2016 Single

drummerboy_73 said:

walkunafraid said:

FR181798 said:

H.Chinaski said:

walkunafraid said:

H.Chinaski said:

Glad to see that something is arriving for folks. But tbh it seems like a couple of throwaway tracks... 

FR181798 said:

Its hilarious that 10c were bigging this up saying it would be worth the wait.

Two previously-unavailable tracks centered around one of the most significant nights/achievements of the band's career. One is from sound check, the other from rehearsal - elements of the Pearl Jam live experience that we rarely get to hear. Track A is one of the most iconic songs of the bands Hall of Fame career, Track B a cover that they've never performed (to my knowledge). What the hell were you guys expecting, an Eddie Vedder and Jesus Christ "Ebony and Ivory" duet?

Some people will never be happy, I swear...

Eh. Yeah, Alive is one of their most celebrated songs but i suppose i've just heard live and on record so many times now it just doesn't excite me that much as a annual single. The Chuck Berry cover might be fun for a spin or two though. Not the end of the world here bud. Was thinking that they might just do something a little more special being that we haven't got a annual single in almost 2 years. 

This is what I was thinking, I'm not disappointed in the song choice, to me it's just okay. Just funny how they said it was going to be worth the wait. Like there was some big reason for the delay and that it was going to be something special/different this year.

I still don't get it. What exactly would have qualified as "worth the wait" or "special/different" to you? A soundcheck track with Dave Krusen on drums is pretty damn special. A rehearsal-session cover that none of us have ever heard them play is certainly different. I mean, if you were expecting them to put a brand new album-ready single on the holiday vinyl I think your expectations may be way too high.

I can  picture the band choosing these tracks, feeling like they're sharing something intimate and unique with fans from their biggest honor as musicians (which would also explain why these didn't come out earlier, as the R&R HOF induction wasn't until April), excited for the reaction of a fan base that tends to covet unheard / behind-the-scenes / special guest type treats, only to have people shit on their choices because they aren't "special" enough. Honestly, it makes me a little sad.

The deeper issue at hand for me, is that we were given tracks that were recorded in 2017, only a few months ago, but were led to believe, even before that time, that the single was already in production and we'd be "receiving it shortly." I'm not disappointed in the song selection per se, but I am with disappointed with the fact that we were given something that in all honesty, required no real extra effort by the band, outside of perhaps some minimal involvement with artwork, as they probably record just about everything they do now, and the tracks only needed to be mixed and sent to pressing in the last few months, and nothing was worked on or prepared in 2016, the actual membership year for which we should have received our benefits long ago. And with the somewhat obvious error of printing 2016 on 'Deep' and '2017' on the 7", it's apparent that this was thrown together in the last few months to quell everyone's demand for something they paid for nearly 2 years ago. More than any of this though, is that regardless of how big a fan I am of this band and their music, or with the song selection they've given us - it is strictly a CUSTOMER SERVICE issue and getting something we paid for, in a reasonable amount of time, or SOME communication of why it took so long to receive, and clarification as to exactly what membership year's benefit we just received.

Then again, maybe I'm totally wrong, and this was all planned a year and a half ago, and there's already something in production for our 2017 membership. Maybe it'll even be big, bold, and free.

 So I paid $20 for my annual Digital membership and nothing for 2016.   

KC138045 said:

justam said:

I think the real elephant in the room is that they don’t seem to want to make a holiday single anymore.  There is absolutely no enthusiasm for the project.  Not only no enthusiasm, they can’t even seem to force themselves to do it!  The real question for the curious is “why?” 

Almost 26 years together as a band.  They're all older with families and have other projects besides Pearl Jam. Priorities and interest change over time. 

pledgeagrievance said:

KC138045 said:

justam said:

I think the real elephant in the room is that they don’t seem to want to make a holiday single anymore.  There is absolutely no enthusiasm for the project.  Not only no enthusiasm, they can’t even seem to force themselves to do it!  The real question for the curious is “why?” 

Almost 26 years together as a band.  They're all older with families and have other projects besides Pearl Jam. Priorities and interest change over time. 

Ok I respect that. But they’re still taking my money. 

Get_Right said:

Lets not kid ourselves.  The $20 is for the right to have a chance at 10C tickets. The rest is just gravy. 

HesCalledDyer said:

Get_Right said:

Lets not kid ourselves.  The $20 is for the right to have a chance at 10C tickets. The rest is just gravy. 

I pay $40 for ALL the membership benefits they are supposed to provide.  The rest isn't "just gravy."  My mashed potatoes are still naked. I"m not kidding myself or anyone else.

That is actually funny! 

Get_Right said:

Banjo said:

Get_Right said:

Lets not kid ourselves.  The $20 is for the right to have a chance at 10C tickets. The rest is just gravy. 

Some of us pay $40. The extra $20 for most of us is primarily for the annual single

I have never understood the value of the analog membership. But anyway, its been many years since they delivered the single on time. Many years. The lack of explanation is also classic 10C. 

HesCalledDyer said:

Get_Right said:

Banjo said:

Get_Right said:

Lets not kid ourselves.  The $20 is for the right to have a chance at 10C tickets. The rest is just gravy. 

Some of us pay $40. The extra $20 for most of us is primarily for the annual single

I have never understood the value of the analog membership. But anyway, its been many years since they delivered the single on time. Many years. The lack of explanation is also classic 10C. 

That doesn't make it acceptable.