I kinda guess...yes. Every year i listen and read to the same complaints and every year there is new one too...it seems the "good" stuff was years ago and when it was happening it wasnt that good, the year before was better...do you relate to that?
Discuss.

Answer honestly.

In the past 5 years have Pearl Jam given you, as a fan, more or less to complain about?

Honestly.
The only thing I can complaim about PJ now, is the predictability of the shows and the gap between albuns. Besides that, I got nothing at all to complaim about.
Backspacer was good, PJ20 was great, SA tour was fantastic.

I got nothing, really.

Not at all. Check out some jazz or classical composer forums. You have the inherent pretentiousness and pomposity of being part of such a fringe "sophisticated" community, add to it the cantankerous crotchetiness of old age. Some of those folks are downright venomous.

In terms of rock music, Smashing Pumpkins fans probably take the cake-- reading some of their vitriolic rants, you wonder if they ever got any genuine joy from the band they're supposed to love.

Is it negative to acknowledge the good stuff was years ago? Its still good stuff.

Indubitably.

I'm pretty sure that no one who sees a show is complaining. It's the frequency of shows and space between records.

But we haven't got anything to complain about really. Almost every show available for next to nothing. Lots of posters. Lots of shirts, and backpacks, and stickers and zippos and hats and lumber jackets. Oh I see what they've done.

they've certainly given less stuff, but I have enjoyed pretty much everything I've gotten.

actually, counting eddie's solo stuff (and I do) the past 5 years gave 3 albums, the documentary, a bunch of live albums (I don't listen to them, but they're there), a few re releases that, while not what they could have been, I still enjoyed. That's not bad.

For the most part the random songs that popped up on x-mas singles or stand alone tracks I could take or leave. There are some exceptions. But they're also just one off stuff.

I can say, at the very least, that Dylan fans are just as bad if not worse than Pearl Jam fans about these things.

maybe PJ fans just seem horrible because we are generally respectful towards all the other artists we discuss in OB.

There was a pretty harsh backlash against Cornell appearing at PJ20 and doing repeats from the previous night.




Yeah. I don't care about studio recordings, I would be fine if that just went away and all new songs were done live, without waiting until there is a somewhat arbitrary set of twelve that can be released. I do wish there were more shows. I get that they earn more by selling our venues and selling out venues requires them to play fewer shows outside of Berlin, Philly, and MSG, but I do wish we would see one more 2006 level tour. Not 2003, but just '06 level would be nice. Give us all one last chance to tour with them before they ride off into the nostalgia sunset.

well no one is complaining about anything legit worth complaining about

Gary was pissed.

That´s pretty much my point...i ve been listening for years the desire of a temple of the dog reunion/ tour/ record..."please, make another one, please play those songs, pleaaase..."
Then when it happens..."fuck they are playing reach down for te 2cnd time fuckersss you pussies..."
Anyone remember 98 or 2000 when they didnt played why go or leash?? and most of the fans were raging about that, "fuckers play breathe , play HTI, play leash!!!"...
It seems, to me, we are never satisfied with what we are getting from the band.

its just the "rarity" factor.

I think if your a US fan, you have PLENTY to complain about. They done about 50 shows in the US since 2006. Which as there primary market, is insane. The band's management has tried to sell it as " Hey man, they do what they want when they want to" That's fine by me, but don't expect much back in return. They have become a cash grabbing festival band since 2007 and Ed is pretty much the 40 year old butt rocker that he once called Jon Bon Jovi back in 2002.

With that being said, the fact that there organization is run like a taco truck is pretty much a big turn off. There new ticket policy blows too.

Live wise I STILL get excited to hear shows, but they just aren't that good anymore. They never practice, rareties rarely sound decent when performed and they have become predicatable. But for some reason, I am holding on them and hoping things get better.

I basically consider them semi-retired, at least from a creative or emotionally invested standpoint. They arent that interesting lately, but I could say that about most bands that last this long. i dont love The Rolling Stones because of Bridges to Babylon, so I wouldnt start retroactively hating PJ because their last couple of albums do nothing for me. I still think they are capable of suprising me or starting a vital second phase, or else I wouldnt be here, but all signs indicate they arent there yet.

My biggest issue is how they seem to make their decisions with little regard for the fanbase en masse.