Way OT - 2016 is the 25th anniversary of Pearl Jam "Ten" release

Submitted by trueblue262 on

First time I saw Pearl Jam was at the Crisler Arena so there's my "Michigan connection" to posting this. 

Probably really showing my age here, but I'm sure I'm not the only Pearl Jam fan around this board. This band is by far my favorite all-time band to listen to, and see in concert. I just can't believe ...... 25 years?? That's crazy in itself. But anyway, they are playing at Wrigley field in August that I have made it very clear to my wife that this would be an excellent date night!

PearlJam-Ten2.jpg

LSAClassOf2000

February 5th, 2016 at 9:51 AM ^

I was actually telling my wife just a few days ago that we both know we're getting a bit older now because nearly all of our favorite bands growing up now have members who are either pushing fifty years old or who can see fifty clearly in the rear view mirror of life, with some even in their sixties or seventies now depending on the band. Pearl Jam's members are mostly 50-ish now too, so this thread serves as a reminder of the march of time for me too.

That being said, I listened to "Ten" start to finish just last week. Still like it. 

FauxMo

February 5th, 2016 at 10:02 AM ^

Lollapalooza, summer of 1991, Pine Knob (before that BS DTE name change). I'm in the parking lot with a dozen friends. I am 90% sure we were all on acid, but we were definitely stoned and drunk. We were holding off on entering so we could continue destroying our bodies. We were there for all the bands, but Pearl Jam was the real draw. We hear Even Flow start, dropped our beers and ran for the gate. Amazing show, amazing experience. If I am remembering my concerts from that summer correctly, Ice Cube also played. He had 10 dudes on the front of the stage hold AK 47s and a huge mosh pit broke out. Oh, and that is where I learned about Tool. They were on a side stage and Maynard (the lead singer) dropped his pants, tucked his junk, and sang a song. Been a Tool fan ever since! :-D

Gulo Gulo Luscus

February 5th, 2016 at 1:09 PM ^

Went to Riot Fest in Chicago, largely to see Primus.  Danny Carey of Tool filled in on drums for Primus' "Herb" Alexander, who had recently had triple-bypass.  Danny had about 2 weeks to learn the songs and just nailed it, didn't miss a beat.

alum96

February 5th, 2016 at 11:20 AM ^

My thought too.  One of the few albums I can listen end to end.  (for those guys under 30 "albums" are what we used to buy when you didnt buy songs individually on mp3)

Also never listen to "Black" around sharp objects - incredible song but damn.

ijohnb

February 5th, 2016 at 10:39 AM ^

objections to the movie(usually from Sean Penn haters) is that it "glamourizes" the story.  I could not disagree more.  Contrary to their view, I think the Hearst's McCandliss is cold and uncaring under a thin veneer of charm.  The emotional foundation of the movie is with Keener, Vaughn and Holbrock who all care about him far more than he is able to reciprocate.  It is really a fascinating, tragic story.

In reply to by ijohnb

bklein09

February 5th, 2016 at 10:38 AM ^

As is the book. I liked the movie, but at times it made Chris seem like a misguided teenager who was upset that his parents had gotten divorced. I never got those feelings in the book. He just seemed like a really enlightened kid with wisdom beyond his years who was trying to find his way. If you haven't read it, you definitely should.




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ijohnb

February 5th, 2016 at 10:55 AM ^

you misunderstood both the book and the movie.  You were not watching exploits born of "wisdom" but instead the story of person who had not been provided with necessary emotional resources to cope with his existence (along with very possibly untreated nuerologial issues or serious mental illness).  He is a sympathetic figure, no question, but not because he knew any that any of the rest of us don't know or didn't know at his age.  He was simply unable to compartmentaize things properly due to identity issues and neglect from a very seriously dysfunctional family.

bklein09

February 5th, 2016 at 6:20 PM ^

I don't think I misunderstood it. You seem to have misunderstood my comment. I think he did have wisdom beyond that of a typical 22 year old kid. I also said he was trying to find his way. I never said he knew more than we did or anything like that. I feel sympathy for him and his family because he died. But if he hadn't, I don't think he's a sympathetic character necessarily. I think there are lots of young people out there that feel a lot like he did, and that doesn't mean there is something wrong with them.




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The Mad Hatter

February 5th, 2016 at 9:33 AM ^

In an era of great albums.  

Being a teenager in the 90's was awesome.  No cell phones, digital cameras, or social media to ruin everything.  The music was great, gas and cigarettes were cheap, and the country hadn't yet lost its mind with fear.

 

ijohnb

February 5th, 2016 at 9:45 AM ^

were actually a very odd time in America.  It was a time when people really did not know how good they had it.  The grunge rock movement is an interesting reflection of that, because a lot of the material reflected a kind of "angst" that was not really warranted.  The economy was good, the cold war had ended, there were no major crisis involving the US directly of any real substantial import. 

it eventually lead to essentially a "national boredom" that, in my mind, resulted in the eventual erosion of a lot of traditional American values out of simple complacancy, and that erosion is reflected in the viewpoint of the popular music of the time. 

