What is/was the last great Pearl Jam album?

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rummy
rummy British Columbia, Canada Posts: 4,466
edited March 2015 in The Porch
Not "What Is Your Favourite Album?" or "Do You 'like' a particular album" but what, in your opinion, was the last five-star/classic (or one-day-will-be-classic) Pearl Jam album (as of March 1, 2015)?

What is/was the last great Pearl Jam album? 153 votes

Ten
0%
Bentleyspop 1 vote
Vs.
0%
MMPooch 1 vote
Vitalogy
0%
vest71 1 vote
No Code
3%
red mosdrrexCJ23113boxer or the bagtominzinga 5 votes
Yield
28%
CantKeepmedowndarthveddermcgruff10primussucksAndySlashLedbetterman10bootlegger10T-Bone 82mr bunglelolobuggregalturbobrolocopdalowskyBALLBOYBIGDaddyWillukinsfridge05cdlongroadRW8297Tim SimmonsGM17961 43 votes
Binaural
5%
TroubledSoulDewieCoxUncle SnuffysamjamRiotZactcalvo17rummyJT_JamFan 8 votes
Riot Act
17%
BrokenGlassBinFrogNewJPagemrluthor9DuncsPeArLgOoNeRryph raphiOnlyownMymindmelflashJammalambopjfaninindianamrshock13boyo79hinsey21ComeToTXpledgeagrievanceScreaming TreealphawolfThief of Silencedogmatt 27 votes
Self Titled (Avocado)
15%
my_waveon2legsryanjeptidus10xgoldrushfoodboyWobbiethe wolfIndifference71ZodAMENt_TO_THATMawky1103Brane_of_JFKRobbyD462mayerdLeezestarr313goingonsixPJ_SoulBig Bank Hankwhoanelly15 23 votes
Backspacer
1%
corduroykellyRandallPink 2 votes
Lightning Bolt
27%
igotid88spearhead2-feign-reluctanceEBowieLowlightAmherstJammerredsox04Force Of NatureNWOntarioholo92callenNoloadDedvwNamiRoeghmannPA Jammeremf28Empty GlassPI23369RhinoJam 42 votes
Post edited by rummy on
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Comments

  • BHealy
    BHealy Flagstaff, Arizona Posts: 466
    Lightning Bolt
    I'm the only vote! That's embarrassing! They're all great! Not saying Lightning Bolt is my favorite or anything....
  • Jammalambo
    Jammalambo Posts: 1,321
    Riot Act
    I think there are great songs on every album this band has released..
    But to me, PJ up to (and included) Riot Act is 7 albums without one weak song..
    From self-titled and on, I always get the impression they're trying to 'force' their music into something they (the band) think will be more 'accessible' for their fans, or new fans..
    They were a band that didn't care what people think, they just did their thing (leading to amazing unique albums like No Code, Binaural, Riot Act, for example).
    all those leaked demos from self-titled, for example, are better than anything they put on record since 2006.
  • danny
    danny Posts: 2,283
    yield
    danny d
  • bootlegger10
    bootlegger10 Posts: 16,251
    Yield
    Binaural could have been in my eyes if you took out the first three songs and replaced with Sad and Fatal. I just can't give it 5 stars with those three first songs (good songs but not great).
  • mcgruff10
    mcgruff10 New Jersey Posts: 29,111
    edited March 2015
    Yield
    Yield.
    Songs like Evacuation, cropduster, sleight of hand, and get right are plain terrible and ruin the next two albums. I never thought either album really was good live as evident of how sparse these two are represented at shows.

    Self titled was a nice comeback with a killer tour which makes me believe pj was very proud of that album. Backspacer was just plain fun but lacked some depth in terms of lyrics and staying strength live. Lb was a very pleasant surprise and the songs were pretty good live.
    However none of those albums were even close to yield.
    I'll ride the wave where it takes me......
  • rummy
    rummy British Columbia, Canada Posts: 4,466
    Binaural
    mcgruff10 said:

    Yield.
    Songs like Evacuation, cropduster, sleight of hand, and get right are plain terrible and ruin the next two albums. I never thought either album really was good live as evident of how sparse these two are represented at shows.

    Self titled was a nice comeback with a killer tour which makes me believe pj was very proud of that album. Backspacer was just plain fun but lacked some depth in terms of lyrics and staying strength live. Lb was a very pleasant surprise and the songs were pretty good live.
    However none of those albums were even close to yield.

