Metallica just announced the Load album box set. Why can’t PJ do this with their back catalog? Look at the sheer volume of this thing. And $275 for all of it is a bargain, IMO.
I agree, I thought the exact same thing when I saw the Metallica announcement.
We've seen that Pearl Jam has heaps of archival content in their warehouse. They could put together some incredible box sets for the other albums.
I understand that they don't want to look backwards, but why not do what Metallica do and hire someone to compile it for them? The band can still review the proposed content and have final say. Stone said in an interview a few years ago that he's sure they'll do box sets for all their albums at some point, but doesn't know when.
Don't wait 10+ years until you're no longer touring to work on it - the time is now. No point sitting on all this material and doing nothing with it. Release the deluxe box sets please!
I think what’s unspoken is that only 3 of thier albums have enough demand to justify doing it, and they did those already. And the fact they combined Vs & Vitalogy instead of doing separate boxes for each is probably a similar rationale. Metallica is significantly more popular in 2025 than PJ.
Yes, I agree that they probably couldn't do it on the same scale as Metallica, but heaps of other bands are finding ways to do deluxe box sets for album anniversaries. Would be great if PJ could also.
There is so much bloat in the Load box set. A bunch of the CDs are isolated tracks, alternate takes, etc. You really have to go through it and ask yourself how often if at all you'll listen to most of it. You're also getting identical content in different formats (vinyl/CD).
There is so much bloat in the Load box set. A bunch of the CDs are isolated tracks, alternate takes, etc. You really have to go through it and ask yourself how often if at all you'll listen to most of it. You're also getting identical content in different formats (vinyl/CD).
This ⬆️
It’s the reason I don’t like box sets. Much of the content is a repeat of what you already have. They sucker me in with the live albums and maybe a few demos. I don’t care about replica back stage passes and the other shit like that.
I like hearing the way a song takes shape. They released the demo for Until It Sleeps the other day and it’s different from what ended up being the final take. I love the bloat.
I used to cook personal meals for James Hetfield- he always wanted grilled salmon, wilted spinach and raw garlic. Sometimes to F with him I’d use roasted cloves instead of raw and he’d throw an absolute shit fit
I do wish box sets would do away with the padding and just keep it to the media and a book. Most of the reproduced stuff would suffice with a picture of the actual thing in the book and its a marginal production cost increase that allows them to hike the price of the box set. .
That’s fine, you don’t have to believe me! Also have joined friends cooking for Phil Lesh and a bunch of the 49ers. (Working in Marin county basically is where they’re all at)
When I think of the handful of boxsets that I own I can tell you there is nothing I can remember, other than the records, that was useful/cool to have. Boxsets are great when it is just music and there should be something special/extra about the box version. Other than that it's just an empty cash grab. I have fallen for it at times.
1991- Hollywood Palladium, California with Temple of the Dog, Soundgarden, and Alice in Chains -RIP Magazine Show Oct. 6th 1992- Lollapalooza, Irvine, California Nothing since then. I suck. 2016- Fenway Park, Boston - Both glorious nights 2022- Oakland Night 2 2024 Sacramento, CA
Some box sets do contain a bit of bloat, but they could keep it simple. Remastered album LP Live album from the era LP Demo/riffs/unreleased tracks on CD Live show on DVD Maybe a book of photos from the studio
PJ fans spend up big on show merch... t-shirts, posters, skate decks, tea towels...
Surely there'd be a market for the actual music. Isn't that what we're all here for?
That’s fine, you don’t have to believe me! Also have joined friends cooking for Phil Lesh and a bunch of the 49ers. (Working in Marin county basically is where they’re all at)
I agree, I thought the exact same thing when I saw the Metallica announcement.
We've seen that Pearl Jam has heaps of archival content in their warehouse. They could put together some incredible box sets for the other albums.
