Vital Pearl Jam-ology (Vitalogy - Pearl Jam)

Member Name: dcoare

Product:	Vitalogy - Pearl Jam
Date:	24/05/04 (88 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Eddie's vocals, Brilliant Guitar Riffs, Fantastic Drumming

Disadvantages: Musical Interludes, Bugs.

Pearl Jam – Vitalogy.

Pearl Jam formed in the early nineties, and were quickly labelled “Grunge” to fit with the uprising trend from Seattle which spawned such groups as Nirvana and Mudhoney.

This was the difficult 3rd album, following on from the successes of “Ten” AND “Vs”.

The band line up for this outing were:

Eddie - Vocals, Guitars, Accordion
Jeff - Bass, Vocals
Stone - Guitar, Melotron, Vocals
Mike - Guitar, Vocals
Dave - Drums, Percussion

Also, Jack Irons appeared for the first time on the track “Mophandlemama”

Vitalogy.

Last Exit.

Kicks into life with a pounding drum track, leading into a guitar riff and Eddie keeping pace for the verse. Then the chorus comes along and really gets you singing along. This is supposedly about Kurt Cobain, and his not being found dead for 3 days.

“3 days maybe longer…wont ever find me here”.

Spin The Black Circle.

Starts with a lead in riff that quickly develops into a raging punk riff. Slows for Eddie to come in, singing about the joys of vinyl. The 1st single from this album, and a very rocking and brilliant track. Try to contain yourself from singing along for the chorus.

“Pull it out, a paper sleeve. Oh my joy”

Not For You.

The tempo finally slows for this thoughtful track. An easygoing riff plays along to the relentless drums, and Eddie comes in, almost sneeringly, a song that I believe is Eddie’s cry to leave his personal life out of his music. At the time, Eddie was being interviewed constantly about issues unrelated to his music, which must have caused irritation.]

“Where did they come from…stormed my room
And you dare say…It belongs to you
THIS IS NOT FOR YOU”

Tremor Christ.

A jerky riff, that leads into a drum track that make
s everything fairly slow tempo. A song that describes the way a little secret turns into a massive conspiracy. A very thought provoking track, and very good.

“”Little secrets…Tremors,
Turned to quake….”

Nothingman.

Fairly easygoing intro, to this slow tempo offering. Eddie swoons over a man that had a chance to make a name for himself, but passed up the chance of notoriety for an easy life, but always lives with that “what if?”.

“Bought a bolt of lightening…
cursed the day he let it go”

Whipping.

Kicks in with a fantastic riff, and drums exploding, into Eddie’s vicious lyrics. This is a song about the outrage felt after an abortion doctor was shot and President Clinton would not intervene. The sleeve art is of a petition to President Clinton exclaiming these views, with the lyrics printed as the names.

“Don’t mean to push, but i'm being shoved….
I’m just like you, think we’ve had enough”

Pry, to.

A quick musical interlude with Eddie screaming each letter of Privacy.

Corduroy.

Builds up slowly, into a raging inferno of brilliant riffs, and fantastic drumming. Eddie screams the verse and slows for the chorus. A brilliant track, possibly the best on the album, which really shows the very best of Pearl Jam.

“I don’t wanna take what you can give,
I would rather starve than eat your bread”

Bugs.

Again, another break from the norm for an accordion fuelled track about bugs. Strangely out of context, but latching together the next part of the album.

Satan’s Bed.

After the whips that introduce this track, the drums really kick in. The guitar riff that follows will blow you away. Eddie comes in screaming with a melodious verse, with a chanting chorus of “ Already In Love”. Brillia
nt sing along track.

“I’ll wait for angels, but I won’t hold my breath”.

Better Man.

Here we go with an “epic”. Slow tempo lead in, with Eddie nearly whispering his words over a slowly crooning guitar. Apparently this is a song about Eddie’s stepfather. Half way through the second verse, the band kick in with an acoustic fuelled backing track. The chorus is very memorable, and fairly catchy.

“Waiting, Watching the clock, it’s 4 o’clock, it’s got to stop”

Aye Davanita.

Another musical interlude, with a chanting of the title throughout.

Immortality.

The legendary Pearl Jam finish to an album is not let down on this outing. A slow tempo ballad that’s at least 5 minutes long. Having said that, it is a very good track that really gives you an end of album feeling. You really feel that you have been through the treadmill when you listen to this track. This is the proper end to the album, although there is one track left.

Hey Foxymophandlemama, That’s Me.

Starts with randomly wailing guitars, and equally random samples of a young boy. To be completely honest, this is a very experimental track that probably shouldn’t have appeared on an album, but it was the first offering from the band as they would become, with Jack Irons on drums.

So, all in all, this really is a fantastic album. Pearl Jam were so restrained as to what they could do at this point in their career, but they still managed to change, without losing the thrust they had.

The only let downs of this album were the musical interludes, bugs, and the last track, which really isn’t like anything they had done, or anything they did afterwards.

The sleeve artwork was very clever. The album was released first in vinyl and then a week later on cd. The sleeve appears to be an old book of medicinal antidotes, wi
th a few song lyrics thrown in for good measure. The cd initially came in a gatefold pack with the cd held at the back, and the “book” at the front.

This was a very credible third release, but did point the way as to where Pearl Jam were about to go slightly off track. In hindsight, it didn’t matter too much, as they soon found their way again.

If you have ever heard Pearl Jam and were interested, then the first 3 albums are well worth purchasing.

Thanx.

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