    Well put...and you stated my exact 'dislikes' on albums #6 and #7, too.
  • rummy
    rummy British Columbia, Canada Posts: 4,466
    Binaural
    It would be funny/frustrating to see what a 'casual' fan might say...Ten? Vs? ...no later than Vitalogy, that's for sure.
  • pledgeagrievance
    pledgeagrievance Posts: 2,874
    Riot Act
    Riot Act. Last full on experiment
  • mrluthor9
    mrluthor9 Posts: 264
    Riot Act
    Jammalambo said:

    I think there are great songs on every album this band has released..
    But to me, PJ up to (and included) Riot Act is 7 albums without one weak song..
    From self-titled and on, I always get the impression they're trying to 'force' their music into something they (the band) think will be more 'accessible' for their fans, or new fans..
    They were a band that didn't care what people think, they just did their thing (leading to amazing unique albums like No Code, Binaural, Riot Act, for example).
    all those leaked demos from self-titled, for example, are better than anything they put on record since 2006.

    I totally agree with this
    All the rusted signs we ignore throughout our lives,.....choosing the shiny ones instead,......
  • JT_JamFan
    JT_JamFan Posts: 170
    Binaural
    This is a new development... A year ago it would have been Yield for sure, However, i recently invested in some better than average headphones and it's like i am listening to Binaural for the first time! There are bass notes i have never heard, guitar riffs that were lost in the room that are clear as a bell now.
    Escape is never the safest path....

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  • rummy
    rummy British Columbia, Canada Posts: 4,466
    Binaural
    JT_JamFan said:

    This is a new development... A year ago it would have been Yield for sure, However, i recently invested in some better than average headphones and it's like i am listening to Binaural for the first time! There are bass notes i have never heard, guitar riffs that were lost in the room that are clear as a bell now.

    I'm in the same boat. I've always loved Yield since day #1. I only recently discovered the greatness of (most of) the songs on Binaural.
  • october22
    october22 Posts: 2,533
    Riot Act
    Binaural is their best and Riot Act was the last "real" Pearl Jam record. After that, Ed's personality changed and their art changed for the worse in my opinion.

    I still like S/T a lot and LB but the tone of the band changed when Ed found contentment. Nothing wrong with that though! Just sayin'...
  • HughFreakingDillon
    HughFreakingDillon Winnipeg Posts: 39,449
    Self Titled (Avocado)
    I fucking love Avocado and listen to it all the time. I think going from that to Backspacer was the biggest drop in awesomness they have ever had on successive records.
    Hugh Freaking Dillon is currently out of the office, returning sometime in the fall




  • juddboz80
    juddboz80 Posts: 2,141
    Riot Act
    There are songs off binaural and riot act that I'm not a huge fan of but ten thru riot act was a hell of a run!!!! I've enjoyed stuff since and lightning bolt was a solid album with some age to self titled, bs, and lightning bolt I might have a different opinion!
    Cant buy what i want cause its free....
  • boyo79
    boyo79 Warrington, UK Posts: 6,525
    Riot Act
    october22 said:

    Binaural is their best and Riot Act was the last "real" Pearl Jam record. After that, Ed's personality changed and their art changed for the worse in my opinion.

    I still like S/T a lot and LB but the tone of the band changed when Ed found contentment. Nothing wrong with that though! Just sayin'...

    Gotta say I agree with that. I'd probably have Riot Act as my favourite. Those first 7 albums were/are immense. I used to include S/T in that but I'm not sure it's aged as well. Backspacer was the first PJ record I didn't like. LB has some great moments but some terrible ones too!

    2000: Manchester
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  • F Me In The Brain
    F Me In The Brain this knows everybody from other commets Posts: 31,797
    Lightning Bolt
    I love LB and think it is great. Obviously we are all fanatics for the band but on LB I really only pass on the last 2 songs, maybe 3.
    The love he receives is the love that is saved
  • vest71
    vest71 Posts: 239
    Vitalogy
    vitalogy is my all time favorite album, after that they have made many great songs and ok albums but not one that is so complete ( in my opinion ) as Vitalogy
    Burn my eyes and try to blind me
    Bury me so they won't find me
    Try to suck my power empty
    Got no crown of thorns on me
  • PJForceofNature
    PJForceofNature Posts: 3,087
    Lightning Bolt
    In my opinion, they just keep getting better and better!
    "A beacon on dry land"
  • red mos
    red mos Posts: 4,953
    No Code
    No code is my favorite of theirs. However, I like all the albums as they all have greatness in them.
    PJ: 10/14/00 06/09/03 10/4/09 11/15/13 11/16/13 10/08/14
    EV Solo: 7/11/11 11/12/12 11/13/12
  • samjam
    samjam New York Posts: 9,283
    Binaural
    Went with Binaural in terms of what you said, "5 star classic." I do think LB is a great album, just not what I think of when I think 5 star classic. It's pretty fantastic, though and I'm more than happy with it! (Now I just have to hear Getaway live!!)
    "Sometimes you find yourself having to put all your faith in no faith."
    ~not a dude~
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