It is interesting to watch the movie American Bueaty now, which was made in 1999, pre-Columbine, pre-9/11, pre-Iraq, etc.  It reflected a county in the midst of an identity crisis born of stagnancy and boredom.  People who "came up" after the 90's think the movie is overrated because they simply don't understand it.  It reflects a reality with which they are unfamiliar. 

The Mad Hatter

February 5th, 2016 at 9:57 AM ^

And now I'm sad and depressed.

I have a hard time explaining a lot of things to my 16 year old daughter as she has no understanding of how things used to be.  For her it's normal to get groped at the airport and to have every moment of your life recorded in some fashion.

MGoStu

February 5th, 2016 at 12:14 PM ^

Same here. Turned 21 in '91 so I was too busy to pay attention to the world. Several years ago I watched a show about the '90s on VH1, we love the '90s or something, and I didn't recognize anything that wasn't music related. No fads, no toys, no TV shows. Nothing. Beer, music and the Fab 5. That's all I remember. Oh, and meeting my wife. I should probably not forget that.

robpollard

February 5th, 2016 at 2:10 PM ^

There's a reason that Ross Perot and Bill Clinton were debating Nafta, and George HW Bush was getting blasted for not knowing the price of a gallon of milk: the economy was in recession (not nearly as bad as 2008-2009, but still not good).



I distinctly remember reading a Newsweek (in print!) on the way to my freshman dorm, with a story about how Gen X'ers would be the first generation to do worse than their parents. I was not thrilled.



So in short -- there was some angst. Not to mention, grunge/alternative nation was a reaction to "SHE'S MY...CHERRY PIE!" and the like.

M-Dog

February 6th, 2016 at 11:40 PM ^

Grunge was about angst (there was indeed a recession at the time and you no longer expected to do as well as your parents) and it was also about a return to authenticity.

Nirvana was a big deal at the time for being a garage band with no videos and a raw under-produced sound.  They broke the back of M-TV.  

It was only later that they became "Hollywood" famous.

Phil Brickma

February 5th, 2016 at 11:59 AM ^

"The grunge rock movement is an interesting reflection of that, because a lot of the material reflected a kind of "angst" that was not really warranted.  The economy was good, the cold war had ended, there were no major crisis involving the US directly of any real substantial import."

I don't recall a single Nirvana song about financial instability. There are a million other reasons to feel depressed or alienated other than a fear that the country is heading in the wrong direction. 

I'm not going to attack your opinion on the erosion of traditional American values because you are entitlted to your own opinion and I honestly just don't care. But to say the emotional charge behind grunge music was unwarranted is callously dumb. You said it best yourself: "It reflects a reality with which they are unfamiliar."

Back to Pearl Jam discussion...

ijohnb

February 5th, 2016 at 12:18 PM ^

seem to care an awful lot for a person who doesn't care. 

Of course Nirvana didn't have songs about "financial instability."  If you are so obtuse as to conflate my perspective of the national outlook at the time being reflected in the content of the music with whether or not one band spoke about the details of the nations economy I don't know what to tell you.

Since you want the "callously dumb" route, perhaps I should rephrase in a manner that is easier for you to understand.  The "grunge rock" movement reflects unwarranted entitlement, self-agrandizing petulance, and in Nirvana's case specifically, unsettling narcissism, all disguised by some kick ass guitar.  It was essentially Limp Biskut minus any self-awareness. It was good music, no question, but good luck to you if you took any "lasting lessons" from the content.

 

 

In reply to by ijohnb

Gulo Gulo Luscus

February 5th, 2016 at 1:23 PM ^

Personal tastes are what they are, but "Limp Biskut minus any self-awareness" is the most outlandishly unfair review of Nirvana that has ever been written.  And it's "Bizkit."

In reply to by ijohnb

Phil Brickma

February 5th, 2016 at 3:25 PM ^

I said I didn't care about your opinions on the state of the country, because there are some pretty clear rules about on politics on this here blog. I was addressing your idiotic opinion on the emotion behind grunge music.

There are plenty of lessons to be learned from any song or music that makes an impact on your life whether it be direct or indirect. And how the hell do you get off describing Nirvana as Limp Bizkit minus any self awareness and in the next post blithely toss out that you like Nirvana. Those are some hallow, pointless words.




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mgobleu

February 5th, 2016 at 9:56 AM ^

I used to get out of school, go straight to the liquor store and pick up a 20oz mountain dew and a pack of Marlboro lights for $2.52 out the door, Every. Single. Day.

Thank God I haven't had a cigarette in over 6 years now...