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Rating: Often, in rock music, fans find themselves complaining about the recent work of their favorite bands, because after releasing initial masterpieces, they've decided to change their style and make it more commercial (see Red Hot Chili Peppers or Metallica, just to name a few). None of this applies, however, to pioneers like the Pearl Jam, who have been and still are pioneers. On the contrary, while the first two albums (Ten and Vs.) could be radio-friendly and were significantly influenced by the grunge of that period, with Vitalogy the sound of the Seattle band darkens and the music becomes, now more than ever, an expression of hidden, recondite feelings. Because of this anti-commercial attitude, the group spent most of the '90s distancing itself from its fame. In twenty years of their career, Pearl Jam has always preferred artistic vision to commercial reception from the public when composing an album.
In certain aspects, the group's third effort marks the end of an era and, why not, it marks the end of grunge (if you can speak of grunge): it was the last album to be multi-awarded and numerous singles were played on the radio. Although the band's first work was labeled as grunge, it partly diverges from the works of bands like Nirvana and Alice in Chains. Mostly inspired by the ’70s "classic rock," Ten lacks the distorted guitars, intense drumming, and fuzz typical of grunge bands. Vs. sounds much less polished and more stripped down compared to its predecessor, but it’s Vitalogy that marks a turning point and a radical change. While almost all the songs from the previous two albums could be considered potential radio singles, the new album contains, both in terms of lyrics and melodies, more vague and difficult to interpret tracks. In short, "Vitalogy," of the first three albums, is the most grunge-sounding, undoubtedly the least commercial and by far the most abstract.
This should not at all be seen as a critique: the band led by Eddie Vedder knew they were creating a chaotic collection, yet at the same time a cohesive set of songs. Thus, moments of hardness and speed (Last Exit, Spin the Black Circle, Not for You) alternate with melancholic and nostalgic ballads, indisputably among the band's most successful (Nothingman, Better Man, Immortality); all this interspersed with some diversions (Pry, To, Bugs, Aye Davanita), which add a hint of levity to this superb album.
The genius of the album and the band doesn't just lie in the music, but can also be found in the booklet, a sort of medical dictionary full of 18th-century style photos with absurd requests against abortion to be presented to President Clinton or photos of walls with the writing "Bush boia" or even drawings of men and women linked indissolubly by piercings. In short, a return to more personal and artistic times of vinyl, as opposed to the cold immobility of the CD.
Ultimately, "Vitalogy" can be considered as an atypical album in the repertoire of Vedder & Co and perhaps not the best to approach their music, but it undoubtedly remains a surprising, intriguing, and seductive album. A must-have for all enthusiasts of good and authentic music.
Tracklist Lyrics and Samples
03 Not for You (05:52)
Restless soul, enjoy your youth,
Like Muhammad hits the truth.
Can't escape from the common rule.
If you hate something, don't you do it, too.
Small my table, sits just two.
Got so crowded, I can't make room.
Oh, where did they come from?... Stormed my room!
And you dare say it belongs to you... to you...
This is not for you...
This is not for you...
This is not for you...
Oh, not for you... ah, you...
Scream... my friends... don't call me...
Friends, no, they don't scream...
My friends don't call... my friends don't...
All that's sacred comes from youth.
Dedication, naive and true.
With no power, nothing to do...
I still remember, why don't you?
Don't you...
This is not for you.
This is not for you.
This is not for you.
Oh, never was for you, fuck you...
This is not for you...
Oh, this is not for you... yeah, you...
This is not for you...
Oh, not for you...
Oh, you...
04 Tremor Christ (04:12)
Winded is the sailor drifting by the storm,
Wounded is the organ he left all bloodied on the shore.
Gorgeous was his savior, sees her, drowning in his wake.
Daily taste the salt of her tears, but a chance blamed fate.
Little secrets, tremors, turned to quake...
The smallest oceans still get big, big waves...
Ransom paid the devil... he whispers pleasing words.
Triumphant are the angels if they can get there first.
Little secrets, tremors, turned to quake...
The smallest oceans still get big, big waves...
I'll decide... take the dive...
Take my time.... not my life...
Wait for signs... believe in lies...
To get by... it's divine, whoa...
Oh, you know what it's like.
