bold prediction
Ok, I don't post often but I get excited when a new album comes out (although I still haven't bought the new "ten"...didn't feel right to me)
So, they got a new album coming out and I am yet to hear a single song off it (I guess I will on Monday night)
This is what I Know about PJ:
-they started off huge and it was impossible to get concert tix/everybody owned their first 3 albums
-they started to lose fanbase with the release of "no Code"/ for some reason this is about the time I started becoming a huge fan
-they put out an amazing album called "yield" produced by O'Brian/my favorite of theirs
-then they put out "Binaural" and the rest of the world forgot about PJ
-"Riot Act" did nothing to boost their popularity/they now made music for die hard fans and no one else
I was in love with the entire PJ catalog at this point and the band could do no wrong in my eyes...
Then they started making "weird" decisions
-They released a "greatest hits" record/didn't ever think it was something they would've done
-They made "Pearl Jam" which had the worst cover art and arguably least impressive musical direction of any PJ album to date...in addition to that, it had a significantly more "pop" or commercial sound than anyother PJ album.
-They Re-released "ten" in what came across to me as a mid-life crisis of sorts for the band/sort of reliving the "glory days" if you will
So, at this point I started to worry about the musical future of PJ as I held them on such a high pedistal and didn't want to see them fall...
However, the good news is that they've teamed back up with O'Brian (who shares some favor with me as he helped them do yield)
In short, I have no idea what the new album will hold for me...I don't know if they'll completely sell out and it will be full of commercial driven tunes in a weak hope that they might be able to sell records again (doubt it)
Or, maybe they'll say "fuck it" and just let the music make itself without as much of an agenda...
This is what I hope the new album has to offer:
-Experimental techniques/styles
-well thought-out lyrics
-more focus on art and less chorus-verse-chorus
-different and unique yet enjoyable to the ears
-more bass (put the spot light on Jeff and see what hes got)
-clean, full sound (I believe this is O'Brians responsibility)
OK, this might sound demanding and I don't mean it to...I'm just hoping for a good record as not many are being made these days. Plus, PJ had always been the "best band around" to me and I can't help but be more critical of them...
Whatever happens, I'm sure the live shows will be amazing...
Thanks for reading my thoughts/comments welcome of course
So, they got a new album coming out and I am yet to hear a single song off it (I guess I will on Monday night)
This is what I Know about PJ:
-they started off huge and it was impossible to get concert tix/everybody owned their first 3 albums
-they started to lose fanbase with the release of "no Code"/ for some reason this is about the time I started becoming a huge fan
-they put out an amazing album called "yield" produced by O'Brian/my favorite of theirs
-then they put out "Binaural" and the rest of the world forgot about PJ
-"Riot Act" did nothing to boost their popularity/they now made music for die hard fans and no one else
I was in love with the entire PJ catalog at this point and the band could do no wrong in my eyes...
Then they started making "weird" decisions
-They released a "greatest hits" record/didn't ever think it was something they would've done
-They made "Pearl Jam" which had the worst cover art and arguably least impressive musical direction of any PJ album to date...in addition to that, it had a significantly more "pop" or commercial sound than anyother PJ album.
-They Re-released "ten" in what came across to me as a mid-life crisis of sorts for the band/sort of reliving the "glory days" if you will
So, at this point I started to worry about the musical future of PJ as I held them on such a high pedistal and didn't want to see them fall...
However, the good news is that they've teamed back up with O'Brian (who shares some favor with me as he helped them do yield)
In short, I have no idea what the new album will hold for me...I don't know if they'll completely sell out and it will be full of commercial driven tunes in a weak hope that they might be able to sell records again (doubt it)
Or, maybe they'll say "fuck it" and just let the music make itself without as much of an agenda...
This is what I hope the new album has to offer:
-Experimental techniques/styles
-well thought-out lyrics
-more focus on art and less chorus-verse-chorus
-different and unique yet enjoyable to the ears
-more bass (put the spot light on Jeff and see what hes got)
-clean, full sound (I believe this is O'Brians responsibility)
OK, this might sound demanding and I don't mean it to...I'm just hoping for a good record as not many are being made these days. Plus, PJ had always been the "best band around" to me and I can't help but be more critical of them...
Whatever happens, I'm sure the live shows will be amazing...
Thanks for reading my thoughts/comments welcome of course
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Columbus 00 -- Toronto 00 -- Toronto 03 -- Hershey 03 -- Boston I 04 -- Boston II 04 -- Toledo 04 -- Kitchener 05 -- London 05 -- Hamilton 05 -- Ottawa 05 -- Toronto 05 -- Toronto I 06 -- Toronto II 06 -- Cleveland 06 -- Detroit 06 -- Gorge I 06 -- Gorge II 06 -- Chicago Lolla 07 -- Toronto 09 -- Buffalo 10 -- Hamilton 11 -- Toronto I 11 -- Toronto II 11 -- Buffalo 13 -- London 13 -- Toronto I 16 -- Toronto II 16 -- Ottawa 16 -- Chicago I 18 -- Chicago II 18 -- Hamilton 22 -- Toronto 22
Ed Ved - Toronto I 08--Toronto II 08
You got that right.
like you noted... were all in good hands as long as brendans at the wheel
http://seanbriceart.com/
I agree with you though for the most part, except that I really like Avocado (ESPECIALLY the artwork, I thought it was great, maybe even my favorite).
