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Post by Kensterberg on Apr 28, 2006 16:35:44 GMT -5
Just after the 4th ... Vedder should be in rare form for that. Wonder if they'll play "Know Your Rights" or "Fortunate Son" for the occassion. They've done killer live versions of both. Vedder even aped Strummer's "This next number is a public service announcement ... with guitar" intro for the former, and the band is just as comfortable with the punk/funk stomp of the former as it is with the straight-up rock of the latter.
I'm beginning to get quite excited about the new PJ. All the reviews are saying the same sorts of things, which bodes well, I think. Gonna have to get that and the new Boss next week (damn clients need to come in and pay before I'm buying much of anything!).
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Post by rockysigman on Apr 28, 2006 16:47:14 GMT -5
On that Vote for Change tour, they were also doing X's "The New World". Just as appropriate.
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Post by Paul on Apr 29, 2006 12:32:00 GMT -5
Thorny; Congrats on the tix man!!! Hope your first PJ gig is a memorable occasion! I got just over a month before they come to DC; can't wait....I'm glad you got Sonic Youth as the opening act; they're new album is supposed to be a throw back of sorts as well, kinda reminiscent of Sister....
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Post by Paul on Apr 29, 2006 12:35:23 GMT -5
On that Vote for Change tour, they were also doing X's "The New World". Just as appropriate. In DC, at the VFC finale, Tim Robbins joined PJ on stage for that; I thought that was rather odd, but kinda cool....I've never seen PJ kick it w/ actors...Tim Robbins looked funny next to Vedder; the former is like 6'4" maybe 5", the latter is like 5'6". It was hard for them to share a mic... Recently Jeff (the bassist) said he'd like to cover AC/DC's "If You Want Blood, You've Got It"; I think that would be bad ass folks. |
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Post by Paul on Apr 29, 2006 12:44:02 GMT -5
OK, so I listened to the album again yesterday (after a week w/o listening), and folks, we have ourselves a winner! I just can't say enough about this album; its great, and that RS review was spot on; it's easily worthy of its 4 star rating! Not every song is excellent (Big Wave, WWS), and some take time to grow on you (Marker In The Sand, Come Back), but every song is good. There is (IMO) not a bad song to be found. I'm not saying this is Pearl Jam's best album, but it may be there most consistent. I've never liked every song on a PJ album, not even No Code, so this is a first.
Oh, have a mentioned that the guitars are really, really loud on this album? Mike and Stone own this one. What's quickly becoming my favorite (Marker In The Sand) I didn't like initially....but now this song has grabbed me by the balls and won't let up! Wait till y'all hear the riff; its a page right out of the AC/DC playbook, but w/ lots of twist.....
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Post by wayved on Apr 29, 2006 23:53:16 GMT -5
Thanks for all the info Paul Cook--you ask why you bothered....
I have a question for you--the video for Alive that was aired on Headbangers Ball (heavy rotation on MTV in general too) whay back in 92/93 did not have the album version of Alive but had (to my ears) a superior live track. Am I crazy? Where can I get ahold of this? By the way--your CDs are almost done......Sorry it took so long--have had alot to deal with as of late. Bad shit. No excuse I know....
I cant wait til tuesday. I have heard a few songs -- YEAH!
Plus the fact that ROBERT POLLARD opens for them for a couple dates-- I hope he and his band dont get booed off the stage--or even worse--upstage Pearl jam (which they wont--im thinking about getting tickets--though way out of my EVERYTHING range--job range (getting time off), money range (fly to Cleveland? sure!) , etc etc etc)
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Post by Paul on May 1, 2006 7:57:11 GMT -5
Thanks man!
Um, that Alive video was actually a live performance; don't know how to get it other than some early bootlegs circa 1991/1992....Maybe check eBay, their PJ section is enormous.
Hope you get a chance to see PJ this tour....
Rumor has it that after finishing Europe they will either continue to tour (like the SouthEast/West USA) or head right back into the studio and crank out another album. Another rumor is that for this current album they recorded some 25 songs...so we may have something like Radiohead did w/ Kid A, and Amnesiac....
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Post by Paul on May 1, 2006 7:59:04 GMT -5
All Music Guide review: 4 and 1/2 stars!
