Slate PJ Article (negative view of the Target deal)

Brain of JFK
Brain of JFK Posts: 238
edited September 2009 in The Porch
http://www.slate.com/id/2227096/

The Last Sellouts
Pearl Jam's brilliant new single, brought to you by Target.

Title pretty much says it all in terms of the article. A very positive review of The Fixer, but a very negative (and to me, kind of lazy and oversimplified) condemnation of the Target deal.

I disagree with most of it, but thought others might find it an interesting read anyway.
96: 10-2 Hartford
03: 7-11 Mansfield 3
04: 9-28 Boston 1
08: 6-28 Mansfield 1
09: 10-30 Philly 3, 10-31 Philly 4
10: 5-15 Hartford, 5-17 Boston
11: 9-3 Alpine Valley, 9-4 Alpine Valley
13: 10-15 Worcester 1, 10-16 Worcester 2, 10-25 Hartford
16: 4-29 Philly 2, 5-1 MSG 1, 8-5 Fenway 1, 8-7 Fenway 2
18: 9-2 Fenway 1, 9-4 Fenway 2
21: 9-26 Ohana
22: 5-6 LA, 5-7 LA, 5-16 Fresno
EV SOLO: 8-2-08 Boston 2, 6-8-09 Albany 1, 6-15-11 Providence, 6-16-11 Boston, 6-18-11 Hartford, 11-1-12 Las Vegas
Tres Mts: 3-27-11 Boston
Post edited by Unknown User on
«13

Comments

  • saveyou22
    saveyou22 Posts: 154
    Definatly an igrorant moron. I think it's fanfuckingtastic that a band can release an album without a label, it's not like they made a deal with Wal-Mart, and Target is no where near the mega corporation that they were signed to for all those years at Sony. That whole article was just the uninformed ranting from a music writer that couldn't make it in music himself. He should be hung from his heels and bleed like a stuck pig. Selah.
  • arq
    arq Posts: 8,101
    What a piece of crap:

    "The three albums that followed Vitalogy—No Code, Yield, and Binaural—were full of left-field experiments into sun-baked spiritualism ("Who You Are," "Given to Fly"), long, scorched dirges masquerading as singles ("Nothing as It Seems"), and ugly, rambling blues-jams ("Red Mosquito"). "

    "rambling blues jams (red mosquito)"
    That song is a master piece! Ignorant good for nothing! :evil:
    "The good thing about science is that it's true whether or not you believe in it"
    Neil deGrasse Tyson

    Why not (V) (°,,,,°) (V) ?
  • YetAnotherFiasco
    YetAnotherFiasco Posts: 158
    If this guy can really write this article about Target, without mentioning the fact that Pearl Jam is releasing Backspacer on their own, without a label in the US, then he is a pathetic reporter. I wish he drowned when he jumped ship after Vitalogy.
  • blacknapkins
    blacknapkins Posts: 2,177
    I'm taking any negative press with a grain (or a pound) of salt.

    Everything in the music business is experimental right now, and it's worth it to pay attention to the nuances as bands try to tweak the old ways to come up with some new ones. I don't really get what he's trying to say here. So "The Fixer" is a good, positive song and they shouldn't sell it through Target? Who cares?

    I'll just slap Jonah Weiner with a "cranky little man" label and move on.
    "Information is not knowledge.
    Knowledge is not wisdom.
    Wisdom is not truth.
    Truth is not beauty.
    Beauty is not love.
    Love is not music.
    Music is the best."
    ~ FZ ~
  • mr_canada
    mr_canada Posts: 555
    the guys last name is "weiner"...wouldn't you be pissed off too?
  • Danimal
    Danimal Posts: 2,000
    Ehhh, not too bad. Everyone is entitled to their opinion.
    "I don't believe in PJ fans but I believe there is something, not too sure what." - Thoughts_Arrive


  • CranMalReign
    CranMalReign Posts: 1,928
    I tell you what... as much as I love Pearl Jam, I really enjoy when reviews and articles are posted with negative spin, no matter how minute.

    It brings out the best in the board! The class shines and shines. :D
    • 98 Pgh
    • 00 Pgh
    • 03 Pgh|Philly|PSU|Camden 1+2|Hershey
    • 04 Boston 1|Reading
    • 05 Philly
    • 06 Camden 1+2|Pgh
    • 08 Camden 1+2|Hartford|Mansfield 2
    • 09 Philly 1 [EV]|Toronto|Spectrum 1-4
    • 10 Cleveland|Buffalo
    • 11 Philly [EV]|PJ20
    • 12 Philly
    • 13 London|Pgh|Buff|Philly 1+2|Balt
    • 14 Cincy|StL
    • 16 Philly 1+2|Philly 2 [TotD]
    • 18 Boston 1+2
  • Hatfield78
    Hatfield78 Posts: 69
    arq wrote:
    What a piece of crap:

    "The three albums that followed Vitalogy—No Code, Yield, and Binaural—were full of left-field experiments into sun-baked spiritualism ("Who You Are," "Given to Fly"), long, scorched dirges masquerading as singles ("Nothing as It Seems"), and ugly, rambling blues-jams ("Red Mosquito"). "

    "rambling blues jams (red mosquito)"
    That song is a master piece! Ignorant good for nothing! :evil:

    I didn't read the article but just from what you pulled out, this guy doesn't even LIKE music!
  • dreamweaver
    dreamweaver New York Posts: 764
    poor judgement
    Meadowlands, MSG 1, MSG 2 - '98 Jones Beach NY 1 + 3 - '00 MSG 1 + 2 - '03 Boston Garden - '04 Montreal - '05 Boston Garden 1, Meadowlands 1 + 2 - '06 Mansfield 1 - '08 (EV solo) Boston 1 - '08 Chicago 1 - '09 MSG -'10 Brooklyn 1+2 - '13 Central Park - '15 MSG - '16 Fenway - '16 Wrigley - '16 (RRHOF) Brooklyn - '17 Fenway - '18 MSG - '22 MSG 1 - '24
  • Zoso
    Zoso Posts: 6,425
    of course people are going to see this as a sellout move... are you surprised?
    I'm just flying around the other side of the world to say I love you

    Sha la la la i'm in love with a jersey girl

    I love you forever and forever :)

    Adel 03 Melb 1 03 LA 2 06 Santa Barbara 06 Gorge 1 06 Gorge 2 06 Adel 1 06 Adel 2 06 Camden 1 08 Camden 2 08 Washington DC 08 Hartford 08
  • dreamweaver
    dreamweaver New York Posts: 764
    Zoso wrote:
    of course people are going to see this as a sellout move... are you surprised?


    why? there's no reason to. the only kind of person I see veiwing this wrong are kids who don't understand the business. that's all. It's actually a pretty cool deal. Bottom line is, Pearl Jam isn't hurting anyone.
    Meadowlands, MSG 1, MSG 2 - '98 Jones Beach NY 1 + 3 - '00 MSG 1 + 2 - '03 Boston Garden - '04 Montreal - '05 Boston Garden 1, Meadowlands 1 + 2 - '06 Mansfield 1 - '08 (EV solo) Boston 1 - '08 Chicago 1 - '09 MSG -'10 Brooklyn 1+2 - '13 Central Park - '15 MSG - '16 Fenway - '16 Wrigley - '16 (RRHOF) Brooklyn - '17 Fenway - '18 MSG - '22 MSG 1 - '24
  • NewJPage
    NewJPage Posts: 3,326
    saveyou22 wrote:
    Definatly an igrorant moron. I think it's fanfuckingtastic that a band can release an album without a label, it's not like they made a deal with Wal-Mart, and Target is no where near the mega corporation that they were signed to for all those years at Sony. That whole article was just the uninformed ranting from a music writer that couldn't make it in music himself. He should be hung from his heels and bleed like a stuck pig. Selah.

