All you closet Pearl Jam fans e-mailed us to “give ‘em some love.” Well, if you haven’t read, the band’s new “World Wide Suicide” will be a free MP3 on pearljam.com on 3/8.
But if you go to myspace.com/pearljam you can hear the … wait a sec, that’s Billy Joel’s “Honesty”! Fucking imposter. I know how that goes.
Hear the whole thing via radio rip:
Pearl Jam – “World Wide Suicide” (MP3 Link Expired)
PJ put their download up early. Go here.
And the tracklist from their s/t 8th CD:
Pearl Jam Pearl Jam
“Life Wasted”
“World Wide Suicide”"Comatose”
“Severed Hand”
“Marker in the Sand”
“Parachutes”
“Unemployable”
“Big Wave”
“Gone”
“Wasted Reprise”
“Army Reserve”
“Come Back”
“Inside Job”
And to the fans, haters, and indie snobs, let’s see your best analogy … Which of this/last year’s new bands could possibly follow the grunge kings’ curious career path: i.e., peak critically and commercially with their debut (causing a series of shitty imitators), remain steadfastly political and anti-commercial (no MTV, no Ticketmaster, no Bush), yet maintain a dedicated fanbase for 15 years?
Pearl Jam : 1992 ::
what band? : 2006
(Yes, we know Ten came out in ’91, but it was big in ’92.)
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The 15 second snippet really doesn’t say anything about the song. Its hit the radio, and here it is: http://s8.yousendit.com/d.aspx?id=0M7X1JHWTQ08B26VA8LA0RSAI4
None of the new bands will follow Pearl Jam’s path because they don’t have the talent that Pearl Jam has.
interpol is the new pearl jam. just look at all the people imitating paul banks’ voice the same way they did to eddie vedder.
the electric tickle machine perhaps?
I agree with the above comment. I think The Killers is the poor man’s Interpol on Cocaine…
As much as I hate to say it, the Arctic Monkeys, methinks…
Pearl Jam rules so hard. I am glad they are finally on the new label. What closet fans? I am so pumped for the new album and tour. I up’d my Ten Club too.
The Killers are “the new…” a lot of things. Maybe the new Pearl Jam, or possibly the new KC and the Sunshine Band?
I hear their next album has some post-industrial leanings, but if you don’t like that you’d probably enjoy either the Indian raga or the Dylan-esque folk ditty half way through. Plus there’s a great Chumbawamba cover.
http://s8.yousendit.com/d.aspx?id=2G0JPUEFS9C4315AA5UJXD2S0A
Here is the whole thing!
I’ll go with Interpol. Like Pearl Jam, they peaked on their first album. The “Interpol voice” is easy to imitate like the “Pearl Jam voice,” so it has become ubiquitous.
The Killers would be analagous to Stone Temple Pilots– the first band to hit it real big imitating the genuine article. Everything moves faster now, so Interpol already have plenty of their own “Creeds.”
pearl jam : fall out boy
strong first couple of records, eventually falling into obscurity, yet still adored by hardcore fans from their big-city-homes. they’ll make a comeback with their fifth or so record, but it’ll be something along the lines of the fall from grace experienced by less than jake.
pearl jam rules… nuff said.
I’d submit that most popular modern rock acts lack what Pearl Jam had in 1992: authenticity. It’s what made grunge and alternative rock so appealling during that period.
And I suspect that most modern rock acts wouldn’t be able to reject the mainstream in the way that Pearl Jam did. (To me, they didn’t “fall into obscurity”; they refused to do what bands generally do to stay in the limelight.)
I don’t think any modern band can fill that analogy. The music scene has become so fragmented by genre that I don’t think any band can obtain the ubiquity that Pearl Jam had at their peak. There’s a perception now that bands have to be a little “off” (eg, the Killers) in order to reach the masses.
As much as I love the way that the new “word of mouth” scene can help bands like Clap Your Hands, Say Yeah find an audience, part of me laments the loss of having that one huge band that everyone can respect, even if you’re not a fan. In 1993, it was hard to find people who would say “I hate Pearl Jam” – I had friends that were country music fans who enjoyed their music.
Is there any band now that could air a live concert on the radio on a Sunday night, and have two or three stations in a single market carry it? And have nearly every radio within earshot be tuned to it? (Certainly the Internet would impact that now, but I don’t think any current band, even via webcast, could draw the kinds of numbers that show did.)
I’m not much of a fan now, but it’s hard for me to underestimate where they were at their peak.
Certainly there are bands today with the authenticity they had. And there are certainly bands that are as popular. But I can’t think of one that has both.
good call on the interpol/editors/etc.
Why don’t people respect these guys??? They do so much for their community and fans, they are socially and politically active and they make good music while retaining their integrity…that’s more than a lot of bands can say.
But isnt the “Interpol voice” you speak of really just a “poor mans version” of Joy Division?
I felt the earth on Monday
It moved beneath my feet
In the form of a morning paper
Laid out for me to see
Saw his face in a color picture
I recognized the name
Could not stop staring at the
Face I’d never see again
It’s a shame to awake in a world of pain
What does it mean when
the war is taking over?