Turns the bow back, tows, and drops the line,
Puts his faith in love and tremor Christ.
05 Nothingman (04:35)
Once divided, nothing left to subtract.
Some words when spoken can't be taken back.
Walks on his own with thoughts he can't help thinking.
Future's above, but in the past, he's slow and sinking.
Caught a bolt 'a lightning, cursed the day he let it go...
Nothingman...
Nothingman...
Isn't it something?
Nothingman...
She once believed in every story he had to tell,
One day she stiffened, took the other side.
Empty stares from each corner of a shared prison cell...
One just escapes, one's left inside the well...
And he who forgets will be destined to remember...
Nothingman...
Nothingman...
Isn't it something?
Nothingman...
Oh, she don't want him...
Oh, she won't feed him after he's flown away...
Oh, into the sun, ah, into the sun...
Burn, burn...
Nothingman...
Nothingman...
Isn't it something?
Nothingman...
Nothingman...
Nothingman...
Could've been something.
Nothingman...
Oh... oh... oh...
06 Whipping (02:34)
Don't need a helmet, got a hard, hard head.
Don't need a raincoat, I'm already wet.
Don't need a bandage, there's too much blood.
After a while, seems to roll right off.
They're whipping...
They're whipping...
They're whipping...
They're whipping...
Don't need a hand, there's always arms attached.
Don't get behind, I can't fall back.
Why must we trust all these rusted rails?
They don't want no change we already have.
They're whipping...
They're whipping...
They're whipping...
They're whipping...
Don't mean to push, but I'm being shoved!
I'm just like you, think we've had enough.
I can't believe a thing they want us to.
We all got scars, they should have them, too.
They're whipping...
They're whipping...
They're whipping...
They're whipping...
They're whipping...
They're whipping...
They're whipping...
They're whipping...
08 Corduroy (04:37)
The waiting drove me mad,
You're finally here and I'm a mess.
I take your entrance back,
Can't let you roam inside my head.
I don't want to take what you can give,
I would rather starve than eat your bread,
I would rather run but I can't walk,
Guess I'll lie alone just like before.
I'll take the varmint's path,
Oh, and I must refuse your test.
Push me and I will resist.
This behavior's not unique.
I don't want to hear from those who know,
They can buy, but can't put on my clothes.
I don't want to limp for them to walk,
Never would have known of me before.
I don't want to be held in your debt,
I'll pay it off in blood, let I be wed.
I'm already cut up and half-dead.
I'll end up alone like I began.
Everything has chains.
Absolutely nothing's changed.
Take my hand, not my picture, spilled my tincture...
I don't want to take what you can give,
I would rather starve than eat your breast.
All the things that others want for me,
Can't buy what I want because it's free,
Can't buy what I want because it's free,
Can't be what you want because I'm...
Why ain't it supposed to be just fun?
Oh, to live and die, let it be done.
I figure I'll be damned, all alone like I began.
It's your move now.
I thought you were a friend,
But I guess I... I guess I hate you...
09 Bugs (02:44)
I got bugs.
I got bugs in my room.
Bugs in my bed.
Bugs in my ears.
There's eggs in my head.
Bugs in my pockets.
Bugs in my shoes.
Bugs in the way I feel about you.
Bugs in my window trying to get in.
They don't go nowhere.
Waiting, waiting, standing, sitting, kneeling.
A few block the door.
And now the question's:
Do I kill them?
Become their friend?
Do I eat them?
Raw or well done?
Do I trick them?
I don't think they're dumb
Do I join them?
Looks like that's the one.
I got bugs on my skin.
Tickle my nausea.
I let it happen again.
They're always takin' over.
I see they surround me, I see.
See them deciding my fate.
Oh, that which was once, was once up to me.
Now it's too late.
I got bugs in my room, one-on-one.
That's when I had a chance.
I'll just stop now.
I'll become naked.
And with them, I'll become one.
10 Satan's Bed (03:30)
It's not all been said...been said and done...
I've never slept in Satan's bed
Although I must admit...still visits my place
Uninvited, as you know, he don't wait
Funny how he always seems to fit in
Funny how I always want to give in
Sundays, Fridays, Tuesdays, Thursday, the same
Sometimes the special guest, he don't like to leave
Already...in love... (3x)
Already...
