Habit

One of their worst songs? No. I think it's very poignant, considering the history of the band, where they've come from and what may not have been.

Habit at PJ20 with Liam Finn was awesome.

speaking as a child of the 90's.......I LOVE IT!

From the moment I heard the Soldier Field boot, I was in love with Habit. As I was listening to the boot through headphones, it came completely out of left field, and knocked me back.

I remember going to the record store on a hot Tuesday at the end of July in 1996, and seeing that the single for Who You Are was just released that day. I looked to see if there were any B-Sides, and lo and behold, my heart started beating out of my chest as I saw "HABIT", scrawled in bold typeface, white on blue. I had no idea that it was going to be on their forthcoming album, the mighty No Code. I always assumed the guitar solo outro was Mike, learning later that it was instead a Stone solo (maybe the closest thing the entire No Code album had for a solo?). After honing my ear throughout the years, I could soon pick out a Stone solo from a mile away on just about any live boot, but I digress...

I can see why many people wouldn't like the song - it didn't necessarily fit the PJ mold, and perhaps that was the point. After all, Ed deliberately made Who You Are the first single, intending to keep the size of the band's audience down. [See Ed's interview from SPIN Magazine, Feb 1997]

In closing, Habit is on my bucket list to see them play live - although, if the PJ20 version is indicative of how it's gonna sound, I'm not so sure. No offense to the great Liam Finn, but the band de-tuned their guitars a half step to accommodate Ed's changing voice.

pearljam133 wrote:

I guess I'm the only one. I just think the actual music for the song stands out as being poor compared to pretty much every other song they've ever done (exaggerating a little). It sounds like the music to a shitty early Soundgarden song. The lyrics are decent I guess. But it doesn't fit in with the rest of No Code to me, you can disagree, that's fine. I respect everyone's opinion. This is just how I feel about it.

It is OK to be teenager and form opinions. I will not try to preach you or anytg, just bear in mind that your horizons can change widely as you age.
I remember when I was a teenager; seeing Paul Simon, Boy in the Bubble album on the top of the lists and buying it only to hate it. I didnt get it at that time but years later, I was going out my mind with it. These kind of things happen as you go through life.
One day, you may wanna revisit this song. It is just brilliant, as the entire PJ catalogue.

Classic Vedder snarl along with a brilliant McCready solo at the end. What else could you ask for??

I love their heavier stuff. I love Spin the Black Circle, Blood, Lukin.. etc. But I agree that Habit blows. I skip the album version everytime.

viewtopic.php?f=4&t=209690

Top ten song for me. Love it. "Heavy" Pearl Jam is some of my favorite PJ. "Shitty" early Soundgarden songs are my preferred ones so maybe that's why I love Habit. Someone mentioned Ed and Liam Finn doing it at PJ20, one of the best moments of the weekend!

DiRtyFranK38 wrote:

i wish pj did more very heavy shit

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Agreed!

dimitrispearljam wrote:

pearljam133 wrote:

The thing is, I love Blood and Spin The Black Circle. They're heavier songs but I dig them. Habit just sounds too loose and amateur-ish. Its like they didn't put much thought into it.

no worries!!!they put thought at Ole and Supersonic!!!!

Jerome230 wrote:

(maybe the closest thing the entire No Code album had for a solo?)

Isn't Red Mosquito kind of one big solo?