Yeah, I'd say EVERY 1998 or 2000 version w/ Matt is much better than Berlin 2009.

You're probably right.

I don't want to become the guy that always disagrees with you two, but I like how Matt plays Hail Hail nowadays much better than how he did in 1998-2000. It seems like it flows a little better now. Back then it was a little too herky-jerky with the bass drum.

It's all a matter of personal taste of course, but I much prefer that herky-jerky feel Matt brought to the song back then. I like that his drumming in 1998/2000 was less restrained, it sounded heavier and closer to his playing in Soundgarden. From 20003 onwards it's as though he either decided it didn't fit or the band told him to tone it down a bit.

I think the band is incredibly lucky to have a drummer and songwriter like Matt and I wish they'd really embrace the differences between him and the previous drummers. With both Dave and Jack you felt like their style really drove the overall musical feel. I'm not sure they've done that as much with Matt and it's a shame.

I'm with spenno, but I will say this: Matt of 08-10 is better than he was from the middle part of the decade.

Generally I would say Matt Cameron gets better in Pearl Jam with each tour.

I think he started off a little shaky, very quickly got the hang of things and was the best he's ever sounded with Pearl Jam in the latter half of the 1998 tour and all through 2000.

After that, he got a little more restrained (and a little less interesting) but he's sounded pretty good lately - if not quite as powerful as 1998/2000.

Melbourne 3/5, Seattle 7/22, and Mansfield 9/16 are the three "professional," for lack of a better term, shows from that tour.

St. Louis 7/22 is damn close, but a little inferior soundwise, from a tech standpoint (one of RM's many audio tech folks can probably explain it better than I can).

Melbourne 3/2, Melbourne 3/3, Sydney 3/11, Sydney 3/12, Park City 6/21, Minneapolis 6/30, Inglewood 7/14, and both West Palm Beach shows are all recordings which spring immediately to mind as being well better than decent for audience tapes. I'm sure there are more.

Englewood 6/23 and the first LA show 7/13 (I prefer it to the second show) are great too.

Generally, though, it's worth listening through even the crummiest recordings to hear the '96 and '98 tours. I've heard a few that are simply too poor to even be audible, but those years saw such good performances that any trace of clarity is worth salvaging.

Listening to this right now. So, so, so good.

there's a really crisp and clear recording of 6-21-98 (Utah?) that's pretty damn good

I really hope we get this show as a Vault release or in the No Code/Yield Deluxe box someday.....or Perth......or Melb1 or 2, or - hell - ANYTHING from this tour....

Lexington 2003
Great setlist, great show.

2003 was the last great PJ tour IMO.

Don´t forget about 2006! Back then I wasnt that positive about it but today I consider this a very great tour. They got better and better and had many stellar shows. Also there are a number of shows that not many talk about and yet turn out quite amazing. (For example Bern, Leeds, Berlin etc.)

Cool no code tour compilation here:
http://dp-rearviewmirror.blogspot.com/2 ... -live.html

Your description is misleading.

Vault Number One. I can't wait for Vault Number 2 to come out! This boot leg is my favorite it sounds like my old tapes I used to send away for! When the band was worth putting up with those awful recording for because they had so much energy as children!

Threw together a very quick 2011 Canadian tour compilation.

Interstellar Overdrive > Corduroy - Saskatoon
Olé - Ottawa
Got Some - Saskatoon
In My Tree - Saskatoon
Cropduster - Hamilton
Setting Forth - Montreal
Lukin - Ottawa
Deep - Toronto 2
Sad - Toronto 2
Do the Evolution - Edmonton
Rats - Toronto 2
Search and Destroy - Calgary
I Remember You - Hamilton
Better Man - Hamilton
Spin the Black Circle - Saskatoon
Porch - Vancouver
Baba O'Riley - Toronto 2

Had another listen to this tonight.

That's a really kick-arse version of DTE from Edmonton - Ed's giving the vocals some genuine 1998-esque (or as close an approximation as he can manage in 2011) growl power.