I've been meaning to write this for some time now.

While on a recent road trip, I decided to listen to each PJ album (from Ten to Avocado) in sequence. I noticed one thing that I haven't picked up before on why Pearl Jam is so universal. It is the fact that each album in sequence had its own very distinct sound to it. There are many bands out there that have gone and recorded countless albums but they all sound very similar sonicly (except for the voice because of aging). Pearl Jam, however, has such a distinct sound to each and every single one of their albums and fits the overal 'theme' (or subject matter of most songs) so well. I'm not talking about the types of songs as much as I am the mix and sonic complexity of the albums as a whole including the arrangement. The one fidelity that graces so many of their albums is a 'raw' sound. This is obviously stated in a reflective sence, each album was viewed very differently at the time of their release from now. Also, this summary shows how much their history plays a part from record to record. That is a little more to get into and maybe save that for another time. Might be opinionated but fuck it, it's the internet.

Ten - generic early 90's rock band sound and mix (I can excuse that because it was their debut). Very youthful feel of 'they have the right weapons they just don't know how to use them yet'.

Vs. - Very raw sounding in a primal, youthful way. W.M.A. and Animal, even the intro to Go show this off perfectly. It sounds like RAW ANGER. Even on songs like Daughter and Small Town, the acoustic guitar is in your face clanging away sounding like its stripped of its finish and naturally raw.

Vitalogy - Still very raw, but in a much darker tone. All the guitars on this album sound as if there are a few inches of rust on the strings (except for maybe Betterman). Not to find it cliche' but the production sounds like an old book. This is why I think the packaging of this album was perfect. Its dark, dusty, and welcoming. It feels like somethings wrong but we are fascinated by it instead of dismissing it which is why Stupid Mop feels justified in my opinion.

No Code - This record has probably the most lost feel to it. It's subtle adultrated rage, noticed in the never blooming Sometimes. The spitefully controlled arrangement of Smile. In Red Mosquito, how Mike is fadded in and out as if being controlled by a higher power. This record has so many dynamics that it can't just let go and really rock a la Vs. and the mix reflects that. In My Tree has such a supression on Eds voice for when he wants to really let go "Up here so high I start to shake". This all adds up to a very lost feel to the overal record.

Yield - This album seems to be almost life-afirming in the quality. It has that 'prescription medicine' commercial type of soundtrack and I mean that in the most respectful way possible. This obviously has a lot to do with the actual songs composition, but like in Given to Fly the whole song is very open sounding, all encompasing. The echoy chorus to In Hiding. The use of the E-bow in Wishlist and MFC (device making a guitar sound like a violin in a way) as an effect. It sums up a rebirth, a justification. Sonically, it envisions open-ness in a beautiful carpe diem way.

Binaural - This is possibly the easiest and hardest to place, as it was recorded using (obviously) binaural methods. This method creates a naturally open enviornment similar to Yield, but it is done in a much more primal way and ends up sounding very curious to what else is there (in the mix or in the world). This is another album that I believe had some of the best packaging to compliment it. The whole album has a muddy sound to it. You hear the notes but its hard to see beyond that, almost like space. NaiS, Sleight of Hand, Of the Girl, Insignificance all add to this. When I hear the mix of these tunes, I picture looking up at a night sky, realizing the vastness of space, very dreamy and curious as to what is beyond. Very inquisitive feel. This is one of my favorite sounding albums by them.

Riot Act - Another one of my favorites, this has such a mature sound to it. The beauty of this record is its feeling of contempt reflection. It sounds like the band has been down the road and knows the end, and they don't want to change much, and it will be alright in the end. It is a basic record, not a lot of parts or overdubs, but it feels right. I just wish most of the songs were a little better on here to make it more enjoyable, but this feeling is expressed strongly in the quiet mix of Thumbing my Way, and the slowburn style of You Are, the cool composure of LBC. It is a stripped to basic emmotion type of record, and the mix greatly accentuates that thought.

