PJ Albums. Rank 'em. Again.

yieldtrack11 · February 2009

1) Yield
2) No Code
3) Vitalogy
4) Binaural
5) Vs
6) Ten
7) Riot Act
8) Pearl Jam

pdalowsky · February 2009

PHATJ wrote:

I think we should do it again. Let's rank the PJ studio albums (from first to worst) in each of our own humble opinions. Let the bickering begin. Again.

This list changes with the seasons for me. There are really no constants other then Riot Act and Binaural are always at the bottom. At one time or another, I think every other album may have topped this list. So here goes...

1. Ten ~Every song is a classic. Release is my personal all time favorite song. This album truly changed my life. I can't honestly say that about any other PJ record. Also in anticipation of the "deluxe/remastered" edition that is about to be released, this album gets the top spot.

2. Vs. ~Nearly as influential on me personally as TEN and probably has topped my personal list more often then any other PJ album. I LOVE this album. Seriously LOVE it. Leash, Glorified G, Rats. Just so damn good. Every song. A very real rock Masterpiece.

3. NO CODE ~I remember being in my parent's basement with the lights out, and only a couple candles burning, laying in front of my stereo speakers, for hours and hours, as a 16 year old, and just letting this album ooze into my soul. (that was way too many commas). It has really felt like it has been a part of me since. Present Tense, In My Tree and Red Mosquito are brilliant songs. The only song that I don't think works is Habit, but I can forgive one song.

4. YIELD ~I skipped school to be in line at my local record store during my senior year of High School the day this album came out. It was an instant great. Lots of awesome rockers and some cool mellow songs too (like every PJ album I guess). Could easily sit at the top of this list at any time for me.

5. PEARL JAM (Avocado) ~I really enjoy this album. There are a couple songs (Big Wave, World Wide Suicide and Comatose) that I could really do without. That being said, I love the "feel" of the album. It isn't over worked. It almost feels like a live CD to me, and I love that.

6. VITALOGY ~A really great record. PJ's first venture into a "concept" album. Beautifully designed (including the album artwork. PJ's best art design in my opinion.). Some fantastic songs. Some all time classics. But there were also some big misses. Whipping, Pry,to, and especially Stupid Mop (I know that this is/can basically be considered a throw away track and really isn't a song at all, but Pearl Jam put it on the album and must be penalized for such a ridiculous decision). Immortality should have been the perfect closer.

7. BINAURAL ~This is a decent album. It is incredibly well recorded and that is the biggest reason it isn't last on my list (that, and the fact that I absolutely love "Sleight of Hand"). The biggest problem with Binaural isn't the songs that are actually on the album, it's the songs PJ inexplicably left off the album (Sad, Fatal, Hitchhiker, In the Moonlight and Education; to name some). This could have (and should have) been a truly monumental release, but with so many omissions, I can't place it any higher on my list.

8. RIOT ACT ~There are several songs that I like quite a bit on this CD. "I Am Mine", "Can't Keep", and "You Are", to name my favorites. But there are way too many forgettable tracks and an over all inconsistent vibe to this whole album. I would review it favorably in comparison to releases by many of the bands that put out albums during this time period, but when comparing Riot Act to other PJ albums, it absolutely falls far short.

Well, I hope you all enjoy this exercise of reviewing your own opinions of the Pearl Jam catalog. I hope my review didn't bore you to death. I am excited to see what you all have to say...

Swap no code and yield and you and me are thinking on the same lines

goldrush · February 2009

1. Vitalogy - I still get more out of this than any other PJ album
2. Yield
3. No code
4. Pearl Jam
5. Ten
6. Binaural
7. Riot Act
8. Vs - I think every other PJ album kicks Vs ass (Indifference and Animal aside)

Of course this varies depending on my mood (and the new album will be my favourite for a while!) but 1 and 8 will pretty much always be Vitalogy and Vs.

fanch75 · February 2009

PHATJ wrote:

8. RIOT ACT

Excellent work.

PHATJ · February 2009

pdalowsky wrote:

PHATJ wrote:

I think we should do it again. Let's rank the PJ studio albums (from first to worst) in each of our own humble opinions. Let the bickering begin. Again.

