester, 10/16/13 Worcester, 10/25/13 Hartford
8/5/16 Fenway, 8/7/16 Fenway
EV Solo: 6/16/11 Boston, 6/18/11 Hartford,
Fair enough. I'm just saying that I don't think the fact that they released 5-6 albums in the 90s vs 2-3 albums since has anything to do with who was president. The political climate does influence the songs they write, but it does not influence how many songs they write and how often they're released. The reason they release fewer albums now is age and families, not the guy in office.