This was a tool/pj combo review. I edited down to just the PJ stuff. Tool got 3 out of 4 stars.

Pearl Jam rocks out

"Pearl Jam"

****

out of four stars

J Records


In one sense, Pearl Jam's career has been defined by its status as grunge-era runner-up. In an age when perceived credibility counts more than it should, the band has fought that image quietly, seeking escape from Nirvana's shadow by going deeper into the dark.

After a decade of stirring its music with an artsy spoon, Pearl Jam has unabashedly revived the sound of its early multiplatinum success. If it doesn't quite bring listeners back to 1992's Summer of Mud, the band's new self-titled record is a confident, purposeful effort that is far and away its best since 1994's "Vitalogy."

Mercurial vocalist Eddie Vedder, the widely scrutinized front man who hasn't hidden his disdain for President George W. Bush, reveals a surprising restraint, directing meager venom toward Washington and expressing a holistic optimism usually reserved for self-help books.

In recent years, the much-imitated Vedder seemed reluctant to employ the full force of his baritone; here he re-embraces the rolling delivery he'd once virtually trademarked.

But for all of Vedder's charisma, the real force behind the new album is guitarist Mike McCready, whose catchy riffs single-handedly sell the record.

if you add everything up so far and take an average... it's close to an 8/10... more like a 7.6/10... not bad... that's what i would give it probably...

Is Pearl Jam going to be haunted by "Nirvana's shadow" forever?

Good Lord, it's been 10 years...Nirvana talked the talk but Pearl Jam walked the walk. What more can ya do?

Do Rolling Stones reviews still say the band is in the Beatles' shadow? Just curious?

Metacritic has it as an 82, which is also #12 for 2006.

Previous PJ albums:

Binaural 68
Riot Act 71

Don't think they had any for albums prior to that.

Unfortunatly, the Metacritic score will go down quite a bit when they add the 2 UK music magazine reviews Q and NME. Spin's review should help though. Word has it Spin's review will be "good." Also, they may be on the cover. They did a photo shoot. Apparently the editors have 2 cover stories to choose from. The debate is whether or not they want to put 2 older act on the cover for 2 straight months in a row. Last months was the RHCP.

can you put which 11 albums were reviewed higher so far this year?

I wouldn't put too much stock in Metacritic. It will end up being 75 to 77. Again, 4 stars in RS, 4 1/2 on All Music Guide, New York times loved it and a Spin review in the A to B range make it successfull with critics. If you look at Metacritic, it's hard to be a major rock act and get in the 80s.

I just would like to know what bands/hollywood sideshow acts got better average reviews. That way I can judge how credible the average reviewer is and if they actually like music or just what MTV says people should be listening to this week.

I definatly don't think the MTV thing applies. It's almost the oppisite. Again, it weights heavy on the indie side. I think it should include more newspapers. Her's the 2006 best of list. As you can see there are a few mainstream acts here, but also a lot of stuff many people have never heard of.

1 Tropicalia: A Brazilian Revolution In Sound by Various Artists 2006 93
2 'Sno Angel Like You by Howe Gelb 2006 87
3 Destroyer's Rubies by Destroyer 2006 87
4 Fishscale by Ghostface Killah 2006 87
5 DFA Remixes: Chapter 1 by The DFA 2006 86
6 Estudando o Pagode by Tom Zé 2006 86
7 We Shall Overcome: The Seeger Sessions by Bruce Springsteen 2006 86
8 Living With War by Neil Young 2006 85
9 Black Cadillac by Rosanne Cash 2006 83
10 St. Elsewhere by Gnarls Barkley 2006 83
11 Fox Confessor Brings The Flood by Neko Case 2006 83
12 Donuts by J Dilla aka Jay Dee 2006 83
13 Whatever People Say I Am, That's What I'm Not by Arctic Monkeys 2006 82
14 Morph The Cat by Donald Fagen 2006 82
15 Return To The Sea by Islands 2006 81
16 Chosen Lords by Aphex Twin 2006 81
17 Love Travels At Illegal Speeds by Graham Coxon 2006 81
18 His Hands by Candi Staton 2006 81
19 You Are There by Mono 2006 81
20 OK Cowboy by Vitalic 2006 81
21 Pearl Jam by Pearl Jam 2006 80

i've only heard of like 4-5 of these bands, and have actually heard the music of only 3.

As long as I don't see Fall Out Boy or any of that shit ahead of them I'm happy.