Not the knockout blow against Bush that they were hoping for (Riot Act - Pearl Jam)

Member Name: mrjoegoodwin

Product:	Riot Act - Pearl Jam
Date:	14/05/09 (4 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Thumbing My Way, Love Boat Captain, You Are

Disadvantages: Help Help, Green Disease, Ghost

First up, let's get one thing clear: an average Pearl Jam album tends to still far exceed the quality of 'best' albums from most other bands in the world, and if such a thing exists, 'Riot Act' is probably Pearl Jam's most average album to date. After a 3 year hiatus following Binaural, Riot Act sits uncomfortably during the period of the first George W Bush administration, and on 'Bu$shleaguer' and 'Green Disease', you can certainly tell, as the band rail against the neo conservative regime. There are true gems to be heard though - 'Thumbing My Way', 'Love Boat Captain' and 'You Are' would fit well on some of the band's more commercially friendly earlier albums, but there are several tracks of filler here, and Riot Act would probably benefit from having a few of the weaker tracks reserved for b-side status. It receives fewer spins than any other Pearl Jam album, an it's only average, but it still beats most of the competition hands down.

Summary: Add it to your list, but buy after all the other albums