How do you define a band’s greatness, anyway? Is it talent? If you think so, then how do you define talent? Is it the tightness in the music? Is it the faster the more talented?

To say that Avocado is better than 10,000 Days, Stadium Arcadium or In Your Honor seems strange because the adjective “better” is so subjective. There is no scoreboard to gauge the outcome. Sales simply do not define “better”. We all know that.

To say that Pearl Jam is the most diverse active band in the world and the most diverse band since The Beatles is much more substantial. We can actually measure diversity.

I challenge you to think of another active band capable of writing songs as different from one another as Parachutes, World Wide Suicide, Come Back and Unemployable in one career, let alone one album. What one active band today could write songs as different from one another as Man of the Hour, Red Mosquito, Given to Fly, Last Kiss and Leash in its career?

The diversity of Pearl Jam is, in my opinion, one of the leading reasons why the band is still active. And if the band decides to stay active for more albums and tour for years to come, the fact that artistic diversity is relatively immune to boredom will be the reason why. Also, as the band ages, the necessary transition to slower, more melodic tunes shouldn’t be a tough one at all. In fact, the majority of No Code could have passed for slower and more melodic. So, a possibly necessary slow down may not be a transition at all.

Diversity in Pearl Jam’s music has allowed the music to be a mood-resistant, interest-garnering art form that has helped so many of us through challenging times. The music has withstood the test of time.

Maybe artistic diversity does somewhat define talent. Maybe we actually can substantiate greatness after all.

i dont think there's anyway a blues-based rock n roll band can be the most diverse in the world.

I agree, nobody can really say this is better than that. But when people ask why i obsess over Pearl Jam it is the diversity. They can play a blistering version of Not For You and then play Untitled or Man of the Hour. My buddy and I were talking about there catalouge at the Hartford show and we are thinking at present time they are comparable to the Stones. They can create a setlist without even trying. They have so much quality material to draw from they can really throw anything out there at this point.

If anyone thinks Pearl Jam is the most diverse band in the world, they haven't heard enough music.

Vague statement.

1. Most of the songs in the later albums are not blues based.

2. Please explain why you think blues and diversity are negatively related.

fuck raja bell

tht motherfucker lost me 50 bucks

I've listened to music my whole life. Pearl Jam are the most diverse I've heard other than The Beatles.

But, then again, I'm still young.

i dont think blues and diversity are negatively related. sorry if it came off that way. i just dont think pearl jam is the most diverse band in the world.

who is IYO

dave matthews band

Radiohead is much more diverse than Pearl Jam.

i never got into them

my dad loves them, i think they are alright

Anyways, as for artists that are more diverse than PJ, Radiohead comes to mind as a popular example... The most diverse individual artist I've personally heard (and like simultaneously) is none other than Steven Wilson, who has done a plethora of styles including psychedelic, trip-hop, and dance in the early days, to rock and pop, and most recently metal.

Pearl Jam is really just a rock band that hasn't really explored much outside of the rock arena, which, IMO, is a good thing.

thats cool. im sure there are people who could name alot more diverse acts then me b/c i pretty much just listen to rock n roll. the guys in dave are very talented though and come from alot of diverse musical backgrounds.

also, i was waiting for someone to say "dave sucks"

That's the most ridiculous thing I've heard in a long time. I wouldn't be spending my afternoons on a message board named after a song on one of a popular band's least known albums if I thought that band was "really just a rock band".

I don't think you're being honest with me, or perhaps yourself.

No, I used to think they were more than a rock band, but as soon as I expanded my scope a little bit, I realized they're just a rock band. A rock band that put out some stellar albums, but still a rock band nonetheless.

R.E.M. is more diverse. Pearl Jam is very talented and they do a lot with a no frills rock approach but they're still just 2-3 guitars, bass, and drums.

Pearl Jam is the most diverse band in the history of music. More diverse than the Beatles. And I own every Beatles album almost.

weren't you calling people sheep the other day?

hahahahhaa