I understand that they don't want to look backwards, but why not do what Metallica do and hire someone to compile it for them? The band can still review the proposed content and have final say. Stone said in an interview a few years ago that he's sure they'll do box sets for all their albums at some point, but doesn't know when.
Don't wait 10+ years until you're no longer touring to work on it - the time is now. No point sitting on all this material and doing nothing with it. Release the deluxe box sets please!
Because they wouldn't sell enough.
VS/Vitalogy was regulated to just being sold through the tenclub. It didn't even warrant a wide release, after the ten box set.
"Mostly I think that people react sensitively because they know you’ve got a point"
Some box sets do contain a bit of bloat, but they could keep it simple. Remastered album LP Live album from the era LP Demo/riffs/unreleased tracks on CD Live show on DVD Maybe a book of photos from the studio
PJ fans spend up big on show merch... t-shirts, posters, skate decks, tea towels...
Surely there'd be a market for the actual music. Isn't that what we're all here for?
I don't know what you mean by bloat. But if you mean "tat", as in pointless plastic and reproductions and here is a laminated poster and some branded dice you will never look at again. Then i agree. I think the perfect formula would be:
- LP Album in a gatefold with - LP Album with stuff like demos/riffs/unreleased tracks LP - LP Live album covering that era
- 100 page behind the scenes book (like the cool Ten-focused DEEP mag) covering the album -- or 60-90 min documentary Bluray with interviews doing the same - Live show/Touring band-esque on Bluray (if possible)
And have a seperate LP and CD-release (like Beatles do... I think...). I think the Venn diagram of users needing both LP and CD is quite small. Even though I understand that little sliver do exist. But for most people it's just a pricehike having to pay for both formats (like they forced you to with Ten and VS/Vitalogy)
And again. Stop putting tat in. Have pictures of it in the book instead. I consider the mamasan cassette an exception. Beatles don't do tat. While KISS do. Even though I kind of wanted the Creatures of the Night boxset.
Post edited by Spiritual_Chaos on
"Mostly I think that people react sensitively because they know you’ve got a point"
Comments
We've seen that Pearl Jam has heaps of archival content in their warehouse. They could put together some incredible box sets for the other albums.
I understand that they don't want to look backwards, but why not do what Metallica do and hire someone to compile it for them? The band can still review the proposed content and have final say. Stone said in an interview a few years ago that he's sure they'll do box sets for all their albums at some point, but doesn't know when.
Don't wait 10+ years until you're no longer touring to work on it - the time is now. No point sitting on all this material and doing nothing with it. Release the deluxe box sets please!
It’s the reason I don’t like box sets. Much of the content is a repeat of what you already have. They sucker me in with the live albums and maybe a few demos. I don’t care about replica back stage passes and the other shit like that.
"...I changed by not changing at all..."
1992- Lollapalooza, Irvine, California
Nothing since then. I suck.2016- Fenway Park, Boston - Both glorious nights
2022- Oakland Night 2
2024 Sacramento, CA
Remastered album LP
Live album from the era LP
Demo/riffs/unreleased tracks on CD
Live show on DVD
Maybe a book of photos from the studio
PJ fans spend up big on show merch... t-shirts, posters, skate decks, tea towels...
Surely there'd be a market for the actual music. Isn't that what we're all here for?
VS/Vitalogy was regulated to just being sold through the tenclub. It didn't even warrant a wide release, after the ten box set.
- LP Album with stuff like demos/riffs/unreleased tracks LP
- LP Live album covering that era
- Live show/Touring band-esque on Bluray (if possible)
And have a seperate LP and CD-release (like Beatles do... I think...). I think the Venn diagram of users needing both LP and CD is quite small. Even though I understand that little sliver do exist. But for most people it's just a pricehike having to pay for both formats (like they forced you to with Ten and VS/Vitalogy)
And again. Stop putting tat in. Have pictures of it in the book instead. I consider the mamasan cassette an exception. Beatles don't do tat. While KISS do. Even though I kind of wanted the Creatures of the Night boxset.