Who made, who made up, made up the myth
That we were born to be covered in bliss?
Who set the standard, born to be rich?
Such fine examples, skinny little bitch
Model, role model, roll some models in blood
Get some flesh to stick, so they look like us
I shit and I stink, I'm real, join the club
I'd stop and talk, but I'm already in love
Already...in love... (3x)
Already...
In love...Ah ha ha ha...
...follows torture...follows reward... (2x)
Oh, oh my butt...
Never shook Satan's hand, look see for yourself
You'd know it if I had, that shit don't come off
I'll rise and fall, let me take credit for both
Jump off a cliff, don't need your help so back off
I'll never suck Satan's dick...
Again, you'd see it, you know, right round the lips
I'll wait for an angel, but I won't hold my breath
'Magine they're busy, think I'm doing okay...
Already...in love... (6x)
Already...
11 Better Man (04:28)
Waitin', watchin' the clock, it's four o' clock, it's got to stop.
Tell him, take no more, she practices her speech.
As he opens the door, she rolls over, pretends to sleep as he looks her over.
She lies and says she's in love with him.
Can't find a better man.
She dreams in color, she dreams in red.
Can't find a better man.
Can't find a better man.
Can't find a better man.
Ohh...
Talkin' to herself, there's no one else who needs to know...
She tells herself, oh...
Memories back when she was smooth and strong, and waiting for the world to come along.
Swears she knew it, now she swears he's gone.
and she swears he's cool.
She lies and says she's in love with him.
Can't find a better man.
She dreams in color, she dreams in red.
Can't find a better man.
She lies and says she still loves him.
Can't find a better man.
She dreams in color, she dreams in red.
Can't find a better man.
Can't find a better man.
Can't find a better man.
Can't find a better man.
Yeah...
She loved him, yeah...
She don't want to leave this way.
She feeds him, yeah...
That's why she'll be back again.
Can't find a better man.
Can't find a better man.
Can't find a better man.
Can't find a better man.
Can't find a better...man...
12 Aye Davanita (02:57)
Awooh... aye, davanita... awooh... awooha... (4x)
Jahooh... jahooh... (repeat)
Awooh... aye, davanita... awooh... awooha... (4x)
13 Immortality (05:28)
Vacate is the word.
Vengeance has no place on me or her,
Cannot find the comfort in this world.
Artificial tear,
Vessel stabbed, next up, volunteers?
Vulnerable, wisdom can't adhere.
A truant finds home and a wish to hold on,
But there's a trapdoor in the sun.
Immortality...
As privileged as a whore,
Victims in demand for public show.
Swept out through the cracks beneath the door.
Holier than thou, how?
Surrendered, executed, anyhow...
Scrawl dissolved, cigar box on the floor.
A truant finds home and a wish to hold on, too.
He saw a trapdoor in the sun.
I cannot stop the thought -- I'm running in the dark.
Coming up a which way sign,
All good truants must decide.
Oh, stripped and sold, mom...
Auctioned forearm and whiskers in the sink.
Truants move on, cannot stay long,
Some die just to live...
Oh...
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Other reviews
By jeremy
If one had to choose a single album that best represents Pearl Jam, Vitalogy would probably be the best choice.
This album marks the definitive maturity of the jammers, the loss of innocence of a band that continues to represent one of the best examples of that catalyst of passions and emotions called rock.
By joe strummer
"Vitalogy is a dark album, often melancholic and sad, capable of moving, as well as exalting, making us think as well as transmitting anger."
"It may not have the naive spontaneity of the debut, but it is certainly their most curated, intimate production and, simply, the one with the best songs."
By Starblazer
This masterpiece is presented under the unattractive dark cover in encyclopedia style, including a massive booklet full of allegorical images and excerpts from a pseudo-scientific book aptly named Vitalogy.
"Tremor Christ" is little known, yet I consider it one of the best (if not the best) songs ever composed by PJ.
By Taxirider
I hate Pearl Jam and I could walk around with t-shirts bearing offensive slogans against them.
Vitalogy is NOT a sublime record nor an extremely brilliant work but, certainly, it’s a curious and somewhat unusual product.
