Pearl Jam - Vs

Ahh Pearl Jam. My arch nemesis. Those who have been reading since the beginning - they know that I respect Pearl Jam, and what they've done both musically themselves and for the industry as a whole. But they also know that I'm simply not that big a fan of them. I can't really explain why - their music just doesn't click with me like other bands. And I know what you're thinking, "but B Side - you LOVE 90's alt rock!" And you'd be right, in general. I own this album. I bought it when I was younger. I listen to it from time to time. To me, it's a really solid time waster album. And by that I mean, it's pretty good all the way through. I wouldn't skip any tracks because they're so intolerable. But here is where I get my 'overrated' mentality. None of the tracks are SO AMAZING, that I want to listen to this over and over. I've seen them live, I've listened to every album they've put out (except the newest ones) and I just don't get it. Regardless, for those who are unbiased or haven't heard this. It's pretty solid. It's got that very grunge-ish sound, signature of the era. This was their second studio release (after the 13x platinum selling 'Ten') and was a pretty sick follow up. This was dropped in 1993 and is a very respectable 7x platinum. I'm not sure there are many bands in all of history that can say they sold 20 million albums in their first two drops - let alone in all their catalog. I'm clearly in the minority of PJ haters - but hey, sometimes it's good to be alone. There is NO question you need to listen to this if you haven't. The band itself is going to go down as one of the best ever when it's all said and done, and this album will probably be looked upon as their second best ever. Check it out. Let me know why I'm so dumb.

TRACK LISTING:
1. Go
2. Animal
3. Daughter
4. Glorified G
5. Dissident
6. W.M.A.
7. Blood
8. Rearviewmirror
9. Rats
10. Elderly Woman Behind the Counter in a Small Town
11. Leash
12. Indifference

Listen To Samples

Top 3 Tracks:
1. Elderly Woman Behind The Counter In A Small Town
2. Dissident
3. Animal

FINAL RATING:
3.75 out of 5 stars

Pearl Jam - Ten

This is really hard for me to talk about. I mean, I have this music blog in which I talk about how much I LOVE music and how it's something that gets me not only through my day, but gets me through life. I think we all can point to music to describe moments and sections of our lives. And I feel that our mood can be totally altered by music. If your environment puts you in a bad mood, nothing can cheer you up faster than listening to your favorite song. Just turning it up as loud as it goes and drifting away - forgetting all of life's problems. And with this, as studious and open as I am and as loving of all music as I am -- I have one thing to admit:

I don't really care for Pearl Jam.

I know...I know...blasphemous! Well, they just don't really do it for me. I respect them like I respect any band that changed music as much as these guys. No question they're super talented, they have great music - they're just not in my Top 50. For those that know them, they loathe the spotlight and prefer to stay out of the mainstream. They do a great job at putting on many shows for fans, and putting the shows recording out for commercial release. Smart. Since I'm not a huge fan, I'll just start with their first record. Some people might tell you it's one of the best records of all time, I'm going to tell you otherwise. Feel free to let me know why you now want to punch me in the face.

TRACK LISTING:
1. Once
2. Even Flow
3. Alive
4. Why Go
5. Black
6. Jeremy
7. Oceans
8. Porch
9. Garden
10. Deep
11. Release

Listen To Samples

Top 3 Tracks:
1. Black
2. Alive
3. Oceans

FINAL RATING:
3.75 out of 5 stars