The riot act tour was great but the album is my least favorite. I never liked a lot of the songs and a few don't translate well live. But to each their own.
Check out Help, Help from Kansas City 03' & hear Mike shred it out. Might change your mind!
Can't find this boot, are you sure you mean Kansas City? They played there in 2000 and not 2003...? Or?
Bonner Springs boot, 12 June 2003.
It's an fantastic show.
2000: Manchester
2006: Dublin; Leeds; Arnhem
2007: London
2009: Manchester
2012: Manchester I & II : EV Manchester : Soundgarden Shepherds Bush
2013: Brad Manchester : Soundgarden Manchester
2014: Amsterdam I & II; Berlin; Leeds; Milton Keynes 2018: Berlin; London II; Boston II
set: Release, Breakerfall, Brain Of J., Get Right, Ghost, Immortality, Whipping, Not For You, Off He Goes, Help Help, 1/2 Full, MFC, You Are, Better Man, Save You enc 1: Go, Corduroy, Glorified G, Even Flow, Alive enc 2: Fuckin’ Up, Baba O’Riley
The riot act tour was great but the album is my least favorite. I never liked a lot of the songs and a few don't translate well live. But to each their own.
Check out Help, Help from Kansas City 03' & hear Mike shred it out. Might change your mind!
Can't find this boot, are you sure you mean Kansas City? They played there in 2000 and not 2003...? Or?
I'm guessing 6/12/03?
Bright eyed kid: "Wow Typo Man, you're the best!"
Typo Man: "Thanks kidz, but remembir, stay in skool!"
To the OP - Oh no no no NO! Music is subjective of course (to a point) but I see Riot Act as their worst album. A (mostly) tuneless, dirgey, slob of a record. Overlong and underwritten. I remember the absolute sinking feeling when I played it through the first time. I stuck with it, out of my love for the band, but it never moved me like their past albums. It has redeeming qulaities though, a great cover, interesting song titles (discounting Love Boat Captain), and 2 classic songs (I Am Mine, All Or None). Love Boat Captain is probably my worst PJ song. Ed's cringe lyrics, an awful chant like chorus. Help Help, Ghost, Save You, Bushleaguer, Half Full, all sound like slicked up demos, lacking any of Ed's wonderful use of melody.
Things didn't really improve on Self Titled, but it was a little better. I felt they got back on the road with Backspacer, and Lightning Bolt is a magic album, worthy to stand with their best.
It used to get a poor write up from me and I left it out of rotation for months on end. One night while trying out a new set of Sony headphones I really heard it properly for the first time and it wasn't long before it climbed up to third in my rankings behind Vitalogy and No Code. There is so much happening on there that you don't pick up upon without headphones or a really good system. The layers of vocals are really evident and Mike's guitars are just everywhere on the louder songs. You can almost make out every creak of wood and string scuff on All Or None too. Some people don't like Ed's voice on the album but it's what makes the album so special for me. It's the sound of a man burned out by the war in the Middle East, the Bush administration and global politics in general. I sometimes feel like so many people who criticize the album are overlooking the genius of it's statement and the amazing creativity within it. The OP has a good point about this being a peak, maybe not necessarily "the peak" but a really important one. The fact that they tried to follow it with another finger wagging at the war/the world album and only achieved it on a much shallower level shows that Riot Act was a major turning point. Riot Act knew where it was going from the word go, Avocado is somewhat disjointed and the two albums since pretty much say that they are content to have tried to be a political band but are ready to relax and enjoy what they have with only the odd political statement now. Arc is simply stunning too and is an amazing tribute to those 9 lost souls, another piece of Ed genius. I have to have this on vinyl some day!
Like a book among the many on a shelf...
Dublin 02 Arena - 22/6/10. Belfast Odyssey Arena - 23/6/10. London Hyde Park - 25/6/10. Berlin Wuhlheide - 30/6/10.
Manchester MEN - 20/06/12. Manchester MEN - 21/06/12
It used to get a poor write up from me and I left it out of rotation for months on end. One night while trying out a new set of Sony headphones I really heard it properly for the first time and it wasn't long before it climbed up to third in my rankings behind Vitalogy and No Code. There is so much happening on there that you don't pick up upon without headphones or a really good system. The layers of vocals are really evident and Mike's guitars are just everywhere on the louder songs. You can almost make out every creak of wood and string scuff on All Or None too. Some people don't like Ed's voice on the album but it's what makes the album so special for me. It's the sound of a man burned out by the war in the Middle East, the Bush administration and global politics in general. I sometimes feel like so many people who criticize the album are overlooking the genius of it's statement and the amazing creativity within it. The OP has a good point about this being a peak, maybe not necessarily "the peak" but a really important one. The fact that they tried to follow it with another finger wagging at the war/the world album and only achieved it on a much shallower level shows that Riot Act was a major turning point. Riot Act knew where it was going from the word go, Avocado is somewhat disjointed and the two albums since pretty much say that they are content to have tried to be a political band but are ready to relax and enjoy what they have with only the odd political statement now. Arc is simply stunning too and is an amazing tribute to those 9 lost souls, another piece of Ed genius. I have to have this on vinyl some day!
Very well written Gary. Totally agree. And on vinyl it is immense!
2000: Manchester
2006: Dublin; Leeds; Arnhem
2007: London
2009: Manchester
2012: Manchester I & II : EV Manchester : Soundgarden Shepherds Bush
2013: Brad Manchester : Soundgarden Manchester
2014: Amsterdam I & II; Berlin; Leeds; Milton Keynes 2018: Berlin; London II; Boston II
yes! my favourite album, I can listen to it no matter what mood I'm in and theres not many albums I can say that about. I still think Ghost is Pearl Jams most underrated song just as Riot Act is their most underrated album. From start to finish Riot Act is A masterpiece and I will never tire of this album. Best ever.
It's interesting the reaction I'm getting to PJ albums from non-PJ fans now. I don't have any close friends who give much of a shit about PJ one way or the other, and really none of them have even listened to anything since Vitalogy for the most part, and really had no clue what their last 6 albums were. Anyway, in EVERY case with these people, they react VERY positively to Riot Act. They ask with some pleasant surprise, "What album is this???" They are all surprised that they weren't even aware of such a great album that immediately strikes them and fucking awesome. I'll also mention that the same reaction comes when I play Yield, Binaural, and S/T, and the opposite reaction comes when I put on Backspacer and Lightning Bolt. For those two everyone starts acting slightly uncomfortable because they just aren't loving it but don't want to offend me by saying so because they know how huge a fan I am, lol. (of course, I don't mind if they don't like any PJ album - to each their own... plus they are 100% right about BS, and while I like LB for the most part, I understand their reaction. Anyway, main point is that grown ups (several of the ones I know anyway) who hear Riot Act for the first time think it's an absolutely incredible album - takes no getting used to at all for them. These are the people who don't pick it apart like crazy people the way we all do, hahaha. Although for me as a huge fan it was also love at first listen, so I can't relate to the fact that so many fans took some warming up with this one.
Post edited by PJ_Soul on
With all its sham, drudgery, and broken dreams, it is still a beautiful world. Be careful. Strive to be happy. ~ Desiderata
Riot Act was the last great record the band has put out. Every one of the first 7 is amazing in its own right. I can't say the same with Avocado, Backspacer, Lightning Bolt. Each of those has a few good songs but the albums as a whole are not that great compared to 1-7.
I've always thought Riot Act was their most complete and diverse album. I love how the album has some softer songs, heavier songs, and a few in between. My favorite songs off the album are Thumbing My Way, Save You, and Ghost.
Sometimes you find yourself Having to put all your faith In no faith
To the OP - Oh no no no NO! Music is subjective of course (to a point) but I see Riot Act as their worst album. A (mostly) tuneless, dirgey, slob of a record. Overlong and underwritten. I remember the absolute sinking feeling when I played it through the first time. I stuck with it, out of my love for the band, but it never moved me like their past albums. It has redeeming qulaities though, a great cover, interesting song titles (discounting Love Boat Captain), and 2 classic songs (I Am Mine, All Or None). Love Boat Captain is probably my worst PJ song. Ed's cringe lyrics, an awful chant like chorus. Help Help, Ghost, Save You, Bushleaguer, Half Full, all sound like slicked up demos, lacking any of Ed's wonderful use of melody.
Things didn't really improve on Self Titled, but it was a little better. I felt they got back on the road with Backspacer, and Lightning Bolt is a magic album, worthy to stand with their best.
Probably at or near the bottom in terms of albums for me. And even though I really enjoy a few songs, most seen to be crowd killers during shows... Like Cropduster for example. Great song but it just sucks the life out of the arena live.
RA and the tour that followed in 03 were some of my favorite times. From a selfish standpoint, probably one of the best times to be a PJ fan. Most of the world had forgotten about the band, and good seats weren't that hard to get. I even got free lawn seats to Irvine #2 just showing up to Irvine #1. Oh, and the band was really pushing the envelope with bootleg releases (mp3 downloads the next morning, how much more awesome could it be?). I can't say RA is my favorite album, but its pretty damn good. Theres a lot to pick from in their. I'd even venture to call it a Yield sequel. By that I mean, its the only other PJ album which seemed to have pretty equal contributions from all members. Thanks to the OP for starting this thread. You taking me back man
Agreed with the sonic nature of the record- there is much more to Riot Act than meets the eye. I think you're missing something if you don't invest in a decent pair of headphones and listen to all of the PJ catalog....in the dark....with a glass of red....or whatever the fuck you like!
www.cluthelee.com
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brianlux
Moving through All Kinds of Terrain. Posts: 43,109
^^^ My pleasure, vaggar99. Always happy to talk about RA. :-)
One thing to consider- crowd pleasers are not always the best work from a band (or film maker, or writer, or painter, etc). Something that appeals to the largest numbers can be great or it can be seen as appealing to the lowest common denominator. I guess I'm just not impressed by something that appeals to the masses- only by things that appeal to me personally. (I don't mean at all to sound like a know-it-all or snob or whatever. I'm prone to speaking my mind but never with the intention of merely stirring up shit.)
