SJ.com Memorial Day 300 rock songs TOP SONG ON PAGE 10

Funny thing about Pearl Jam, Boom ... they kind of grew on me over the years.

When they first charged out of the gate with "Evenflow," "Alive" and their other anthems from Ten, I wasn't that interested.

Putting the Vitalogy album out on vinyl (as mentioned in the thread) and the following anti-Ticketmaster tour got me into them.

But I really think Vedder has matured a lot over the years, lost some of the ego and even (occasionally) exhibited a sense of humor.

Plus, the core of the band -- Jeff Ament, Stone Gossard, Mike McCready -- are all great musicians.

 

Maybe there is still hope for me then to become a fan.

 

I sort of agree. i think i was just a tad too old to get caught up in the whole new 'voice of the decade' grunge rock thing spearheaded by pearl jam and nirvana in the '90s. but even a geezer like me could appreciate a song as great as 'better man.' and eddie grew on me more and more once it became clear he was no flash in the pan. great, great voice.

 

I haven't liked anything Pearl Jam's done in about 15 years. However, I loved Vedder's work on the Into the Wild album.

 

The thing is that I am a big Nirvana fan. Pearl Jam strikes me as this era's Greatful Dead. You liked them or you didn't . No in between. Did not have the Dead Gene either except for Me and My Uncle.

 

I was really late to the Pearl Jam parade, but I have really got into them over the last few years. Their live stuff is fantastic, they are one of the few bands I would pay to see these days.

 

Can't find a better song?

(Just kidding, Coco, excellent work on this thread)

 

This was really great to read. I enjoyed it a lot - thanks for putting it together.

Would there be interested in a "100 Greatest Artists of All Time" type countdown (like VH1 recently did)?

 

Yeah, great job on this thread.

Although, I can probably think of 10 Pearl Jam songs better than Better Man.

 

I've seen Pearl Jam 12 times in concert and I don't think they've ever encored with Better Man.

 

I don't get the comparison to the Grateful Dead. Pearl Jam was arguably the biggest band out there for most of the 1990s.

 

Perhaps it's only me, but I found with both Pearl Jam and The Dead there is no half way. You either love 'em or you don't. Both have huge following of fans and both have detractors.