It’s the same every day
I heard my name
Why can’t they say that
The world be left to hold her
The whole world
World over
It’s World Wide Suicide
The whole world
World over
It’s World Wide Suicide
Medals on a wooden mantle
Next to a handsome face
That the President took for granted
Writing checks that others pay
And in all the madness
Thought becomes numb and naive
So much to talk about
And nothing for us to say
It’s the same every day
And the wave won’t break
Tell you to pray while
the devil’s on his shoulder
Laying claims to the tainted soldier said
I’m not a quitting
The truth’s already out there
The whole world
World over
It’s World Wide Suicide
The whole world
World over
It’s World Wide Suicide
Looking in the eyes of the fallen
You’ve got to know there’s another
Another
Another
Another
Another
waaaaayyyyyyyyyyy
It’s a shame to awake in a world of pain
What does it mean when
the war is taking over
It’s the same every day
And the wave won’t break
Tell you to pray while
the devil’s on his shoulder
The whole world
World over
It’s World Wide Suicide
The whole world
World over
It’s World Wide Suicide
The whole world
World over
It’s World Wide Suicide
The whole world
World over
It’s World Wide Suiciiiiiiiiiide
“But isnt the “Interpol voice” you speak of really just a “poor mans version” of Joy Division?”
Touche.
pearl jam:1992::franz ferdinand:2006?
or maybe not. i dunno. the franz boys write songs with a lot more and much better internal construction. but i think they might be on the road to becoming a nostalgia act for washed up indie-hipsters come 2020. maybe alex kapranos should write something ridiculous on himself with a marks-a-lot during that tempo shift in “take me out.” that’d give the kids something to think about.
1. i am SHOCKED that pearl jam is being discussed on stereogum
and
2. i totally agree with uglyredhonda.
pj’s sales have gone from 10 million+ down to maybe 500,000 with their last album and yet they can have a full tour with the release of each new album and sell out 15-20k seat arenas or ampitheaters (sheds).
i don’t think there is any band out now that has sold or will sell as many albums as pearl jam did early in their career (ie – ten, vs, vitalogy) to be in the position to just say “fuck it, we’re doing shit our own way” and go no videos, not a lot of interviews, etc. and try to maintain a career that spans 8 albums.
As an interesting aside, I would say that Pearl Jam are today’s Grateful Dead. Their tours sell out like nobody’s business, whithout all the fanfare that your “mainstream” bands have. Having seen Pearl Jam on more than one occassion, including their last Canadian Tour, I can say without a doubt, they are one of the greatest bands I have been privlidged to see.
As much as I love Interpol, I have to argue the point that they are not the ‘Pearl Jam’ of 2006. Bright Lights came out years ago followed by Antics almost 2 years ago now. Plus, the fame of Pearl Jam after ‘Ten’ is unfounded compared to many bands today.
If a band will blow up as they did it would have to be the Arcade Fire. I have to believe the moment they release their next album we “Yipsters” are going to annoyed by the pop culture to follow and the copycat phenomenon that will take place similar to the copycat bands produced by Interpol. Though, Arcade Fire’s next album will be Platinum several times over.
Plus, I think Canadians tend to do it their own way.
No band will follow in these footsteps, because no band will possibly suck as hard as Pearl Jam does.
I think the strokes are flying on pearl jam’s trajectory minus the uber commercial success.
that Pearl Jam song reminds me of the Saved by The Bell theme song.
pearl jam’s last video::
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-798499834764717267&q=do+the+evolution
I am also surprised to see Stereogum talking Pearl Jam. I think its rad they’re getting some positive feedback. I thought it was weird they weren’t getting more press because technically, Pearl Jam is signed to J Records, an indie label, so they’re more indie and DIY than the Strokes, Death Cab or Interpol at the moment. I’ll even go as far as to say that Eddie will follow in the same footsteps as Springsteen, Dylan, and Young Neil as far as becoming a completely prolific solo artist later.
And then much later, I think Conor Oberst. And maybe Bono. Maybe.
eh? j records indie my ass. j still has the distribution backing of a major label (bmg), and didnt they merge with arista? freaking whitney houston and maroon 5 are in j records. at least death cab started at barsuk and only recently signed with atlantic. it’s not like pj are on dischord.
as for 2006′s pearl jam, i honestly cant really think of one right now. none of those mentioned (interpol, killers) have the political stance pj does. but i dont know how pj can get away with remaining on major labels and talking shit about ticketmaster when they play clear channel venues.
radiohead. ?
pearl ham has to play clear channel venues that use ticketmaster…where else would they play? Maybe if other bands had joined pearl jam when they testified in front of congress about ticketmaster’s anti competitive practices we wouldnt have to pay 11 dollars in service charges.
? plenty of bands play venues that have nothing to do with clear channel/ticketmaster. sure it would have been great if other bands joined in the monopoly hearing, but that’s really neither here nor there. pearl jam’s decisions have nothing to do with other bands. i’m just not so sure i want to be all “Rah rah!” for a band that has basically decided that they just need to give up. it’s all just pretty sad really.
of course pearl jam could play non clear channel/ticketmaster venues but they have a large fan base…it’s not feasible to play in a 500 capacity auditorium…and how in the world have they given up? They’re releasing their 8th album and they’re a touring machine.
The answer of course, cannot be made for 2006. There aren’t enough revolutionary, breakthrough type bands right now. Most are copycats of some other sound. The closest analogy I could make would be Modest Mouse. Hardcore fanbase. Completely new original sound, ripped off by man. Granted they stretch back to the mid-late nineties, but they’re still going strong despite a (mostly) anti-commercial stand. Thoughts?
I don’t see the Interpol/Pearl Jam career comparison. I do love Interpol. JD is overrated, to those who mentioned them.