To tell the truth, I really didn't like RA all that much when I first heard it. It didn't have a sound that gave me instant gratification. But the more I listened to it the more it sunk in. It just sounds to me like a lot more effort, time, consideration, craft and hard work were put into these songs.
All that said, the PJ album that was easiest for me to get into has always been Yield. So in a way I guess I would say Yield is my favorite but I think Riot Act is their best in terms of peak effort with No Code following closely as well. Just one fan's thoughts, of course.
And how lucky we are to have a band with so many great albums that any individual top picks are great records. THAT is awesome!
"It's a sad and beautiful world"
-Roberto Benigni
0
brianlux
Moving through All Kinds of Terrain. Posts: 43,109
Agreed with the sonic nature of the record- there is much more to Riot Act than meets the eye. I think you're missing something if you don't invest in a decent pair of headphones and listen to all of the PJ catalog....in the dark....with a glass of red....or whatever the fuck you like!
Constantly flip flopping with Long Road as my favorite song. They need to bring this back out live. Playing it last tour I hope it happens. It's perfect.
2) Riot Act is one badass mother. Listened to it today just because. I mean the opener of Can't Keep? Love. Thumbing my Way. And Matt f@#king Cameron on You Are? Hot damn!
2) Riot Act is one badass mother. Listened to it today just because. I mean the opener of Can't Keep? Love. Thumbing my Way. And Matt f@#king Cameron on You Are? Hot damn!
So true! Maybe not for everyone, but it's still one (if not the) all-time favorites of mine!
I finally just recently appreciate the greatness of RA. It feels like a cohesive conceptual recording. Maybe one where there are no real hits but as a whole it feels creative and complete. Cropduster is the catalyst of the record IMO. It sets the tone.
absolutely love riot act. would love to see the whole album played in toronto. have been asking for albums to be played for many years now. saw the ra tour 5 times. the 2 shows at the dte center in michigan were epic in that they played 61 songs in total over 2 nights with only 1 song the same. also guest appearances by steve earle and the zz top dude.to me their peak was avocado. another great album and phenomenal tour.
For me, if you remove "Get Right" and "Thumbing My Way" it becomes a much stronger album. 15 tracks is a bit much... "Get Right" is b-side quality and "Thumbing My Way" doesn't fit, for me, on an album called Riot Act!! Cut those songs and you're down to about 47 minutes, which is about perfect. (By the way, if you cut the 4 "experimental tracks" from Vitalogy, holy shit is that an amazing 10-track/41-minute album)
I do agree with an earlier comment that the sound/feel of the album was unique for PJ. "Folky" is how that person described it. Not sure that's it, but it's definitely an all-together different feel than 'Avacado', Backspacer or Lightning Bolt. I think "Ghost" is a good track, but the studio version lacks a little punchiness. So, slim Riot Act down by removing the 2 songs I mentioned and make "Ghost" a little better performance... and you have a gem!
Riot Act was the last great record the band has put out. Every one of the first 7 is amazing in its own right. I can't say the same with Avocado, Backspacer, Lightning Bolt. Each of those has a few good songs but the albums as a whole are not that great compared to 1-7.
I quite like Avacado. I thought Binaural/Riot Act were OK when they came out, but I remember really liking Avacado right from the get go. I still love that album. When it came out I thought it was a return to form. I pretty much like every song on it (maybe one or two I'm not big on), but it's still pretty good.
In hindsight I do like Riot Act alot, but I think Avacado is the last great record. There's great songs on backspacer and lightning bolt, but hit/miss ratio is close to 50/50, so not great records, but ok ones.
Comments
It's an fantastic show.
2006: Dublin; Leeds; Arnhem
2007: London
2009: Manchester
2012: Manchester I & II : EV Manchester : Soundgarden Shepherds Bush
2013: Brad Manchester : Soundgarden Manchester
2014: Amsterdam I & II; Berlin; Leeds; Milton Keynes
2018: Berlin; London II; Boston II
Bootleg Reviews: http://pjbootlegreviews.blogspot.com/
06/12/03 – Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre: Bonner Springs (Kansas City), KS
support act: Idlewild
preset: Dead Man (Ed solo)
set: Release, Breakerfall, Brain Of J., Get Right, Ghost, Immortality, Whipping, Not For You, Off He Goes, Help Help, 1/2 Full, MFC, You Are, Better Man, Save You
enc 1: Go, Corduroy, Glorified G, Even Flow, Alive
enc 2: Fuckin’ Up, Baba O’Riley
Typo Man: "Thanks kidz, but remembir, stay in skool!"
Things didn't really improve on Self Titled, but it was a little better. I felt they got back on the road with Backspacer, and Lightning Bolt is a magic album, worthy to stand with their best.
Dublin 02 Arena - 22/6/10. Belfast Odyssey Arena - 23/6/10. London Hyde Park - 25/6/10. Berlin Wuhlheide - 30/6/10.
Manchester MEN - 20/06/12. Manchester MEN - 21/06/12
2006: Dublin; Leeds; Arnhem
2007: London
2009: Manchester
2012: Manchester I & II : EV Manchester : Soundgarden Shepherds Bush
2013: Brad Manchester : Soundgarden Manchester
2014: Amsterdam I & II; Berlin; Leeds; Milton Keynes
2018: Berlin; London II; Boston II
Bootleg Reviews: http://pjbootlegreviews.blogspot.com/
Having to put all your faith
In no faith
Yield though is the pinnacle.
'10- MSG 1-2 '11- PJ20
'12- MIA; DeLuna '13- Wrigley; Pitt; Brooklyn 1-2; Philly 1-2; Baltimore; Seattle
'14- Denver '16- Philly 1-2; MSG 2
'17- Pilgrimage Music Fest (Eddie)
'18- Fenway
Thanks to the OP for starting this thread. You taking me back man
One thing to consider- crowd pleasers are not always the best work from a band (or film maker, or writer, or painter, etc). Something that appeals to the largest numbers can be great or it can be seen as appealing to the lowest common denominator. I guess I'm just not impressed by something that appeals to the masses- only by things that appeal to me personally. (I don't mean at all to sound like a know-it-all or snob or whatever. I'm prone to speaking my mind but never with the intention of merely stirring up shit.)
To tell the truth, I really didn't like RA all that much when I first heard it. It didn't have a sound that gave me instant gratification. But the more I listened to it the more it sunk in. It just sounds to me like a lot more effort, time, consideration, craft and hard work were put into these songs.
All that said, the PJ album that was easiest for me to get into has always been Yield. So in a way I guess I would say Yield is my favorite but I think Riot Act is their best in terms of peak effort with No Code following closely as well. Just one fan's thoughts, of course.
And how lucky we are to have a band with so many great albums that any individual top picks are great records. THAT is awesome!
:-bd
Vienna Berlin Stockholm Leeds Milton Keynes '14 Philly 2 nights '16 MSG 2 nights '16 EV Dublin '17 Amsterdam 1
Padova Rome Prague Kraków Berlin '18
'10- MSG 1-2 '11- PJ20
'12- MIA; DeLuna '13- Wrigley; Pitt; Brooklyn 1-2; Philly 1-2; Baltimore; Seattle
'14- Denver '16- Philly 1-2; MSG 2
'17- Pilgrimage Music Fest (Eddie)
'18- Fenway
1) I need a break from the Tour rumors thread.
2) Riot Act is one badass mother. Listened to it today just because. I mean the opener of Can't Keep? Love. Thumbing my Way. And Matt f@#king Cameron on You Are? Hot damn!
I love Riot Act. For me it's an A+ album along with No Code, Yield, & Binaural.
Top Notch Music!
I do agree with an earlier comment that the sound/feel of the album was unique for PJ. "Folky" is how that person described it. Not sure that's it, but it's definitely an all-together different feel than 'Avacado', Backspacer or Lightning Bolt. I think "Ghost" is a good track, but the studio version lacks a little punchiness. So, slim Riot Act down by removing the 2 songs I mentioned and make "Ghost" a little better performance... and you have a gem!
2000: 8/15, 8/18, 10/9, 10/11, 10/12
2003: 6/18, 6/21, 6/22
2005: 9/9, 9/28
2006: 5/16, 5/17, 6/26, 6/27
2007: 8/5
2009: 8/23, 8/24
2010: 5/3, 5/4, 5/21
2011: 9/3, 9/4, 9/11, 9/12
2013: 7/19, 11/16
2014: 10/3, 10/9, 10/12, 10/17
2016: 4/16, 8/20, 8/22
2018: 8/18, 8/20, 9/2
2022: 9/18
2023: 8/31, 9/2, 9/5
2024: 5/18, 6/29
In hindsight I do like Riot Act alot, but I think Avacado is the last great record. There's great songs on backspacer and lightning bolt, but hit/miss ratio is close to 50/50, so not great records, but ok ones.