    it does mention they were with sony, and it asks the question, "are they sellouts because they used to be with sony"

    the deal sucks, IMHO, mostly because the band is actively telling people to shop at target, a store that has huge moral issues for me, a consumer. but this has been covered to death on the board. lets move on.
    6/26/98, 8/17/00, 10/8/00, 12/8/02, 12/9/02, 4/25/03, 5/28/03, 6/1/03, 6/3/03, 6/5/03, 6/6/03, 6/12/03, 6/13/03, 6/15/03, 6/18/03, 6/21/03, 6/22/03, 7/12/03, 7/14/03, 10/3/04, 10/5/04, 9/9/05, 9/11/05, 9/16/05, 5/16/06, 5/17/06, 5/19/06, 6/30/06, 7/23/06, 8/5/07, 6/30/08, 8/23/09, 8/24/09, 5/4/10, 5/7/10, 9/3/11, 9/4/11, 10/11/13, 10/17/14, 8/20/16
  • dreamweaver
    dreamweaver New York Posts: 764
    NewJPage wrote:
    saveyou22 wrote:
    Definatly an igrorant moron. I think it's fanfuckingtastic that a band can release an album without a label, it's not like they made a deal with Wal-Mart, and Target is no where near the mega corporation that they were signed to for all those years at Sony. That whole article was just the uninformed ranting from a music writer that couldn't make it in music himself. He should be hung from his heels and bleed like a stuck pig. Selah.

    it does mention they were with sony, and it asks the question, "are they sellouts because they used to be with sony"

    the deal sucks, IMHO, mostly because the band is actively telling people to shop at target, a store that has huge moral issues for me, a consumer. but this has been covered to death on the board. lets move on.


    You have to realize Target is a place for a mojority of Americans to bring their families on a saturday to get out of the house. You can't have an a moral opinion of this because they probably wouldn't have much else and it's affordable. Sure it seems like it sucks, but only to those who have had more.
    Meadowlands, MSG 1, MSG 2 - '98 Jones Beach NY 1 + 3 - '00 MSG 1 + 2 - '03 Boston Garden - '04 Montreal - '05 Boston Garden 1, Meadowlands 1 + 2 - '06 Mansfield 1 - '08 (EV solo) Boston 1 - '08 Chicago 1 - '09 MSG -'10 Brooklyn 1+2 - '13 Central Park - '15 MSG - '16 Fenway - '16 Wrigley - '16 (RRHOF) Brooklyn - '17 Fenway - '18 MSG - '22 MSG 1 - '24
  • Zoso
    Zoso Posts: 6,425
    dreamweaver wrote:
    Zoso wrote:
    of course people are going to see this as a sellout move... are you surprised?


    why? there's no reason to. the only kind of person I see veiwing this wrong are kids who don't understand the business. that's all. It's actually a pretty cool deal. Bottom line is, Pearl Jam isn't hurting anyone.

    I did have an issue with this at first but when explained I'm fine with it... Exactly in it's simplest form if people don;t understand it they could misunderstand it for selling out. I think the fact that it's available in independent stores is a good sign for the guys :)
    I'm just flying around the other side of the world to say I love you

    Sha la la la i'm in love with a jersey girl

    I love you forever and forever :)

    Adel 03 Melb 1 03 LA 2 06 Santa Barbara 06 Gorge 1 06 Gorge 2 06 Adel 1 06 Adel 2 06 Camden 1 08 Camden 2 08 Washington DC 08 Hartford 08
  • reflectedfromafar
    reflectedfromafar Posts: 235
    This negativity just makes me stronger, we will not retreat, this band is unstoppable! And this weekend, we rock Portland!
    There's a lot to be said for nowhere...
  • NewJPage
    NewJPage Posts: 3,326
    dreamweaver wrote:
    NewJPage wrote:
    saveyou22 wrote:
    Definatly an igrorant moron. I think it's fanfuckingtastic that a band can release an album without a label, it's not like they made a deal with Wal-Mart, and Target is no where near the mega corporation that they were signed to for all those years at Sony. That whole article was just the uninformed ranting from a music writer that couldn't make it in music himself. He should be hung from his heels and bleed like a stuck pig. Selah.

    it does mention they were with sony, and it asks the question, "are they sellouts because they used to be with sony"

    the deal sucks, IMHO, mostly because the band is actively telling people to shop at target, a store that has huge moral issues for me, a consumer. but this has been covered to death on the board. lets move on.


    You have to realize Target is a place for a mojority of Americans to bring their families on a saturday to get out of the house. You can't have an a moral opinion of this because they probably wouldn't have much else and it's affordable. Sure it seems like it sucks, but only to those who have had more.