At least if you ask me.
Folks these parts seem to forget that when they launched most folks were saying PJ was a poor man’s imitation of Nirvana.
i love it when people have opinions and stuff
1. J Records is a major label and part of Sony/BMG.
2. People who reflexively think Pearl Jam suck, without having listened to anything since Better Man, are idiots.
3. Their flight path is unique because no other band would both intentionally shed fans and stay together. Most bands with early success (Ten is 12X platinum) would break up and the lead singer would have a lame solo career.
4. Few bands, either indie or major, have the multitude of political and philanthropic commitments that Pearl Jam have. There is certainly no other major band to have done as many benefits and committed to as many causes as Pearl Jam have (perhaps with the notable exceptions of Bono and Bruce Springsteen).
5. The fight with Ticketmaster is so 1994.
Wow. I had this conversation just last week with someone when i found out about PJ’s last album.
The only thing we could come up that was close was Coldplay. In regards to the popularity, to maintaining personal views public, and their political awareness.
There’s no shame in being a Pearl Jam fan. I’ve been blessed to see them at least 3 times on each of their tours, and its always amazing to see how much effort they put on to make it a great show each and every night they are on stage. Their declining record sales don’t matter much – they rock out just the same on stage.
It ain’t called Clear Channel anymore, folks. It’s LIVE NATION ENTERTAINMENT! Remember this.
First of all, so glad to see the pearl jam fans. Pearl Jam haters are annoying.
My submission: White Stripes. Seven Nation Army was the Great Alterna-Anthem of this decade like Alive was back then.
White Stripes are also getting a backlash like PJ did. Eddie Vedder and Jack White are garnering reputations for being self-righteously earnest.
I admit White Stripes are not as anti-establishment as Pearl Jam, but as far as commercially succesful bands with respect go, I got to give it to the White Stripes.
i really hope this upcoming pj album is awesome. their last great effort was yield, and everything since has just been mediocre.
“But isnt the “Interpol voice” you speak of really just a “poor mans version” of Joy Division?”
Yea, damn Ian Curtis for ripping off Interpol 27 years ago. He was such a hack.
As for the Pearl Jam analogy, I have to agree about the White Stripes.
I used to not like Pearl Jam because I thought they were riding on Nirvana’s coat tails, but you just have to listen to the songs. They’re awesome. “I Am Mine”, the single from their last album “Riot Act”, was outstanding.
sam, when i said that they have given up, i meant in regards to their opinions about ticketmaster/clear channel. they have decided that what they feel is the right thing to do is just too hard to do.
the large fan base doesnt mean that they cant do things differently. that’s a cop out. it’s all their choice.
I was going to rant about how Pearl Jam and Nirvana are nothing alike, but it’s been said to death before and said better than I could write it, so I wont.
HOWEVER, I will say that I like the idea of Pearl Jam, Audioslave, Velvet Revolver and (maybe) the Smashing Pumpkins all having new albums this year. Radio might actually have some good songs on it again.
Oh yeah, and Radiohead too.
Can anyone name one fucking venue big enough that is not clear-channel that can hold Pearl Jam’s fanbase??? I sure as hell can’t. Pearl Jam would have to play your local 200 capacity bar, tons of times just to get the turnout of what they normally get. That’s why clear channel is evil kids, because there is noooo way around it. Sure, someone bring up Conor, his video is played on MTV and his songs are played on radio, which are both clear-channel sponsored. I know he won’t play the venues and I think that’s amazing because that takes alot. The point of the anti clear channel protest is that there is no way around them and it needs to change. That’s the problem with most righteous causes, is that there is no way around alot of the corporate evils. That’s why we need change. Whether its your sneakers or your car.
If Interpol was Pearl Jam would that make The Strokes Nirvana? Opened the door for the New York bands the way Nirvana did for Seattle bands…
easy. arcade fire.
the answer is easy…bright eyes. as far as i know he’s never had a video on mtv (i rarely watch so i could be wrong), he hates clear channel, and bush. and he’s had a healthy fan base for atleast 5 years (i know he’s been around longer but i said “healthy fan base”) and he’s young enough to continue on that same path. i personally think he’s overhyped but still talented enough to be the “next pearl jam” type band.
I would suggest that that band hasn’t emerged yet. I will tell you this though… Pearl Jam in 2006 are the Who of 1983. If Kirk Cobain were alive today he’d be the drummer in Foo Fighters
What happened to the music?
Who gives a shit about ticketmaster, clear channel, records sales, record labels, longevity, indie vs. major, political causes, venue sizes, or anything other bullshit I may have missed.
You either like the music or you don’t. Does anything else really matter? The music is what people will remember.
The bickering over the inconsequential and the hypotheticals is lame, it’s the one aspect of indie fans I can’t stand.
arcade fire. both bands are overrated, self-important, and mediocre. arcade fire isn’t political (yet), but then again they’re from canada, and if they complained about american politics itd just be like “mind your own business” and no one cares about canadian politics. plus youre already getting bands that sound like them, like clap your hands and wolf parade. they aren’t as big as pearl jam maybe, but thats only because mtv is still stuck on that whole metrosexual killer/interpol/franz scene, which may or may not be more mediocre than the self-important “hopeful music” scene. bright eyes is a good comparison too, but fuck bright eyes. i mean, at least pearl jam wasn’t TOTALLY gay–then again, there’s “jeremy”. eh fuck it, they all suck–who cares?
