Pearl Jam: The Greatest Band or the Greatest Band Ever?

[paperjam]

Maybe this topic has been posted on and discussed before, but either way, I would like to broach it presently.

Pearl Jam, brought together by a series of unlikely events and deaths, has blossomed to become the most influential bands of our generation.

If you are one of those fans who listened to Ten, listened to Vs., and then didn't hear Pearl Jam for a while afterwards, and think Pearl Jam is one of those bands who has a couple of hit albums, then starts sucking, then you're seriously mistaken.

Pearl Jam purposely avoided the spotlight for the last decade, while continuing to put out quality albums. Pearl Jam has been politically active, encouraging everyone to vote. A few years ago, 9 fans were trampled to death at a European Pearl Jam concert, and rather than just moving on, Pearl Jam considered retiring (but didn't) - but they did include an entire song plus some lines of another song on their next album in dedication to those 9 fans - "Lost 9 friends we'll never know 2 years ago today."

Their last album, self-titled, is perhaps the greatest of all their albums since Ten.

Pearl Jam concerts are the best shows I have ever been to. People who attend Pearl Jam concerts are true fans and most of them know the lyrics to every song, not just the radio songs. The bands works hard to please the audience, and often times stays past their "curfew" incurring fines, just to satisfy the audience.

Besides Phil Hellmuth, I cannot think of any pop idol I look up to more than Eddie Vedder.

[EvanJC]

bands that sell 10 million copies of their debut album don't "purposely avoid the spotlight" for ten years.

holla!

[THEOSU]

yeah, you're wrong

[Chump Change]

Wtf seriously? They're decent and all, but really?

PS Do the mexicanos hate you because you blast 'black' on repeat while you sit in the corner and lament, possibly cutting yourself or at least sobbing quietly?

[kniper]

you have to be kidding me. they had some hits, but they won't be remembered as influencing an entire generation. they are completely overshadowed by nirvana, and you know it

[Chump Change]

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you have to be kidding me. they had some hits, but they won't be remembered as influencing an entire generation. they are completely overshadowed by nirvana, and you know it

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Seriously, for being a fairly talentless guitar player, Cobain wrote far better and more catchy songs, even if they were simpler.

[benza13]

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you have to be kidding me. they had some hits, but they won't be remembered as influencing an entire generation. they are completely overshadowed by nirvana, and you know it

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Seriously, for being a fairly talentless guitar player, Cobain wrote far better and more catchy songs, even if they were simpler.

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Wow, CC, normally I agree with most of your music posts, but you are way off here. Cobain's death was the best thing that ever happened to Nirvana. Had he lived, Nirvana would be looked down upon as a band that flamed out pretty quickly, while Pearl Jam is still alive and kicking today and making some of the best music of their careers.

I remember getting into arguments in high school about the PJ vs Nirvana issue and only 2 people I knew backed Nirvana, with one of them later admitting that PJ was the better band, but that they couldn't back down in the argument against this particular person.

Eddie has purposely avoided the spotlight by purposefully making albums that did not meet their potential. Yield, Binaural and Riot Act would have done much better commercially if the band had put their all into them. Listen to any live versions of songs from those albums and they blow away the studio versions.

Pearl Jam is the greatest band of their generation. At some point down the line they will likely assume their place among the all time great bands. They aren't as good as, say, Led Zeppelin or the Beatles or anything, but they are certainly better than any other contemporary music.

Sincerely,

A Pearl Jam fanboi (and my roommate is much worse)

[Moonshine]

Pearl Jam is arguably the greatest band of their generation. I wouldnt say they are the greatest band ever

i generally find all of the people who dislike pearl jam to be completely ignorant about music

just my two cents

[Chump Change]

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you have to be kidding me. they had some hits, but they won't be remembered as influencing an entire generation. they are completely overshadowed by nirvana, and you know it

[/ QUOTE ]

Seriously, for being a fairly talentless guitar player, Cobain wrote far better and more catchy songs, even if they were simpler.

[/ QUOTE ]

Wow, CC, normally I agree with most of your music posts, but you are way off here. Cobain's death was the best thing that ever happened to Nirvana. Had he lived, Nirvana would be looked down upon as a band that flamed out pretty quickly, while Pearl Jam is still alive and kicking today and making some of the best music of their careers.

I remember getting into arguments in high school about the PJ vs Nirvana issue and only 2 people I knew backed Nirvana, with one of them later admitting that PJ was the better band, but that they couldn't back down in the argument against this particular person.

Eddie has purposely avoided the spotlight by purposefully making albums that did not meet their potential. Yield, Binaural and Riot Act would have done much better commercially if the band had put their all into them. Listen to any live versions of songs from those albums and they blow away the studio versions.

Pearl Jam is the greatest band of their generation. At some point down the line they will likely assume their place among the all time great bands. They aren't as good as, say, Led Zeppelin or the Beatles or anything, but they are certainly better than any other contemporary music.

Sincerely,

A Pearl Jam fanboi (and my roommate is much worse)

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KURT HAD 3 CHORDS AND THE TRUTH HE AINT NEEDED NOTHING ELSE



Other than the two songs I mentioned (and I heard that cover of that oldies song on the radio the other day, from VS.) I haven't listened to any PJ in years. Maybe i'll go back and see if anything is different approaching them from a more mature standpoint. Nirvana appealed to the angst-ridden teen and preteen, ldo.

[JohnAndersen]

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