Why are Pearl Jam not very 'heavy' anymore?

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  • Posts: 31
    I think having O'brien produce will help the record sound a little "heavier". I really haven't cared for the sound of any of the non O'Brien albums. Guy knows how to produce a good rock record.
  • Boston Posts: 6,576
    I like the evolution of the older songs like Jeremy and Alive. They sound more modern now. They were all in their mid 20's when those songs were written. After playing them 500+ times, they are sure to sound a little different now that they are 40ish.
    He who forgets will be destined to remember.

    9/29/04 Boston, 6/28/08 Mansfield, 8/23/09 Chicago, 5/15/10 Hartford
    5/17/10 Boston, 10/15/13 Worcester, 10/16/13 Worcester, 10/25/13 Hartford
    8/5/16 Fenway, 8/7/16 Fenway
    EV Solo: 6/16/11 Boston, 6/18/11 Hartford,
  • Posts: 181
    unifiedscene wrote:
    I've noticed this on a lot of bootlegs... the bass is nowhere to be found. I hate to hate on Matt, but I think some of it is adjusting to his style. If you listen to the rhythm section in 94, it was much more loose and funky. The band felt lively and heavier. Lots of fills and Jeff improvising to make that deeper section of the songs more lively. Now, the bass always seems ot be lacking and the music loses some weight. The band is tighter, but things feel far more controlled. The rhythm section used to feel like part of the "anything can happen" vibe of a PJ show. Now it feels like they're just back there keeping time.

    Lolla did seem different though, the way they came out with 'Why Go' was pretty awesome and set the tone that night it seemed.

    Some of it might be the songs too... these days the rockers are very riff heavy, with nothing for the drums and bass but hum along like a shitty punk band. There used to be dynamics, songs would build and breathe and take their time. Compare a song like Deep to Comatose... the former is much slower, but also far far heavier. The latter speeds by, but it's more like a thrashing buzz than an epic rocker.

    yup. good post. Its the Dave vs. Matt thing. I'm going to start a new thread: bring back Dave Petition and if Eddie doesn't like it, tough shit, go sing for a different band! Just kidding . . . but i think the sound has alot to do with what everyone else has already said, its the evolution of the band, and yes they are getting old. Just think if you compare them with other longevity acts then it goes something like this:
    PJ= 18 years
    Stones started in 1962, so plus 18 is 1980, Emotional Rescue/Tatoo You, '81 Tour, man they didn't sound anything like they did in 1969/1972
    The Who started in 1964/1965, so plus 18 is 1982/1983, Farewell Tour with Kenny Jones on drums, whoa, they sounded nothing like they did as on Live at Leeds
    U2 started 1979/1980, so plus 18, so thats 1998, post Popmart pre-Vertigo, nothing close to what they sounded like on first few albums, but that may be a bad example b/c they didn't rock out as much as the stones and the who used to.
    I think we have to face facts, our band is getting old . . . but its ok
    1996: Hartford; 1998: Hartford, Mansfield I & II
    2000: Saratoga, Mansfield I & II; 2003: West Palm, Tampa, Mansfield I & II & III; 2004: Boston I & II; 2005: Montreal; 2006: Albany, Hartford, Boston I & II, East Rutherford; 2007: Lolla
    2008: Tampa, MSG I & II, Hartford, Mansfield I & II; 2009: Chicago I & II, Philly I, III & IV; 2010: Cleveland, Buffalo, Hartford, Boston & MSG II.
  • California Posts: 596
    DewieCox wrote:
    The guitars are much cleaner than they used to be, which I am sure is a case of the band maturing and realizing that distortion and too much bass muddies stuff up.


    This is the problem. Some songs just don't sound good without distortion and such.

    Like Corduroy. It sounds terrible live when compared to the album version.
    Stone Gossard...riffmeister extraordinaire!

    I am a man, I am advanced.....I am the first man to borrow Stone's leather pants!
  • Posts: 12,225
    Aren't 'Heavy Riffs' usually associated with younger bands? I mean, you can hide behind volume and distortion when you aren't so good at your instruments. As you get older and better... you want to hear what you can do... right?
    ...
    Maybe I'm wrong... but, that's what I have experienced.
    Allen Fieldhouse, home of the 2008 NCAA men's Basketball Champions! Go Jayhawks!
    Hail, Hail!!!
  • Posts: 7,718
    Because "heavy" musics sucks.. unless you are full of angst, but thats your problem. Listen to metal instead.
  • Posts: 980
    SOLAT319 wrote:
    From the comments above, I take it you were NOT at Hartford show and did NOT see that particular version of BLOOD. Just to give you an idea, this is how I described it to my friends who were not at that show:

    "42-year old Eddie kicked 28-year old Eddie's ass with Blood last night."

    So, I suggest you get the bootleg at once and tune in to Blood right away!

    P.S. the reference to 28-year old Eddie actually happens to come from that show you mention in your post. Because Blood from that show easily kicked every other version's ass out there. That was until Hartford 08 version came along of course :D


    I was thinking of Blood when I was posting the thread actually, that does seem to be one of their few songs where they really go all out.

    I'm no good with music terminiology so bear with me, but I think this performance of Insignificance illustrates what I'm trying to say:

    http://nl.youtube.com/watch?v=bin1to8MAsw

    It's a fantastic performance but the guitars in the chorus sound so...soft?

