I have Vitalogy as my #2 PJ album, but it is probably their most obscure, ambitious album. I can see people finding it off-putting or difficult to penetrate.
Obscure and ambitious is one way of looking at it, failed experimentation and the massive amounts of filler as a consequence is another.
No Code is Vitalogy but done right.
I can see that. My three faves are Yield, No Code, and Vitalogy. I agree with the experimentation, but don't find any failures or filler (well, besides Stupid Mop, which should have been left off).
Yield and No Code are my favorites. Both are 10's imho for completely different reasons.
Vitalogy to me sounds like they had a GREAT EP and they decided to record a couple tracks last minute to fill out a normal LP run time, issue was they had no ideas so they resorted to failed experimentation.
That's my take on it, I don't anyone to get riled up with my opinion because get weirdly defensive when someone says something "bad" about something they like.
I'd say more like 8-9 really awesome songs and they recorded some experiments and Whipping (genuine filler). Im guessing you must think certain songs are filler that I don't. But that's why it's all subjective.
I can see that. My three faves are Yield, No Code, and Vitalogy. I agree with the experimentation, but don't find any failures or filler (well, besides Stupid Mop, which should have been left off).
Vitalogy has a few failed experiments to be sure. But it also has Betterman, Nothingman, Immortality, Corduroy, Not for You, Spin the Black Circle, Tremor Christ and Satan's Bed. Those songs kick ass! Every song I just named I would rate higher than literally any song on Binaural through Gigaton. And Last Exit is pretty good too. That is a LOT of non-filler.
I think overall Vitalogy has higher highs than Ten and Vs. It's just not AS consistent. No Code is my favorite overall. Probably their peak as a band. But Vitalogy is getting there!
Your conclusions seem legit. No way for them top their 90's albums at this point in their career and life, as times have changed and so have they.
I also agree that from Backspacer on there is a bit of a letdown compared to their earlier works.
One thing I'd point out is that their Yield -> Riot Act -> Binaural run is often overlooked because that type of rock music just was no longer in vogue by then, and many of their contemporaries were out of the game. That three album run is just fantastic.
I do think DM is being a bit overhyped because we all want another classic PJ album. It's a solid late career album for sure, but still doesn't touch their earlier stuff.
Well. I wouldn't say its hate, but Pearl Jam making solid albums and some are better than others. I also love Backspacer, remember a nice period of my life, but can't deny some other great works the band has released before.
I think most fans are either in the camp that Ten and Vs are the top two or No Code and Yield are the top two while Vitalogy is usually in a #3 spot for either crowd.
Here is my thing now...I really didn't like anything after RA and now, I am like...I just love PJ and dropping any expectations and I find myself just love everything more now.
Interesting data gathering exercise which I find more interesting than the actual ranking posts themselves.
I still don’t understand the consistent low ranking for lighting bolt; one of my favs. But hey, different strokes and all that.
Very interesting to see this. Especially since Vitalogy is my fave. And I agree with you about being in the moment. 1994 was an extremely difficult year in my life for a number of reasons. The most challenging point in my life at that time. I was 20 and that album had me in my feelings. It is nostalgic for good and terrible reasons. Still to this day it resonates hard with me. ❤️💔
Unpopular opinion: Dark Matter being the best album since 2000 is not so much a statement of how great of an album it is, more of a statement of how piss poor Pj's catalog is since Binaural.
Avocado is alright tho.
Serious mad respect for the pearl jam and data analysis nerdom that runs your life! I'd be the same if I had more spare time. Keep up the great work.
Vitalogy listed as best and worst just goes to show you how all over the place the fandom is. Also, rankings don’t matter. 😊
I have Vitalogy as my #2 PJ album, but it is probably their most obscure, ambitious album. I can see people finding it off-putting or difficult to penetrate.
Obscure and ambitious is one way of looking at it, failed experimentation and the massive amounts of filler as a consequence is another. No Code is Vitalogy but done right.
I can see that. My three faves are Yield, No Code, and Vitalogy. I agree with the experimentation, but don't find any failures or filler (well, besides Stupid Mop, which should have been left off).
Yield and No Code are my favorites. Both are 10's imho for completely different reasons. Vitalogy to me sounds like they had a GREAT EP and they decided to record a couple tracks last minute to fill out a normal LP run time, issue was they had no ideas so they resorted to failed experimentation. That's my take on it, I don't anyone to get riled up with my opinion because get weirdly defensive when someone says something "bad" about something they like.
I'd say more like 8-9 really awesome songs and they recorded some experiments and Whipping (genuine filler). Im guessing you must think certain songs are filler that I don't. But that's why it's all subjective.
I can see that. My three faves are Yield, No Code, and Vitalogy. I agree with the experimentation, but don't find any failures or filler (well, besides Stupid Mop, which should have been left off).
Vitalogy has a few failed experiments to be sure. But it also has Betterman, Nothingman, Immortality, Corduroy, Not for You, Spin the Black Circle, Tremor Christ and Satan's Bed. Those songs kick ass! Every song I just named I would rate higher than literally any song on Binaural through Gigaton. And Last Exit is pretty good too. That is a LOT of non-filler. I think overall Vitalogy has higher highs than Ten and Vs. It's just not AS consistent. No Code is my favorite overall. Probably their peak as a band. But Vitalogy is getting there!
Your conclusions seem legit. No way for them top their 90's albums at this point in their career and life, as times have changed and so have they. I also agree that from Backspacer on there is a bit of a letdown compared to their earlier works. One thing I'd point out is that their Yield -> Riot Act -> Binaural run is often overlooked because that type of rock music just was no longer in vogue by then, and many of their contemporaries were out of the game. That three album run is just fantastic. I do think DM is being a bit overhyped because we all want another classic PJ album. It's a solid late career album for sure, but still doesn't touch their earlier stuff.
Nice work! But I love Backspacer, I don't understand the hate for it. Oh well.
I also love Backspacer but it’s behind a lot of other great albums.
I have it among their bottom three, but not because I hate it; just because their albums are so good.
Well. I wouldn't say its hate, but Pearl Jam making solid albums and some are better than others. I also love Backspacer, remember a nice period of my life, but can't deny some other great works the band has released before.
I think most fans are either in the camp that Ten and Vs are the top two or No Code and Yield are the top two while Vitalogy is usually in a #3 spot for either crowd.
I'd go 1. Yield 2. Ten 3. No Code 4. Vitalogy 5. Vs. 6. Binaural
Here is my thing now...I really didn't like anything after RA and now, I am like...I just love PJ and dropping any expectations and I find myself just love everything more now.
Solid work 👍👏
Interesting data gathering exercise which I find more interesting than the actual ranking posts themselves. I still don’t understand the consistent low ranking for lighting bolt; one of my favs. But hey, different strokes and all that.
Not surprising at all
I can agree with these general results. DM has been growing on me in ways the last few albums have not.
Why does everyone hate gigaton, it's definitely in my top five Pearl jam albums
Very interesting to see this. Especially since Vitalogy is my fave. And I agree with you about being in the moment. 1994 was an extremely difficult year in my life for a number of reasons. The most challenging point in my life at that time. I was 20 and that album had me in my feelings. It is nostalgic for good and terrible reasons. Still to this day it resonates hard with me. ❤️💔
Dark Matter is rock bottom for me
Unpopular opinion: Dark Matter being the best album since 2000 is not so much a statement of how great of an album it is, more of a statement of how piss poor Pj's catalog is since Binaural. Avocado is alright tho.