This list changes with the seasons for me. There are really no constants other then Riot Act and Binaural are always at the bottom. At one time or another, I think every other album may have topped this list. So here goes...

1. Ten ~Every song is a classic. Release is my personal all time favorite song. This album truly changed my life. I can't honestly say that about any other PJ record. Also in anticipation of the "deluxe/remastered" edition that is about to be released, this album gets the top spot.

2. Vs. ~Nearly as influential on me personally as TEN and probably has topped my personal list more often then any other PJ album. I LOVE this album. Seriously LOVE it. Leash, Glorified G, Rats. Just so damn good. Every song. A very real rock Masterpiece.

3. NO CODE ~I remember being in my parent's basement with the lights out, and only a couple candles burning, laying in front of my stereo speakers, for hours and hours, as a 16 year old, and just letting this album ooze into my soul. (that was way too many commas). It has really felt like it has been a part of me since. Present Tense, In My Tree and Red Mosquito are brilliant songs. The only song that I don't think works is Habit, but I can forgive one song.

4. YIELD ~I skipped school to be in line at my local record store during my senior year of High School the day this album came out. It was an instant great. Lots of awesome rockers and some cool mellow songs too (like every PJ album I guess). Could easily sit at the top of this list at any time for me.

5. PEARL JAM (Avocado) ~I really enjoy this album. There are a couple songs (Big Wave, World Wide Suicide and Comatose) that I could really do without. That being said, I love the "feel" of the album. It isn't over worked. It almost feels like a live CD to me, and I love that.

6. VITALOGY ~A really great record. PJ's first venture into a "concept" album. Beautifully designed (including the album artwork. PJ's best art design in my opinion.). Some fantastic songs. Some all time classics. But there were also some big misses. Whipping, Pry,to, and especially Stupid Mop (I know that this is/can basically be considered a throw away track and really isn't a song at all, but Pearl Jam put it on the album and must be penalized for such a ridiculous decision). Immortality should have been the perfect closer.

7. BINAURAL ~This is a decent album. It is incredibly well recorded and that is the biggest reason it isn't last on my list (that, and the fact that I absolutely love "Sleight of Hand"). The biggest problem with Binaural isn't the songs that are actually on the album, it's the songs PJ inexplicably left off the album (Sad, Fatal, Hitchhiker, In the Moonlight and Education; to name some). This could have (and should have) been a truly monumental release, but with so many omissions, I can't place it any higher on my list.

8. RIOT ACT ~There are several songs that I like quite a bit on this CD. "I Am Mine", "Can't Keep", and "You Are", to name my favorites. But there are way too many forgettable tracks and an over all inconsistent vibe to this whole album. I would review it favorably in comparison to releases by many of the bands that put out albums during this time period, but when comparing Riot Act to other PJ albums, it absolutely falls far short.

Well, I hope you all enjoy this exercise of reviewing your own opinions of the Pearl Jam catalog. I hope my review didn't bore you to death. I am excited to see what you all have to say...

Swap no code and yield and you and me are thinking on the same lines

Sweet. I originally had Yield ahead of No Code but had to swap the two. It was a damn close call though!

2-feign-reluctance · February 2009

Vs.
Ten
Yield
No Code
Vitalogy
Binaural
Riot Act
Avocado

Vs will always be my favorite record. Can't wait to see the re-release on that one.

Kraven · February 2009

I like the top 3 songs per album so I am gonna add those too. 6 for Lost Dogs since it is double disc

Ten- Alive, Black, Garden
Vs.- Indifference, Rearviewmirror, Go
Vitalogy Immortality, Not For You, Corduroy
No Code- Smile, In My Tree, Red Mosquito
Yield- Low Light, No Way, Given to Fly
Binaural - Light Years, Insignificance, Soon Forget
Riot Act - All Or None, Thumbing My Way, 1/2 Full
Lost Dogs- Alone, Wash, Hard to Imagine, Footsteps, Sad, Hold On
Pearl Jam - Marker in the Sand, Army Reserve, Inside Job

PHATJ · February 2009

I like the top three songs per album idea. I'm in on that too.