>>Does anything else really matter?< <
Yes.
>>The music is what people will remember.<<
Which is why no one remembers that the beatles said they were bigger than jesus or that wagner was a proto-nazi or that elvis was drafted or that ian curtis hanged himself, etc……..oh wait, people do remember. there goes that idea.
I downloaded from emule a file called ‘world wide suicide(new song!)’ by pearl jam, which is 2:36 long. It isn’t the same song uploaded here, but the lyrics do mention the words ‘world wide suicide’
I got confused! can anybody help?
“If Interpol was Pearl Jam would that make The Strokes Nirvana? ”
There’s a big disparity between strokes and nirvana though. i mean, nirvana weren’t spoiled rich metrosexuals afraid of even a little dirt. but yeah both bands paved the way for a slew of crappy bands from their home town. then again, it was the melvins that paved the way for nirvana. a pretty sharp decline after that though. yeah, come to think of it, that’s another disparity: there was a sharp decline in the bands that followed nirvana, whereas with strokes, a lot of the bands were actually at least as good/bad. pavement rocked though–but i guess they don’t count since they weren’t from seattle. they had something of that sound though. i like almonds.
I think the radiohead comparison is most valid. They are bent on doing their own thing musically and are roasted with every new release for getting more inaccessible while they stay true to Thom Yorke’s vison. Radiohead has consistently been about the music, about reinvention. With so many bands stuck in the corporate rut of repeating a successful formula Radiohead is almost a standalone among label artists.
While I commend Bono of U2 for using his clout to be Bob Geldof’s little brother in the World Cause arena, musically they delve deeper and deeper into saccharine VH1 shallow waters while grabbing all the award show brass for doing NOTHING daring or envelope breaking.
Pearl Jam and Radiohead in the meantime have been beating their own path and taking music into different territory.
the world wide suicide version that is 2:36 is an april fools joke from last year on one of the forums. hehe. iut sucks
radiohead makes inaccessible music? seems kinda safe and inoffensive to me. and how many times has radiohead really reinvented themselves? cuz the only drastic change i see is kid a, which, given stuff like aphex twin (or to look even further back, arthur russell), hardly counts as taking music in a new direction–its more like watering down the good scotch for the masses. and i never even knew that pearl jam reinvented themselves. i just thought they got older.
i do think there’s a good analogy b/w pearl jam and radiohead though–but for different reasons. anyway, radiohead aren’t quite as relevant in 2006 as pearl jam was in 92. not that that kind of relevancy ever meant much to me–its just that..you know…for the analogy.
“Pearl Jam and Radiohead in the meantime have been beating their own path and taking music into different territory.”
I like this comment.
Pearl Jam have 4 albums released after Vitalogy from 1996 through to 2002 that seriously step all over the rubbish out there that people are talking about. Problem is only people that actually know something about music have the intelligence to comprehend these albums, and thats why lots of people have a low opinion of Pearl jam. They don’t understand them.
There will not be another band like Pearl jam…Simple as that.
And Radiohead have taken a very similar trajectory…And good on them.
“and i never even knew that pearl jam reinvented themselves. i just thought they got older.”
Again, maybe you never bothered to notice…They don’t sound like they did when they played Jeremy at the MTV awards in 92!
And Pearl Jam records were inaccessable post Vitalogy
Since when does lack of airplay on MTV and radio constitute “getting old”.
HA, that last comment was pure gold…anywho…pearl jam’s new album is shaping up to be a good one, cant wait for the release.
I still like the strokes comparison. Of course they are not political, but I see them sticking together and making a lot more records as well as having a loyal fan base.
Hey meowmix, how far can you see from that high horse you got there? Can you make out the lights of the city? What’s playing at the drive-in? Please judge music and creativity a bit more. I didn’t get the picture earlier.
Seriously, though, I don’t think its fair to compare anyone with Pearl Jam, considering their story isn’t over yet. And as for Radiohead, I think they are right about where Pearl Jam is at the moment. Maybe a bit more relevant to most.
I think Coldplay is good example. They have exploded and it will be interesting to see what they do with their fame.
who said anything about lack of airplay on mtv or radio? note, i didn’t say “getting old”, i said, “got older”. people age, so its understandable that their music will change in accordance with their age–but that hardly counts as reinventing yourself. get it?
ya, god forbid i judge music. as if music were meant to be listened to critically! people who judge things suck. oh wait, that’s a judgment.
“people age, so its understandable that their music will change in accordance with their age–but that hardly counts as reinventing yourself. get it?”
The change in Pearl Jam’s music over the years is quite significant, and only somebody that has limited knowledge of the band’s work beyond Ten and Vs will fail to see the evolution of their music and sound.
IMO they have consistently reinvented their sound…Check out Yield and Binaural…It’s almost as if they came from two different bands.
sounds like the same band to me: vedder’s constipated singing, riff-centered guitarwork, rolling rhythm section, large doses of melodrama–with of course all the exceptions and variations that one expects of any band.
mr. bungle and animal collective are good examples of bands that have reinvented themselves from album to album.
in any case, please don’t get the impression that i’m a big fan of bands that always reinvent themselves. a lot of my favorite bands (like the melvins) aren’t quite noteworthy for constantly reinventing themselves. there are, after all, advantages to perfecting a style. some styles just aren’t worth perfecting.
