The other major U.K. mag doesn't like the album, either. And like the NME review, not much thought put into writing it:

Grunge Veterans try to reverse career slide.Fail.

Charged with sorrow and gravitas, Eddie Vedder's tremulous baritone has defined the sound of mainstream US rock ever since 1991's Ten. He's been fleeing from his legacy ever since, forsaking classic rock grandeur for punky, politicised dissonance. Pearl Jam's eighth studio album is a lusher and less challenging listen than recent efforts, but it's also curiously featureless, the sound of a group drained of passion and fresh ideas. A headline slot at this Summer's Carling Weekend will no doubt give the Seattle band a second wind, but newcomers would be advised to avoid this tired, long-winded collection.

2/5

Anyone who was/is pro war, will write a bad review. Thats just the way it is. Maybe if the Prez brought out an album, the UK reviewers would love it.

I'm baffled. Are they even listening to it? It's not even a matter of opinion. It's a fact that this record is the best they've had in years. Anyone who says otherwise is just being oppositional.

Is this the same magazine ?

http://www.q4music.com/

so they give the album a negative review and then use Pearl Jam name in contest....????????????????????

http://www.q4music.com/nav?page=q4music ... ce=4626684

I would like to know what these Brits have written about recent Radiohead and Coldplay records. One is overwhelmingly dense and difficult to listen to and the other so much a U2 ripoff they might as well just join Bono as backup musicians.

Even though I feel that way about Radiohead and Coldplay I still like them and could give a more in-depth review than these clowns have given the best Pearl Jam album in a long time.

Less challenging, drained of passion and no fresh ideas. I don't know, maybe they were listening to something else....

Pay no heed to Q magazine and the NME they only care about Brit pop/rock and they don't have the influence they used to, they are just corporate whores and coat-tail riders of the latest genres. When the album does well and the european tour sells out they'll soon be arselicking eddie and the boys for interviews, cocks.

Q sucks big time. As the years go by its loses more and more credilbility.

Q can suck on my cock. Morons. they have never liked Pearl jam, they only go with what they see is "trendy" at the time.

Wow, they're morons because they don't like Pearl Jam.


I sure hope you're being sarcastic.


That's just ridiculous.

Why do people get so wound up over a bad reviews? So what, someone didn't like it. Well, some people have different standards when it comes to music... Doesn't mean they're morons. And besides, they make some good points in that review.

we get wound up because we are passionate. I do realize that some may not see it as the best in years. I was simply stating my opinion as if it were fact to be more dramatic.

Fair enough, just as long as you don't actually believe it's an objective fact.

just curious, what are the good points you speak of?


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Obviously I think 2/5 is a bit low, but it's not hard to understand why some people wouldn't like PJ's newer music.

I'd just like to see these british magazines give a longer review. Even if it isn't that good. Give some examples, talk about the songs, etc.

And they gave Riot Act 3/5 under the headline Still Alive...

Same here -- particularly a defence of the "drained of passion" nonsense. I'm scratching my head at that one.

I agree with Stip, I'd love to see something more complicated. They all, even bbc.com's positive review, seem to think of PJ as this boring, vanilla American band and never go into depth about why.

I also do not understand the "drained of passion" thing. I'm a huge Riot Act defender, but anyone who hears Avocado and doesn't think they just regained passion they haven't had for a while now is simply not listening. Regardless of whether you like the songs, these guys mean it.

seriously .... what song on the new album is that much better than "all night" off lost dogs ?

riot act is a great album

That may be the case, but it aint better than Avocado.