Joined: Sun Oct 17, 2004 10:08 pm Posts: 1467 Location: Sarasota, Florida Gender: Male
I don't know why I feel compelled to write this, but I figure it has to do with going back to the music that always feel like home to me. Sure, there are times I like music that is seemingly more artistic and there are times where I seem to appreciate the aggressive energy of bands that seem emotionally overwrought, but Pearl Jam's music just always feels like a comfortable place to return to when I need to calm down or actually think about doing something for myself or the world.
I caught the band three times in the past year and I honestly thought while they could be getting into a dangerous space by doing more media in the last album cycle, they really convinced me that they were doing it all from a comfortable place. Avocado, on the whole, really contains some powerful anti-war and love messages that I think need to be heard and put out there more and more. And while there are probably musicians and artists who express it all more artfully or clearly, the whole band in this case is enthralled and empowered by the work and words they are putting out there that I am equally encouraged.
When I hear Ed sing a song like "Hawai'i '78" and maybe not hit it perfectly note for note, but rather hit it perfectly in meaning, I think I've hit something special. Ed can take other people's songs and make them as much of a part of himself as he can with his own. Pearl Jam's recent cover of "Love Reign O'er Me" is really a homerun in my opinion. I just really can't see too many bands find the heart and purpose to come from largely the same place where an original was made.
Every part of Pearl Jam's career has been laced with honesty and integrity to a fault. Sure, Ed has been a blowhard at times in terms of other people's music or politics. But I never question his heart and his sincerity. And at the same time, some of the things that he and the band have backtreaded on, I really believe they grew and just learned to work with it. God, I mean, if Stone can jam to Nelly, I can like innocuous pop music once in a while. But I'll always come home to Pearl Jam because they always open the door. They introduce me to songs I hadn't really considered before. They introduce me to feelings that I haven't fully expressed or worked through before. They're kind of like a benzodiazapene or an amphetamine depending on the song. And with everything in between and their great sense of ethics, I will forever be proud and privileged to call them my favorite band.
And yea, I'm a sick fanboy and I know it, but I honestly wish other people connected to something to inspire them as much as this band does for me.
Be blessed,
Jared
_________________ So it's Barack Obama now? Good luck.
nice post. i agree with you. i know for a fact that there are many bands/artists who are more talented regarding the music, lyrics, technical skill, etc., but pearl jam seems to have something besides that that makes them really special, at least for me. and i think it has something to do with the honesty and sincerity you mention.
Joined: Tue Nov 30, 2004 4:02 am Posts: 44183 Location: New York Gender: Male
they're music fans first and musicans second, and it gives much of it an honesty and integrity that is few other bands can match (and they are pretty good musicans on top of that)
_________________ "Better the occasional faults of a Government that lives in a spirit of charity than the consistent omissions of a Government frozen in the ice of its own indifference."--FDR
Joined: Tue Sep 13, 2005 7:02 pm Posts: 6405 Location: DC Gender: Male
stip wrote:
they're music fans first and musicans second, and it gives much of it an honesty and integrity that is few other bands can match (and they are pretty good musicans on top of that)
Good point Stip! Some of my friends don't really care for Pearl Jam, but one thing even the non-believers agree on is that Pearl Jam is a VERY sincere band. That honesty, and them genuinely being music fans like us, makes me feel closer to them than any other band out there.
Joined: Tue Nov 30, 2004 4:02 am Posts: 44183 Location: New York Gender: Male
Can you please give it a rest so this thread can stay open?
_________________ "Better the occasional faults of a Government that lives in a spirit of charity than the consistent omissions of a Government frozen in the ice of its own indifference."--FDR
Joined: Sun Oct 17, 2004 10:08 pm Posts: 1467 Location: Sarasota, Florida Gender: Male
I love this band so much. I finally backed up everything from my other two computers onto my laptop. I think out of 8000 songs or so on iTunes, Pearl Jam takes up a quarter of the tuneage. I'm a nerd.
Be blessed,
Jared
_________________ So it's Barack Obama now? Good luck.
Joined: Tue Nov 30, 2004 4:02 am Posts: 44183 Location: New York Gender: Male
Lloyd Dobler wrote:
I love this band so much. I finally backed up everything from my other two computers onto my laptop. I think out of 8000 songs or so on iTunes, Pearl Jam takes up a quarter of the tuneage. I'm a nerd.
Be blessed,
Jared
is avocado just on there once, or do you add a new copy every pay period
_________________ "Better the occasional faults of a Government that lives in a spirit of charity than the consistent omissions of a Government frozen in the ice of its own indifference."--FDR
Joined: Sun Dec 05, 2004 5:47 am Posts: 27904 Location: Philadelphia Gender: Male
stip wrote:
Lloyd Dobler wrote:
I love this band so much. I finally backed up everything from my other two computers onto my laptop. I think out of 8000 songs or so on iTunes, Pearl Jam takes up a quarter of the tuneage. I'm a nerd.
