Pearl Jam - Binaural
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Music CD Cover
Artist: Pearl JamEdition: Music CD
CD Release Date: 2000-05-16
Music Label: Sony
Soundtracks:
- Breakerfall
- Gods' Dice
- Evacuation
- Light Years
- Nothing As It Seems
- Thin Air
- Insignificance
- Of The Girl
- Grievance
- Rival
- Sleight Of Hand
- Soon Forget
- Parting Ways
- Typing
Free Music Notes for Binaural
Free Music Review: An average album from an above average band
Hit: 3 Stars
A little personal back history, I bought this album trying to establish some semblance of cred in 2000. It was a tough time, eighth grade. My body was changing: I went from athletic to chubby back to athletic and had my wisdom teeth pulled. I grew out of Weird Al and the swing revival and moved on to what I thought was harder stuff like Sugar Ray and Incubus. I even raided my brother's CD collection. In it, I found Pearl Jam's Ten. It was pretty well beaten and wouldn't play, so I went to an Ames (remember those? They're all gone now!) and bought myself one at a "Nice Price!" (remember those stickers? They're all gone now!) for $8.00 or so.
Pearl Jam was always my favorite band to come out of the Pacific Northwest movement in the early 90s. Then again, I could only name Pearl Jam and Nirvana at that point that came out of that region. Oops. Anyways, a short time after I purchased Ten, I found out at Boarders (remember when it was cool to hang out there?) that they had a new CD so I picked it up. I was oddly confused then by what I heard. It was hard. There was screaming. No "Jeremy", "Alive", or "Evenflow", instead confusing key-changes and some non-radio friendly tracks. In short, at the time, I hated it and would have given probably only one or two tracks above 3 stars. How does it fare eight years later?
1. Breakerfall - Initially, the only track on the CD that I ripped to my computer in the days before Musicmatch or iTunes made it so convenient. "She lost her invitation to the party on earth. And she's standing outside, hating everyone here," is a pretty cool metaphor that I use in every day speech. As you can probably tell from my other reviews, I love opening numbers, they're great at dictating the pace of album and can make it sink or swim. This one drives with a synging guitar riff and driving drums. There's a sense of immediacy and urgency in Eddie Vedder's voice. I'm a fan. Five out of five stars.
2. God's Dice - Cool musicianship in this one, but I have no idea what Vedder is saying in this one, which is automatic minus one star. This just isn't something I would listen to by choice, but it isn't unbearably bad to make me turn it off if it came on shuffle. Three out of five stars.
3. Evacuation - A really cool bridge almost raises this above "God's Dice" in terms of likability, but again, this song is just too hectic with muffled vocals. A little too hard for me. Three out of five stars.
4. Light Years - One of songs tucked away on this album that took a few listens to find. A nice soft number with a pinch of darkness in its chord progressions. I have a feeling this is what Jimmy Eat World was trying to do on their first album. Unfortunately, they failed miserably, and I wasted $12, but this song, "Light Years" is "Light Years" ahead of what they were doing at the time. Five out of five stars.
5. Nothing as It Seems - I would later buy this as a single just for kicks at Tower Record's going out of business sale for a mere $.04. It wasn't worth that much. Just a bad song. Lots of noise, lots of Pink Floyd influence, lots of garbage. I can't believe they would release this as a single, especially with the really good songs on this CD being exceptional. Only the bridges keep me from giving this song a one. Two out of five stars.
6. Thin Air - This is a cool track. Has a Neil Young vibe for the verses with a more modern chorus, with a hint of hauntingness. Will definitely listen to again. Four out of five stars.
7. Insignificance - This track was the B-Side for "Nothing as It Seems" and is significantly better. Definitely fits more the Pearl Jam style. Very cool chorus. Definitely glad I gave this song a second chance. Four out of five stars.
8. Of The Girl - One of the songs I used to skip over completely when listening to this album just because of the minute long intro. These days, the intro is still kind of boring and also serves as the outro, but the meat and potatoes the song is pretty good. Four out of five stars.
9. Grievance - One of the more embarrassing moments of eighth grade was telling my 10th grade friend Matt how cool I thought this album was and then when he started rattling off names of songs, I would agree. He named a name that actually wasn't on the album and I stated it was a really cool song, but he called me out on it. He also called me out on this song when he played it in his car when I couldn't identify it. It has since become a bittersweet song for me to listen to, but a good one nonetheless. After quite a few listens, I can safely say it's my favorite song on the album. Five out of five stars.
10. Rival - This song is a song I mistakenly identified as a Black Crowes song once in 2000. Ooops. It is pretty cool, moves a long at a relaxing pace, has my favorite guitar solo on the album, and is much cooler than anything the Black Crowes did in the year 2000. Four out of five stars.
11. Sleight of Hand - This song really bores me. To the point where I turn it off. And I don't like all of the noise in the middle. My least favorite track on the album. One out of five stars.
12. Soon Forget - A mandolin brings us in. Very cool chords used in this very quick, well told story. Five out of five stars.
13. Parting Ways - Sleight of Hand is exceptionally boring, and this comes in a close second on the album. However, this one can atleast maintain my interest and is pleasing to listen to. Not really a "surprise track" but if you keep the song long enough you hear something that resembles gun shots. I'll give it two out of five stars.
Review:
1. Breakerfall - Five Stars
2. God's Dice - Three Stars
3. Evacuation - Three Stars
4. Light Years - Five Stars
5. Nothing As It Seems - Two Stars
6. Thin Air - Four Stars
7. Insignificance - Four Stars
8. Of the Girl - Four Stars
9. Grievance - Five Stars
10. Rival - Four Stars
11. Sleight of Hand - One Stars
12. Soon Forget - Five Stars
13. Parting Ways - Two Stars
Average star rating = 3.62, slightly above average. A word of warning though, this album is strangely forgettable. Many of the songs, including "Light Years" and "Grievance" are very pleasing to the ear, but are completely forgettable, where as "Breakerfall" is a true standout. And I didn't just say that to cover my rear from that incident years ago. Or did I?
Binaural Poster
Pearl Jam lowered its profile after becoming a worldwide musical phenomenon in the early '90s, pulling back from the touring, radio, and press fronts. And this diverse 13-song outing, lacking another "Alive" or "Better Man," isn't the album to thrust Pearl Jam back into the limelight. Binaural kicks out the jams with a grandiosity worthy of the Who, as Pearl Jam roars through the loose, raucous two-minute-plus opener "Breakerfall" and into another brief rave-up, "God's Dice." Quickly, though, the loud MC5-style guitar outpourings that begin PJ's seventh album (and first to feature former Soundgarden drummer Matt Cameron) morph into the edgy, taut "Evacuation" and the midtempo "Light Years." The spare, mournful "Nothing as It Seems" (with lyrics and music by bassist Jeff Ament), "Thin Air," and the lilting "Parting Ways" all reflect romantic introspection. Eddie Vedder's poignant ukulele-accompanied "Soon Forget" is an affecting aside, and the rollicking "Insignificance" and Middle Eastern-tinged "Of the Girl" are all noteworthy. That's a strong lineup, but Binaural nevertheless falls short of the heights this talented group scaled in the past. --Katherine TurmanAlternative Rock Music CDs
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