Xarus
Xarus
Follow

"You're Still Alive"

Posted almost 6 years ago
One of the most refreshing things I have seen in quite sometime is to observe Pearl Jam coming alive again with the most energy they have shown in years. Watching their performances on SNL, Letterman, and Storytellers, I am thrilled to see Eddie sing with a renewed passion that resonates all the way back to the Vitalogy era.

When VH1 Classic recently aired a block of PJ videos, its astonishing to see the difference between the performances of "Evenflow" and "Not For You" (from the Touring Band 2000 DVD). Song styles aside, it doesn't appear to be the same group at all. Of course the band members are getting older, but try to play that card after watching Storytellers, where Mike McCready slings his guitar over his head for the solo of "Alive", cranking out a better version of it than when I saw them live on the Yield tour.

More evidence: a video for "Life Wasted", web performances for Sessions on AOL, cover stories in Rolling Stone, and so forth. All of this exposure builds on the fact that (as all the critics point out) this is their best album in years. In my opinion, clearly their best since the aforementioned Yield. Considering the current political climate and the band's viewpoints, the time is right for them to make a triumphant and welcome return to the musical soundscape.

0

Comments (3)

  1. lemontwist
    lemontwist says Go Pearl Jam! I agree, I was very skeptical about their new album but absolutely love it. Their earliest records may be classics, but this one rocks as well. Plus, it has an avocado on the cover. :)
    Permalink posted 07/02/2006
  2. Thinkcage
    Thinkcage says Hmmm...I've seen similar views in press and reviews surrounding the latest pearl jam release and I have to disagree. While I do think this latest record is one of the most appealing from top to bottom in years - the first one to really exceed expectations in a long time - it doesn't feel at all like a come-back to me. Rolling stone, in delcaring this the best Pearl Jam record since Vitalogy, acts as if they have been absent all that time. But really, the band released four other records, countless live recordings, and toured heavily in that period of time. They haven't been gone by any stretch, and for me as a fan who has been along for the ride the entire time, this is just another great record in the band's history. Mabye the last ten years hasn't produced an album as complete as Pearl Jam, but there are so many tracks on those records that are among the highlights of the band's catalog. Let's not so easily dismiss that period. That said, I'm right with you - the excitement around the band hasn't been this high in a long time - it is a good time to be a PJ fan.
    Permalink posted 07/03/2006
  3. Xarus
    Xarus says And I find it very disheartening when the press overlooks such excellent albums like No Code and Yield. In my opinion, you would be very hard-pressed to find a more amazing streak of quality than the first 5 Pearl Jam albums. It is my opinion that compared to those previous albums, efforts like Binaural and Riot Act simply did not challenge and reach me as I would come to expect from PJ. However, even if the entirety of the album wasn't up to par, there are some standout tracks such as "Of the Girl" and "Sleight of Hand" from Binaural and "You Are" and "Save You" from Riot Act. Over the course of many years, the band has become a touring powerhouse, but even more important is that it looks as if they are enjoying themselves and what they do for the first time in a long time.
    Permalink posted 07/03/2006

Comment on this Post

Login using email and password below.

Forgot Password?

OR login using Facebook Connect

Connect

Don't have an account?
Join MOG. It's Free!

 

© 2006-2012 Mog Inc. All Rights Reserved