25 Live
Musings by the dozens on Pearl Jam's sprawling
live-performance CD undertaking
edmontonjournal.com
Ben Wener
Orange County Register
In random order, 25
opinions, facts and trivia
about 25 live Pearl Jam
albums -- all of which I've
opened, nearly all of which
I've played, most of which
I've listened to, some of
which I've actually heard.
(Hey, gimme a break. I've
had only 10 days with these
things. Ask for another 25
thoughts a year from now,
and they'll be completely
different.)
1. Joe Fan, who likes Eddie
Vedder's voice and can even
sing along with a few hits,
but still hasn't bought all the
studio albums -- well, he
doesn't need this. This is for
the committed. The deeply
committed.
2. That said, if you have
even a passing interest, you
should pick up one -- and if
it can be only one, then it
should be the band's first
night (6/16) at Spodek in Katowice, Poland. It's the longest
show, it's got most of the hits, it's the one that will be
remembered.
3. It's also the one that debuted the highest on the Billboard
album charts, setting a five-at-once record with Milan 6/22,
Verona 6/20, London 5/30 and Hamburg 6/26. In case you
wanted to keep pace with the rest of America.
4. Of course, the rest of America doesn't always have the best
taste. The London show the masses like is the wrong one -- 5/29
was better, if only because it shows the band recovering
brilliantly after a clumsy start. Besides, it has Soldier of Love.
5. Matter of fact, three of these double-disc sets have Soldier of
Love -- and eight of them have Last Kiss. Both of those were
covers the band intended only for its fan club, but that later
earned national attention; Last Kiss even cracked the Top 10. At
the time PJ seemed irritated by that. Guess feelings can
change.
6. The best Last Kiss was at the first show. Mostly just guitar and
voice and thousands of chanting Portuguese.
7. Trivia question: What's the only song played at all 25
performances? A) Grievance; B) Corduroy; C) Alive; D) Animal
(See answer at No. 23.)
8. Eddie is clearly happiest playing countries where great
surfing is nearby. "Saltwater in my head" or not, the shows from
Lisbon, Portugal, and San Sebastian, Spain, spill over with warm
vibes and intense takes on overplayed tunes.
9. Speaking of which, some solid songs that need to be retired:
Animal, Jeremy and Daughter, despite the amusing vamps
during its coda.
10. Conversely, songs I can't get enough of: MFC, Light Years,
Not for You, In Hiding, Faithful. More, please.
11. Oh, and special mention to the wistful Soon Forget. Almost
makes me want an entire album of Eddie on ukulele.
12. Another reason to get San Sebastian: It's the only time they
did Whipping and it roars like you wouldn't believe.
13. Really dig the covers. Rockin' in the Free World (played at
four shows) and that other Neil Young roof-raiser that I can't
print (six shows) are part of their repertoire at this point. But
they've added a great one: the La's Timeless Melody, which they
don't do justice to the first time they tackle it (London, 5/29, days
after Eddie heard it for the first time, apparently). By the time the
tour concludes, though, they've made it their own.
14. Split Enz's I Got You (Verona, 6/20) is a blast and they don't
embarrass themselves on The Who's Baba O'Riley (Hamburg,
6/26).
15. Who would have guessed so many Europeans know every
word to Betterman?
16. Quite simply, there may not be a better, more consistent
pure-rock live band in action these days. Drummer Matt
Cameron, late of Soundgarden, is the finest thumper they've
employed. Stone Gossard and Mike
McCready gel into one mighty wall of guitar noise. And ol'
mumbling Ed -- would it kill you to enunciate just once? -- is
getting more compelling and charismatic with age.
17. This was the ideal tour to capture in its entirety, partly
because they haven't rocked with as much commitment since
Ten (and those days were too slick), but more so because with a
half-dozen albums under their belt they've got just enough to cull
from for 25 unique career summaries. If they try this three
albums from now, they'll have too much to cover and not enough
stage time to do it in.
18. Unless they become the Grateful Dead, which isn't out of the
realm of possibility. After all, who knew they'd beat Phish in
issuing a whole tour?
19. Did they scoop the bootleggers? Do the math. These retail at
$18 (though it's not hard to find them for as low as $12 US).
Total for all 25, including sales tax: $484.86. Total for all 25
including sales tax given an average price of $45 for a
double-disc bootleg (and that's being nice): $1,212.19. And you
can't beat the sound quality.
20. They should close every show with Yellow Ledbetter.
21. They should always play Do the Evolution.
22. If you have the means -- beg, borrow, steal -- try to listen to
all of them in order. I didn't have the time, but I gather what the
sensation would be -- like going on the road with the guys. Then
get a burner and whittle 'em to box-set size, 69 different songs in
all. One massive Jam jam.
23. Answer: Corduroy.
24. They're also planning on doing this for the North American
shows. Will I want to hear those? You bet.
25. Will I play them more than once? Well, who would? |
