"pearl jam" revisited, 2 yrs later.

135

Comments

  • Gremmie95
    Gremmie95 Posts: 749
    I enjoy this album. It is a good album. It is a mighty fine album indeed.
  • Bangers_n_mash
    Bangers_n_mash Posts: 1,241
    Big Wave is awesome! Haven't listened in a while. Tomorrow I'll pop on Avocado and (given it's the time of year again) get back into that groove I remember so well from almost two years ago...
    uʍop ǝpısdn ǝɹ,ǝʍ 'punoɹ ʎɐʍ ɹǝɥʇo ǝɥʇ ןןɐ s,ʇı
  • Evolution6579
    Evolution6579 Posts: 624
    First of all: I think PJ IS 'the new Led Zeppelin. Led Zeppelin wasn't really hard. They put out very diverse records.

    Second: I like Pearl Jam. The only song I have ever thought about skipping was Parachutes but it grew on me. The reoccuring "theme", as with all the other records, is "we're Pearl Jam and we make the music that we want to make."

    Third: Ed should NOT write all the songs. Songs written by the other guys probably help to alleviate the stress of being the majority songwriter. I have
    heard that Ed has a lot of say-so in the writing process of the band. I dont know if it is true or not, but he seems to like it when other members contribute.
    Chicago 8-23-09

  • JordyWordy
    JordyWordy Posts: 2,261
    Gmoney wrote:
    No Code's theme was that the album was an experiment. It's the kind of music they wanted to make themselves, regardless of what fans, or the media, or the industry wanted from them. It was them stepping out on a limb and taking the biggest risk of their musical lives. And I think the songs and the album reflect that...

    if you listen to the lyrics of No Code, its totally different to Avocado & Ten/VS/Vit because it doesnt deal with social / political issues nearly as much....lots of songs about interpersonal stuff on it instead.

    Religion...Sometimes
    How people in a relationship treat each other...Hail Hail
    Reclusion...In My Tree
    Being a shit friend ...Off He Goes
    Addiction...Habit
    Having a mate's place to feel safe in...Lukin
    Having a Fever....Red Mosquito

    compare the personal element put into No Code and Avocado and you've got polar opposites imo (i realise the thread is about Avocado - i like it more now than 22 months ago)
  • LikeAnOpeningBandForTheSun
    LikeAnOpeningBandForTheSun Posts: 6,097
    the only song that kicked my ass was Severed Hand, and its still far and away my favorite off the album.

    other than that i only like the first minute of Inside Job.

    the first half of the album is awesome live though.

    still hate the second half.
  • dcfaithful
    dcfaithful Posts: 13,076
    Crazy Breed wrote:
    holy shit,that's exactly the same scenario for me!! It's now my favorite PJ album now.

    that's what happened to me too...it's not my favorite, but i neglected it's greatness.

    and pearl jam is good, but it's my least favorite as well as others have said.
    7/2/06 - Denver, CO
    6/12/08 - Tampa, FL
    8/23/09 - Chicago, IL
    9/28/09 - Salt Lake City, UT (11 years too long!!!)
    9/03/11 - East Troy, WI - PJ20 - Night 1
    9/04/11 - East Troy, WI - PJ20 - Night 2
  • dcfaithful
    dcfaithful Posts: 13,076
    oh yeah.

    Gone fucking sucks.
    7/2/06 - Denver, CO
    6/12/08 - Tampa, FL
    8/23/09 - Chicago, IL
    9/28/09 - Salt Lake City, UT (11 years too long!!!)
    9/03/11 - East Troy, WI - PJ20 - Night 1
    9/04/11 - East Troy, WI - PJ20 - Night 2
  • LONGRD
    LONGRD Posts: 6,036
    They mostly definitely need a new album this year to get rid of the shit stain Avocado left in my ears! ;)
    PJ- 04/29/2003.06/24,25,27,28,30/2008.10/27,28,30,31/2009
    EV- 08/09,10/2008.06/08,09/2009
  • pjtradeking
    pjtradeking Posts: 4,045
    Man_Of_The_Hour wrote:
    I agree that Army Reserve is somewhat weird. Could it be that it sounds Soundgarden-ish? That's what irks me about it.

