I was listening to Binaural today, and i figure this is the only Pearl Jam album that´s better in studio than live.
The darkness and the mood in general are something really difficult to reprise live for the band, even if there are songs like breakerfall or insignifcance that are better sometimes live, i feel Binaural needs to be listened in studio mode.
Thoughts?

Of the Girl, Parting Ways, Nothing As it Seems, and Sleight of Hand definitely feed off the ambience of the record. The first two have had some really great live performances, but never recaptured that mysterious and dark atmosphere of the Binaural version. The last 2, during a good night, transform into something totally different live, especially Nothing As it Seems. But I think the natural ambient feel of the record is impossible to recreate live. Even normally recorded songs on Binaural, like Breakerfall and Insignificance, have a very deep and rich sound quality that is unique to that record.

So as far as what made Binaural a standoutish record, other than the material itself, it might be better in the studio, it's all preference.

yes, but so are all their records

except Vs

no, but none of their records are

maybe but then i ain't sure of anything anymore.

yes, though 2000 versions of NAIS and rival give me pause

i prefer ten live..v.s. maybe...but ten is better live...the same with riot act and some avocado songs.

Some songs sound better live (Breakerfal, God's Dice, Thin Air...) and other WAY better in studio (Light Years, Of The Girl, Insignificance)

Its so funny because when this site was called Sleight of Hand there were 1000 posts about how Binaural was definatly written to be played live. Now this one is the 180. Laughing on line L OL
I think its awesome live, and effect of touring with Sonic Youth really helped Mike with all the phasers and delay effect distortions and such. US leg 1 is where you can really hear this in songs Like BREAKERFALL, NAIS, especially. Not to mention just making all the older songs sound really neat by adding all these little sonic effects sprinked in. Something that I LOVED about PEarl JAM in 2000 thats basically GONE from the band now. I really am not digging thier live sound now at all but thats something else all togther.

That´s true...the sonic youth leg from that tour was good...they seemed influenced by them at that time live, with eddie playing an awesome parting ways version, and mike doing all different sort of thing.
Anyway, i do believe the record is better in studio...specially songs like sleight of hand.

better live

Then to late.

Vitalogy, No Code, Yield. Binaural and Riot Act are all better in studio.

Absolutely.

I'd like to see them do what U2 did with POP, maybe if there ever to release an updated version of the album. Go back into the studio and fix the songs that didn't sound so right with Blake's mix. Even though O'brien did some remixing. I'd like to see what Brendan can do with the raw material. Also adding sad and fatal back would not hurt. The album is alot better live. Rival in 2000 became a different song live, Parting Ways is fucking Epic and Grievance just doesn't have the same punch on the record.

If anyone, Tchad Blake should be allowed to go back and redo Binaural. not Brendan O'Brien.

This is the only part in your post I agree with. "Grievance" is the one song on Binaural that I prefer live.

Breakerfal São Paulo 2005 anyone? That version is perfect.

What's more popular: Drummer debates or Binaural discussions?