Vitalogy
Audio CD
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£3.99
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Reviewer
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This album came out in 1994. I'm getting old!
Thankfully though it still sounds great, arguably showing Pearl Jam at the height of their powers.
Eddie Vedder's growling voice gives weight to the menace and angst contained in many of the songs.
The album is made up of cracking rock songs such as Last Exit, Spin the Black Circle and Satan's Bed as well as gentler efforts such as Nothingman, Immortality and my own favourite Betterman.
There is a bit of self-indulgence among the 14 tracks. Bugs (who's playing the accordion?) and Aye Davanita probably seemed like good ideas in the studio.
Pearl Jam are a band that nowadays probably provoke the reaction - "Oh yeah, whatever happened to them?" - a lot. It would be interesting to get the band member's views on this. Are they disappointed or relieved that they haven't gone the U2 patented biggest band in the world route?
While we ponder this we can at least listen to great albums such as this.
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Hands down the best Pearl Jam album. A really raw sound with Eddie providing some punk style vocals that suit him really well. This is the band's angry album - their `In Utero' or `Holy Bible' (both also released at roughly the same time in late '93 early '94).
As previously hinted the heavier tracks are the best - especially `Spin the Black Circle', `Not for You', `Whipping' and `Last Exit'. Other highlights are the gently rocking `Corduroy' and bitter ballad `Immortality'.
This album was slated upon its release due to the inclusion of a few ropey tracks (including the infamous 'Foxy Mop' which is the sort of experiment other bands tack on the arse end of an album as a 'hidden track' and then get extra kudos for!) and the fact it didn't sound a hell of a lot like either `Ten' or `Vs' but for me this remains the only Pearl Jam album I reach for on a regular basis.
Here's hoping 'Vitalogy' gets the full deluxe reissue it deserves.
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There are many theories about Vitalogy and its musical content. One such theory is that PJ were sticking up their proverbial two fingers to the 'corporate machine' and stepping off the commercial tread mill that came with 'Ten' and 'Vs'. Brilliant free thinking musicians will always explore new ideas, they have to, otherwise their heads burst.
Vitology contains the usual suspects that we all like to sing along to, when we get to see the best band in the world live, but it also contains lots of other good stuff as well.
'Bugs', a dig at the men in gray suits, they're going to get you in the end , it's inevitable!!.
'Aye Davanita'. Pearl Jam doing 1970's Krautrock... Thank you, can we have some more please and what about the excellent 'Stupid Mop'. It's wouldn't sound out of place on a Faust album.
We have enough PJ anthems to keeps us going for a lifetime. Lets hope they can deliver another Vitalogy soon.
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This album does not make up it's mind. It has some truly awesome songs, Immortality and Nothingman come to mind. However it also has some right crap, what the hell is on with Bugs, Stupid Mop and Aye Deventia, I just do not know. My other complaint is that the album does not flow well, the passage from song to song is erratic and I don't particularly like the experience. So as an album Vitalogy is not in the company of Ten and Vs. However there is no denying the volume of tracks on this album that kick ass. I cannot get how they managed to mess up an album with such great songs. I'm tempted to give it a low score but with the two songs I mentioned first plus greats like Corduroy, Betterman and a few others I can't knock it too much.
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this album seems to generate a lot of mixed feelings in people. being a child of the grunge generation i bought this on release having been a fan of the band since ten. It says a lot about the state of mind of the band at the time and presents a mish mash of quality ballady type songs along with the most punk orientated stuff they have produced. Its a tender, rocking, moody, spitefull ball of love for all to enjoy.
To my ears it works extremely. Still one of my favourite albums and an album that I still love listening to even after more years than i care to admit.
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