Pearl Jam - No Code
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Free Music Notes for No Code
Free Music Review: This one stands alone in the Pearl Jam catalog
Hit: 5 Stars
Ten and Vs. are two of my all-time favorite albums. The passion and emotion that run throughout both of these records are unparalleled by any other Pearl Jam release. But No Code is the record that makes this band legendary and timeless. There are few bands that would have the stones to release an album like this at the peak of their commercial success. While the raw angst and emotion of Ten will never be duplicated, No Code stands as a far more mature and dynamic record. Unfortunately, many fans did not follow on this journey.
When this album first came out, it seemed as though Pearl Jam had fallen off from what made them great. There are no 'Jeremy', 'Alive', "Daughter', 'Betterman', 'Dissident' type of songs on this record. But this is also what sets No Code apart from other Pearl Jam albums. You will never be bogged down by overplayed radio singles. No Code stands as a unique experimental masterpiece that very few bands are able to accomplish.
While Ten and Vs. are probably my favorites, this album may be their most timeless. 'Off he goes', 'Who you are', 'In my tree', 'present tense', 'smile', and 'red misquito' are all songs that stand apart from songs on other Pearl Jam releases. It is through these unique qualities that this album becomes very difficult to compare to their other releases.
The more you listen to this album, the more it will grow on you (more so than any other Pearl Jam record). For anyone who quit listening to Pearl Jam after Vs. because they changed their sound, take a look at No Code. The change was worth it.
Free Music Review: Better With Time
Hit: 5 Stars
After letting a few years pass on both No Code and Yield, they seem to get better.
Binaural and Riot Act present a significant dropoff from the aforementioned No Code and Yield.
While No Code and Yield are not as good as Vs, Ten or Vytalogy; their dropoff from the first three albums is less significant than the dropoff to Binaural and Riot Act.
Got All That?
And for the MTV crowd, any of this is preferable to your Jimmy Eat World, Fall Out Boy or Blink 182.
Free Music Review: Do you see the way that tree bends?
Hit: 5 Stars
Few bands affect me the way Pearl Jam does. Pearl Jam was my introduction to not only grunge but also rock in general so of course I have a soft spot for them. None weaker than I do for No Code though. Vs. is my favorite release from PJ but No Code is the CD that has touched me the most. In my opinion I think this is the most vulnerable PJ has ever been and that will always equal good music. I realize No Code isn't recieved as well as say Ten or Vs. but when given a chance, it's just as strong as any CD Pearl Jam has released.
Sometimes is the ideal way to begin, finally Pearl Jam begins a CD with a song they'd begin a concert with. Many people don't think Sometimes is a very good song but I'd beg to differ. Musically, no, it's not PJ's best, but lyrically is where this song shines. Hail, Hail picks up the pace enough to bring the old fans in but is original enough to stand on its own. Who You Are is sure to get you humming along at least once. It will probably go down as the feel good song of the album simply because of how happy the beat is. There's two things you'll probably notice by the time In My Tree starts, 1.) No Code has quite a few slower songs, and 2.) Ed's voice is amazing. I for one have always been very fond of PJ's slower songs and love Ed's voice, so I'm overjoyed by both. In My Tree is a slower song but it's also got an edge to it. Basically it's one of those "I'm an outsider" songs, but Pearl Jam does the typical songs so well that you don't feel bored by them. Smile is an infectious song that will get stuck in your head and I guarantee you won't mind a bit because this is just a great song. Off He Goes slows down the CD considerably, but if you have listened to any of their live bootlegs you know they like playing it. I think Off He Goes is one of those songs that takes a bit to start liking but once you do you find that you want to hear it all the time. Habit is probably my favorite heavier song on No Code. It took me a while to come to that conclusion but one day I was standing there with it stuck in my head and just decided that it was a really good catchy song. Red Mosquito only furthers the theory that you kind of need to be a true PJ fan to appreciate this CD. Lukin is a good song but is so much better when it's played live. Ed is so much better at singing this live and the band really picks up the pace, so I'd suggest listening to the live versions. Present Tense is the most tearjerking song you'll ever hear. Even if you don't like Pearl Jam just read the lyrics and it'll hit a spot you didn't even know you had. What makes this song so much better than any others on here is the fact that the band seems to put the lyrics and Ed's voice first and then they begin a little jam session towards the end. Not enough good things will ever be said about this song. Mankind is a song I didn't expect from PJ because when you think of Pearl Jam you think of two things, 1.) Ed, and 2.) Mike. So to hear a different vocalist is strange at first. I'm Open is a darker song with spoken word verses and turns into a simple yet effective song. Around The Bend, despite the off-beat feel, is a nice closer with wonderful lyrics.
My favorite tracks are Sometimes, Who You Are, Smile, Habit, and Present Tense. I believe in order to really grasp No Code that you do need to like Pearl Jam, but there are songs that the casual fan will fall in love with as well. The criticism this CD has gotten is well deserved. Anyone who is completely trashing this CD obviously hasn't given it a chance to wear on them, but most of the lower rated reviews cite good points. So just know before going in that you'll be surprised by the outcome and you'll be fine.
