Note: Stip if you feel this is repetitive then I guess you could merge it, but I felt strongly enough it was an original enough topic to warrant its own thread (and I'm a pompous bastard, LISTEN TO ME!)

Ok, so I wanted this to be about what exactly makes this collection of songs different enough that I'm drawn into them more immediately and wholly than I have been with PJ songs in a long time. Now this is not to pass judgement on any of their other albums, I happen to rank both Binaural and Riot Act very high and think they are mature, beautiful albums in their own right. Still, I'm noticing something about these new songs that are drawing me in like nothing has since I first listened to Ten. Again, I don't want to pass judgment, and I do not think Ten is their best album, but everyone, especially the older people, remembers Ten as their first introduction to PJ: your jaw hit the floor. This was a new force into the music world, and did it surprise anyone that they clicked with audiences even moreso than the sacrosanct Nirvana did?

I apologize right out for being so verbose, I like big words and I enjoy being all philosophical-like, especially about my favorite band, so bear with me.

First: The lyrics and style of songwriting is dramatically different than it has been since around Ten. While Ed has always written using metaphors and symbols, he used to tell specific stories with his songs (Jeremy, Alive, GtF is one of the few post-Ten examples I can think of) but he seems to do a lot of that on this album. Yes, he has songs that are just simply message-oriented like he always has (Marker in the Sand), but stuff like Army Reserve is a specific story of a fictional family and the effects of war on it used to represent the general experience. There are characters (Mom, child, son) and a story. I love this crap, and I think Ed's great at creating images with this kind of story.

I think this is also a great reason for always letting Ed write the lyrics. I know the other guys have written amazing songs, but his lyrics are just a step above everyone else (although Mike with Inside Job is out-of-nowhere, wow that song is beautiful). These stories and Ed's lyrics just resonate so much more.

Second: Mike. Mike is all over this album with great solos that are fitting to every song. His solo on Life Wasted is fast, furious and provides almost the entire climax of the song. Severed hand is also climaxed and completed by his continuous soloing after Ed stops singing. The solo at the end of Come Back is easily one of his most memorable since Alive. He's always had great solos, but he's either pushed to the back of the mix (Binaural) or the solos are just fast, fun and forgettable. His contribution to Gone is short but also memorable and a perfect complement to the climax. I really can't explain how great it is to hear these kinds of uplifting solos from him again, where it's not just a bunch of guitar chords, it's an emotion, a story all its own.

Also with Mike: Inside Job. Jesus Christ. This is quite a song, and in my opinion one of their best closers. I'd say it easily ranks up with Release, especially with the awesome intro, Ed's tortured tone and Mike's own kickass solo at the end. This song is pounding, epic and amazing. I haven't heard them put out something this epic since Black, although the ending is slightly more positive here (that "cathartic release" Stip has discussed in the past). Great song, great lyrics, great music and great closer. Plus, that short but sweet little hidden music is nice.

Third: The flow. This album flows. Despite the slightly out-of-place Parachutes (although honestly, would if fit any better between any of the other songs? probably not), this album flows and feels like an album should. Sure, Riot Act flowed well (because of Ed's voice and the raw production), Binaural flowed well (because of the strange production), but it's been a while, probably since Vitalogy, since more than just one thing has tied an album together.

Here we have the music, which seems to flow nicely between rockers, ballads and mid-tempo songs, but also the lyrics. Reading the song titles at first I assumed this would be another depressing album like Riot Act. However, it goes through the full range of emotions and the lyrics have either similar messages or ones that complement the others nicely. Many address war and its multitude of effects (WWS, Army Reserve), some address religion (Marker), some address despair (Gone, Come Back, Inside Job) but the album never seems to despair. Even in the sadder songs there is some amount of hope. It may just be in the positive tone of the music, but it's there.

Fourth: The balance. While out-and-out sad songs, like Thumbing my Way, are lacking (not that it's a bad thing), this song has a great balance of heavy rockers and mid-tempo songs, some ballads, some slower rockers and some just uplifting awesomeness. Also, I know some people don't like Big Wave because of the pointless lyrics, but it's also a nice lighter spot in the midst of all Ed's typical heavy lyrics.

Fith: Ed's voice. [These are obviously in no discernible order, sorry, they're just coming out of me.] Well, we're never going to hear his voice have as much power as it did during the early 90s, but he can still scream his ass off and still put more emotion into his songs than 99.9% of singers out there. He's into these songs. He sounds hard and awesome on Life Wasted, he sounds strange and funky on Severed Hand, he sounds tortured on Inside Job and Army Reserve and on Come Back he sounds nostalgic and sad, especially during that soul-tearing "I'll be here ..." climax. Thank you Ed, to me this is some of the most passionate stuff he's done since Nothingman.

Sixth: These songs are just awesome and well-developed. Many bands slowly lapse into crappy, rush-job albums while still touring to great success (I'm looking at you, Rolling Stones), but it's obvious PJ's not ready for this. These songs are mostly complex, mature compositions with each band member getting full play.

Ok, those are all the individual points I think I can make. If you don't agree or think this album is crap, feel free to say whatever you want. I know some people agree with me, especially Stip, but I had the same feeling he did. I listened to these songs and thought "FINALLY, this is exactly what I've been waiting for!" This is PJ using all that potential they worked so hard to shy away from in the 90s. The jury's still out on whether this will be a big commercial hit, the world may just not identify with them like we do, but I think it'll definitely be a critical success and should sell at least better than the last two.