Be blessed,
Jared
is avocado just on there once, or do you add a new copy every pay period
hahaha
I'm not making fun of you Jared - that was just funny.
_________________ It's always the fallen ones who think they're always gonna save me.
Joined: Sat Mar 04, 2006 11:46 pm Posts: 4970 Location: Portland, OR Gender: Male
Lloyd Dobler wrote:
I love this band so much. I finally backed up everything from my other two computers onto my laptop. I think out of 8000 songs or so on iTunes, Pearl Jam takes up a quarter of the tuneage. I'm a nerd.
Be blessed,
Jared
don't feel bad dude
I've got 9717 PJ songs on my hard drive...42.2 gigs
Joined: Sun Oct 17, 2004 1:42 am Posts: 11014 Location: Mizzou Gender: Male
porchball wrote:
Lloyd Dobler wrote:
I love this band so much. I finally backed up everything from my other two computers onto my laptop. I think out of 8000 songs or so on iTunes, Pearl Jam takes up a quarter of the tuneage. I'm a nerd.
Be blessed,
Jared
don't feel bad dude
I've got 9717 PJ songs on my hard drive...42.2 gigs
who's the nerd now?
Yeah, I'm guilty of the same thing. Somewhere in the neighborhood of 40 gigs. It's all mostly on my external hard drive.
_________________ "Red rover, red rover, let Mike McCready take over."
Joined: Sun May 13, 2007 11:29 pm Posts: 3103 Location: Golden, MA Gender: Male
porchball wrote:
Lloyd Dobler wrote:
I love this band so much. I finally backed up everything from my other two computers onto my laptop. I think out of 8000 songs or so on iTunes, Pearl Jam takes up a quarter of the tuneage. I'm a nerd.
Be blessed,
Jared
don't feel bad dude
I've got 9717 PJ songs on my hard drive...42.2 gigs
Joined: Sun Oct 17, 2004 10:08 pm Posts: 1467 Location: Sarasota, Florida Gender: Male
Well, no, I don't keep on putting Avocado on there, but I do filter in more and more bootlegs into iTunes and my iPod. I decided though that I put the shows I've been to and a few select shows beyond that. That's really all I can do.
I don't even want to think about putting all of the 2000 and 2003 shows on a hard drive. I'd need to have a lot of patience.
Be blessed,
Jared
_________________ So it's Barack Obama now? Good luck.
Joined: Sun Oct 17, 2004 10:08 pm Posts: 207 Location: Rocky Mtn High
Lloyd Dobler wrote:
I don't know why I feel compelled to write this, but I figure it has to do with going back to the music that always feel like home to me. Sure, there are times I like music that is seemingly more artistic and there are times where I seem to appreciate the aggressive energy of bands that seem emotionally overwrought, but Pearl Jam's music just always feels like a comfortable place to return to when I need to calm down or actually think about doing something for myself or the world.
I caught the band three times in the past year and I honestly thought while they could be getting into a dangerous space by doing more media in the last album cycle, they really convinced me that they were doing it all from a comfortable place. Avocado, on the whole, really contains some powerful anti-war and love messages that I think need to be heard and put out there more and more. And while there are probably musicians and artists who express it all more artfully or clearly, the whole band in this case is enthralled and empowered by the work and words they are putting out there that I am equally encouraged.
When I hear Ed sing a song like "Hawai'i '78" and maybe not hit it perfectly note for note, but rather hit it perfectly in meaning, I think I've hit something special. Ed can take other people's songs and make them as much of a part of himself as he can with his own. Pearl Jam's recent cover of "Love Reign O'er Me" is really a homerun in my opinion. I just really can't see too many bands find the heart and purpose to come from largely the same place where an original was made.
Every part of Pearl Jam's career has been laced with honesty and integrity to a fault. Sure, Ed has been a blowhard at times in terms of other people's music or politics. But I never question his heart and his sincerity. And at the same time, some of the things that he and the band have backtreaded on, I really believe they grew and just learned to work with it. God, I mean, if Stone can jam to Nelly, I can like innocuous pop music once in a while. But I'll always come home to Pearl Jam because they always open the door. They introduce me to songs I hadn't really considered before. They introduce me to feelings that I haven't fully expressed or worked through before. They're kind of like a benzodiazapene or an amphetamine depending on the song. And with everything in between and their great sense of ethics, I will forever be proud and privileged to call them my favorite band.
And yea, I'm a sick fanboy and I know it, but I honestly wish other people connected to something to inspire them as much as this band does for me.
Be blessed,
Jared
Very great post. A resounding "amen" from my part of the planet.
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who gives a shit, seriously...
