The Great Pearl Jam Debate

Jake and I have this thing where we argue about Pearl Jam. There's been a long-standing dispute about the merits of the band's "glory-days" output (which, for him, means Ten) compared to everything thereafter, and the previous DMB post got us both back on-topic.

There's one thing we can agree on: you can't deny the power of early-90's PJ, beautifully exemplified by "Once" - the first track off the debut album. Here's the 2004 Brendan O'Brien remix; take a listen:

Allright, so that song is awesome. But, according to Jake, only about half of Vs. was any good, maybe a third of Vitalogy, and...zip. Done. PJ effectively ceased to exist as a working band for him.

Wait a second: you're immune to the unrestrained musical exuberance of "In My Tree"?

The soaring power-pop-punk of "Leatherman?"

"Cropduster"? The best song Neil Young never wrote!?

The hauntingly moving, Matt Cameron-penned "You Are", even?

I could cite more examples, but if you're not sold already, it ain't gonna happen.

PJ may not be as consistent or radio-friendly these days as they once were, but that doesn't mean you can't cherry-pick something worthwhile off each album they've ever done.

(A side-note on the "radio-friendly" thing: PJ are frequently criticized for deliberately "sabotaging" their musical careers by making Vs. so much less populist than Ten. According to my research, this is almost directly attributed to the fact that a lunatic fan stalked Vedder to the degree that she ended up driving her car through his house. I'd be a liar if I told you that my reaction to the whole fame thing wouldn't have been at least similar to his, if not identical. In a situation like that, fame must have felt like an incredible burden of vulnerability.)

Feel free to weigh in on this, people...

"Anyone? Anyone?"

Oh yeah, man - I almost forgot. Here's some critical validation for one of your perhaps-not-so-guilty musical pleasures...