I’ve always had tons of respect for Pearl Jam .. for a lot of the reasons mentioned above. And I have a relative that lives in Washington (state), where I guess most of the members of the band still live (at least part time). And she said that the guys from Pearl Jam have donated tons of time and money to some of the charities that she has worked with … which is a really nice subtext that shows that their integrity/humanity is real, and not a pose.
And oh, I don’t know of a band that brings better support acts on tour … in the last five years: Sleater-Kinney, Sonic Youth, Buzzcocks, Death Cab, Mudhoney, Johnny Marr, Dismemberment Plan..
Well it’s hard. Cause Pearl Jam to me is watching the Jeremy video over and over. Who watches video’s now? Well, with that logic…
pearl jam : 1992 :: natalie rap : 2006
Ah Peal Jam, the band that gradually gets worse with age. I gave this new song a couple spins to see if it would grow on me, but i just thought it was bland. The last good song that i really liked was from the Big Fish soundtrack, but i seriously didnt enjoy their albums since Yield. But its wrong to profile when ive only heard one song, so who knows.
Regarding the Strokes/Nirvana comparison, I whole heartedly agree. When Alternative music too the worse turn in 1998, music was about nu metal, pop-punk, and boybands. Then 2001, out of nowhere, these retro rockers that did a good impression of The Television invade MTV and radio waves and people are bewildered by this “new” sound. 2002 rolls around, the strokes send in the clones. The Hives, The White Stripes, The Vines, and other 60s garage rock wannabe bands start emerging.
I know this is off topic, but this decade is just a pastiche of nostalgia from the past 30 years. First we enter faux 60s garage rock, then 80s syth pop, and now goth is making a comeback. Now I have as much respect for Interpol, Strokes and whatnot, but its nothing original. The 90s means so much to me cause it dared to be cutting edge and breakthrough. Im so glad that i entered my teen years in 1993 cause its when I really developed a taste for good music. Hopefully once this new Peal Jam album is lea….i mean released, it would redeem itself from the last 3 crapfests. Its 7am and im ranting =P
I am surprised that no one has yet mentioned the Yeah Yeah Yeahs.
They had the hugely successful first album; Fever to Tell appealed to both mainstream and indie types, had a nice run of singles including one — “Maps” — that fucking exploded, saw increasing sales over time, and will probably be considered one of the true classics of our era in ten or twenty years.
They have a new album about to be released that is surprisingly fresh, and Show Your Bones is already receiving tons of hype and backlash alike. It will sell very well for the band, yet the masses will be split over its appeal; no matter how many albums they release, there will be the fans who insist they grow with each album, and the fans who prefer their debut no matter what.
In short, they have an authentic, original sound that is going to evolve hugely over the years.
They have a huge amount of critical acclaim in indie and mainstream (see the Grammy nod) circles alike.
They have an outspoken, charismatic lead singer and a killer guitarist in their camp.
They are following thier own artistic path, evolving as they see fit without due regard for the commercial implications and possible career suicide that come with it.
And of course, they put on a fucking fantastic live show.
Case closed.
Pearl Jam : 1992 :: Yeah Yeah Yeahs : 2006.
What about Bloc Party? They had a huuugge debut album and that sound is becoming increasingly popular. They are sort of cool to the “in crowd” and will probably keep growing.
PJ have officially overstayed their welcome.
I can’t believe this thread is still going. Pearl Jam may not be liked by everyone, but I guess this means they’re still relevant.
By the way, you can download the new single fresh from pearljam.com now. Not a crappy radio rip, the real deal. Hoo-ray.
It looks like the real Pearl Jam MySpace page is at http://myspace.com/tenclub
Does’nt matter how many people on here say how much they think Pearl Jam are bland or that they have overstayed their welcome, because you will be be hearing from this band for many more years to come. You don’t have to like them but we may just have to get used to their presence.
And the host of bands that have been mentioned here will not be talked about in 15 years time looking for a current band to compare them to as we are doing here.
So this thread really is pointless.
Pearl Jam could quit today and still be a highly regarded influential rock band for many years. But they are still going and not likely to disband as long as they can still successfully tour the world, which only a handful of bands can do today anyway. It really shows that they were the only band from their era with the whole package…There are not many bands from their era/genre still around, and certainly no other band has maintained their aura as a band and as a touring force.
So put simply, there will never be another band like Pearl Jam
“So put simply, there will never be another band like Pearl Jam”
If only that were true…
Agree that once the Yeah Yeah Yeahs album is released, THEY will be the next Pearl Jam.
I can’t believe the degree of Pearl Jam hate out there. Just because something doesn’t appeal to you, you should respect the path they have taken as a band. They have more cred than any band out there today in my book. The core of the band has stuck together through the years, and while they’re not trying to rewrite rock history with every album, they are quite possibly the most fan-friendly and sincere band in recent history.
I think the Pearl Jam hate stems from comments made by Kurt Cobain, who was instigating a little rivalry back in the day because he didn’t want anyone infringing on his self-appointed rock savior title. And Vedder and the band never stooped to Kurt’s level, because they were about music, even back then.
And for those of you who hear Pearl Jam and think of the video for Jeremy, do yourself a favor and pick up a copy of No Code, Yield, or Binaural and listen to them. Or download them from file-sharing sites, I guarantee the band won’t sue you. You may be in for a very pleasant surprise.
If you still don’t like them, that’s fine. But there is no reason to hate on them. They also have a habit of picking great bands to open for them, including over the years the Dismemberment Plan, Sleater-Kinney, and Death Cab for Cutie, and have earned the respect of such legends as Neil Young and Joey Ramone.