Review by Stephen Thomas Erlewine
Nearly 15 years after Ten, Pearl Jam finally returned to the strengths of their debut with 2006's Pearl Jam, a sharply focused set of impassioned hard rock. Gone are the arty detours (some call them affectations) that alternately cluttered and enhanced their albums from 1993's sophomore effort, Vs., all the way to 2002's Riot Act, and what's left behind is nothing but the basics: muscular, mildly meandering rock & roll, enlivened by Eddie Vedder's bracing sincerity. Pearl Jam has never sounded as hard or direct as they do here — even on Ten there was an elasticity to the music, due in large part to Jeff Ament's winding fretless bass, that kept the record from sounding like a direct hit to the gut, which Pearl Jam certainly does. Nowhere does it sound more forceful than it does in its first half, when the tightly controlled rockers "Life Wasted," "World Wide Suicide," "Comatose," "Severed Hand," and "Marker in the Sand" pile up on top of each other, giving the record a genuine feeling of urgency. That insistent quality and sense of purpose doesn't let up even as they slide into the quite beautiful, lightly psychedelic acoustic pop of "Parachutes," which is when the album begins to open up slightly. If the second half of the record does have a greater variety of tempos than the first, it's still heavy on rockers, ranging from the ironic easy swagger of "Unemployable" to the furious "Big Wave," which helps set the stage for the twin closers of "Come Back" and "Inside Job." The former is a slow-burning cousin to "Black" that finds Pearl Jam seamlessly incorporating soul into their sound, while the latter is a deliberately escalating epic that gracefully closes the album on a hopeful note — and coming after an album filled with righteous anger and frustration, it is indeed welcome. But Pearl Jam's anger on this eponymous album is not only largely invigorating, it is the opposite of the tortured introspection of their first records. Here, Vedder turns his attention to the world at large, and while he certainly rages against the state of W's union in 2006, he's hardly myopic or strident; he's alternately evocative and specific, giving this album a resonance that has been lacking in most protest rock of the 2000s. But what makes Pearl Jam such an effective record is that it can be easily enjoyed as sheer music without ever digging into Vedder's lyrics. Song for song, this is their best set since Vitalogy, and the band has never sounded so purposeful on record as they do here, nor have they ever delivered a record as consistent as this. And the thing that makes the record work exceptionally well is that Pearl Jam has embraced everything they do well, whether it's their classicist hard rock or heart-on-sleeve humanitarianism. In doing so, they seem kind of old fashioned, reaffirming that they are now thoroughly outside of the mainstream — spending well over a decade galloping away from any trace of popularity will inevitably make you an outsider — but on their own terms, Pearl Jam hasn't sounded as alive or engaging as they do here since at least Vitalogy, if not longer.
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Post by Galactus on May 1, 2006 8:20:43 GMT -5
Steven Erlewhine is a hack. He's right that time though.
I got my copy in the mail on Sat. I'm currently placing it in the number four or five spot in my album ranking.
The new years eve show just sweetens the pot. It rocks.
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Post by Paul on May 1, 2006 8:24:05 GMT -5
Steven Erlewhine is a hack. He's right that time though. I got my copy in the mail on Sat. I'm currently placing it in the number four or five spot in my album ranking. The new years eve show just weetens the pot. It rocks. After about 7 listens, I'm ranking this one my #3, behind No Code and Vitalogy. This ranking changes w/ my mood, but for now this is how it goes: 1. No Code 2. Vitalogy 3. Pearl Jam 4. Binaural 5. Yield 6. Ten 7. Vs. 8. Riot Act |
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Post by Paul on May 1, 2006 8:28:21 GMT -5
Steven Erlewhine is a hack. He's right that time though. I got my copy in the mail on Sat. I'm currently placing it in the number four or five spot in my album ranking. The new years eve show just sweetens the pot. It rocks. So what are some of your general thoughts? Do you feel it's a consistent album, or a bit spotty? Got some initial favorites? Thoughts on "Marker In The Sand" (MITS)? That one for me is really amazing! After one listened I thought it sucked, but now that and "Severed Hand" are my favorites on the album, followed by "Parachutes". If I ever get hitched, I'm playing "Parachutes" at my wedding; it's a gorgeous song! Kudos to Mr. Stone Gossard for that beautiful melody. |
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Post by Galactus on May 1, 2006 8:45:48 GMT -5
I think it's probably the first album that's really come close to capturing the energy of the live show. Right now Severed Hand is probably my favorite, Marker In The Sand, Parachutes, Life Wasted, Unemployable, Gone and Big Wave are all definite highlights. I think it's very strong, consistant album. It's got some old school rockers sure but it's also got them trying some new stuff.
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Post by Galactus on May 1, 2006 8:47:19 GMT -5
my current ranking...
1. No Code
2. Ten (The ONLY problem with is the production)
3. Binaural
4. Pearl Jam
5. Vs.
6. Riot Act
7. Vitalogy
8. Yield
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Post by Paul on May 1, 2006 8:54:36 GMT -5
Wow, that's an interesting list! I don't know if I've ever seen Yield at the bottom...It's lost ground w/ me, but I still dig it a lot; I just love Mr. Irons drumming style, it's very unique.
I listened to Ten last week and was rather surprised how much I enjoyed it; especially "Alive". That song just flat out rocks, and they really jam out hard towards the end! I've only got it at one of the shows I've been to, and I'm kinda hoping they play it in DC in 29 days.
The general feeling I'm getting from other's views on the new album seems similar to mine...It may not be the best, but it's pretty darn consistent. Really, there isn't one song on the album I don't like! I even think the filler, "Wasted Reprise" is kinda cool and could make for a good show opener...
What's your favorite song(s) from Yield?
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Post by Galactus on May 1, 2006 9:04:12 GMT -5
In general I think Yield is pretty boring. Given To Fly is as classic a song as they've ever written. I also like Lowlight and Faithful alot. I don't think it's bad it's just their least interesting.
A note on Vitalogy - the first bit is as good as No Code, it seems to be well on it's way to being their best album and then it turns to shit right in front of you. Outside of Betterman, Immortality and Corduroy everthing after Whipping is crap. Complete crap.
The ONLY problem I have with Ten is the production.
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