With pearl jam being my all time favourite band I was wary of writing this review. I wanted it to be better than my other two reviews (this is only my third), so hopefully it is.
Probably the first thing you'll notice when you pop in your pearl jam vs. cd is that this not ten with a different name. This is a much, rawer (ten was massively overproduced btw) and the instrumentation is very tight, unlike on ten we're the guitars and bass seemed to bounce about. Everything is more subtle and less fleshed out, some people with prefer this but most just want some studio polish that will sound pretty.
1. GO/2.ANIMAL
The sharp guitar riff that opens vs. is sublime. It sets the scene and gets your adrenaline pumping thoroughly. Quick bursts of strong emotion appear all the way through vs. but are incredible in the first two tracks, go and animal. Loud shrieks and testosterone pumped riffs blast the album forward past the first two songs. You are very unlikely to be disappointed with the opening tracks
3. DAUGHTER
Now time for a pop song, yes pearl jam can do pop. Daughter was a massive hit back in the day and it’s immediately apparent why. The sing-along chorus melody is very catchy and the melodic guitars glimmer with easy going beauty. A very good track plus it serves to
Liberate pearl jam from there hard rock cage.
4. GLORIFIED G
hhmmm glorified g is a weird one. it shouldn’t work, it shouldn't sound good but guess what. it does! The whole song is led by a highly distinctive riff and lyrics about guns and men obsessed with them. This is where the album begins to dig into experimentation, especially since musically it doesn’t make sense, despite all this its a very good song.
5. DISSIDENT
High powered guitar riffs are what led ten and here we have a return. A highly melodic riff gives dissident a very radio-friendly feel (apparently it was a bit of a hit). Although very nice, the songs seem to go nowhere until the final bit where Eddie screams in anguish. That emotion always amazes me. With the help of the incredible ending its a great song.
6. W.M.A
Here’s where the album slightly dips in quality but w.m.a is still a decent song. Its weird one but it works very well. Every instrument (including vocals) seems to meld together perfectly to set and atmosphere, however it never climaxes it just kind of fades out disappointingly.
7. BLOOD
"IT’S MY BLOOOOD!" what a chorus eh. This song sounds like the best jam ever. It just explodes with power and intense anger. Brings back the pace of the album very well but ends way too soon and lyrics don't seem to make sense (to me at least) still its an awesome song containing all the power that pearl jam can muster.
8. REARVIEWMIRROR
Proving Vedder can write amazing lyrics AND brilliant music, this song is fantastic. Vedder screams his heart out on this one and it all adds up to an incredible climax that keeps the albums emotional gut punches going strong. its just amazing and possibly the best on the album. If vs begin to lessen in quality after daughter then this will get you straight back in the groove.
9. RATS
Here’s we have a very good song about rat’s similarities to humans but after the incredible rearviewmirror, this sadly just sounds mediocre and generic. It really is a good song and quite weird but because of its unfortunate placing on the album its impact is hindered. If you manage not to compare it to rearviewmirror you will highly enjoy this song.
10. ELDERLY WOMAN BEHIND THE COUNTER IN A SMALL TOWN
Strange title eh? Even stranger is that this isn't even a strange song. Wow strange (sorry I had to lol) this is a great song that very similar to daughter (nothing wrong with that). It’s got a pretty strong melody but it subtle and you probably won't notice it on first listen. Still its a great song with lyrics that beg you to sing-a-along.
11. LEASH
This song is just fun. the guitars are incredibly inventive and despite some kind of cheesy lyrics (I’m sorry Eddie) it sounds powerful and attacks you with a massively melodic chorus that drags you in and violently informs you that pearl jam are hear to rock!
12. INDIFFERENCE
Atmosphere. atmosphere. Atmosphere. this song screams of it. The first time I heard it I honestly nearly cried. The desperation and pure sadness in Eddie’s haunting vocals plucks at your heart strings with little reservation. Astonishing.
Is it better than ten? HELL YEA. Should you buy it? YES PLEASE.
But being serious. if you are into any kind of rock BUY THIS ALBUM.
5/5