”
“So put simply, there will never be another band like Pearl Jam”
If only that were true…”
You obviously did’nt read my post correctly. I’m not saying they are the best band of all time, but you cannot deny the way that they have gone about their business is unique and probably will be hard to emulate.
As the original post stated
“Which of this/last year’s new bands could possibly follow the grunge kings’ curious career path: i.e., peak critically and commercially with their debut (causing a series of shitty imitators), remain steadfastly political and anti-commercial (no MTV, no Ticketmaster, no Bush), yet maintain a dedicated fanbase for 15 years?
Pearl Jam : 1992 ::
what band? : 2006″
In a nutshell I don’t think any of the bands that have just come on to the scene will be able to follow this path…In today’s climate what Pearl Jam has done is almost impossible.
If people can get past their hatred for the band, they might be able to develop an appreciation of what they do/have done.
Peace
“I think the Pearl Jam hate stems from comments made by Kurt Cobain, who was instigating a little rivalry back in the day because he didn’t want anyone infringing on his self-appointed rock savior title. And Vedder and the band never stooped to Kurt’s level, because they were about music, even back then.”
Yes the public comments about Pearl Jam by Kurt Cobain were uncalled for.
Pearl Jam rose to steal the limelight from them, and Cobain’s comments incited a rivalry but only on Nirvana’s side. Pearl Jam never bought into any of that nonsense.
Seems that Cobain had alot of trouble dealing with Pearl Jam’s growing presence and public derogatory comments of them certanly proves this.
as far as career paths go (although they did not cause multiple copy bands though maybe some will claim chevelle), what about Tool. big debut, big fan base, sell-out shows, etc. somewhat political (though not so much in the music). Also possible new album on the same day. coincidence, i think not (heh). seriously though, similiar career paths.
I totally agree with the milford and his/her take on the Kurt Cobain/Nirvana “rivalry” with Pearl Jam. After I got over my initial infatuation with Nirvana, I thought that musically they did less for me than any of the other “big” (and not so big)Seattle bands. I don’t know what chip Kurt had on his shoulder, but he behaved like a prat (and incidently appeared on many more TV shows, magazine covers, etc,etc than any other alternative band at the time)
Nirvana’s influnce and quality cannot be argued with, but it amuses me that people claim Pearl Jam rode on their coat-tails. Anyone who reads into the Seattle scene of the 80′s and 90′s will know that Jeff Ament and Stone Gossard were two of the most hard working and ground-breaking musicans in the whole scene with (Green River, Mother Love Bone) who probably attracted the limelight to Seattle in the first place, before Nirvana stepped into it with Smells like Teen Spirit.
I’m very big on Pearl Jam; I think their music has been consistenly brilliant and challenging, and they represent something which I really respect and admire. I don’t agree with all of Eddie’s/the band’s political leanings, but there are few (or no) other mega-bands that are so down to earth and actively involved in the issues they support.
I also think that they have fostered an admirable atmosphere of friendship and respect amongst many bands, genres and most importantly fans. Whilst Kurt Cobain and other indier-than-thou pre-madonnas had fights and spats with just about anyone, the members of Pearl Jam have played with countless other bands and side projects, both live and in the studio. From Neil Young, the Rolling Stones, and U2, to Eddie Vedder and Dennis Rodman jamming with a Pearl Jam tribute band in Hawaii.
There are few bands that are as serious but fun, committed but relaxed, pop but punk, commercial yet indie, hard but soft and ultimately as important as Pearl Jam.
Pearl Jam is the greatest band of all time.
you all are living in a fantasy world. face it, pearl jam is just a notch above collective soul.
“ohooh baby let your light shine down”
pearl jam were/are melodramatic and weak–in other words, g-a-y. not to mention mediocre.
i’ll never trust anyone who calls himself ‘eddie’.
melvins, nirvana, and tad were the only good things to come out of seattle. i never knew cobain ragged on pearl jam, but it makes sense. i’m sure it was more out of a sense of “god that band is so gay; please don’t associate us with them” than out of a fondness for rivalry. what did he actually say by the way?
“down to earth” is overrated. it’s just a mode of condescension.
Well after reading meowmixmeowmix’s intelligent and mature commentary, I withdraw my earlier comments.
Obviously, Pearl Jam is teh gay, omg!
“pearl jam were/are melodramatic and weak–in other words, g-a-y. not to mention mediocre.”
Oh my GOD…
This guy IS living in a fantasy world. Toolbox!
A Venezuelan fan said: the best ! ! ! !
Kurt Cocaine said ” I wish I could sing as good as Vedder, I wish I could write powerful lyrics like Vedder, I wish I wasn’t a crack head, I wish I wasn’t completley jealous of Vedder.” By the way Kurt Cocaine’s main influence was Green River. Green River band members, you know it, Stone and Jeff of P E A R L J A M. So this means you can credit Nirvana to PJ.
I agree with the mention of Tool. They don’t get nearly the attention Pearl Jam does. Of course their music isn’t as radio-friendly as Pearl Jam, but they are both bands that are heads and shoulders above their peers.
Pearl Jam is running out of ideas though now, I mean another album about the war and “Bush-bashing”??