3 Decibels Doubles the Volume
2006
As for your view of the re-release of Ten as being a mid life crisis, to each their own, but given the extra work and thought put into the packages and it being part of the bigger overall project of re-releaseing their entire back catalogue, I don't personally think it's a mid-life crisis or money making venture exclusively.
I am as eager to hear the new material as the next guy and hope it is something special with B O'B back in the fold.
i was about to say that.
rearviewmirror was indeed part of the epic contract
I wave to all my Friends... Yeah!
One of the biggest bands in the history of music, and easily one of the largest, most important bands still making music today is almost turning 20 years old. That's two decades of making some of the most influential, important, and ground breaking music in the history of rock.
Something like this must be celebrated, what better way to celebrate then putting together different versions, (based upon budget of consumer) excellently done, with tons of extras and little goodies of each of their previous albums and releasing them periodically over the next 2 years up until the band actually turns 20.....that seems like an awesome idea that the true fans of the bands would absolutely love...and I do...I wish I knew when the versions of V/S and Vitalogy were being released (because I am more excited for them than Ten) just so I could start getting pumped...
Lollapalooza 07'
Bonnaroo 08'
Columbus 10'
Noblesville 10'
Alpine Valley 11'
Alpine Valley 11'
Music Midtown 12'
Wrigley Field 13'
Cincinnati 14'
Lexington 16'
Here here, I can't wait to own everything on vinyl!
None of these are weird decisions. The greatest hits was part of their contract, it was inevitable. They wanted to re-release Ten for years... since vs. actually. If you've ever seen the Even Flow video, it uses a different version of the song from the album. Why? Because the band was unhappy with the way Ten sounded from day one. They just finally found the time and reason to go ahead and do it. As to the last album, I'm not a huge fan of it either. But it seemed a necessary step to me. Riot Act was a pretty huge failure as an album and the band seemed to have lost its way. s/t was the sound of a band trying to regroup and gather their strengths. The biggest problem with it is the sound/production. Other than that, it's a decent album from a great band. Nobody hits homeruns every time.
So your big prediction is that you don't know what to expect?...
'06 - London, Dublin, Reading
'07 - Katowice, Wembley, Dusseldorf, Copenhagen, Nijmegen
'09 - London, Manchester, London
'12 - Manchester, Manchester, Berlin, Stockholm, Copenhagen
As for the self titled album...I guess I just flat out disagree. I feel that Riot Act is and will always be their weakest album. The songs all have this weird, unfinished feel to them and it features Ed at his worst as far as studio performances go.
I definitely agree with you about Brendan O'Brien though. Self Titled would have been much better if he had produced it and I have very high hopes about his involvement with the upcoming record.
-my dad after hearing Not for You for the first time on SNL .
lol....word. what he said
-my dad after hearing Not for You for the first time on SNL .
Also, Riot Act is getting far too much shit on this thread. I cracked RA open again recently, and couldn't find a song to skip. Not even Bushleaguer.
I've decided, at this point, it is better than Binaural, start to finish. And I like Binaural, too.
for the least they could possibly do
i agree. i think riot act is better than S/T, Binaural, and Ten.
as for the reissues, Sony is behind them for sure. It is what labels always do when contracts are up with bands that are big enough to warrant them. Since Sony still has the rights, they decided to reissue the catalog, just like radiohead is having done to their stuff now (which they are pissed about, but since they are choosing to not be involved, the releases are a bit sub-par).
Eddie said somewhere that it was not his/the bands idea to do it, but since it was being done anyway, they got involved to make the project a good one (although chopping songs off of the dvd and the drop in the park show have me a bit frustrated...).
dont worry, there are many other recent examples of them "selling out" to get pissed about. reissues and the greatest hits album (another one they had no control over) are not in the same league as some others, which i'm guessing you can find other threads about on here...
While self titled was alright it was an improvement over Binaural and Riot Act, and it was (to me) an attempt to let go of their looser groove/ fast punk Jack Irons inspired phase and return to their roots. While I think Self Titled missed the mark it did reverse a downward trend from Binaural and Riot Act. When you combine Pearl Jam's new found pride in their '91-'94 sound (for years they seemed to be running from it) and Brendan who did such a great job with Vs., Vitalogy, No Code and Yield, even the most pessimistic Pearl Jam fan has to be more optimistic than they have been in years that this next album is going to be a success in every form (commercially, as well with hard core fans).
Besides Brendan the only other news about the new album that could make me more excited than I am now is to hear that Pearl Jam brought Dave Abbruzzese in to record some tracks.
With you there - thought the avacado was this shiz. (front and back).