PEARL JAM
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| their album (TEN) |
I am going to commit blasphemy. I believe Pearl Jam to more or less suck. Yes, I know they are considered by many to be the greatest American rock band of the 90's. I believe Newsweek magazine even said as much just as the alt rock scene was breathing its final breaths. Their music never did much for me. I could never find a hook to latch on to on any of the songs. Plus I really never liked Eddie Veddar's marble mouth singing.
Part of my malfunction with the band is their insistence to drag political awareness into their music. I find that annoying. I know a lot of you hippy wannabes get all fired up when a favorite group starts spouting off about a popular liberal issue or political figure. Yes, I get that rock and roll has always been a favorite vessel for delivering a bands political bent. I simply want them to STFU. I care about the music. Which in this case was extremely boring.
Ten was their first album and best seller released on August 1991. Four massive singles were released that dominated the alt rock airwaves for a good year: "Evenflow", "Alive", "Jeremy" and "Black". If I hear "Jeremy" one more time my brain will turn to sludge and run out of my nostrils. I actually like "Black" finding it a very soulful and thoughtful song. It builds to a satisfying crescendo. "Evenflow" and "Alive" were hardy rockers that I liked a lot at the time. This was definitely my favorite PJ album by far.
After Ten we got Vs, released in October 1993. They could have released an album full of lullabyes at this point and would have sold 5 million copies. They were at the height of their popularity. They decided not to release a single off this album because they were too cool. Alt radio did pick up some of the flotsam to play like "Animal and "Daughter".
It was around this time that two of the band mates did do something cool which was to try to reel in the costs of Ticketmaster. It obviously didn't work but at least they tried. They thought ticket prices was too high. Gossard and Amen actually went before a subcommittee in Congress to air out their grievances over the high prices.A later judgment by the Justice Department favored Ticketmaster. Bummer for us all because they really suck.
Vitology was released in December.1994. It was another hit. "Better Man" played constantly in 1995. This album would be their last big hit.
Part of my malfunction with the band is their insistence to drag political awareness into their music. I find that annoying. I know a lot of you hippy wannabes get all fired up when a favorite group starts spouting off about a popular liberal issue or political figure. Yes, I get that rock and roll has always been a favorite vessel for delivering a bands political bent. I simply want them to STFU. I care about the music. Which in this case was extremely boring.
Ten was their first album and best seller released on August 1991. Four massive singles were released that dominated the alt rock airwaves for a good year: "Evenflow", "Alive", "Jeremy" and "Black". If I hear "Jeremy" one more time my brain will turn to sludge and run out of my nostrils. I actually like "Black" finding it a very soulful and thoughtful song. It builds to a satisfying crescendo. "Evenflow" and "Alive" were hardy rockers that I liked a lot at the time. This was definitely my favorite PJ album by far.
After Ten we got Vs, released in October 1993. They could have released an album full of lullabyes at this point and would have sold 5 million copies. They were at the height of their popularity. They decided not to release a single off this album because they were too cool. Alt radio did pick up some of the flotsam to play like "Animal and "Daughter".
It was around this time that two of the band mates did do something cool which was to try to reel in the costs of Ticketmaster. It obviously didn't work but at least they tried. They thought ticket prices was too high. Gossard and Amen actually went before a subcommittee in Congress to air out their grievances over the high prices.A later judgment by the Justice Department favored Ticketmaster. Bummer for us all because they really suck.
Vitology was released in December.1994. It was another hit. "Better Man" played constantly in 1995. This album would be their last big hit.
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| Pearl Jam (live) |
Pearl Jam release a couple of more albums in the 90s, Yield and a Live album, neither of which came close to achieving the success of the first three albums. Through the 2000's they continue to release various albums and Live sets that barely achieve Platinum status. The media continue to try to find them relevant but commercially they are not the same band that sold 20 million records in the 90's.
I never saw the band live. I trust that they are much better live than the music on their albums.
I never saw the band live. I trust that they are much better live than the music on their albums.
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