the next album will be pretty indicative. will they put out another album of songs they've already done before? if so, i can see them becoming the dead in which they keep recycling old stuff, touring a bunch of having fans that follow them no matter what to hear evenflow for that 89th time.

these two threads of yours seem pretty sub-standard for you...

bored at work, or something?

chavez's new dictatorship not giving you enough to work on?

I can't see that happening they seem to be enjoying playing together more than they have for a long time now and they seemed pretty excited about the release of s/t so I'm guessing they also enjoyed writing the new material.

watching ed talk about life wasted and the q & a on Storytellers, to me really showed a lead singer (at the least) who was passionate about his art, cared about its creation and will endeavor for it, at least for the time being... being said, I think they'll push the fray

there's 8 seconds left in overtime

Pearl jam pushed their limits a great deal from NO code through riot act. I see nothing wrong with them just pumping out a straight forward kickass rock record like they did with s/t.

However, i dont believe its that straightforward, but thats another debate. It is moreso than the past 2 records but..

anyways, they obviously still care about putting out great material and they do. i think their studio work will always rival their touring/live greatness

i'll go see them no matter what, but i sure as hell am not going to hear even flow!

also, i dont understand why people think they are churning out the same old material. i think s/t is their best album since Yield. i think they have explored quite a bit over 8 albums, and are now comfortable releasing whatever feels right to them. theyve stopped releasing the least relatable material as a single, and instead just do what feels right.

i think theyre in a comfortable place, and as long as they keep on touring and keep busting out gems like Alone and Rats, you wont hear me complain...although i wouldnt mind an acoustic tour!

The last album was a solid if unspectacular return to form, after the generally lackluster Riot Act.

I expect that the next album will have a more unique feel to it along the lines of No Code and Binaural, at least I hope so.

If they do continue in similar vein I would still go and see them at any chance.

are you a writer c_b?

"Recycling old stuff" is an odd expression to use when you consider the Dead had over 500 songs in their repertoire (originals and covers). The dead had a wide variety of styles ranging from bluegrass, folk ,country, blues, jazz and straight up rock n rolll. Pearl jam is a hard rock band with two styles; fast and slow. Of course their catalog is still ecletic but not nearly to the degree as the Dead. And with the Dead there were true variations to the songs and exploratory jamming that made each tour and concert experience unique.

I had the same feelings as you are expressing after Riot Act. But then the band took its longest break ever between albums and delivered Avacado which I find very fresh and exciting.

I think a better comparison for your fears would be the Rolling Stones. Now there is a band who just came up with a bunch of weak studio crap so they could have an excuse to tour and play greatest hits shows. I really hope PJ does not become that type of novelty act.

I really don't see them touring for the sake of touring when they are, say, 50 years old. They have worked very hard to preserve their artistic integrity to just go through the motions without relevant new music they can feel proud of.

rack it

just sorta bored of the forum and trying to come up with new thread ideas rapidly :/

It seems like the two of you are having a competition to see who can start more threads in the space of a week

No way, as long as there are fans there will always be Pearl Jam...and there are always going to be wangs like us go to five shows every tour.

I don't see this happening. I'd rather they break up than become the Dead.

New albums totally aside... there already IS a whole group of people who go to multiple shows knowing that they're going to see certain songs every time PJ takes the stage. Every concert is unique, yes. But, every concert also has Even Flow and Alive.

Let me put it this way... I didn't go to four shows on the last tour because I thought Self-Titled was a great album. I don't think it's a great album. I just like going to Pearl Jam shows. I like the vibe, and the seeing the same friends, and getting caught up in the moment.

So, I think they ARE like the Dead, if the Dead had kept making albums, rocked harder, and had a bunch of people who had actually had to take vacation time from work to see multiple shows.