Pearl Jam once saved my live …
Thanks for covering the new single (which is arguably their strongest since anything off ‘Yield’). Both BINAURAL and RIOT ACT were disappointing, but the buzz around this record – even from blogs that usually don’t cover Pearl Jam – is kind of pointing to this one being great. When ‘Jeremy’ or ‘Black’ is on the usual musclehead radio stations, it doesn’t even sound like the same band anymore – not to mention that these same stations apparently think Pearl Jam stopped creating listenable music after 1993.
Really enjoyed the stuff Chuck Klosterman (easily becoming my favorite book and magazine writer) had to say about them in SPIN a few months back (aside from the fact that ‘Corduroy’ is their only great song… huh?!) – http://www.spin.com/features/magazine/columns/chuck_klosterman/2005/12/0601_chuck/
So I just played this new Pearl Jam song, about 20 minutes ago… “Worldwide Suicide”… And I asked for some feedback… It was split aobut 50/50, and I think that’s roughly the same ratio of people who still care about Pearl Jam to those who don’t…
…and I think that ratio is probably broken down along age-lines… Which would make sense, I guess… If you’re between the ages of 18-24, that means you were between 3-9 years old when Ten came out… Most of your experience of Pearl Jam begins and ends with the 5 or so songs of theirs you’ve been hearing again and again and again on the radio your whole short life… And that small bunch of songs are all more than 10 years old… This band hasn’t done much for you since you’ve been old enough to be a part of youth culture…
Then there’s those of you that are at least in your late 20s… And even if you aren’t particularly a devoted fan of Pearl Jam, you remember what that band meant when they came out… Pearl Jam essentially was the new U2… Once Bono became more interested in making songs that sounded claustrophobic, who was left to make the big, sweeping, sincere, meaningful, grand-gesture rock music that could fill arenas??… REM just wasn’t that band, however many records and concert tickets they sold… Nirvana didn’t want to be that band, obviously… But along comes Eddie Vedder, and not only did Pearl Jam make U2 songs for the 90s, they made no-nonsense U2 songs… There wasn’t anything precious or arty about it… In a word, it ROCKED… And when you looked at the garbage that was ruling the rock world at the time (read: Guns N Roses), Pearl Jam was a relief… A big relief…
It had been a long, long, long time since a band like Pearl Jam had broken through… The Who, to be precise… Big songs, big chords, a singer with a voice that sounded like it was coming down from Mt. Olympus… And most importantly, that mix of power, vulnerability, and thoughtfulness… And while Nirvana offered destruction, Pearl Jam offered release, and then hope…
You could make the argument that for a band of their size and following, Pearl Jam has more integrity than any other band… Who else willfully abandoned MTV??… Who else went to Capitol Hill to fight Ticketmaster??… Who else released over 50 live albums??… Who else has the kind of fanclub that Pearl Jam maintains online?
So the question is this… Why do people still care about this band?? Why is it still a big deal when they release a new song?? Surely, it can’t be just because of those same 5 songs you hear on every rock station around the country… If that were the case, Pearl Jam would be like Live, or Bush… But, regardless of the fact that they haven’t really sounded like the Pearl Jam of Ten and Vs., people continue to love this band… This band still inspires…
There was a time in the mid-90s, around the time No Code came out, when a lot of folks thought Pearl Jam was taking things too far… People thought they were being too uncompromising… Understand: Pearl Jam could’ve gone on to rule the Alt-Rock landscape, unopposed, for as long as they wanted… They could’ve stuck to a formula, and milked it forever… They didn’t, and no TRULY great band has done what they refused to do…
Think of it this way, even though it’s a complete hypothetical what-if… Take the biggest, most enduring classic rock bands from the pre-MTV era… Take Zeppelin… Take The Who, take Floyd, take Queen, you could even take Rush… What do you think those bands would’ve done in the face of the marketing machinery and hype-demand that Pearl Jam encountered??… Each of those bands released albums in the mid-late periods of their careers that aren’t considered their best, kinda considered past their peak… In the mid-90s, those bands would’ve been written off, they would’ve been shoved aside for the next musical fad, they would’ve been called disappointments… And NONE of those bands relied on MTV to get the word out… Or MySpace for that matter…
What I’m trying to say is that in another era, the things Pearl Jam has been faulted for wouldn’t have amounted to nearly the condemnation and impatience with which they’ve been met… Their body of work from Ten to Yield is asbolutely stunning, and it’s actually much more consistent than people realize… Never before has there been a band that’s been so mercilessly chained to its early work… Almost EVERY great band progresses and evolves in its sound, trying out new styles and presentations… But once Pearl Jam tried this, the backlash was on, and it hasn’t really ended…
The real irony is this: Pearl Jam has actually become more and more Alternative the longer they’re around… I always thought it was a terrible error in judgment that radio programmers in the late 90s didn’t stick with Pearl Jam as much as they leaned on Creed, Matchbox 20, and Smash Mouth and Sugar Ray… Big mistake… And not taking Pearl Jam up on the musical challenges they offered was the equivalent of turning your back on Alternative, and Rock, and embracing some kind of Top 40 mentality where every fad and trend and next-big-thing was ingested and shat out within 12-18 months… The other prime victim of this was The Smashing Pumpkins, and Billy just got too discouraged and gave up…