Free Music Review: Pearl Jam's most underrated album
Hit: 5 Stars
Pearl Jam's fourth album "No Code" is perhaps the most underrated album in the legendary Seattle groups' catalogue. It was released in the fall of 1996, after the height of grunge, and after the heyday of Pearl Jam's mass popularity. Had it come out just a year or two earlier, it probably would have made more of an impact. As it is, it sold reasonably well, but failed to match the popularity of its three predecessors.
Pearl Jam has never made an album quite like "No Code" before or since. Although it definitely sounds like Pearl Jam, "No Code" incorporated a world-beat sound into many of the album's songs. Neil Young's influence on Pearl Jam is also clearly evident on this album. If you were expecting a straight-forward rock album like "Ten," or "Vs.," you'd be disappointed with "No Code." Although this album is highly regarded among the Pearl Jam faithful, it sort of slid under the radar and has never received the acclaim or admiration that it deserves.
"Sometimes" starts the album out with a whimper rather than a bang. Although repetitive, it never gets monotonous. It's a rather off-beat eerie ditty, and Eddie Vedder's underwhelming vocals give the song the perfect effect. The album then jumps into an all-out assault with the blistering "Hail Hail," probably the most old-school sounding Pearl Jam rocker on the album. The album slows down, without loosing momentum for the subdued "Who We Are." It's simple, yet elegant, and has a really catchy melody that stays with you. It leads perfectly into the off-beat "In My Tree," which although couldn't have been a radio staple or single, is essential to the overall flow and vibe of the album. "Smile," is perhaps one of Pearl Jam's most underrated songs. This one is definitely very Neil Young-ish. The harmonica solos are a very nice touch. "Off He Goes," is sort of like a follow-up to "Better Man," (from Vitalogy, 1994). Although the former is more subdued, laid-back, and the guy is the jerk. The pace is picked up a bit with the hard-rocking "Habit." The Neil Young-ish mid-tempo "Red Mosquito" features one of Eddie Vedder's best vocal performances. The intense "Lukin" is cool, but not one of the album's highlights, but its fast pace adds a little spice to the album. "Present Tense" is, in my opinion, the album's true highlight. It starts out very simple and serene, picks up, and then ends with a gorgeous outro. Its message, about moving on and not reliving past regrets is something that everyone can relate to, and this song helps remind us that we're all human. The infectious "Mankind," sung by guitarist Stone Gossard is a really cool, underrated rocker. The mellow, semi-bohemian "I'm Open," has some cool spoken poetry that works well for the song. It would be very easy for a song with open poetry to sound pretentious, but this doesn't. The album closes with the subdued "Around the Bend," a perfect way to conclude the album.
The band and the songs sound tight, yet there is certain looseness to them. The album is well-paced and thoroughly enjoyable from start to finish.
Among the general masses, Pearl Jam will probably be best remembered for their first three albums, but their fourth album "No Code," might very well contain their finest collection of songs. Hopefully future generations of fans will discover "No Code" and it will be better appreciated, as it truly is a great album.
Free Music Review: Hail Hail to Pearl Jam
Hit: 5 Stars
Upon getting this CD in your hand and opening the creatively cut and folded box you get the feeling you're in for quite another journey. Vitalogy was their first album experimenting with different box art and it was done very well. It fully captured the feel of the album and this one is no different. No Code gives you lyrics on the back of collectable mock polaroid photos inside a little sleeve. Throughout the art of No Code you see a variety of pictures, some gruesome and others slightly disturbing but they all cover a wide range of either cultures or groups of people. This is the album that Pearl Jam went in a variety of different directions. While doing this PJ lost most of their casual fans but only reaffirmed thier hardcore fans belief that they're one of the best bands.
'Sometimes' opens the album up slowly while building up near the end. It's probably my least favorite song on the album but it works as an opener to show you what direction they are going in. Hail Hail is one of the more upbeat songs and has some of my favorite lyrics like "are you woman enough to be my man?...bandaged hand in hand". Songs like In My Tree and Who You Are certainly can be described as experimental be it the clapping or the interesting drumming. It should be said that No Code probably wouldn't have happened like this without Jack Irons on the drums. The experimentation will probably take some time for people to get used to but rest assured it will come with time.
This album has worked it's way up my charts of favorite albums(and favorite PJ albums) with songs as strong as Smile(upbeat with beautiful solos), Off He Goes(slower paced and powerful lyrics), Red Mosquito(in the vein of Smile with another great solo) and possibly their best slow song Present Tense. I've used Present Tense in a small little video I made for Hurricane Katrina relief and it fit beautifully with the lyrics and overall mood of the song. If anyone has given up on this album or are tempted to I ask you to keep giving it listens. Eddie Vedder excels at writing lyrics that fit critical points in our lives and it especially rings true on No Code.
If you want evidence listen to I'm Open. It's not really a song so much as a story. Ed does a great voiceover fit for any storyteller as he talks about when a child becomes an adult and the magic of childhood disappears. It gave me chills to listen to it and when you listen to the lyrics in pretty much all of these songs you can get the same effect.
While No Code is a softer album than their others it's still just as amazing. There's still the hard rockers like Habit, Lukin, or Hail Hail but Pearl Jam really matured with No Code. It was certainly for the best and necessary to stand the test of time. If you've been getting Pearl Jam albums I definately suggest to not stop and get this. New fans of PJ I'll give you the same advice I was given. Start with Ten and feel the growth of the band all the way to Riot Act.