Pearl Jam or Nirvana?

[arachnid-guy]

I'm listening to Nirvana [Nevermind] now.

What a great album.

And the lyrics are incredibly non-sensical. I love that. t:

 

[Duende Verde]

The Grungies ftw

 

[Mr Sparkle]

The Grungies ftw

ahahahahaa!
"I'm stupid I'm not gonna think!
I'm lazy I'm not gonna work!!!"

 

[LastSunrise1981]

Pearl Jam hands down.

Pearl Jam had better musicians, better songs, more emotion, and just a better all around band in general. Eddie Vedder just pierces a soul with his vocals and when you listen to "Black" you definitely feel the emotional power.

Of course this is all my opinion, however, Pearl Jam wins for me.

 

[Wilhelm-Scream]

LS81, I'm glad you like the band. That's all that really matters.
But this:

Pearl Jam had better musicians

Cracked me up, lol.

They are terrible musicians.
They are not as skilled at making good music as Nirvana was.
The TWO high notes on the guitar at the begining of the verses in "Nevermind" evidence better musicianship than most every "solo" those sad, unfortunate guitarists played in Pearl Jam.

 

[Ben Urich]

Nirvana.

 

[PLAS]

LS81, I'm glad you like the band. That's all that really matters.
But this:
Cracked me up, lol.

They are terrible musicians.
They are not as skilled at making good music as Nirvana was.
The TWO high notes on the guitar at the begining of the verses in "Nevermind" evidence better musicianship than most every "solo" those sad, unfortunate guitarists played in Pearl Jam.

did Stone Gossard steal your chick or something?

 

[LastSunrise1981]

LS81, I'm glad you like the band. That's all that really matters.
But this:
Cracked me up, lol.

They are terrible musicians.
They are not as skilled at making good music as Nirvana was.
The TWO high notes on the guitar at the begining of the verses in "Nevermind" evidence better musicianship than most every "solo" those sad, unfortunate guitarists played in Pearl Jam.

I think Stone wipes the floor with Kurt in terms of guitar skills. I just feel that they make a statement with the musicians they(Pearl Jam) have. Kurt and Jon weren't even that good, if anything, they were overrated to the point of being messiahs and neither of them were great.

Jerry Cantrell said it best "I like Kurt. He was a great songwriter, but he sucked ass as a guitarist/musician."

The only real musician in Nirvana was Dave anyways.

Pearl Jam in my opinion just has that unique way of conecting with the listener, Eddie Vedder's voice in songs like "Black", "Garden", "Release", "Betterman", "Last Kiss"(Cover song), and the list goes on.

But again it's just my opinion. Alice in Chains wipes the floor with both Pearl Jam and Nirvana anyways.

 

[jaguarr]

did Stone Gossard steal your chick or something?

Hahaha!

jag

 

[Sun_Down]

LS81, I'm glad you like the band. That's all that really matters.
But this:
Cracked me up, lol.

They are terrible musicians.
They are not as skilled at making good music as Nirvana was.
The TWO high notes on the guitar at the begining of the verses in "Nevermind" evidence better musicianship than most every "solo" those sad, unfortunate guitarists played in Pearl Jam.

Dude, you really can't compare the musicianship of Nirvana to Pearl Jam. I love both bands, but as a musician, there is so comparison. Nirvana was innovative, but Pearl Jam uses better technique, better theory and writes more diverse material. 99% of Nirvana songs can be learned by 13 year-olds who only know powerchords (I know this because I did learn all their songs at that age). On the other hand, Pearl Jam songs like "Yellow Ledbetter" are used by guitar teachers to improve dexterity and mobility on the fretboard. I've seen/heard them live many times (DVDs, CDs, in person) and the whole band will very regularly improv on stage and make it sound like they wrote it beforehand.

I don't want to get into a big fight, because I love both bands, but I gotta defend the Jam here.

 

[PLAS]

my love for Nirvana and Pearl Jam is equal, I didn't vote, because I enjoy both bands the same

now as for details and what not....

