Yield: the happiest album in the Pearl Jam catalogue?
I have been listening to Yield almost exclusively for a week now, and I have to say, though it's been 10 years (!!) it never really occurred to me that unlike every other PJ album, there is not a single sad song in this one.
It's not that it's light and fluffy or anything, it's just so much more... hopeful, I guess, than anything else they ever released.
The ballads are calm and introspective, and the rockers are mostly having a good time. Even the only really dark song (DTE) is kind of tongue in cheek.
The usual themes of depression, mourning and anger are almost nowhere to be found here- Quite the opposite actually. The whole album to me is like the sound of coming to terms with yourself. Like the light at the end of a tunnel is an endless open road.
Oh, and the music is awesome.
I think it's my favorite right now.
It's not that it's light and fluffy or anything, it's just so much more... hopeful, I guess, than anything else they ever released.
The ballads are calm and introspective, and the rockers are mostly having a good time. Even the only really dark song (DTE) is kind of tongue in cheek.
The usual themes of depression, mourning and anger are almost nowhere to be found here- Quite the opposite actually. The whole album to me is like the sound of coming to terms with yourself. Like the light at the end of a tunnel is an endless open road.
Oh, and the music is awesome.
I think it's my favorite right now.
My rhymes and records they don't get played
Because my records and rhymes they don't get made
And if you rap like me you don't get paid
And if you roll like me you don't get laid.
Because my records and rhymes they don't get made
And if you rap like me you don't get paid
And if you roll like me you don't get laid.
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Comments
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Lyrically, yes.
I think musically, though, Avocado has to be their lightest and happiest record, imo. It's almost pop music. Shouldn't be, but it is.'We're learning songs for baby Jesus' birthday. His mum and dad were Merry and Joseph. He had a bed made of clay and the three kings bought him Gold, Frankenstein and Merv as presents.'
- the great Sir Leo Harrison0 -
I always viewed No Code as the cultural album.
and Yield as the spiritual album.
Happiest?/?/? IDK???PJ- 04/29/2003.06/24,25,27,28,30/2008.10/27,28,30,31/2009
EV- 08/09,10/2008.06/08,09/20090 -
not sure about happiest, but it's their warmest by far.....'The more I studied religions the more I am convinced that man never worshipped anything but himself.' - Sir Richard Francis Burton0
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they should make more happy albums then.0
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harmless_little_f*** wrote:I think musically, though, Avocado has to be their lightest and happiest record, imo.
I don't. Listen to the last five songs. Gone sounds depressing for the most part, like I'm about to shoot myself. Wasted Reprise doesn't sound happy. Army Reserve sounds like I'm sinking on a boat, and not happy. Come Backs sounds like somebody died. And Inside job...the first three minutes are the three most depressing minutes in the history of Pearl Jam albums.
In closing, I agree with the original poster.0 -
Low LightNoonie wrote:unlike every other PJ album, there is not a single sad song in this one."I remember one night at Muzdalifa with nothing but the sky overhead, I lay awake amid sleeping Muslim brothers and I learned that pilgrims from every land — every colour, and class, and rank; high officials and the beggar alike — all snored in the same language"0 -
Jeremy1012 wrote:Low Light
Low Light is supposed to be hopeful, at least going by Jeff's explanation of why he wrote it.Can't escape from the common rule...
If you hate something, don't you do it too0 -
Here's what each is to me:
Ten= Rage/angst
VS.= growing up
Vitalogy= rebellion
No Code= culturally open
Yield= Optimism
Binaural= Art of making music (conceptual perhaps?)
Riot Act= Political
Avacado= Global Concern"A compiment for US...is a compliment for YOU." - Eddie Vedder of Citizen Dick0 -
I don't know, but Given To Fly is quite powerful in an upbeat, inspirational way. And I do agree, Self-Titled gets pretty dark near the end there.0
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Noonie wrote:I have been listening to Yield almost exclusively for a week now, and I have to say, though it's been 10 years (!!) it never really occurred to me that unlike every other PJ album, there is not a single sad song in this one.
It's not that it's light and fluffy or anything, it's just so much more... hopeful, I guess, than anything else they ever released.
The ballads are calm and introspective, and the rockers are mostly having a good time. Even the only really dark song (DTE) is kind of tongue in cheek.
The usual themes of depression, mourning and anger are almost nowhere to be found here- Quite the opposite actually. The whole album to me is like the sound of coming to terms with yourself. Like the light at the end of a tunnel is an endless open road.
Oh, and the music is awesome.
I think it's my favorite right now.
its my favourite of all time!danny d0 -
Stone Irons wrote:Low Light is supposed to be hopeful, at least going by Jeff's explanation of why he wrote it.
Yeah, but does it sound like a happy song, in ANY way? Not so much...0 -
yield just makes me feel so good about myself. my favorite album of all time. there's just something special lurking in that music. it all flows so well. on a nice sunny day there is nothing better than kicking back and blearing yield right through. actually headphones are always better. once i listen to that album through i am on top of the world. between in hiding, given to fly, and low light, ahhh man, chills just thinking about it.2006: Hartford
2008: MSG 1, Hartford, Mansfield 2, Ed Solo NYC 1
2009: London (O2), Philly 1, 2, 3, & 4
2010: Hartford, Boston, MSG 1 & 2
2011: Ed Solo Hartford
2012: Philly (MIA Fest)
2013: Worcester 2, Brooklyn 1 & 2, Hartford0 -
xkevvx wrote:Yeah, but does it sound like a happy song, in ANY way? Not so much...
