View Full Version : Riot Act - First Impressions
What does everyone think of this new album?
Much more passive and calmer than their previous albums, a lot more soothing and less 'angry'.
Favourite track at the moment, "Save You".
Still haven't formulated a complete opinion on this new one from Pearl Jam, but I do like it, but not sure if I like it as much as other previous works of art.
Will continue to post into this thread as I keep on listening to it.
Sinkers_9
11 Nov 2002, 12:39
Heard some of it yesterday at a mates place, songs 1 through 8 sound great and I liked song number 10.
Wasn't too sure about rest of it, I'll obviously need to hear more of it but it sounds pretty good
gonna take me a long time to get into this one i think. all members (except mike i think) have written tracks for it and it seems to be a bit all over the shop. some great songs mind you - Save You, Thumbing My Way, Cant Keep etc.
Mr Eagle
11 Nov 2002, 23:52
I am getting into it, albeit slowly. Time will tell...
Early faves: Save You, Love Boat Captain, Cropduster, Green Disease
I think Pearl Jam's best work is a long way behind them, but this is still a relatively classy effort.
Agree with ramjet in that it is a bit disjointed and doesnt flow very well. And Pearl Jam now sound like a band who dont really take their song writing process or arranging overly seriously. While still sounding very self assured (as you'd expect after 12 or so years of doing this!!), it now sounds more like each member brings a few ideas into their rehearsal/recording space, they jam through it a couple of times and 3 weeks later come out the other side with an album. Thats fine, but it still sounds like they are playing very much within themlselves when you are comparing their latest efforts to masterpeices like Vitalogy and Vs.
I think "You Are" is one of the most interesting songs PJ have recorded since Yield's "Push Me, Pull Me" and for mine this development and evolution is now the only enjoyment i derive from them. "Bushleaguer" has a certain charm to it as well. But god knows we wont be hearing anymore Jeremys or Not For Yous from them.
But any recording featuring a rythm section of Matt Cameron, Jeff Ament and Stone Gossard has to be worth a listen.
The thing i find frustrating though is that they now have one of, if not the best rock drummers in the world in Matt Cameron yet are not in the least bit aggressive anymore. Not saying that music cant be great without being aggressive, but PJ used to write some almighty stuff and Matt Cameron would certainly compliment that vibe VERY well. Oh well.
The Hitman
12 Nov 2002, 08:36
Originally posted by Carlos
The thing i find frustrating though is that they now have one of, if not the best rock drummers in the world in Matt Cameron yet are not in the least bit aggressive anymore. Not saying that music cant be great without being aggressive, but PJ used to write some almighty stuff and Matt Cameron would certainly compliment that vibe VERY well. Oh well.
Thats what I think. They have all the ingredients to produce some aggressive music circa Do The Evolution, Jeremy, Not For You, Animal, and Spin The Black Circle, but they just don't anymore. I love their milder stuff, but part of what makes the milder stuff great is the contrast with their aggressive stuff.
A great drummer going to waste who can easily pull off and enhance aggressive rock is going to waste.
The Hitman
after 4 listens its growing on me. Love Boat Captain quickly becoming one of the better songs in the PJ catalogue in my opinion.
Mr Eagle
13 Nov 2002, 11:39
I am REALLY starting to get into this album. It's not what you might expect of PJ - the anger is more restrained, the emotions a tad more accepting and positive - but what I like is that it doesn't have any obviously great (your PJ anthem kinda thing) or awful songs (a la 'Stupid Mop' or '[red dot]'). The whole album is just good solid music that I could happily listen to over and over and over again. Save You and Love Boat Captain are favourites though.
It currently sits third on my Pearl Jam table...
Vitalogy
Vs
Riot Act
Ten
Binaural
Yield
No Code
The thing I like about this album, as Mr Eagle said, there are no standout hits.
The good thing about this is everyone has different favourite tracks .. my favourite track at the moment is Can't Keep.
Very good album... was a little apprehensive at first, not noticing any anger, and then I got used to laid back nature of the album, and got very used to it.. growing on me in a big way!