Nirvana was mostly a showcase for Kurt's ideas and twisted worldview, although he was not that great a guitar player, he did manage to affect the way guitar was played for a whole decade, and that is a lot... because anyone could play his songs, back then any kid with a guitar and almost no knowledge of how to play it could play a Nirvana song, that simplicity was one if not the main factor in their success

Pearl Jam, on the other hand was a much more musically elaborate ensamble (sorry to disagree with you Will) than Nirvana was.... I mean, back in 92, when I had only been playing guitar for like six months or so, I figured out at least five or six songs off Nevermind, while all I could play from PJ were random parts and riffs which I'd figure out here and there

Ten is an album filled with great songs, songs which have some very complex and intelligent arrengements (Jeremy, Evenflow, Release), thought provoking yet hermetic lyrics (children from single parents could relate to "Alive", "Black" gave so many beautiful images, which took on whole new meanings with the musical backdrops, etc.)

so yes, in general, Stone Gossard and Mike Mcready make a great guitar team, they complement each other nicely, Jeff Ament while sounding like Flea Light, still has a great influx in the band's songwritting and arrangement and Eddie Vedder? well, anyone here who has spawned a legion of half assed copycats that will never be as good as the real deal can criticize him, as for their drummers, all of them have been astonishing pounders

 

[Wilhelm-Scream]

There's a distinction between "musician" and "guitarist".
Frank Zappa composed a lot of music for guitar that he couldn't even physically play.
So Steve Vai did the actual playing.
In a case like that, Zappa is a great "musician", and Vai is a great "muscian/guitarist".

Being a great guitarist includes being a great musician.
But being a great musician does not necessarily include being a great instrumentalist.

Kurt Cobain was a sucky "guitar player" but a far superior "musician" to anyone in Pearl Jam.

Pearl Jam remind me of Bruce Springsteen or Bob Seger in that their music is just so boring.
The chord progressions are merely acceptible. Eddie isn't singing egregiously out of tune, the drummer is keeping time just fine....and, who cares.
DrabDrabDrab

When I hear a good band I see crimson, silver, blinding gold-white, torquoise, jet black, violet....

When I hear Pearl Jam i see gray, beige, straw yellow, dried macaroni orange......

 

[Sun_Down]

There's a distinction between "musician" and "guitarist".
Frank Zappa composed a lot of music for guitar that he couldn't even physically play.
So Steve Vai did the actual playing.
In a case like that, Zappa is a great "musician", and Vai is a great "muscian/guitarist".

Being a great guitarist includes being a great musician.
But being a great musician does not necessarily include being a great instrumentalist.

Kurt Cobain was a sucky "guitar player" but a far superior "musician" to anyone in Pearl Jam.

Pearl Jam remind me of Bruce Springsteen or Bob Seger in that their music is just so boring.
The chord progressions are merely acceptible. Eddie isn't singing egregiously out of tune, the drummer is keeping time just fine....and, who cares.
DrabDrabDrab

When I hear a good band I see crimson, silver, blinding gold-white, torquoise, jet black, violet....

When I hear Pearl Jam i see gray, beige, straw yellow, dried macaroni orange......

Read my post again. I talked about musicianship, not just guitar playing. Kurt wrote very simple verse-chorus-verse-chorus-bridge-chorus arrangements and very rarely, if ever, experimented with other instruments or time signatures.

As for your Nirvana-induced hallucinations...I won't touch on that.

 

[jaguarr]

I think what made Cobain a great songwriter is the fact that he was extremely limited as a musician and he KNEW that. So, he had to innovate and make new ways to get his point across sonically that no one else had explored before. If he had been a more talented musician, then he may not have been as creative as he was.

Musically speaking, Nirvana and Pearl Jam are two incredibly different bands altogether, and don't really warrant comparison. They were in very different places in the musical spectrum. They just happened to both be in Seattle at the same time.

jag

 

[Sun_Down]

I think what made Cobain a great songwriter is the fact that he was extremely limited as a musician and he KNEW that. So, he had to innovate and make new ways to get his point across sonically that no one else had explored before. If he had been a more talented musician, then he may not have been as creative as he was.

Musically speaking, Nirvana and Pearl Jam are two incredibly different bands altogether, and don't really warrant comparison. They were in very different places in the musical spectrum. They just happened to both be in Seattle at the same time.

jag

Very true. Pearl Jam was cut from the classic rock cloth whereas Nirvana was more punk influenced.

 

[Wilhelm-Scream]

Read my post again. I talked about musicianship, not just guitar playing. Kurt wrote very simple verse-chorus-verse-chorus-bridge-chorus arrangements and very rarely, if ever, experimented with other instruments or time signatures.

