Top Ten Pearl Jam Moments of 2023, #1

 #1, IN THE MOMENT THAT YOU'RE BORN

With only just a rumor in 2022, which frankly, we didn't believe, it came an exciting shocker that Stone Gossard and Loosegroove Records decided to celebrate the 30th anniversary of Brad's debut album, Shame, with not only 5 different variants of THAT album on vinyl, but an entirely new Brad album that had been recorded and never cleaned up for release.

With Shawn Smith's passing in 2019 we were sure that we had heard the end of Brad as well, but this song lifts our spirits.  It's everything we could have hoped that a sixth and final album from Smith could have been.  It soothed our soul and helped bring our mourning to an end.

Brad's In the Moment That You're Born was our favorite release in a year of amazing releases and reissues from Ed, Jeff, Mike, Stone, and Matt.  

Now, onto 2024 with hopes of a new album and a real, honest to God tour!

Top Ten Pearl Jam Moments of 2023, #2

 #2, GIVE WAY

Speaking of "Vault" shows ... the "reissues" of the "never before released" Best Buy promotional live album, Give Way, left us asking two questions.  "Why wasn't this a Vault release?."  And "Is it because there are nine songs missing?"

We speculated yesterday whether a drunk monkey may be running the Vault program, but honestly, sometimes recordings are hard to recover and this release was tied up in all sorts of corporate red tape.

So, when Pearl Jam announced we'd be getting this legitimate rarity on Record Store Day, most of us just cheered.  This album was such a myth for years, with copies being stolen and sold for hundreds of dollars.  This year, we all got a chance to get our hands of a well-mixed copy, and wow, does it sound good.  

If you haven't picked up a copy, there are almost certainly some CDs at your local record store.  Go grab it and give a listen right now!

Top Ten Pearl Jam Moments of 2023, #3

 #3, ATLANTA 1994 ON VINYL    

When Pearl Jam released the audio of their 1994 Atlanta show late in 2020, we weren't clear if it was part of the actual "Vault" program or if it had a number or anything.  Then they started releasing vinyl of previous Vault releases that weren't on vinyl, and it looked like they had a drunk monkey running their program.

Hopefully, this year sets things straight with the release of Pearl Jam's iconic show at the Fox Theater in Atlanta as the official Vault #11, and all 10 previous releases having come out on vinyl, CD, and digital.  Does this set the stage for something great in 2024?  There's so much we're waiting for.

Top Ten Pearl Jam Moments of 2023, #4

 #4, THE REISSUE OF YIELD

VinylMePlease's marbled red reissue of Yield was the reissue we didn't know we needed.  It sounds mind blowing good against the original pressing.  Although it was available for only a limited time, hunting this down will be totally worth your time.  Happy 25th Anniversary, Yield!  Even if you did stiff us on Hummus!

Top Ten Pearl Jam Moments of 2023, #5

 #5, JUDGEMENT NIGHT SOUNDTRACK

A snapshot of a specific time that doesn't even include "Pearl Jam" on the cover, but is, nonetheless, a favorite of many Pearl Jam fans ... The soundtrack from the movie Judgement Night contains one song featuring Pearl Jam backing Cypress Hill, with Eddie Vedder hard to find.

November's Record Store Day brought us a great sounding, red vinyl re-release of this album.  Was it the first time on vinyl?  It may have been, but either way, it's a favorite we were waiting for.

Top Ten Pearl Jam Moments of 2023, #6

 #6, DEAF CHARLIE'S, CATASTROPHIC METAMORPHIC

We'd been getting little tastes of Jeff's work with drummer, John Wick, throughout COVID including his scary score for Under the Banner of Heaven, but in 2023, we finally got the album fully of punk fun, Catastrophic Metamorphic, including their first single, a cover of the Buzzcocks' Sitting Around at Home.  

Jeff, arguably the most active member of Pearl Jam when they aren't recording Pearl Jam records (which is either always or never, according to band members) rarely disappoints, and this album certainly doesn't.  A great collection of high tempo rock and punk that was one of our favorite albums of 2023.

P.E.S.T. EP3 on the Way

 In a Christmas Instagram message, Jeff Ament's band, P.E.S.T., featuring himself, aka Jeff Diction) (bass), Dave Parsons (vocals), Charlie Beaton (guitar), and Matthew Bainton (drums) have wrapped another punk EP.  Look for that to drop early in 2024.

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Top Ten Pearl Jam Moments of 2023, #7

 #7, THE VS. REISSUE

In celebration of Vs.' 30th Anniversary, Pearl Jam re-released the album in a few collectible formats, "dreamsicle" vinyl via Ten Club, clear vinyl via Target, and a more widely available black vinyl.  They also put out the album again on cassette and release a new Spacial Atmos digital format.

Reports were that every version sounded great, with MAYBE just a little lowering of drums and upping of bass in the mix, but arguments continue.

Top Ten Pearl Jam Moments of 2023, #8

 #7, The Rockfords

Plenty of reasons to head out on Record Store Day this year.  The Rockfords, Mike McCready's band with Carrie Akre, Chris Friel, Rick Friel, and Danny Newcomb reissued their long out-of-print debut album and paired it with their later EP, Waiting, in a single package.

To sweeten the deal, the band even played live at Easy Street Records in Seattle on Record Store Day.

Top Ten Pearl Jam Moments of 2023, #9

 #9, GORY SCORCH CRETINS

After working with the Melvins in 2019 at the Chris Cornell tribute concert, Matt Cameron proposed an idea to Buzz Osborne for the Melvins to back him on some solo material that he had been working on.  The result was an EP of Matt Cameron solo material named in homage of the Melvin's album, Gluey Porch Treatments.

Released on white vinyl for Record Store Day, we always get excited for Matt Cameron solo material, because he never seems to get enough writing work in Pearl Jam.  A great little rocker and collectible!

Top Ten Pearl Jam Moments of 2023, #10

 Every year we like to summarize our favorite news stories about Pearl Jam to finish off the year.  Even though they did tour, or at least, played a few shows, we're going to focus on releases and reissues, because there was a lot of great Pearl Jam music released this year.

We should also mention that, despite being the most important news, we're not using the release of our first book, I Am No Guide, Pearl Jam Song by Song, as #1.  That would be rude.  At least, it's rude until next year, when the book actually comes out.  Go pre-order your copy now!

Now, on with our Top Ten!

#10, THE 2ND 3RD SECRET

3rd Secret, Matt Cameron's band with Bubba Dupree, Jillian Raye, Kim Thayil, Jennifer Johnson, and Krist Novoselić, released their second album in 2023.  Unlike many of the albums on our list, there is no CD or limited edition, colored vinyl version of this album.  You'll be streaming it only, but it's a great follow-up to their debut.  A great album, but up against some very highly anticipated music this year.

Happy Birthday, Eddie Vedder!

Credit: Geoff Whitman

 

Pearl Jam Announce a Pair of Shows for Europe, July 2024

This morning, Pearl Jam announced two shows for this coming summer at European music festivals.  Rumors about a new album have now hit a fever pitch.  No guess on that front (but February no longer seems likely), but those of you across the pond will be rocking out for sure!

• July 11, 2024: Mad Cool Festival: Iberdrola Music: Madrid, Spain
• July 13, 2024: NOS Alive Festival: Passeio Marítimo de Algés: Lisbon, Portugal

Ticket info is available on the Ten Club website.

Vitalogy Turns 29