PEARL JAM: “Pearl Jam†(J-Records)
2 1/2 stars
Pearl Jam made one terrific album -- before they were Pearl Jam. The short-lived, volatile pre-Eddie Vedder ensemble, Mother Love Bone, was on the verge of the big time in 1990 when the singer pricked himself with a fatal overdose. Then came Vedder, and everything got silly -- and conventional. In the four years since PJ’s last studio effort, tastes and formats have evolved. The essence of the band -- hard rock touched by punk, dour “power ballads†and Vedder’s humorless bellow -- seems especially mild, like the comfort food on classic-rock channels, in light of more useful sounds from pop’s Arctic Monkeys or intense, edge-of-darkness acts like Avenged Sevenfold. “Pearl Jam,†the band’s eighth album (in stores Tuesday), has moments, to be sure. The driving, full-on opener, “Life Wasted,†bares all that’s still great about the firm -- solid rhythm, charging beat, memorable melody and one of Vedder’s best-ever performances. Further standouts are “World Wide Suicide†and “Comatose,†among a handful of tracks addressing the current political climate, and PJ rages like lives depend on it. Elsewhere, a sameness sometimes prevails. But what’s great about PJ are the great parts of “Pearl Jam.†It’s not the pits, but there’s half an avocado on the cover.
-- Fred Shuster
Post subject: Re: Los Angeles Daily News review of new album
Posted: Thu Apr 27, 2006 9:38 am
Banned from the Pit
Joined: Mon Apr 24, 2006 9:43 am Posts: 28 Location: Pittsburgh, PA
hebejebe wrote:
PEARL JAM: “Pearl Jam†(J-Records) 2 1/2 stars
-- Fred Shuster
I understand that guy only had so much space to work with..but that review doesn't make any sense. He wastes half his space explaining that he doesn't like the band and then goes on to point out positives on the new cd. Not to mention he uses the review to sneak in praise for Avenged Sevenfold..this guy has the credibility of a 13 year old girl.
Post subject: Re: Los Angeles Daily News review of new album
Posted: Thu Apr 27, 2006 10:05 am
Unthought Known
Joined: Sun Dec 05, 2004 8:19 am Posts: 6221 Location: Tasmania / Australia Gender: Male
sonicdescent wrote:
hebejebe wrote:
PEARL JAM: “Pearl Jam†(J-Records) 2 1/2 stars
-- Fred Shuster
I understand that guy only had so much space to work with..but that review doesn't make any sense. He wastes half his space explaining that he doesn't like the band and then goes on to point out positives on the new cd. Not to mention he uses the review to sneak in praise for Avenged Sevenfold..this guy has the credibility of a 13 year old girl.
Post subject: Re: Los Angeles Daily News review of new album
Posted: Thu Apr 27, 2006 11:44 am
Got Some
Joined: Sun May 01, 2005 3:00 pm Posts: 1099 Location: Foxboro, MA (formerly Waltham, MA)
hebejebe wrote:
PEARL JAM: “Pearl Jam†(J-Records) 2 1/2 stars Pearl Jam made one terrific album -- before they were Pearl Jam. The short-lived, volatile pre-Eddie Vedder ensemble, Mother Love Bone, was on the verge of the big time in 1990 when the singer pricked himself with a fatal overdose. Then came Vedder, and everything got silly -- and conventional. In the four years since PJ’s last studio effort, tastes and formats have evolved. The essence of the band -- hard rock touched by punk, dour “power ballads†and Vedder’s humorless bellow -- seems especially mild, like the comfort food on classic-rock channels, in light of more useful sounds from pop’s Arctic Monkeys or intense, edge-of-darkness acts like Avenged Sevenfold. “Pearl Jam,†the band’s eighth album (in stores Tuesday), has moments, to be sure. The driving, full-on opener, “Life Wasted,†bares all that’s still great about the firm -- solid rhythm, charging beat, memorable melody and one of Vedder’s best-ever performances. Further standouts are “World Wide Suicide†and “Comatose,†among a handful of tracks addressing the current political climate, and PJ rages like lives depend on it. Elsewhere, a sameness sometimes prevails. But what’s great about PJ are the great parts of “Pearl Jam.†It’s not the pits, but there’s half an avocado on the cover. -- Fred Shuster
did he just essentially say MLB was a better band than PJ?
