Pearl Jam Vs Guns N Roses - A Debate

ryan198 · November 2008

Isn't this argument sort of the preclusionary fight that Pearl Jam fans could have with DMB fans? By that I mean GNR was the biggest rock band in the world until PJ and Nirvana took it from them, and DMB/Blues Traveler (for a very brief moment they were often played back-to-back with DMB) likewise. For a small period all of these bands had the SUV drivin', backward hat wearin', pot smokin' frat boys attending their concerts. What makes a band greater than another in my opinion, is quality music over a longer period of time. Thus, for small periods of time, GNR, Nirvana, and so on were probably better than PJ, but on the grand scale I don't think it compares.

More to the point if Pearl Jam EVER made a song as poop as Chinese Democracy to be their big comeback song then the GNR defender could have a point...but they haven't, so he doesn't. This doesn't mean GNR wasn't great, that they don't put on a good show, and that their catalog is bad, BUT seriously Chinese Democracy? That's all the moronic Pearl Jam defender had to say. Oh well.

PJStatTracker · November 2008

hrd2imgn wrote:

could they bring up any worse examples of comparisons?

Catalogue: PJ- both have some amazing songs, Pearl Jam just has a lot more

Rock and Roll factor: Push, yes Guns is more unpredicatable and fuck you ass hole, but what Pearl Jam has done to fight the power should never be overlooked- See Jeff testifying in his headband. They may not come out and say "Why don't you just fuck off" ala Axl, but Bu$hleaguer was pretty much saying the same thing to the President

yeah, those were horrible, ill-informed arguments from those guys for sure...

You are right on with your rock and roll factor point...I mean, Eddie was on the cover of Time for christ's sake, so they were definitely controversial for awhile, just not as in your face as Axl and Co.

as for their catalogs, while PJ has a much deeper (and in my opinion, better) catalog, I would argue that Guns has the bigger songs, especially the hits off of Appetite.

URthekey · November 2008

OMG I just had this same debate (PJ vs. GNR) Wed at the High School where I work, w/a student of mine.

He had the new 'GNR' CD and was showin it off sayin they were better than PJ, ...meanwhile the only original memeber is Axl.

....and some guy called Buckethead....

I decided I'd burn him a few bootlegs,

AND SETTLE THIS SCORE!

PJStatTracker · November 2008

ryan198 wrote:

More to the point if Pearl Jam EVER made a song as poop as Chinese Democracy to be their big comeback song then the GNR defender could have a point...but they haven't, so he doesn't. This doesn't mean GNR wasn't great, that they don't put on a good show, and that their catalog is bad, BUT seriously Chinese Democracy? That's all the moronic Pearl Jam defender had to say. Oh well.

Well, the counter argument to that is that Chinese Democracy isn't really a Guns N' Roses album...it's an Axl Rose album...GnR isn't really GnR without Slash and Duff and the rest...Velvet Revolver wasn't that great either, so I would say Slash needs Axl as much as Axl needs Slash...

I'm listening to Chinese Democracy right now, and it's not nearly as bad as I first thought. Although there is some real crap on here. "Better" and "Madagascar" are pretty good songs, though...not worth the wait, and he shouldn't be calling it Guns N' Roses....

youngster · November 2008

LukinFan wrote:

way to much to read

Agreed. But I didn't have to read it to know that I chose Pearl Jam over GNR.

Joe2TheRevenge · November 2008

NorthShoreBlues wrote:

in the immortal words of Kurt Kobain: "guns and roses suck".

Kurt Cobain is a hack.

Joe2TheRevenge · November 2008

URthekey wrote:

....and some guy called Buckethead....

who happens to be one of the most skilled guitarists on the planet.

"some guy"....pfffft.

pjfan31 · November 2008

The dude who defended Pearl Jam was pretty rubbish.

I am obviously biased, but I have seen both in concert. And GNR was the worst band I have ever seen. Worst show ever.

And as for statistics "forfteen percent of all people know statistics are made up"

U R A Crazy Breed · November 2008

jblagg wrote:

their first four albums are rock solid all the way through though.

I like their old shit too...it has it's place in time...but it's lack of sustenance when compared to PJ's catalog makes this debate laughable!

G n R is cock/arena rock...PJ is the thinking man's rock n' roll..like an artichoke with many layers compared to G n R's one layered banana.

unifiedscene · November 2008

ryan198 wrote:

Isn't this argument sort of the preclusionary fight that Pearl Jam fans could have with DMB fans? By that I mean GNR was the biggest rock band in the world until PJ and Nirvana took it from them, and DMB/Blues Traveler (for a very brief moment they were often played back-to-back with DMB) likewise. For a small period all of these bands had the SUV drivin', backward hat wearin', pot smokin' frat boys attending their concerts. What makes a band greater than another in my opinion, is quality music over a longer period of time. Thus, for small periods of time, GNR, Nirvana, and so on were probably better than PJ, but on the grand scale I don't think it compares.

More to the point if Pearl Jam EVER made a song as poop as Chinese Democracy to be their big comeback song then the GNR defender could have a point...but they haven't, so he doesn't. This doesn't mean GNR wasn't great, that they don't put on a good show, and that their catalog is bad, BUT seriously Chinese Democracy? That's all the moronic Pearl Jam defender had to say. Oh well.

That's because Pearl Jam hasn't been able to make a comeback song, period, since fading into irrelevance the last few albums. Chinese Democracy (the album) is better than Riot Act and s/t combined.

But the highs of Pearl Jam's career trump anything GnR has ever done in terms of consistency and artistry.

PJStatTracker · November 2008

unifiedscene wrote:

Chinese Democracy (the album) is better than Riot Act and s/t combined.

that's a bold statement right there.

PJStatTracker · November 2008

Crazy Breed wrote:

I like their old shit too...it has it's place in time...but it's lack of sustenance when compared to PJ's catalog makes this debate laughable!

G n R is cock/arena rock...PJ is the thinking man's rock n' roll..like an artichoke with many layers compared to G n R's one layered banana.

I like that analogy...and now I'm hungry...

unifiedscene · November 2008

jblagg wrote:

that's a bold statement right there.

I stand by it.

U R A Crazy Breed · November 2008

unifiedscene wrote:

That's because Pearl Jam hasn't been able to make a comeback song, period, since fading into irrelevance the last few albums. (the album) is better than Riot Act and s/t combined.

i rather have them make real music than mass appeal bullshit..and the band obviously agrees...they don't need a "comeback" to the Ten era when they are obviously a better band now.

you're out of your fucking mind!!

Hype does not an Album make!!

it took them almost 2 decades to make Chinese Democracy!!!!

Riot Act kicks Chinese Democracy's ass!!

The Juggler · November 2008

the guy defending pj got his ass kicked

unifiedscene · November 2008

Crazy Breed wrote:

i rather have them make real music than mass appeal bullshit..and the band obviously agrees...they don't need a "comeback" to the Ten era when they are obviously a better band now.

you're out of your fucking mind!!

Hype does not an Album make!!

it took them almost 2 decades to make Chinese Democracy!!!!

Riot Act kicks Chinese Democracy's ass!!

I'm talking about the music, not the hype. Chinese Democracy is a better listen than the last 2 PJ albums. But PJ's first 5 albums kick the crap out of anything GnR has ever done.