Riot Act Revisited

weirdly enough, Lightning Bolt has made me want to hear Riot Act more often than i used to. Can't explain why....
But i love Riot Act! it was first PJ-album i bought, and i still seem to discover new thing about it every time i hear it

I've consistently rated Riot Act as my least favorite PJ album. However, I do think I am going to revisit it. I haven't listened to the record in a very, very long time. And, obviously, they haven't played many songs live in recent years.

I will say this: one of my favorite moments from the 10/21 Philly show was when they busted out 1/2 Full. I thought they killed it with that song and it was a high point of the evening.

I think my problem with Riot Act over the years may have to do with two things: 1) the production (I think they've learned that Brendan is forever their guy) and 2) that Ed does not sound very energetic with his vocals on most of the songs. There just seems to be so much restraint. I remember reading interviews in this time period where he said he didn't feel like screaming to make his point anymore. I think it may have had a lot to do with the early 00's being the pinnacle of post-grunge copycats like Creed, Nickleback, and many other bands I have completely forgotten about at this point. Maybe he was making a conscious effort not to sound like these clowns, but I feel like he held back way too much.

Like any new PJ album, I did love Riot Act for the first few months it came out. I think it's time to bust it out again and give it another shot.

love me some riot act!!

Riot Act is an awesome album, and for me personally, some of the best touring action of the band's history. Loved the block ticketing system (granted I have a decent 10C number). Waiting in line with other fans for tickets, finding out your seat location, then 2 1/2 to 3 hours of face melting rock and roll. Great period in the band's history. Some of my all time favorite shows during this era.

no code through riot act is my favorite run of albums and will always be what pearl jam is to me.

i do wish that binaural and riot act had been met more receptively at the time. i know PJ always claimed to buck the mainstream, but after those records seemed to flat line their popularity, they came back with avocado, backspacer, and lightning bolt, all with their catchy poppy mainstream feels. these last three albums haven't been the easiest pill for me to swallow.

binaural needs to be repressed on vinyl more than any of the OOP records, because if people could get their hands on that and listen on vinyl i bet that record would jump up many people's favorite list.

riot act was amazing as well. i think the tired kind of vocal effect ed was going for turned a lot of people off. i really miss when they weren't afraid to experiment like that, and hope they can get to a spot where they feel comfortable taking a chance like that again.

Riot Act is a phenomenal album. LIVE.

I think the boys give it more live than they did in the studio.

And I could say this about every song they ever made, but I feel it to be really true for Riot Act more than any other album.

^ sony didn't drop them, pearl jam fulfilled their contract and then moved on. i think they had a decent relationship with a couple of people at Sony even after that, but those folks left and is probably one of the reasons we haven't seen further reissues after ten/vs/vitalogy.

Caveeze wrote:

jethrojam420 wrote:

Riot Act is a phenomenal album. LIVE.

I think the boys give it more live than they did in the studio.

And I could say this about every song they ever made, but I feel it to be really true for Riot Act more than any other album.

I think Ed sings the songs better live than on the album.. I think even Stone or Jeff said so much on an interview before "avocado" came out.. it was mentioned that Ed was trying to record the songs with more of the intensity he has live.. I cant believe sony dropped them after this one.. I would bet they are kicking themselves now..

sony still owns the rights to Pearl Jam's most profitable albums. So I sure they arent too worried.

jethrojam420 wrote:

Riot Act is a phenomenal album. LIVE.

I think the boys give it more live than they did in the studio.

And I could say this about every song they ever made, but I feel it to be really true for Riot Act more than any other album.

I agree particularly when it comes to Bu$hleaguer. SO much better live! Although even on the album that chorus is awesome. I Am Mine also has more intensity live... although half of that I think might be my impression of the video. it's like Ed made a point of looking emotionally dead in that - never understood that.