Pearl Jam - Quite possibly one of the best Pearl Jam albums is also one of the hardest to sum up a feel for. Side A and B are almost polar opposites, but there is a general return to what their roots were both in the style of writting and the mix. It returns to their rock, and their raw sound but with a sence of wisdom. It is no longer raw just to sound raw, but it is used to create dynamics. MitS is an example of this as the beginning has a brutally raw guitar tone and it makes the ending that much sweeter. WWS uses a distorted bass in the beginning to get an edgy pumped up rebellious feel, one of the only times since Leash. This record stands out as a progression from riot act's maturity in reflection to what these 4 (or 5 if you include Matt) would have told their Ten or Vs. era counterparts. It is also the most produced and pristine sounding record since Ten, as the mixes bring out the best of each part and allow everything to breathe evenly. I haven't heard Jeff's bass this previlant since Jeremy. It is a full circle in a way, in both writing, feeling, and production wise. People have been comparing Come Back to Black, I noticed a large similarity between Severed Hand and Porch and these just further the thirst for a full remixed version of Ten.

Sorry about the length, just felt like I had to get it off my chest.

I don't like the sound of Ten, No Code, and Binaural. The rest I like, especially Yield.

good work, i agree with most of what you said. You obviously have had a good think about it

Yup...I read the whole thing.

I feel it really takes about a year to place a new PJ album. We are so used to their material, then along comes a new album. I feel you have to let it sink in, hear it live, let them tour ... then let time pass until you can really put it amongst others.

With that said, this album has a very "crisp" sound to it. It's not nearly as raw as the first three. It's very tight and everything sounds clear and cohesive.

I dunno ... just my thoughts

I would agree and say this also reflects the way most of their albums tend to have a "theme" or at least a specific feeling they are trying to generate. And we've seen (nowhere more so than with Riot Act) that the band is willing to leave very good songs off the album if they would detract from the feeling of a specific album. The Riot Act B sides are as good as any other songs that made the record ... but they would all feel out of place on it.

I hate the sound of no code

I sort of agree, Dash, although I think it would be close to impossible to improve Present Tense, In My Tree or Red Mosquito.

Nice post. I've always thought each album sounds similar and yet different.

yeah that was a great post!! i always thought along the same lines, but yousummed it up perfectly. good job

Thanks for the kind words. I've noticed that in many of the reviews of the albums on RM it was only the songs that filled the albums that got reviewed, not as much the album as a whole statement. I just always thought there was so much more to Pearl Jam's albums than just songs.

Looking at the Avocado which just came out is hard, and my opinion on that might change but nevertheless it is the most 'squeaky clean' album by them since Ten at least.

i completely agree.

btw, great job in summing up all the albums. i think the way vs, vitalogy and no code were "constructed" makes them brilliant.

i think binaural has the worst "feel and sound" to it.

We had the best time at your party. The wife and I thank you very much.

I pretty much agree with everything.

In particular, the idea of Vitalogy and the old, dusty book, and the dark but welcoming sounds is excellent, and the openness of Yield (something that makes it part of what it is to me) is nicely put.

Thanks for sharing this, and it's good to see people putting good thoughts into what they write here.

rats?
But aside from that smal point, I agree with a most of what was said in the post. Not neccesarily your opnions on what was best, but on how the production on each album has a certain feel to it.
One thing I'll say is that I find Vs. to be very raw, but also very glossy. Which is why I don't like the album as much as the others.

I love the sound of Yield... it almost has a "safe" feeling to it, ya know? When I listen to it, it seems like I'm in a safe little room with them in the recording studio... maybe this is taken subconsciously from Single Video Theory.

Ooo, you're spot on with that one. Guess it slipped through the cracks. I gota revise it. Maybe some day

The only complain that I have is that almost impossible to the bassdrum in No Code, I guess because it just has the fundamental note that is such a low end that you need a very good sound system or headphones to hear it.

nice post