TEN~ Release, Black, Why Go
VS.~ Glorified G, Leash, Animal
VITALOGY~ Not For You, Tremor Christ, Corduroy
NO CODE~ In My Tree, Red Mosquito, Present Tense
YIELD~ Faithfull, No Way, In Hiding
BINAURAL~ Sleight of Hand, Of the Girl, Breakerfall
RIOT ACT~ You Are, I AM Mine, Love Boat Captain
PEARL JAM~ Army Reserve, Come Back, Marker in the Sand
LOST DOGS~ Hard to Imagine, Sad, Down, Hold On, Footsteps, Wash

jamminpearls · February 2009

no code
yield
vitalogy
vs
ten
pj
binaural
riot act

just my opinion!!!

Better Dan · February 2009

Favorite albums and fav songs from each one:

Yield - No Way, Given to Fly, In Hiding
No Code - In My Tree, Off He Goes, Present Tense
Vitalogy - Last Exit, Satan's Bed, Immortality
Ten - Alive, Porch, Release
Binaural - Light Years, Grievance, Of the GIrl
VS - RVM, Small Town, Indifference
Lost Dogs
Riot Act - Save You, You Are, All or None
Pearl Jam - Army Reserve, Come Back, Inside Job

yoyo · February 2009

No Code 20/20
masterpiece present tense (top3), who you are, off he goes, smile, in my tree
Vitalogy 20/20
masterpiece corduroy (top3), immortality, tremor christ, spin the black circle, not for you
Vs 20/20
masterpiece rearviewmirror, go, indifference, rats, blood
Into the Wild 20/20
masterpiece Hard Sun, Long Night, No ceiling, Setting forth, Guaranteed
Ten 18/20
masterpiece Black (top3), oceans, release, even flow, jeremy
Binaural 17/20
masterpiece nothing as it seems, light years, of the girl, sleight of hand, Insignificance
Yield 16/20
masterpiece No way, given to fly, do the evolution, brain of J, Wishlist
Lost Dogs 16/20
masterpiece sad, strangest tribe, wash, fatal, hard to imagine
Avocado 15/20
Inside job, worldwide suicide, army reserve, unemployable, marker in the sand
Riot Act 12/20
you are, can't keep, all or none, bushleaguer, and stop, others are good bsides !

AtlantaJammer · February 2009

1. Vs
2. Yield
3. No Code
4. New record (hope it ranks ATLEAST this high)
5. Riot Act
6. Avocado
7. Ten
8. Binaural
9. Vitalogy

Wobbie · February 2009

Other than Riot Act, they're all shit!! :shock:

pkh43 · February 2009

1. Binaural
2. No Code
3. Riot Act
4. Vitology
5. Yield
6. VS
7. Ten
8. Avocado

gregkitefan · February 2009

All I know is that I like Riot Act the least by a large amount.
The other seven are all great in my book.

BMo-643 · February 2009

I'm a little miffed by a few things that I have noticed in these posts since my initial post on the first page...

That Riot Act is so universally panned by everyone. Even more so than Binarual. I liked Riot Act quiet a bit.

That "Pearl Jam" or "Avocado" ranks so high for a majority of people. My least favorite album.

There is two major camps - the "Yield is the best album camp" and the "No Code is the best album camp" I am in neither of those camps as neither of those albums are in my top 3.

Also I am glad that my top songs from each album thing caught on - I like seeing what people's favorite jams are from each cd.

canadajammer · February 2009

The incredible truth for me, is that I can make arguments for almost every album to by my favourite (except Riot Act and Pearl Jam).

1. No Code - As soon as Sometimes starts playing, I'm absolutely hooked.
Fave 3 - Sometimes, Smile, Red Mosquito

2. Yield - Just a beautiful, complex, fulfilling sounding all-around record.
Fave 3 - In Hiding, Given to Fly, Faithful

3. Binaural - This is the album that got me hooked. Beakerfall and Parting Ways are as good openers and closers as you are going to get.
Fave 3 - Breakerfall, Nothing as it Seems, Light Years

4. Vs. - Enough Said. I love every song on this album. How it is ranked 4th goes to show how damn good these guys really are.
Fave 3 - Rearviewmirror, Elderly Woman, W.M.A.