Well, I don't think it sounds sad or depressing. I think I would describe it as reflective. Here's Jeff's explanation, by the way:
I think "Pilate" was the question I was asking myself, and "Low Light " was the answer, the realization. Have you ever read ''The Master and Margarita'' (by Mikhail Bulgakov)? I just read that book, and at the end they talk about Pontius Pilate being all alone on a mountain with his dog. He couldn't sleep and he couldn't function. It really struck me hard, because at that point I was feeling very alone. I've always had this recurring dream about being old and just me and my dog sitting on the porch. It wasn't necessarily a sad dream or a premonition, but it did get me to thinking about why Pilate was so alone and freaked out. Then I realized he didn't get to finish his conversation with Jesus—that's why he can't function, because he didn't tie up the loose ends in his life. Later, I was playing the guitar, and I was hit so hard by this amazing, emotion. In that moment the words "low light" came out, and somehow those were the only words to explain what I was feeling. It was a kind of gratefulness at finding that place of calm and peace at my center and getting a glimpse of the person I could choose to be. It was the purest happiness that I've experienced in a long time, that particular emotion. God, I thought I was going to explode. I feel very lucky to have been able to put it down on tape that morning and work through it until it became a song.
Source: http://www.fivehorizons.com/archive/articles/gw0398.shtmlCan't escape from the common rule...
If you hate something, don't you do it too0 -
I've always considered it pretty up-beat. Even the artwork inside was upbeat, I always think of that picture of Stone and Mike standing on what looked like a race track or something, and one of them is holding their arms out, looking to the sky, and I think smiling.
I always thought the happiest song was MFC, maybe not lyrically, but the music is so uplifting.0 -
Stone Irons wrote:Well, I don't think it sounds sad or depressing. I think I would describe it as reflective. Here's Jeff's explanation, by the way:
I think "Pilate" was the question I was asking myself, and "Low Light " was the answer, the realization. Have you ever read ''The Master and Margarita'' (by Mikhail Bulgakov)? I just read that book, and at the end they talk about Pontius Pilate being all alone on a mountain with his dog. He couldn't sleep and he couldn't function. It really struck me hard, because at that point I was feeling very alone. I've always had this recurring dream about being old and just me and my dog sitting on the porch. It wasn't necessarily a sad dream or a premonition, but it did get me to thinking about why Pilate was so alone and freaked out. Then I realized he didn't get to finish his conversation with Jesus—that's why he can't function, because he didn't tie up the loose ends in his life. Later, I was playing the guitar, and I was hit so hard by this amazing, emotion. In that moment the words "low light" came out, and somehow those were the only words to explain what I was feeling. It was a kind of gratefulness at finding that place of calm and peace at my center and getting a glimpse of the person I could choose to be. It was the purest happiness that I've experienced in a long time, that particular emotion. God, I thought I was going to explode. I feel very lucky to have been able to put it down on tape that morning and work through it until it became a song.
Source: http://www.fivehorizons.com/archive/articles/gw0398.shtml
thanks that was a great read.2006: Hartford
2008: MSG 1, Hartford, Mansfield 2, Ed Solo NYC 1
2009: London (O2), Philly 1, 2, 3, & 4
2010: Hartford, Boston, MSG 1 & 2
2011: Ed Solo Hartford
2012: Philly (MIA Fest)
2013: Worcester 2, Brooklyn 1 & 2, Hartford0 -
Jeff's a legend.....
Low Light is such a subtle and pretty song, it makes me happy, Ed's voice sounds so warm and the band so restrained.....just beautiful.....'The more I studied religions the more I am convinced that man never worshipped anything but himself.' - Sir Richard Francis Burton0 -
Anyone else remember the first time they heard Given To Fly? I remember dancing around the room when it came on the radio - the chorus just absolutely floored me. The single most brilliant uplifting song I have ever heard!
So yeah, anyway I totally agree it is a very positive feeling album.0 -
facepollution wrote:Anyone else remember the first time they heard Given To Fly? the chorus just absolutely floored me. The single most brilliant uplifting song I have ever heard!
Totally....
It was the first Pearl Jam song I ever heard, Yield my first PJ album....
My most sacred album and still my favourite......'The more I studied religions the more I am convinced that man never worshipped anything but himself.' - Sir Richard Francis Burton0 -
the beauty of wishlist and low light, the power of given to fly and in hiding, the spirit of mfc.. yep, yield is definitely the most magical, uplifting album in the catalogue.1995: Melbourne 1
1998: Melbourne 1, 2, 3
2003: Sydney 1, 2, 3, Melbourne 1, 2, 3
2006: Sydney 1, 2, Melbourne 1, 2, 3, Sydney 3, Newcastle, Adelaide 1, 2, Perth
2009: LA 1, 2, Melbourne, Sydney
2014: Gold Coast, Melbourne, Sydney0
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