Pearl Jam
(1990 - )

one of my favorites. lost track of them for a few years but after i went to see them this summer i was hooked again. the idea that they are commercialized is based on a misconception that all their material is similar to the big hits off Ten and Vs. most of their best stuff is anthem-punk (think Ramones-ish only heavier). Spin the Black Circle, Satan's Bed, Go, Animal, Lukin, Do the Evolution, most of this decade's stuff, etc.

i actually was one of the co-editors of the Pearl Jam page on the old site, lol.

throwing out my vote:
Ten
Vs.
Vitalogy
No Code
Yield
Binaural
Riot Act
Pearl Jam
Backspacer

it depends on whether the focus is towards PJ's diehard fanbase or mainstream audiences. with PJ, just about all their albums are somebody's favorite though (probably the least amount of "that's my favorite" goes to Binaural in my experience)

probably don't need to list of the official bootlegs. but if you wanted to list some, i could throw out some suggestions of the best that i've heard and whoever else here has heard them could throw out some too i reckon (not sure who all here are big PJ fans).

Ten is a good album.

O rly?

You fellers sure have some controversial opinions, I'll tell you what.

the tier is up. Discuss.

Why is Vitalogy red and yet No Code isn't even bolded, let alone redded?

No Code is regular bold now.

I actually find Pearl Jam better than Yield, don't you?

there recent stuff has been met with a lot more acclaim than the stretch from No Code through Binaural, although i suppose it didnt have the same level of popularity so i can see why its this way.



because it was both more acclaimed and more popular. No Code fell down the charts fast, none of the singles still get played these days, and only a couple tracks have remained on most set lists. Vitalogy on the other hand has several tracks still played on modern rock radio and regularly at their shows, sold more, and received high praise (including being on RS's top 500 albums of all time).

1. Ten
2. Vs.
3. No Code
4. Vitalogy
5. Yield
6. Pearl Jam
7. Backspacer
8. Binaural
9. Riot Act


I have close to 300 Pearl Jam live recordings as well, so if you need some recommendations I could help you out.

good list, Nathan.

I think i'd probably put a masssive.. and i mean, massive.. gap between Vs. and the rest, myself.

I also am a bit of a PJ bootleg buff, so same goes for me and nathan.

Pave, why do you red Backspacer?

because it re-energized the fanbase, put them back in the public eye, and most importantly contains the best music (subjective) they've done since Vitalogy. but i can see it just being bolded. PJ has a weird career historically. because they were very popular and then completely abandoned the mainstream route and because of it have become a cult band. and so when judging their career, its hard to say whether their early, more popular stuff is most important or whether the later stuff, which is more adored by their hardcore fans, is more important. which is why i thought redding Ten (their biggest hit and most "important" album), Vitalogy (their turn away from the mainstream and their strongest album artistically), and Backspacer (the peak of their later career) would best show their career in all its different forms.

20 favorite songs:
Spin the Black Circle
Satan's Bed
Why Go
Do the Evolution
Life Wasted
State of Love and Trust
Lukin
Animal
Go
Breath
The Fixer
World Wide Suicide
1/2 Full
No Way
Not for You
Tremor Christ
Brain of J.
Smile
Glorified G
Got Some

i've really grown tired of the arena rock hits like Alive and the ballads. i just think they are better as a punk band than anything or the slow rockers like 1/2 Full and Smile.

This ^.

Though I do need to hear Backspacer, and Lost Dogs too I guess.