No Code, just Pearl Jam (No Code - Pearl Jam)

Member Name: marconad

Product:	No Code - Pearl Jam
Date:	07/08/02 (235 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: new beginning, great songs

Disadvantages: none

Forget about Grunge, it has nothing to do with Pearl Jam. They are just a great rock band.

A rock band. That's how one should describe them. Or Just Pearl Jam. NO CODE.

This is probably the meaning of the title of this amazing record, IMHO the best in the 10-year Pearl Jam history. No Code was published in 1996, after the highly successful debut of TEN and the record-breaking sales of its follow-up, VS, and the third, more complex work of VITALOGY.

No Code is definitely a new beginning of the Seattle band, as it sounds quite different from the previous albums, though having more than one points in common with Vitalogy.

Vitalogy lacked in coherence, as a bunch of really great songs was let down by some weird and obscure episodes.

No Code is a dark record, but doesn't lack. It's just a collection of amazing rock songs, ranging from punk rock influences to the most blues episodes in the groups' history, recalling some of their side projects, such as the great Temple of the Dog, and the even better Mad Season.

I am going to take you through each track of this album:

1. SOMETIMES
A dark soft ballad, a kind of lounge blues, with a very deep bass sound from Jeff Ament, made remarkably amazing by the singing talent of Eddie Vedder, capable of singing quietly, adjusting his tone to the surround musical texture.

2. HAIL HAIL
A very aggressive track, with strong influences from the American HC-Punk scene, in which the guitars dominate, greatly controlled by the amazing drumming of Jack Irons. I like the part when Vedder sings "I sometimes realize...I could only be as good as you'll let me... Areyou woman enough to be my man? Bandaged hand in hand.." Definitely a song about a relationship.

3. WHO YOU ARE
Perhaps this is the most underrated Pearl Jam single. Coming out earlier than the record, it didn' t seem to appeal the mainstream audience. No wonde
r why, as it is a very deep ballad, recalling some Led Zeppelin influences, with a mixture of Indian sounds. One of the greatest songs on this record, supported by a great drum pattern.

4. IN MY TREE
Another great Jack Irons drum job on this one. I believe that the rythmic session, Ament (bass) - Irons (drums), never worked so fine as in this album. I remember watching them play this song live in Rome , and being amazed at the range of percussions Irons was actually using. Very dark song, suitable for moments of pain.

5. SMILE
Probably the most traditional ballad of the record , a love song , based on a classical guitar-bass-drum-harmonica pattern.

6. OFF HE GOES
Another traditional, I would say "Springsteenesque" song, but with an amazing work from the guitars of Mike McCready and Stone Gossard. Great song to play on guitar or to watch being played live.

7. HABIT
Once again, Pearl Jam look at the punk-HC scene, and create a song that breaks the quiet of the previous one. It seems a regular scheme in their records.

8. RED MOSQUITO
As Smile, a strong guitar based, traditional american rock piece of music, with a killer riff by Mike McCready (for more info about his guitar style, visit www.giventowail.com)

9. LUKIN
Written by Eddie Vedder, this is a punk song, lasting 1.20 min only. Funny lyrics too, about a person who was stalking him...

10. PRESENT TENSE
IMHO, the highest moment of the whole record, and the peak of Pearl Jam's career. A dark, obscure blues, with a great work from Jeff Ament and his bass. Amazing ending and great chorus. Great lyrics too:
"Do you see the way that tree bends?
Does it inspire?
Leanin' out to catch the sun's ray
A lesson to reapply
Are you getting something out of this?
All encompassing trip
You can spend your time alone
Redigesting past regrets, Oh
Or you can, come to terms and re
alize
Your the only one, you can forgive yourself, Oh Makes much more sense to live in the present tense
Have you ideas on how this life ends?
Checked your hands and studied the lines?
Have you the belief that the road ahead
Ascends off into the light?
Seems that needlessly it's gettin' harder to find And approach... Ain't no way to live
Are we gettin' something out of this
All encompassing trip
You can spend your time alone
Redigesting past regrets, Oh
Or you can, come to terms and realize
Your the only one, you can not forgive yourself, Oh
Ah, makes much more sense to live in the present tense"

11. MANKIND
The lowest point of this record, a traditional american-pop-punk song, written and sung by Stone Gossard.

12. I'M OPEN
A nightly spoken-word song, with dark sounds coming out from bass and guitar and the voice of Vedder reading the lyrics, and just singing "I'm Open!"

13. AROUND THE BEND
A soft and delicate ending to this great record, with a traditional guitar ballad.

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If you like Pearl Jam, you probably have this record already. If you don't like them, go and buy it... you will like it !

At the time of recording NO CODE, Pearl Jam were:

EDDIE VEDDER - guitar, vocals
STONE GOSSARD - rythm guitar
MIKE MCCREADY - lead guitar
JEFF AMENT - bass
JACK IRONS - drums

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