Pearl Jam: Album Ranks
Submitted by dcstar on Thu, 11/14/2002 - 02:13
Tags:
- Pearl Jam's Studio Album Release Rankings
- 1) Ten (*****) Blasting outta '91 with the same furious angst that it's critically loved predecessor 'Nevermind' did. This album is among the very best debut releases in rock. I love how very large it sounds.
- Outstanding: All, but "Porch", "Black", and of course "Alive" rise above
- 2) Vitalogy (****1/2) The band's most creative stage to date (maybe the only good concept album in grunge history). A truly dynamic sound, best on vinyl. It really delivers.
- Outstanding: "Last Exit", "Corduroy", "Not for You", "Nothingman"
- 3) Yield (****) Just slightly better than 'Vs.', this album just, for me, brought a little more to the table. You could tell the band was really expanding musically. Probably the most underated album of the mainstream '90's.
- Outstanding: "Given to Fly", "MFC", "In Hiding", "Faithfull"
- 4) Vs. (****) Very, very solid, but it lacked the emotion of 'Ten'. The most poular album, mostly for the few radio-friendly tracks. It is a great listen from beginning to end. The album that really separated the band, ironically (vs.) from the other grungers of the time.
- Outstanding: "W.M.A.", "Go", "Animal", "Daughter", "Rearviewmirror"
- 5) No Code (***) A little more of the punk influence shows up. Some of the latter tracks aren't really very good. Some really great lyrics on this one ("Off He Goes").
- Outstanding: "Hail Hail", "Smile", "Off He Goes", "Red Mosquito"
- 6) Riot Act (***) Recently released. Just got this one. It sounds wonderful so far, hope I don't grow to really dislike any of it. Vedder has surely matured.
- Outstanding: "I Am Mine", "Save You"
- 7) Binaural (**) Pearl Jam's tour was great, but compared to the five albums released before this one, I'm not impressed. Not horrible, but too mediocre.
- Outstanding: "Of A Girl", "Grievance"
nice list, great analysis. personally, I always thought Ten was overrated, but I probably should listen to it again. But I am totally on board with your ranks and descriptions. Glad you liked Yield so much, and "Red Mosquito" is an excellent pick for No Code.
in any event, it's your list, and it's all well-reasoned
NickVane, I sort of have a sentimental attatchment to "Ten". It came out when I was twelve, so it was all really new to me (good rock and roll, that is). My musical explorations opened up after listening to "Ten" repeatedly. It's possibly overrated, but isn't "Nevermind"? The recent Rolling Stone Top 100 Album Reader's Poll had it at #2. Please...
Thanks alot for the response!
yeah, I would say "Nevermind" is overrated. Some absolutely killer singles, but as a whole the production is too polished for me. Gimme "In Utero", though. It works as a whole. A terrible wreck of an album.
I for one have always favored Nirvana's Unplugged album, as my top 100 list shows.
But I do still like Nevermind quite a bit. It certainly, however, is not the second greatest album ever made. It is simply the highest profile, most respected album of the generation that is now old enough to put their tastes in neutral and to vote in polls in magazines such as Rolling Stone.
Besides, both Pavement and Adam Again were better 90s bands than Nirvana. Heck, as an added bonus, the lead singer of Pavement has yet to kill himself; Stephen Malkmus is still alive and, on the evidence of last year's terrific eponymous album, quite kicking.
I really like this list and agree on the top two albums. Me, I think I like Yield a little less than you do, and Vs. would probably grab my number three spot, despite its wild uneveness. Several of its songs are awful, but Rearviewmirror (a flat-out fantastic song, as you seem to note), Elderly Woman, Daughter, and a few others easily rank as some of the best songs the band ever released.
I haven't heard Riot Act yet.
I assume that like most of us you are mortal and have not had the time or money to sort through the 50+ concert releases yet...
Great list. I especially enjoy the fact that you commented on each item and including an outstanding song section.
Keep up the good work.
Shalom, y'all!
L. Bangs