    You know, I am not sure if it is that or the fact that it just sounds soooooo forced when ed sings it and it just sounds like a mess to me. The arrangement, the music, everything. Studio or live. I know everyone says that the songs arent cohesive and the record lacks a certain FLOW (for SENROCK). I actually like the way that it flows EXCEPT for AR. For me, it starts off with a BAM of Life Wasted. Like you are at the top of the roller coaster and going down that first big drop....Rocks a little bit, kicks your ass with Severed Hand and then just kind of mellows out. Pulls me back in a bit with BIg Wave and I LOVE the last two songs. AR just blows it all for me though. I know what the song is for, why it was written and all that, but for me, it deserved a spot on the Body of War sound track before this record.
    Never, ever, flipping forget
    "Free Shipping" SPEEDY MCCREADY

    My friend was going to see Eddie last night. Since he was in Vegas, I gave him 5 Grand to gamble with. I told him I wanted it all to go on Black. Bastard! PhillyCrownOfThorns-11-2-12
  • mjb
    mjb Posts: 1,315
    Loved loved loved it when it came out...but it certainly hasn't appreciated for me over the last two years...Gone and Unemployable are constant skips for me for sure. Still think Life Wasted, Severed Hand, Comatose and WWS are pretty killer.
  • Gmoney
    Gmoney Posts: 1,618
    ive been thinking about out conversations about this album from yesterday and i think using the word "theme" was wrong. i think yield and maybe vitalogy are the only albums with distinguishable themes. Yet, there is something missing from this album and I can't put my finger on it. I was thinking maybe it's creativity?????? IMO, parachutes and marker are the only songs that are original to me. That doesn't mean i dont love some of the other ones, but they're not much different than songs in past. I need another no code or yield on this next one...
    Further back and forth a wave will break on me, today...
  • Cropduster84
    Cropduster84 Posts: 1,283
    Gmoney wrote:
    I was thinking maybe it's creativity?????? IMO, parachutes and marker are the only songs that are original to me. That doesn't mean i dont love some of the other ones, but they're not much different than songs in past. I need another no code or yield on this next one...

    I agree with you, theres a lot on avocado thats been done before.....


    the few tracks which sound fresh to me (Unemployable, Army Reserve, Big Wave and Inside Job) people have a problem with.....
    'The more I studied religions the more I am convinced that man never worshipped anything but himself.' - Sir Richard Francis Burton
  • Be Sound
    Be Sound Posts: 199
    mjb wrote:
    Loved loved loved it when it came out...but it certainly hasn't appreciated for me over the last two years...Gone and Unemployable are constant skips for me for sure. Still think Life Wasted, Severed Hand, Comatose and WWS are pretty killer.

    I agree, and I also skip Army Reserve...
    Don't it make you smile
  • GivenToFly982
    GivenToFly982 Posts: 46
    SENROCK! wrote:
    got me a BIG WAVE ride me a big wave got me a big WAAAAAAAVE!!!!

    I was reading all these posts and began to realize again how much i loved this album...until i read this one. This song is an assault on the ears. Jeff, we love you, and you have written some of the most beautiful songs in Pearl Jam's catalog (Low Light is one of my favorites.) But songs like this and Sweet Lew make me think you need to stay away from writing and stick to slappin' the fat strings.
  • pjtradeking
    pjtradeking Posts: 4,045
    GivenToFly982 wrote:
    I was reading all these posts and began to realize again how much i loved this album...until i read this one. This song is an assault on the ears. Jeff, we love you, and you have written some of the most beautiful songs in Pearl Jam's catalog (Low Light is one of my favorites.) But songs like this and Sweet Lew make me think you need to stay away from writing and stick to slappin' the fat strings.

    You had better DUCK bro...SEN is coming and she is gonna be swinging!!! ;)
    Never, ever, flipping forget
    "Free Shipping" SPEEDY MCCREADY

    My friend was going to see Eddie last night. Since he was in Vegas, I gave him 5 Grand to gamble with. I told him I wanted it all to go on Black. Bastard! PhillyCrownOfThorns-11-2-12
  • Cropduster84
    Cropduster84 Posts: 1,283
    GivenToFly982 wrote:
    But songs like this and Sweet Lew make me think you need to stay away from writing and stick to slappin' the fat strings.

    Big Wave is a billion times better than Sweet Lew and is completely rocking....the solo is awesome and the lyrics are great, spiritual yet fun.....


