NEW Pearl Jam Live album

liebzz · Certified D.J

NEW Pearl Jam Live album

Nick · The 5th Beatle

Oh! In a sign that I'm becoming a more reasonable person, I only pre-ordered one version of this: the double LP. Not the CD, and not the deluxe version of the thing, just the record.

That also seems like a lot of Backspacer, but two songs would've seemed like a lot to me, so, I don't know.

Nick · The 5th Beatle

And to maybe answer the question, I think the point is because a lot of people have come back on board with the band, and aren't interested in getting every live show ever like some people we know (us). I know people at work who will pick this up, enjoy it, and go about their merry lives. We're not necessarily the audience, us Pearl Jam freaks, but there's definitely an audience.

liebzz · Certified D.J

Yes, agreed. It does, however, play like just about every other compilation you will ever see, so not even the great Pearl Jam is above the formula:

A live album made primarily of hit songs not too unlike a greatest hits album (Animal, Alive, Yellow Ledbetter, Jeremy, Rearviewmirror, et al.), a few new songs to remind people they still make albums (The Fixer, Unthought Known, Just Breathe), and a few rare gems to suck in the hardcores who would have otherwise had everything listed herein (Arms Aloft, Public Image).

Well done, Pearl Jam. Well done.

The Mystery Tramp · Punk rocker

I listened to Live On Two Legs yesterday. Amazing live album. Tracklist for this one isn't screaming must-by to me though, seeing as how spoilt for choice I am with bootlegs. Surely NAIS is the Seattle performance from Touring Band? Best PJ performance ever for me.

liebzz · Certified D.J

03 tour through 10 tour, so not from Touring Band.

I always thought the best version I had heard of Nothing As It Seems was from the Bridge School Benefit in 1999, which was the first time they played it.

dtrain · Guitar tech

i'm too lazy to reread the track-list but do i not see one friggin no code song?!? not one?!?

clearly, dtrain must be mistaken

liebzz · Certified D.J

That is correct.

Speaking of all things Pearl Jam, it appears we are looking at a Eddie Vedder solo tour announcement next week, possibly Australia.

Also, the Vs. and Vitalogy reissues are apparently on their way, and are planned releases for 2011.

It also appears from Gossard interviews that they will do some shows and be in the studio, but it was stated in the typical non-chalant way.

There's also the expected documentary by Cameron Crowe in the works for next year.

So it should be pretty busy.

Nick · The 5th Beatle

Full thoughts here! http://www.staticandfeedback.com/Music/0701loxl.html

But really, all it made me do was reach back for Live on Two Legs, which was so much better. This was fine for what it was, but ... meh. Someone who hasn't picked up any of their live stuff in a while will like it. I'm sticking with the Gorge box set.

liebzz · Certified D.J

Same general thoughts as you, only I think it is better than Live on Two Legs, mostly because the performances are generally better.

I did not have nearly everything that this compilation had, mostly because after the 2003 tour, I gave up on trying to get as many shows as possible and became content having copies of the shows I attended. So to that end, I think the live album is mostly for a fan like me - a lifer who has slowed down a bit from the crazy period when we were desperately grabbing for every show in sight to just a handful, and can look at this as an update as to what they sound like now versus what they sounded like back then.

However, I have considered Pearl Jam to have really entered a second concert prime from that '03 tour through the present, while the '98 and '00 tours were not quite as good (notwithstanding maybe 6 or 7 really outrageously great shows over those two tours). I think that is reflected in the two live documents you can't help but compare. The performances are a little more stretched out in the latter disc, and in the songs you mentioned, those are the moments you can really sense the band just having a great time.

In the end though, my critique, or my sorta "B" grade on this collection, is that like the previous one, it fails to really capture the personality of this band, and the sense of the journey that each show is for them and their fans. It's just a live compilation. They are capable of much more (see Touring Band 2000, an absolute gem that accomplishes all this while at the same time being a compilation itself).