5. Ten - About time eh? I rank it 5th, but its a number 1 album in all of our hearts.
Fave 3 - Black, Alive, Porch

6. Vitalogy - Beautiful, compelling, its a masterpiece from start to finish.
Fave 3 - Corduroy, Betterman, Immortality

7. Pearl Jam - Shows that PJ are still world class. I love the flow of the record, and capping it with Come Back/Inside Job is brilliant.
Fave 3 - Marker, Inside Job, Severed Hand

8. Riot Act - Has some of my favourite tracks (Can't Keep, Save You, LBC, All or None). Just two many (by PJ standards) mediocre songs. Obviously still love it, and it is just as listened to as the other albums.

And my absolute favourite part of this whole discussion: Hard to Imagine, Footsteps, I got Shit, Long Road, Breath...

AtlantaJammer · February 2009

Colorsblending9 wrote:

The incredible truth for me, is that I can make arguments for almost every album to by my favourite (except Riot Act and Pearl Jam).

4. Vs. - Enough Said. I love every song on this album. How it is ranked 4th goes to show how damn good these guys really are.
Fave 3 - Rearviewmirror, Elderly Woman, W.M.A.

Vs... WMA, Blood, and RVM back to back to back = sickness! I rank Riot act higher than others for 'unknown' reason I guess??? Great record and it doesn't hurt that Save You is my favorite song...

TallGuyCM · February 2009

1. Vitalogy
2. Vs.
3. Ten
4. No Code
5. Yield
6. Binaural
7. Avocado
8. Riot Act

mini_tb · February 2009

This is a tough one...

I am rating these as entire albums from beginning to end, not for individual songs. The top 4 (+ maybe the next 2) are interchangeable at any point time.

These rankings are subject to change very often, but, as of today, this is my complete album listening preference:

The Top 3:

1. Riot Act - so very underrated. I still don't understand all the hate. The lyrics on this album are wonderful. I think all the haters really need to cut this album some slack and listen to it from beginning to end. The flow of songs on this album is second to none. I just love the subdued tension of Can't Keep into the full blown angst of Save You into the remorse/hope of LBC. Beautiful!!! Listening to Bu$hleaguer right now!!

2. Binaural - finally getting some of the love it deserves. Best enjoyed on vinyl!!!! Their musical direction seems to have changed with this album. And I think it's wonderful! I really didn't like this album (at all) when it first came out. The 2000 boots really changed my perception of Binaural. Binaural appreciation is what changed me from a casual PJ fan to an obsessed PF fanatic. Of the Girl is unbelievable. I would love to hear the boys open with this (or Can't Keep) more often. An extended jam in Of the Girl would be the greatest thing ever!

3. No Code - was my favorite up until the last year or 2. Nothing wrong with this album either. I think I listened to this one a bit too much, so Riot Act and Binaural were able to move past it (for now)

The next 3 albums as a whole have not aged as well for me. Obviously the hits and classics are there. To me, Ten, Vs, and Vitalogy sound more like a greatest hits package than a complete album from beginning to end these days.

4. Ten - A classic! Unfortunately, it sounds like a veritable greatest hits package. I guess hearing all the songs sooooooooooooo many times over the years has maybe weakened it in my ears. Can't wait to hear the new version!!!

5. Vs. - I love everything on this one, but, again, I get the idea that I am listening to a greatest hits CD more than a complete album. So I guess this slides down this far because of the lack of "album flow".

6. Vitalogy - I love sooooo many songs on this one, but it definitely falls flat as an album because of a few crappy tracks.

Bottom 2

7. Yield - It actually was my favorite album when it first came out - even ahead of No Code. Then I got tired of it - the only PJ album I can say that about. I think it will go back up the list in time. I found myself listening to it the other night and enjoying it. It looks like Yield and I just needed some time apart. We'll start out as just friends and see where it goes from there. That just shows how amazing of a band Pearl Jam is when I can list Yield as next to last and still say it is a hands down great album!

8. Self Titled - while the rest of their albums are great, I think this one is merely good. I'm still waiting for this album to evoke some kind of emotion in me. The style of the fast songs almost has a forced feel to me. Plus, I've never really felt any kind of flow from song to song. There aren't really any bad songs on it, so maybe it just needs a few more years of aging to enhance it's flavor so to speak???

I am really looking forward to the next album!!!

PJ Albums. Rank 'em. Again.

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