    I'll never understand the hate for Big Wave....or the love for Life Wasted......
    'The more I studied religions the more I am convinced that man never worshipped anything but himself.' - Sir Richard Francis Burton
  • HailRoad24
    HailRoad24 Posts: 133
    Gmoney wrote:
    ive been thinking about out conversations about this album from yesterday and i think using the word "theme" was wrong. i think yield and maybe vitalogy are the only albums with distinguishable themes. Yet, there is something missing from this album and I can't put my finger on it. I was thinking maybe it's creativity?????? IMO, parachutes and marker are the only songs that are original to me. That doesn't mean i dont love some of the other ones, but they're not much different than songs in past. I need another no code or yield on this next one...

    x2 for me here. I just have not been able to connect with the album. And I don't know why. Life Wasted really gets me going, but then Severed Hand and Gone come along and really wreck it for me. There are only a few songs where I thought they really extended themselves.

    I haven't listened to Pearl Jam in quite awhile now, and I think it's because I was so underwhelmed by #8 and the US tour that followed. I really hope they rearrange some of the songs, get rid of the jams on Even Flow and a few others, and try and explore some of the newer songs more.
    -PUSH ME AND I WILL RESIST!
  • Gmoney
    Gmoney Posts: 1,618
    we just waited so long for this album and i just need something more!!!!!!!!!!
    Further back and forth a wave will break on me, today...
  • SENROCK
    SENROCK Posts: 10,736
    pjtradeking wrote:
    You know, I am not sure if it is that or the fact that it just sounds soooooo forced when ed sings it and it just sounds like a mess to me. The arrangement, the music, everything. Studio or live. I know everyone says that the songs arent cohesive and the record lacks a certain FLOW (for SENROCK). I actually like the way that it flows EXCEPT for AR. For me, it starts off with a BAM of Life Wasted. Like you are at the top of the roller coaster and going down that first big drop....Rocks a little bit, kicks your ass with Severed Hand and then just kind of mellows out. Pulls me back in a bit with BIg Wave and I LOVE the last two songs. AR just blows it all for me though. I know what the song is for, why it was written and all that, but for me, it deserved a spot on the Body of War sound track before this record.

    hahahahahaha i LOVE that!!! :D thanks!
    ~~~~~~ALWAYS HAVE A GOOD TIME~~~~~~
    Sir Mike McCready is....THE MASTER!!! WAHHH!!!
    EVENFLOW PSYCHOS H.N.I.C~FEEL THE FLOW!!!

    "Pearl Jam fans are obsessed, they'd see the boys in HELL if tickets were sold."-CROJAM95

    It takes balls to put out a UKE album!
  • guitar_davey
    guitar_davey Posts: 111
    I am amazed by all the negative reaction I've read here to this album.

    I loved this album when it first came out and I love it now--and this is from someone who is a diehard Pearl Jam fan, but probably doesn't live and die with the band on a daily basis as heavily as some of you here. If I truly thought this album was a stinker, I think I'd be one of the first to say so.

    I can't imagine a band with Pearl Jam's history and catalogue making an album any more perfect for the age we live in! And for those who feel the album lacks a theme, I couldn't disagree more--it's a call to arms for our entire society! Yes, it's got its anti-war parts, but to me, it's much more than that. It's a reflection on all the problems going on in the world today and a celebration that open-mindedness, nature (a recurring PJ theme anyway) and love are the only way to go...

    I find it funny how a lot of the so-called "Yield fans" and "No Code fans" (by the way, those are two of my personal favourite albums) look down on all the fairweather fans from 1991 who stopped caring about PJ's albums when they refused to keep pumping out albums like Ten and Vs. All the so-called die-hards are now shitting on Pearl Jam because they won't make another album like Yield or No Code. What a bunch of hypocrites!

    Poor fuckers--it seems they can't do anything to please their fanbase! I realize the criticism is not of the band or the people, but I'm not sure what it is that people expect from them?! That last album, to me, sounds like a Pearl Jam album--no two PJ albums sound the same, but they always have great melodies, great lyrics, raw sound and no frilly bullshit. I don't feel the same way when I listen to the Avocado that I did when I first heard Vs. or Vitalogy or Yield, but those were all at very different times in my life personally and different times in our world, to say nothing of the fact the guys in the band are older!

    I'm just thankful they're still making honest, heartfelt, topical music...I expect nothing else from them because they've already given more than any other band I listen to...

    My two cents on "Pearl Jam"

    DP

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