    I know what you are saying, and i think you are right. it is, unfortunately, the current state that we live in as a society. I just with the band would do something to try and change it, because they have that option.

    And I hope you aren't referring to me as someone who has "had more," because i'm a dirt poor grad student.
    6/26/98, 8/17/00, 10/8/00, 12/8/02, 12/9/02, 4/25/03, 5/28/03, 6/1/03, 6/3/03, 6/5/03, 6/6/03, 6/12/03, 6/13/03, 6/15/03, 6/18/03, 6/21/03, 6/22/03, 7/12/03, 7/14/03, 10/3/04, 10/5/04, 9/9/05, 9/11/05, 9/16/05, 5/16/06, 5/17/06, 5/19/06, 6/30/06, 7/23/06, 8/5/07, 6/30/08, 8/23/09, 8/24/09, 5/4/10, 5/7/10, 9/3/11, 9/4/11, 10/11/13, 10/17/14, 8/20/16
  • slightofjeff
    slightofjeff Posts: 7,762
    NewJPage wrote:
    saveyou22 wrote:
    Definatly an igrorant moron. I think it's fanfuckingtastic that a band can release an album without a label, it's not like they made a deal with Wal-Mart, and Target is no where near the mega corporation that they were signed to for all those years at Sony. That whole article was just the uninformed ranting from a music writer that couldn't make it in music himself. He should be hung from his heels and bleed like a stuck pig. Selah.

    it does mention they were with sony, and it asks the question, "are they sellouts because they used to be with sony"

    the deal sucks, IMHO, mostly because the band is actively telling people to shop at target, a store that has huge moral issues for me, a consumer. but this has been covered to death on the board. lets move on.

    Actually, I think the band is actively telling people to shop their independent record stores. I think that would be their druthers. Or pre-order it off this site.

    Based on this band's history, I don't know what more they have to do to prove they have their fans' best interests at heart. Or, at the very least, their fans' best interest plays into the calculus whenever there is a major decision to make.

    Based on their track record, I trust them. The world will not end, and the music will not change, if I choose to purchase the record at Target.
    everybody wants the most they can possibly get
    for the least they could possibly do
  • O_G_D
    O_G_D Toronto Posts: 543
    Anyone critical of Pearl Jam is absolutely crazy. The same can be said about anyone critical of Obama. I mean the nerve. How dare you??????? Go ride the back of the bus!!!!
    1. Toronto, Ontario 09-21-1996 (MAPLE LEAF GARDENS)
    2. Barrie, Ontario 08-22-1998 (MOLSON PARK)
    3. Toronto, Ontario 10-05-2000 (AIR CANADA CENTRE)
    4. Toronto, Ontario 06-28-2003 (MOLSON AMPHITHEATRE)
    5. Boston, Massachusetts 09-28-2004 FLEET CENTER (NOW TD GARDEN) VFC TOUR
    6. Boston, Massachusetts 09-28-2004 FLEET CENTER (NOW TD GARDEN) VFC TOUR
    7. Hamilton, Ontario 09-13-2005 (COPPS COLISEUM)
    8. Toronto, Ontario 09-19-2005 (AIR CANADA CENTRE)
    9. St. Johns, Newfoundland 09-24-2005 (MILE ONE)
    10. St. Johns, Newfoundland 09-25-2005 (MILE ONE)
    11. Toronto, Ontario 05-09-2006 (AIR CANADA CENTRE)
    12. Toronto, Ontario 05-09-2006 (AIR CANADA CENTRE)
    13. Sydney, Australia 11-07-2006 (ACER ARENA)
    14. Sydney, Australia 11-08-2006 (ACER ARENA)
    15. Melbourne, Australia 11-13-2006 (ROD LAVER ARENA)
    16. Melbourne, Australia 11-14-2006 (ROD LAVER ARENA)
    17. Adelaide, Australia 11-21-2006 (ADELAIDE ENTERTAINMENT CENTRE)
    18. Adelaide, Australia 11-22-2006 (ADELAIDE ENTERTAINMENT CENTRE)
    19. Perth, Australia 11-25-2006 (SUBIACO OVAL)
    20. New York, New York 06-24-2008 (MADISON SQUARE GARDEN)
    21. New York, New York 06-25-2008 (MADISON SQUARE GARDEN)
    22. Toronto, Ontario 08-21-2009 (MOLSON AMPITHEATRE)
    23. Buffalo, New York 05-10-2010 (HSBC ARENA)
    24. Toronto, Ontario 09-11-2011 (AIR CANADA CENTRE)
    25. Toronto, Ontario 09-12-2011 (AIR CANADA CENTRE)
    26. Hamilton, Ontario 09-15-2011 (COPPS COLISEUM)
    27. London, Ontario 07-16-2013 (BUDWEISER GARDENS)
    28. Buffalo, New York 10-12-2013 (FIRST NIAGARA CENTER) FORMERLY HSBC ARENA
    29. Detroit, Michigan 10-16-2014 (JOE LOUIS ARENA)
    30. Ottawa, Ontario 5-8-2016 (CANADIAN TIRE CENTRE)
    31. Toronto, Ontario 5-10-2016 (AIR CANADA CENTRE)
    32. Toronto, Ontario 5-12-2016 (AIR CANADA CENTRE)