    And I don't think that 'heavy' automatically equates to angst and bullshit heavy metal bands. I'm not saying Pearl Jam should start shredding and become Megadeth. I was listening to a performance of Murder Inc by Bruce Springsteen. There's a heavy song.
  • Posts: 229
    I would love to hear some crazy fuckin Jeff bass parts on the next album. Give me more Rats bass lines.
  • Posts: 426
    i think a lot of it does have to do with the distortion and overdrive mike and stone use. I agree that if they beefed up their tone just a little bit it would add a lot...not saying that i'm unhappy when i listen to them, but i think their tone is just a little too thin..giving jeff a little more reign like people said wouldn't be bad imo.
    "Tonight we're just gonna play you some good old American Rock and Roll." tom petty-7-15-05
  • Posts: 2,219
    Because they stick to healthy diets, and excersice a lot.
    I desire peace where I live
    https://www.facebook.com/Bring.Pearl.Jam.To.Israel
  • Posts: 7,718
    They were "heavy" for what, the first 3 years of their 18 year history..
  • California Posts: 596
    LikeAnOcean wrote:
    They were "heavy" for what, the first 3 years of their 18 year history..

    The thread isn't about heavy songs, which they only have a few of, it's about the tone of Stone and Mike's guitars I think...
    Stone Gossard...riffmeister extraordinaire!

    I am a man, I am advanced.....I am the first man to borrow Stone's leather pants!
  • Posts: 1,613
    unifiedscene wrote:
    I've noticed this on a lot of bootlegs... the bass is nowhere to be found. I hate to hate on Matt, but I think some of it is adjusting to his style. If you listen to the rhythm section in 94, it was much more loose and funky. The band felt lively and heavier. Lots of fills and Jeff improvising to make that deeper section of the songs more lively. Now, the bass always seems ot be lacking and the music loses some weight. The band is tighter, but things feel far more controlled. The rhythm section used to feel like part of the "anything can happen" vibe of a PJ show. Now it feels like they're just back there keeping time.

    Lolla did seem different though, the way they came out with 'Why Go' was pretty awesome and set the tone that night it seemed.

    Some of it might be the songs too... these days the rockers are very riff heavy, with nothing for the drums and bass but hum along like a shitty punk band. There used to be dynamics, songs would build and breathe and take their time. Compare a song like Deep to Comatose... the former is much slower, but also far far heavier. The latter speeds by, but it's more like a thrashing buzz than an epic rocker.

    Great post! You nailed it.
    I will swallow poison
  • Posts: 462
    requiem4adrm78 wrote:
    I would love to hear some crazy fuckin Jeff bass parts on the next album. Give me more Rats bass lines.

    Yeah, I miss the PJ with a bit of a funky vibe. It's what made me love the band. They haven't done that in a long time.
    she was underwhelmed, if that's a word
  • Posts: 104
    It is styles of drumming. Dave was a hitter and Matt is not. Matt is far superior musically, but he doesn't pound like Dave did.
  • Posts: 1,283
    It is all down to guitar tones....yes they have changed.....


    Saying that though, I love who they are now. Yield, No Code and RA are mya favourite records of theirs.....


    I wouldn't change them for the world.....


    Plus, since when is 'heavy' a good thing? I haven't been in that mindset since I was 18......

    People grow up, myabe Pearl Jam have realised there's more to music than heaviness.....
    'The more I studied religions the more I am convinced that man never worshipped anything but himself.' - Sir Richard Francis Burton
  • Posts: 4
    I remember listening to the Atlanta '94 show on the radio and the interview after. I was 14 years younger then, and so were they.
  • Posts: 170
    It's called maturity, and without it we wouldn't have songs like Thumbing My Way, Parting ways, Love boat Captain, Wishlist, Parachutes, Unemployable, Army Reserve, Down, Other Side, Sleight of Hand, I Am Mine, Can't Keep, or the Into The Wild soundtrack.
    Good evening San Diego, I'm Ron Burgundy
    And I'm Veronica Corningstone, Tits McGee is off tonight...
  • Boston Posts: 6,576
    Ghost Of K. wrote:
    It's called maturity, and without it we wouldn't have songs like Thumbing My Way, Parting ways, Love boat Captain, Wishlist, Parachutes, Unemployable, Army Reserve, Down, Other Side, Sleight of Hand, I Am Mine, Can't Keep, or the Into The Wild soundtrack.

    True. All great songs. They even throw some old school sounds into the new albums like Comatose, Severed Hand, Green Disease etc.
    He who forgets will be destined to remember.

    9/29/04 Boston, 6/28/08 Mansfield, 8/23/09 Chicago, 5/15/10 Hartford
    5/17/10 Boston, 10/15/13 Worcester, 10/16/13 Worcester, 10/25/13 Hartford
    8/5/16 Fenway, 8/7/16 Fenway
    EV Solo: 6/16/11 Boston, 6/18/11 Hartford,
  • Melbourne, Australia Posts: 15,165
    They reduced their intake of carbs, fat, salt and increased their exercise levels.
    Adelaide 17/11/2009, Melbourne 20/11/2009, Sydney 22/11/2009, Melbourne (Big Day Out Festival) 24/01/2014

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