_________________ Don't blame me, I voted for Kodos
Post subject: Re: Los Angeles Daily News review of new album
Posted: Thu Apr 27, 2006 11:50 am
Camden Crew
Joined: Mon Oct 18, 2004 10:59 am Posts: 9057 Location: Camden, NJ
MattA75 wrote:
hebejebe wrote:
PEARL JAM: “Pearl Jam†(J-Records) 2 1/2 stars Pearl Jam made one terrific album -- before they were Pearl Jam. The short-lived, volatile pre-Eddie Vedder ensemble, Mother Love Bone, was on the verge of the big time in 1990 when the singer pricked himself with a fatal overdose. Then came Vedder, and everything got silly -- and conventional. In the four years since PJ’s last studio effort, tastes and formats have evolved. The essence of the band -- hard rock touched by punk, dour “power ballads†and Vedder’s humorless bellow -- seems especially mild, like the comfort food on classic-rock channels, in light of more useful sounds from pop’s Arctic Monkeys or intense, edge-of-darkness acts like Avenged Sevenfold. “Pearl Jam,†the band’s eighth album (in stores Tuesday), has moments, to be sure. The driving, full-on opener, “Life Wasted,†bares all that’s still great about the firm -- solid rhythm, charging beat, memorable melody and one of Vedder’s best-ever performances. Further standouts are “World Wide Suicide†and “Comatose,†among a handful of tracks addressing the current political climate, and PJ rages like lives depend on it. Elsewhere, a sameness sometimes prevails. But what’s great about PJ are the great parts of “Pearl Jam.†It’s not the pits, but there’s half an avocado on the cover. -- Fred Shuster
did he just essentially say MLB was a better band than PJ?
$50 says he just found out who MLB was 3 days ago. this guys probably a USC intern
Post subject: Re: Los Angeles Daily News review of new album
Posted: Thu Apr 27, 2006 11:58 am
Former PJ Drummer
Joined: Sun Oct 17, 2004 4:56 pm Posts: 19957 Location: Jenny Lewis' funbags
sonicdescent wrote:
hebejebe wrote:
PEARL JAM: “Pearl Jam†(J-Records) 2 1/2 stars
-- Fred Shuster
I understand that guy only had so much space to work with..but that review doesn't make any sense. He wastes half his space explaining that he doesn't like the band and then goes on to point out positives on the new cd. Not to mention he uses the review to sneak in praise for Avenged Sevenfold..this guy has the credibility of a 13 year old girl.
Or he's just pandering to his readership. Like explaining math to a 5 year old using apples and oranges, he's explaining music using Artic Monkeys and Avenged Sevenfold.
did he just essentially say MLB was a better band than PJ?
he's trying to develop indie cred, i'd be willing to bet he's never even heard a MLB song
_________________ Tom Waits: Well... we could go to Taco Bell if that's more your style.
Iggy Pop: What are you saying, man? You saying I'm like a Taco Bell kind of guy?
Joined: Sun Oct 17, 2004 9:50 am Posts: 1838 Location: Perth, Australia Gender: Male
im not getting it now
_________________ a young man on acid realized that all matter is merely energy condensed to a slow vibration that we are all one consciousness experiencing itself subjectively there's no such thing as death life is only a dream and we are the imagination of ourselves
Oh man, this is hilarious.... Who knew that when reviewing one band's albums, you're really supposed to be giving plugs for other bands' albums.
I guess I can't blame him, though. I can imagine if I was writing an Arctic Monkeys review. "Arctic Monkeys? What the fuck is that supposed to mean? Guys, there are about ten great albums out there, including No Code and Yield, and the Arctic Monkeys will never have an album on that list. Hell, on the top 50, where we can find such gems as Ten, Vs, Vitalogy, Binaural, and even Riot Act, you will never find an Arctic Monkeys album. Still, if you like..."
_________________ makes much more sense
to live in the present tense
Spectrum 4/28/03, State College 5/3/03, Camden 7/5/03 and 7/6/03
_________________ Tom Waits: Well... we could go to Taco Bell if that's more your style.
Iggy Pop: What are you saying, man? You saying I'm like a Taco Bell kind of guy?
Joined: Sun Oct 17, 2004 9:50 am Posts: 1838 Location: Perth, Australia Gender: Male
BlueNote wrote:
CantKeepFukinUp wrote:
im not getting it now
i guess i did need to use this: ' '
_________________ a young man on acid realized that all matter is merely energy condensed to a slow vibration that we are all one consciousness experiencing itself subjectively there's no such thing as death life is only a dream and we are the imagination of ourselves
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