  • RiotAct10
    RiotAct10 Ohio Posts: 1,643
    I think the only thing wrong here, is people's perception of what Target is. For this situation, Target is essentially, the record company. What I mean is, would anyone be calling Pearl Jam sellouts if for this album they had signed a 1-album deal with Atlantic Records, or Warner or whoever? It is essentially the exact same thing, EXCEPT, they cut out everyone that comes between the band and the distributor, and it now pretty much goes straight from the band to the distributor.

    This is 2009, not 1969, or 1989, or even 1999. Maybe it is going to take people awhile to get used to how releasing new music will work now, but come on, the sale of albums is a dying breed, and bands need to find creative ways to remain relevant when it comes to selling new music. Perhaps in 5 or so years, you can go back and read a review of this album that mentions the Target deal, and think to yourself, "whats so big about that, everyone does that."

    I just cannot read this as a sellout move at all. Sorry.
    words seem so out of place.

    8.21.00 Columbus | 6.24.03 Columbus | 7.9.03 NYC | 10.2.04 Toledo | 9.11.05 Kitchener | 5.20.06 Cleveland | 8.5.07 Chicago | 5.6.10 Columbus | 5.7.10 Noblesville | 5.9.10 Cleveland | 9.3.11 East Troy | 9.4.11 East Troy | 7.19.13 Chicago | 10.11.13 Pittsburgh | 10.1.14 Cincinnati | 4.8.16 Ft. Lauderdale | 4.9.16 Miami | 8.8.18 Seattle | 8.10.18 Seattle | 9.26.21 Dana Point | 10.1.21 Dana Point | 10.2.21 Dana Point | 9.16.22 Nashville | 9.17.22 Louisville | 9.18.22 St. Louis | 9.2.23 St. Paul | 9.15.23 Ft. Worth | 6.22.24 Dublin | 8.26.24 Noblesville | 9.27.24 Dana Point | 9.29.24 Dana Point | 4.24.25 Hollywood | 4.26.25 Hollywood | 5.18.25 Pittsburgh
    6.26.11 Detroit (EdVed) | 9.23.17 Louisville (EdVed) | 9.25.21 Dana Point (EdVed) | 10.01.22 Dana Point (EdVed) | 2.6.22 Newark (EdVed)
  • cippociappo
    cippociappo Posts: 692
    I think it's great that they decided to release it on their own, and in indie stores as well...

    ... but let's be realistic, that alone would not allow them to reach a big chunck of americans... With the
    target deal, they can actually sell Backspacer to the casual listener that goes to Target to spend the Saturday (what a horrible perspective!!). Those are the guys that don't follow this board, and that most probably don't go to independent stores to buy their music.

    Instead of buying Britney Spears albums at Target, this time around they might check out the latest record from Pearl Jam... and that's a good thing, IMHO :)
    (if they don't sign on here and compete for tickets, obviously :twisted: )
    Makes me ache, makes me shake...
    ...is it so wrong to think that love can keep us safe?

Categories