•
Rating: THE REVIEW
I hate Pearl Jam and I could walk around with t-shirts bearing offensive slogans against them (something like: "Eddie Vedder is a fuckin' cunt"). I find this band excessively overrated and creators of flat and annoying sounds. A group of youngsters who, either by design or naïveté, found success during the golden era of so-called "grunge" only to shift, without clear reasons, towards an increasingly derivative sound.
Years ago I bought their debut, the infamous and highly praised "Ten", and I remember perfectly the bitterness that hit me like a baton on the head. That's it? Oh yes! Those hard-oriented blues-rockers and that singer who, before emulating U2, was fixated on characters like Jim Morrison and the Who... they didn't convince me at all!
However, there is an exception that honors Pearl Jam. I'm talking about their third installment, the never too understood "Vitalogy". An album released, with a thousand struggles, at the end of the tragic 1994 and accompanied by a literally disorienting booklet. Let's be honest with ourselves: "Vitalogy" is NOT a sublime record nor an extremely brilliant work but, certainly, it's a curious and somewhat unusual product.
Apart from the very famous ballads, which go by the names "Nothing Man" (could make some girl cry?) and "Immortality", the album features some phenomenal tracks, filled with post-adolescent angst. Perhaps aided by the departure of friend/foe Kurt Cobain, which profoundly marked Vedder in his better days.
The show opens with "Last Exit". Semi-jazz parts soon give way to a dirty and shabby "rock'n'roll"! The lyrics, too, are truly beautiful.
Next is "Spin the Black Circle": no-frills, deeply pissed-off punk rock. On very few other occasions will you hear Pearl Jam express with such fervor. However, in this short and explosive song, which seems to me like a kind of pro-vinyl anthem, you can clearly hear the influences of American punk/hardcore. Names? I won't mention any to avoid being lynched!
"Not For You" is even more beautiful. Slow and suffocating. The lyrics speak of youth and the problems/suspicions/insecurities tied to that anomalous period of human existence.
Then we arrive at the gem of "Vitalogy". Its title is "Tremor Christ". A genuine journey into the psyche of the then Eddie Vedder, which musically draws heavily from post-punk and certain sounds so dear to Exene Cervenka's X. I wouldn't want to write pure nonsense... but that's exactly the impression! The lyrics revolve around the theme of suicide and, in detail, show us how to get out of that dark spiral with no return. Wonderful!
"Hey Foxymophandlemama, That's Me": mind-blowing! A childish and naive voice is accompanied by sinister electric sounds. For several minutes, you'll find yourself inside the emotional magma generated by someone probably recalling their own childhood. A childhood not always calm and happy.
Is this review a "quadruple"? I know! The temptation, however, was strong... and I gave in! Trust me: about Pearl Jam, one can and must say all terrible things! About "Vitalogy", on the other hand, no!
Loading comments slowly
Summary by Bot
The reviewer expresses strong dislike for Pearl Jam overall but acknowledges Vitalogy as a curious and somewhat unusual album. They highlight standout tracks like "Last Exit," "Spin the Black Circle," and "Tremor Christ" for their musical and lyrical depth. While not praising it as brilliant, the review appreciates its post-adolescent angst and emotional complexity. The reviewer suggests Vitalogy is the exception in an otherwise overrated discography.Tracklist Lyrics Videos
Pearl Jam
Pearl Jam is an American rock band formed in Seattle in 1990, fronted by Eddie Vedder, known for landmark early albums and a reputation for intense live performances.71 Reviews
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 Mattissimo
Vitalogy, of the first three albums, is the most grunge-sounding, undoubtedly the least commercial and by far the most abstract.
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.
