Branching Out in Style (Vitalogy - Pearl Jam)

Member Name: hakkved

Product:	Vitalogy - Pearl Jam
Date:	04/05/01 (94 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: It's Pearl Jam - what more can I say

Disadvantages: 'Hey foxymophandled mama, that's me'

Many people tend to downplay the quality of Pearl Jam’s middle albums which is something I’ve never understood. Pearl Jam’s third offering, while still top quality, leans more towards their raw versatile and innovative side.

Album opener ‘Last Exit’ begins with a short intro of haphazard drums and jazz sounds before kicking in with their rough and ready blast. Subject matter could be termed as being a bit morbid, about being in control of your own death and watching it take place! You’ve got to remember how badly Kurt Cobain’s death affected Vedder and this is plain to see within the lyrics, “3 days, maybe longer, won’t even know I’ve left”.

‘Spin the Black Circle’ is a brilliant slab of raucous Pearl Jam-style punk centred around Eddie Vedder’s immense love of vinyl. Crazy idea for a song but it works – all pounding drums, repetitive guitar riffs and screaming vocals!!

Things begin quieter for ‘Not For You’ – simple riffs and beats make for a great song. As it progresses it gets more intense as Vedder fights against being hounded by everyone. This was at the height of when Pearl Jam were trying to be anti-commercial and putting things back into perspective with regards to just being normal human beings fighting against blatent music money-makers.

The guitars on ‘Tremor Christ’ are a bit different from usual but it’s the vocals that bring the song into its own. The lyrics are very philosophical and the range of Eddie’s vocals are astounding – one minute tortured screaming then next extremely tender singing. (Has anyone guessed I’m obsessed with Eddie Vedder yet!?)

The first ballad comes along with ‘Nothingman’. Its’s full of very thoughtful and insightful lyrics based on a man who loses everything important in life. After mellowing out, the listener is
then thrown into the midst of ‘Whipping’. A frantic pounding rocker acting as an anthem to support Vedder’s belief in the pro-choice movement. Once again Vedder tackles political issues close to his heart.

The interlude of ‘Pry, To’ hears Eddie spelling PRIVACY constantly throughout its one minute duration. This is another indication of his burdensome feelings at this time of living in the limelight.

A major highlight on this album has to be ‘Corduroy’. Again with many of their songs it starts slowly and builds to a climax. Amazing! The lyrics seem to describe Vedder’s helplessness that his life is no longer his own as he is forced to share everything with the rest of the world, including his teeth x-rays which we get to see in the album book – fillings and all!

Vitalogy was the 1st album to have it’s crazy experimental side and never more so than on ‘Bugs’. It’s Vedder accompanying himself on the accordion. Repetitive monotonous chanting about bugs crawling everywhere and his dilemma as to whether to kill them or become their friend and decides there’s no choice but to join them! It’s very clever actually and it’s also a great way to really annoy my mum by chanting it around the house – that’s only if I’m in a cheeky mood of course!

‘Satans Bed’ is a bit of a raw belter full of Eddie’s ranting. What follows is another favourite. ‘Better Man’ begins with haunting slide guitars then trips in with the well-known tender finger-picking of a sole guitar with organ. After the 1st verse and chorus the song kicks in with strumming acoustics and once again builds up to a fantastic end!

The next intermission, ‘Aye Davanita’ is a spanish-flavoured tribal hum making way for the final masterpiece. ‘Immortality’ is a beautiful ballad which once again I’
;m sure makes reference to the tragic Cobain. Stone and Mike’s guitar playing is immense here – very bluesy.

For me Vitalogy ends here…however the mass of detuned guitars which I never listen to. Although it’s title is fantastic, ‘Hey foxymophandled mama, that’s me’.

The Vitalogy booklet is interesting enough in itself. The theory of vitalogy is taken from a book from the days of old, explaining medical terms, self-pollution and advice on who to marry in life, mixed with Vedder’s individual typed and scrawled lyrics. So much so that I find myself adopting Eddie’s own style of shorthand – crazy!!

When Vitalogy first appeared I worried that this would be Pearl Jam’s swansong. Everything seemed to point to them all having enough of their fame but I’m glad to say it was only the beginning, having created 3 more masterpieces – which I’ll review next!

Summary: