Vs. - Pearl Jam > Reviews > Pearl Jam Vs the Rest...and Beats Them All

Author's product rating:   

Originality	Definitely a cut above the rest
Lyrics	Sublime
Quality and consistency of tracks	Flawless
How does it compare to the artist's other releases	Outstanding
Value for Money

Advantages:	Rockin Pearl Jam tracks galore
Disadvantages:	none

Recommend to potential buyers:

yes

Full review

Pearl Jam’s second offering, Vs was the first time I heard the band and I can say I’ve never looked back since. I’m gonna attempt to blitz all their albums for ciao – but it’s going to be some task to get over how much I love this band.

Vs kicks in with ‘Go’ full of pulsating riffs and pounding drums and bass. I can’t help think of Kurt Cobain when listening to this track. In April 1994 at a Pearl Jam gig in Atlanta Georgia, I remember Eddie dedicating this song to Kurt with the pleading lyrics, “please don’t go on me” – a few days later Kurt was gone.

Eddie’s grating vocals on ‘Animal’ have to be sung along with even if the result is a very gruff throat. This has to be a favourite on the album – another rocker with intricate Pearl Jam style guitaring and is full of Eddie shouting, “I’d rather be with an animal”!?!?!

The pace slows down a bit for ‘Daughter’. This was the first PJam song I ever heard – on Radio 1 would you believe!! The acoustic-based song is an amazing blend of Vedder’s sublime singing and the rest of the Jammers. It takes me back to walking home from school in sunny weather and I can just visualise Eddie singing the song with his prominent cheekbones – help I’m far too obsessed – but true Pearl Jam fans will know what I mean – I hope!!

‘Glorified G’ starts with a more unusual riff but is another rocker with Eddie having a rant about guns and the like. ‘Dissident’ is always a song I think I’m not quite so keen on but then I hear it and it entices me in as all their songs do. It starts off a little slower but then builds up to an ultimate crescendo.

The most diverse song they’d done at this stage was W.M.A (White Male American). Based on a very tribal sounding drum beat and resonating bass – the song contains a strong anti-racist message – which makes it a haunting track to listen to especially the lyrics, “police stabbed my brother again”.

The most raucous track has to be ‘Blood’ – if your voice is still in shape after the first half of the album then it won’t be after screaming along with this one. It is a short blast of pounding drums and guitars and demonstrates the rage and strength of Vedder’s vocal chords. This is then followed by my favourite Vs song – ‘Rearviewmirror’. A truly magnificent song – Vedder’s voice a little calmer but the music is not. A simple repetitive guitar lick can be so effective – you can almost feel the speed of the car roaring by as the song soars to an almighty climax as Eddie sings, “saw things…so much clearer”. Amazing stuff. It was a definite highlight at their Glasgow 2000 gig.

The style of music changes completely for ‘Rats’. With its upbeat jivey kinda feel to it Eddie convinces himself that rats don’t compare to humans as they don’t take from others or fight or oppress others. Interesting viewpoint.

I always thought that the title of ‘Elderly Woman Behind the Counter In A Small Town’ was an opposite reaction to their well-known short one-word song titles. Whatever the reason it’s a beautiful folk-style ballad with heartfelt lyrics from Ed the Ved and the listener is left with the fading lyrics of “hearts and thoughts…they fade away”.

We’re taken back to their rockin’ roots with the last belter on the album, ‘Leash’. Another favourite – complete with wah-wah guitar pedal. A great end to the roaring Vs songs. All that’s left is the quiet harmony of ‘Indifference’ with tamborine and organ in tow to allow us to realise the depth of Eddie’s vocal capacity.

This is not a background music type of album, it can’t fail to stop the listener in their tracks for its duration. All that’s left for me to say is that I desperately need a throat lozenge after listening to Vs while writing this review…cough..splutter!!