This is a multi-part series for each album. We'll move on to the next album when it seems like it's been discussed enough. I'd like to reiterate that the aim of these discussions is to hear opinions on what you think is the single most significant flaw for the album being discussed. We're not looking for general album bashing, but rather a critical look at the single biggest weakness for each record.

Example of a poor post:
There are so many things that suck on this album. Track 4, 8 and 9 are terrible and the lyrics for such and such a song a really bad. Not only that, but the cover is stupid.

Like I said, we're not looking for general album bashing. What I suggest is to go give a listen to the album being discussed. For some of us, it's been a while listening to these older albums all the way through, and it helps you think and take that critical view before you post. Try and be insightful and give good reasons why you believe the flaw you're pointing out is the biggest flaw of the album.

You can also still participate in the previous album discussions.

Previous album discussions:
Ten
VS
Vitalogy
No Code
Yield

In my opinion Binaural is the best example of a "could have been something special" PJ album. But instead it's like there was this great idea and then someone sneezed and the creative process was distracted.
There are several major issues that pitfall the album overall. Many argue that the production is not all it's cracked up to be. I remember when the album came out, people got really excited about what it was going to sound like. "Put on your headphones!" people said. Well, ok. I did and it was kinda interesting for a little, I guess. It sounded mildly different than other recordings. But in the end, it wasnt any kind of revolutionary new sound, nor did it really bring the material to any higher level. So while the production might not be all it's cracked up to be, I dont find that the biggest flaw of the album.
I believe the single biggest flaw of Binaural is what's NOT on the album. I think it was a huge mistake leaving off such gems as Sad and Fatal. Out of all the PJ albums, I think Binaural has gotten the most interest from people about how the tracklist should have been ordered and what songs should have appeared on there. It just doesnt seem satisfying how it ended up and to what could have been.
Since I see the biggest flaw as tracklist selection, here is my ideal version of Binaural:

01. Breakerfall
02. Insignificance
03. Nothing As It Seems
04. Sad
05. Light Years
06. Sleight Of Hand
07. Grievance
08. Fatal
09. Of The Girl
10. Thin Air
11. Soon Forget
12. Parting Ways


By removing Gods' Dice, Evacuation and Rival it takes it down a notch in terms of fast paced PJ rock tunes, and by Adding Sad and Fatal then mixing up the track order, it becomes a much darker and moodier album. I think it has a lot more emotional punch this way. That's totally just me though. But I get the most out of the album as a whole this way.

Major Flaw: Track selection/order.

3 major flaws:

breakerfall

gods dice

evacuation

this album helps me unwiiiiiind
great for chucking on headphones in a car trip, major flaw on the album is nothing as it seems, should have been moved a few tracks down because it interupts the flow of the album. probably would fit after sleight of hand maybe?
anyway i love this album and its really enjoyable to listen to

Major flaws in my eyes are the production and the track omissions.

I can't think of any reason Of the Girl shouldn't be the opener, followed by Breakerfall.

Get rid of Gods' Dice and Evacuation; throw 'em on Lost Dogs.

"01. Breakerfall
02. Insignificance
03. Nothing As It Seems
04. Sad
05. Light Years
06. Sleight Of Hand
07. Grievance
08. Fatal
09. Of The Girl
10. Thin Air
11. Soon Forget
12. Parting Ways


By removing Gods' Dice, Evacuation and Rival it takes it down a notch in terms of fast paced PJ rock tunes, and by Adding Sad and Fatal then mixing up the track order, it becomes a much darker and moodier album. I think it has a lot more emotional punch this way. That's totally just me though. But I get the most out of the album as a whole this way."


If this was the album i would love it more than Yeild, and put up there with the best. I blame Matt, really for this whole thing. All joking a side though it could have been great.

I strongly, strongly considered throwing Of The Girl as the opener. It's got a great feel to open the album with. My beef with OTG is that it's lyrically a bit weak, and as such doesnt grab the listener in anticipation of the rest of the album, which is what the opener should do, IMO. While Breakerfall isnt the perfect opener either, I think it succedds better than OTG in this area.

god's dice is one of my favorite pearl jam tunes. i even enjoy evacuation sometimes.

if evacuation wasn't on this album, and was swapped with education, it'd probably be right there with yield for me.

i coulda used some in the moonlight too.

Tchad Blake, Tchad Blake, Tchad Blake, and o a little more Tchad Blake, and lets close it out with Tchad Blake

Its unreal how good these songs are live and how poor some sound on the album

I totally agree, that the major flaw of this album is the song selection and the order of the titles. Yet, I think, that God's dice is a very powerful song which really contributes to the quality of Binaural. However, I think that Evacuation and Rival should be really left out. Evacuation always gets on my nerves, when I hear it.
I will never understand, why Sad didn't make it on the album. To me it would have been by far the strongest song of Binaural. It would have given the album a kinda special moment, which it just misses. And Fatal is just wonderful.
Although the production will never be my favourite, I think, that it was very interesting and cool what they've tried out (and I don't mean the binaural recording-technique exclusively; rather things like the way 2nd voices were used and so on)

::deals Buggy off the top::

Obviously there were some great songs recorded during this time that didn't make the cut.

Major flaw = Not enough songs on the record.

major flaw: nothing, get over it guys they're not perfect

Rival and Thin Air are pretty bad.

I agree wholeheartedly. I put the album on and hear breakerfall, and I have a hard time getting past it...kind of ruins the whole album for me. I'd also add Thin Air to that list. Something about it just will not jive with me, and I don't want to relive the song in my head to try and figure out why.

I absolutely love Nothing as it Seems and Of the Girl...

Agreed. It could've been like the Sometimes/Hail, Hail start to No Code.

Binaural could have been a great album. . . .I remember reading in the lost dogs liner notes that tchad's fave song from the sessions did not make the cut, which makes me think that there was a disconnect between some band members and the production crew.

With sad and fatal on there. . .along with otherside, we could have had this really sad, dark, beautiful record.

It's like the girl that got away. . . .

Sad should have made Binaural. It might have been the 2nd best song, behind Nothing As It Seems, which I feel is a very underrated song. I always liked Gods Dice after Breakerfall, just seems to fit the flow perfectly. Thin Air...yeah...hard to listen to that song anymore, but thats another story. All in all a good album, IMO.

2 major flaws:

gods dice

evacuation