I'm sure there was other stuff that I meant to put here, but I'll shut up now because this is long enough. Like I said, I'm looking for everyone else to input on this. Do you think this album is great? Is there something about it that makes it different? What exactly is it? Do you hate it? Are you just waiting for Tool's next album?

Ok I'm out.

Good post.

The most obvious difference in this album to the last, is ed. He sings like he cares. With riot act it was just monotonous with no effort. But in this album he is screaming, he is crooning, he is even laughin at one point. He sounds Alive.

Lovin the album. roll on May 1st.

I agree. I was skeptical during all the talk concerning this, because I love all of their albums, but now that I've heard the new record, Ed's performance is the biggest difference. He sounds dramatically more energized.

another big difference, and you've alluded to this, is that there is some nice thematic continuity to the record. There was a feeling binding Riot Act together, but it was a feeling of oppressive, creeping dread and even that mood wasn't held together throughout. Eddie had a theme in mind with parts of Yield, but he only wrote the lyrics to slightly over half the record and other songs like Wishlist don't fit in at all. This is really the most cohesive album thematically since Vitalogy. That helps--the songs are bound together not simply because they were recorded in the same sessions and are played by the same musicians, but because they are telling a story about the triumph of love (for yourself and others) in the face of hardship and adversity.

that's one of the reasons why having one person write all the lyrics is so essential.

Nice post ChristcanIFly

Here's my opinion as to why this album stands out from the others:

-This is quite possibility to be their most cohesive, consistent album since "Yield." This album almost feels like a concept album about the struggles 21st century Americans are facing today. It deals with people who have lived a “life wasted,” who have had to face and overcome adversity in order to survive, whether it be surviving the emotional trauma and turmoil of fighting in a war (“Severed Hand,” “Army Reserve”) and it‘s impact on society and culture (“World Wide Suicide“), loosing a loved one and wishing they were still with you (“Come Back”), battling personal demons and addiction (“Inside Job,” “Life Wasted”) fighting the moral battle of what is right and wrong (“Marker in the Sand”), becoming a victim of unemployment (“Unemployable”), or just simply struggling to survive in a declining economy (“Gone”). This kind of unity has never been present on one of their albums, imo, and it makes the record that much stronger.

-Pearl Jam are finally not afraid to put their catchiest, potential "hit" songs on record anymore, like they were with "Sad" on Binaural. If “Marker in the Sand,“ "Unemployable," “Severed Hand,“ “Come Back,“ and “WWS” were written during sessions for their last two albums, they wouldn't have made it onto record.

-Mike is more present on this record than on any other PJ album. This is, quite simply, his album; his soloing is all over these tracks, he is responsible for writing 5 of these songs, and he even contributed lyrics for the first time. Kind of makes me wonder if Binaural and Riot Act would have been stronger albums if they included more writing by him.

the biggest difference is they took their time, and it shows. i too love the other albums, but sometimes you can sense the lets get the hell in and out of the studio as fast as we can thing.

i hope this is a trend that continues, i can go longer than 2 years between an album.

if this is the payoff, definitely

Eddie sounds very aggressive in this album

I love the sense of hope/love in this album.

How do you know this....

i also belive that mike is a big dif. in favor of this record..

they were self-conscious about putting songs that were too catchy onto the records. One of the reasons (we suspect) why songs like down and sad were relegated to outtake/b-side status

Knowing Ed this makes total sense. He always hated Betterman until the band finally convinced him to put it on Vitalogy. Althoug I don't think Down really fits into that category, doesn't anyone realize why they didn't put it on there? It doesn't fit with any song on Riot Act. The only thing that comes close is I am Mine and that's because there's the tiniest bit of hope in that track. Down is an uplifting, fun song with positive lyrics, while every other song on Riot Act is sad and depressing. Although this leaves no reason for excluding "Other Side" which, along with Sad and Fatal for Binaural, is a perfect song that would have fit right into the mood of the album.

I'd never thought about that though, but it puts even more weight behind the argument that PJ never really lost anything, they just shied away from it all.

it's all about the fucking melodies, man. ed sounds asleep on riot act and most of binaural. he is amazing on the new album. you can argue whether ed's voice sounds 'better or worse' during different eras and albums, but i don't think he has ever used his voice like he has on this album. melodic as balls.

They have gone in a lot of new interesting directions musically. Come Back, Parachutes, Army Reserve, and Inside Job sound like something completely new for them.

Also Eddie sounds fierce.

yes yes, I agree, great album definitely, but the one thing that's really bugging me about it, and it's something that everyone else seems to love, is the lyrical themes. Too cheesey

my main gripe with the album is some of the lyrics

Ok I'm out.[/quote]


great post mate

glad I'm not alone then.

seriously Ed, leave politics / the war alone.

You don't see any glimmer of hope in any other songs?
LBC? Save You?

My only gripe is Big Wave.

This album is simple and raw, yet compicated and rehearsed.

You can listen to one song and say, "that was pretty cool". the next time you listen to it you might say, "that was F'n brilliant".

I think I am more excited for the real album now then I was before the leaked songs.