But here’s Pearl Jam, with a new record label, and a new album… I’m what you’d call a casual fan of PJ… I’ve got a few albums, and I know a majority of the material on most of their CDs… So I’m probably not the best judge of this new single, not as good as a diehard… Is it a return to Vs.?… I wouldn’t go that far… A return to Yield, yes… With Binaural and Riot Act, I had the feeling that they were dropping messages from the top of a walled tower… There was something distant and closed off about most of those songs, with only a few breaks… The best Pearl Jam songs give you a sense of motion, a sense of openness, a sense of space, and there’s purpose, forward-motion… I definitely get that feeling from this song, and that’s a feeling I haven’t had from most of their music since the 90s… So in that respect, this seems like it could be a “return to form”…
Either way, I always welcome new Pearl Jam material… It’s an event… Everyone is always going to be curious about new Pearl Jam, however many albums removed from Ten and Vs. they get… And that’s because everyone still recognizes that Pearl Jam’s the real deal, that they’re not manufactured… That they’re not pandering to ANYONE, that they’re still as powerful as they ever were, if not as popular… The simple fact that they haven’t conformed makes them mightier every time they stay true to themselves…
Do people feel that way about the Chili Peppers or the Foo Fighters?? No, they do not… Both those bands have mastered writing catchy radio-friendly songs, and have done so without diluting their artistic visions… But you don’t need me to tell you that THEY AIN’T PEARL JAM… The communal aspect isn’t there, the connection… As strange and stubborn as it is, there’s a real spiritual element to Pearl Jam, an earthy kind of spirituality…
I can’t tell you that RHCP or the Foo Fighters aren’t emotional, that they don’t produce transcendant, beautiful music… They do… But Pearl Jam stands for something… They represent something… They’re iconic and mythic in a way very few bands are… And I’m confident that I’m not exaggerating, because without that quality they wouldn’t have lasted THIS LONG, in THIS culture…
Pearl Jam have outlasted numerous trends and fashions… What they’re doing isn’t a fashion statement… They’re not trying to impress with their cleverness or their ironic sensibilities… None of the great artists do that shit, none of the lasting artists…
As a pretty hardcore Nirvana fan, I have the utmost respect for Pearl Jam and Eddie Vedder.
I think the hype surrounding the feud between Ed and Kurt was exactly that, HYPE!
Kurt and Ed were friends before Kurt died…Kurt admitted having great respect for Ed, thought he was a great guy…That’s a fact.
And great post “too”, I could’nt have said it better myself…Pearl Jam certainly are ICONIC AND MYTHIC in a way that most bands would dream…Even Nirvana in their prime…
Pearl Jam have 4 albums released after Vitalogy from 1996 through to 2002 that seriously step all over the rubbish out there that people are talking about. Problem is only people that actually know something about music have the intelligence to comprehend these albums, and thats why lots of people have a low opinion of Pearl jam. They don’t understand them.
Posted by: Dutch at March 5, 2006 09:19 PM
Couldn’t have said it better myself. Music today is for the lazy person – instant gratification and little substance. Pearl Jam asks the listener to (funnily enough) listen. Pearl Jam asks the listener to think.
As for commercial success, the market is made up primarily of 10-22 year olds who buy music just because it is popular and are unable to think. The rest is mainly made up of people who do not outgrow this behaviour.
It was like this in the early 90′s. Pearl Jam made a concerted effort to rid themselves of fans who liked them just because they were ‘it’.
Australia is not quite as bad as the US in this respect quite yet but are becoming increasingly so. Every album has reached No.1 in Australia except Ten but, like the US, the total number of sales is declining. However, as the 3 times platinum best-of ‘Rearviewmirror’ shows, Pearl Jam are still popular when people think they are OK to be.
I could really get into it and go on about ‘cultural capital’ and ‘active’ and ‘passive’ audiences but I can’t be stuffed and besides, it may bore some of you.
The last album (Which, coincidentally, is one of my favorites – I am Mine is up there with the best songs Pearl Jam have done) may have only sold 500,000 in the US but at least they can say every one of those was bought by a true fan.
Thats my two cents.
Look, I have been a pearl jam fan through all of these years. I only have one thing to say, this new songs sucks. Oh, and Eddie, you suck.
Such a strange thing to say coming from a fan.
I love World Wide Suicide…It’s almost like there are 3 songs going in the one song…Never heard anything like it before, let alone from Pearl Jam.
I get the feeling their new album is seriously going to be one of their best efforts yet.
hey im a pearl jam fan iv read some of above post, but i personaly think that pearl jam is the gratest band i have ever seen, and wws its great, eddie rocks, and maybe they arent as popular as before cus they made some desitions on what side they where in politics, but i agree with em, war isnt the way out, and besides they had many fights for freedom.
I just say they are an example for us, i consider myself a musician i live out of it, so i guess that a great band wont sell they soul out and make great music is something that i would love to be.
Sebastián Cárdenas
seba_carde@msn.com
I dont think people will ever give this band respect due…its a fact written in stone that these guys will be underappreciated by all. People still treat them like its 1993. get over 93 and yourself man, they’re a living and breathing entity still banging away.
There are plenty of examples in history, of great artists whose work was not appreciated or at least underappreciated during their lifetime. Pearl Jam will be in music history books and will have it’s own chapter while many of today’s mass consumption, gimmicky, clueless bands will only become small type footnotes.
This is amazing….Just like some guy above, I cant believe this thread continue to go on. Personally, I love Pearl Jam, their sound live is amazing…Not all records are perfect…but there’s always 3-4 songs to remember from each one. And to the guy who wrote about PJ being Melodramatic, what is more melodramatic and weak than suicide(Kurt Cobain)