You know, I actually got into Pearl Jam fairly recently (around the time S/T was being promoted). It was basically World Wide Suicide that got me into it(I was becoming more politically aware at the time). I looked into them online, watching Youtube clips when I could(I had dial-up at the time), but I didn't get any of their albums yet. On August 19, 2006, I finally got S/T. I listened to it nearly daily, and also continued to look up and listen online. However, there was a gap in my knowledge of them. Most of the stuff I heard online was from their early period, while the album I had was their most recent. I heard some of the stuff in between(I Am Mine and DTE, among others) but mostly that area was a mystery. On December 26, I finally went and got the rest of their albums(mostly looking in used record shops, though Ten and Riot Act ended up being bought new). One of the first "new" songs that got to me was Cropduster, and generally Riot Act was one of the early favourites of those albums.

So, that's my story. Any other new Pearl Jam fans in here? Old fans, what do you think is different in the experience and perception of the band between new and old fans?

i have one question for you:

do you like no code?

That, too, was another one of the early favourites.

well then, welcome aboard!

Well, its too much stuff to digest, you will see how your opinion will change, things that you didnt like at first you will love later and vice-versa.

2 very important syllables for you:

Bootlegs.

And HB is right, opinions change often with new discoveries. Happily with PJ there is just so much to discover. Boots, Xmas singles, awesome compilations etc etc etc.

Have fun checking it all out.

haha, and thus you come to know the red mosquito board. know one thing, people around here love the slower, softer stuff. they eat it up like warm apple pie. you'll also come to learn that the minority (aka the people that prefer the harder stuff) generally like to have a good laugh at their expense for preferring the softer stuff. in my tree, who you are, and present tense are considered scripture around these parts.

Well, I've already had all the albums for over a year now, and I've had stages where I was really into each one of the 3 albums. (I've come back to Riot Act right now, though.)

Edit: Also, where can I get the official bootlegs?

Welcome to the wonderful world of Pearl Jam, friend


http://www.pearljamlive.com <-- if you haven't discovered it yet. It'll be the best friend you ever had.

well, come in to Debb Whored

it sounds odd to my ear(s) to know that people like you, Slamander, discoverded PJ through S/T and went back but still favorited (even in their early listenings) Riot Act over No Code or Vitalogy or Vs.
i'm all for the Avocado love though

http://www.pearljamamerica.com/forums/index.php go here for boots of pearl jam and other bands.great bunch of people over at pearljamamerica.com that will help u. i have show many shows from over them cuz of that board.

I think the main factor is time. Time to consume it all, time to see them live, time to build memories. But we were all new fans once . Only the amount of music and other things is huge now. And also the perspective, the surrounding things during time, like the whole 'grunge' episod, and other things that happened in 'history'. But it's never too late to catch up. Also, everything is on internet now. Times of cassettes, trading by normal mail and collecting paper magazines are gone. I mean, it's still there, but you don't have to find out the lyrics or other info all by yourself. You can easily Google it nowadays.

groetjes,
Mirella

mm...I'm in the minority then? didn't know that..
though I like the slow stuff too (slow..not bizarre.. I WILL make fun of people raving about red dot and Foxymop and Mankind.. ).

I think the most important thing to know:

EVERY PJ fan will have a different opinion, you'll will find someone that Love and someone that Hate EVERY SINGLE SONG.

so there isn't a right or wrong opinion really

Red dot is great!
So is Push me pull me.

I remember not really liking No Code that much (it was the 3rd Pearl Jam CD I purchased, not including one bootleg). Saw the error of my ways at some point though

I got into PJ in 2001. I knew a couple of people that went on about them, saw Ten for £3.99 in a shop and decided to go for it. Never really looked back since. I did the albums pretty much in order, I wanted to take my time and do it properly, how I would've had to do it if I'd been a fan since 92. Vs. clicked into place pretty easily, Vitalogy soon followed and despite being a bit difficult to listen to the first few times, it was soon my favourite.

Next, No Code came and like others have also said, I did not really like it at first. In fact only Riot Act took longer to fit in. But that inevitably changed. I think you just have to catch it when in the right mood and frame of mind to appreciate it, and only then will you like it. Listen to it a few times, and then take 40 steps back and only then will it make sense. Almost like looking at one image on the album artwork and stepping back to find there's 155 more there; it's decieving at first.

Yield was an easy album, I was into it in 3 listens, something I hadn't done since Vs. I would say it's probably the most consistent record they've released, which helped alot. Binaural took a bit longer, I was put off by the sound, but when you hear the great songs underneath the poor production, I learned to love it. Riot Act was a challenge. Even though I got Ten shortly before it was released, it had been out a good few months before I got it as I was concntrating on the earlier releases. If I had've gone straight from Ten to Riot Act I think I'd have been less eager to go and buy a 3rd album, but probably would've done. Riot Act's songs seem to require you to hear them live before you really appreciate it. I dunno why.

I loved S/T right from the moment I heard it. Only Army Reserve and Gone didn't grab me on the first listens. Which is ironic as they're probably the two I admire most now. I also popped my Pearl Jam cherry at the Astoria just before it's official release and although they were already my favourite band, it put them out of sight. So I've been a fan for over 6 years, but I'm still one of new fans I suppose, which feels weird as it seems like I've been on the bandwagon forever. I was 14 when I heard Ten and I can't really remember much before that.

I think it's so cool to think about having a whole bunch of Pearl jam records I've never heard or haven't fully explored. I'm one of those guys who bought every album on the day they came out ever since Vs., and I was so obsessive I used to have to pace myself with a new record so i wouldn't 'overplay' it and have it lose it's new-ness to quickly. Hahaha.. what a musical dork I was! I probably paced myself by alternating other CDs into the player like Ugly Kid Joe or the Spin Doctors or something.

All this to say... I'm so happy to see someone get turned onto PJ through S/T. It's a fantastic album and an awesome place to start.

ha ha ha southp, ugly kid joe... memories....

and i, hate everything, about you...