Again, I don't take complexity as a sign of great musical expression.
I'd rather be Jimmy Page than Yngwie Malmstein A.N.Y. day.
And the riffs and progressions to Back in Black...or even Smoke on the Water (which I could teach a monkey to play), are musical, minimalist genius, and far superior in my estimation to...say, ANY "Speed Metal" song I've heard.

And songwriting.
Who's gonna deny the GENIUS of the Beatles?!?
Well, guess what, they were ALL sucky players...but I'll take a Ringo Starr fill over a Neil Peart fill any day as well.

As for your Nirvana-induced hallucinations...I won't touch on that.

Hahaha

 

[Kyalesyin]

Nirvana, simply because I was 14 when I first heard them, and they appealed to my melodramatic "Oh noes! The world hates me!" sense.

 

[Fried Gold]

Pearl Jam hands down.

Pearl Jam had better musicians, better songs, more emotion, and just a better all around band in general. Eddie Vedder just pierces a soul with his vocals and when you listen to "Black" you definitely feel the emotional power.

LOLOLOLOL

But seriously, Pearl Jam are in my Top 5 Worst Bands of all time, so I'm bound to say Nirvana (who have the advantage of actually being quite good).

 

[Fried Gold]

Who's gonna deny the GENIUS of the Beatles?!?
Well, guess what, they were ALL sucky players...

ERRONEOUS. George Harrison is (was) a great guitar player.

 

[Wilhelm-Scream]

ERRONEOUS. George Harrison is (was) a great guitar player.

INCORRECT. I am a guitar virtuoso and I am telling you that you can hear his poor fingers struggling through every solo.
His vibrato is stilted and primative.
His bends are awkward.
Nothing he did is impressive in the realm of "guitar playing" but rather in the realm of "composition".
Occasionally I'll mimic, do charicatures of notable guitarists styles to amuse whoever's in the room.
I'll do a dead-on BB King, or Zakk Wylde, etc.
The signature of the Harrison is spazzy awkwardness.
We even recorded a song where we wanted to hear a Harrisonesque solo in it and I nailed it.......by playing intentionally crappy TECHNIQUE-wise.

I'm not talking acoustic here of course 'cause all of that was adequate.
It's in lead guitar where you're laid bare.

 

[WTFimVENOM]

Ok so two of the best bands of the 90's, who is your taste?

Best 90's Band?
I vote Sublime
(Pearl Jam = Nirvana) < Sublime

 

[Fried Gold]

INCORRECT. I am a guitar virtuoso and I am telling you that you can hear his poor fingers struggling through every solo.
His vibrato is stilted and primative.
His bends are awkward.
Nothing he did is impressive in the realm of "guitar playing" but rather in the realm of "composition".
Occasionally I'll mimic, do charicatures of notable guitarists styles to amuse whoever's in the room.
I'll do a dead-on BB King, or Zakk Wylde, etc.
The signature of the Harrison is spazzy awkwardness.
We even recorded a song where we wanted to hear a Harrisonesque solo in it and I nailed it.......by playing intentionally crappy TECHNIQUE-wise.

I'm not talking acoustic here of course 'cause all of that was adequate.
It's in lead guitar where you're laid bare.

If you think that technique is what makes a guitar player 'great' then I suggest you give up playing and build a robot to do it for you.

 

[Wilhelm-Scream]

Best 90's Band?
I vote Sublime
(Pearl Jam = Nirvana) < Sublime

This has nothing to do with their music, but whenever Sublime is mentioned, I hate them so much that I want to tell the world:

We opened for them once in Utah.
Before the show, soundcheck was done, everybody was just hanging out drinking, talking waiting...

The owner told them they couldn't have their dog inside and they threw a hissy fit and said if they couldn't have their dog inside they wouldn't play.

So the owner said, "Jeesh, oKAY! "
And, wouldn't you know it, their dog bit this cute girl on the face, right on her lip.
Her friends took her to the emergency room.
Meanwhile, the owner is yelling at them, "Dudes! Your ****ing dog just disfigured that girl! "

And the singer dude goes, "So? Give 'er a pitcher o' beer or somethin' *shrug*"

ASS****.

 

[Fried Gold]

This has nothing to do with their music, but whenever Sublime is mentioned, I hate them so much that I want to tell the world

TESTIFY!

 

[jaguarr]

This has nothing to do with their music, but whenever Sublime is mentioned, I hate them so much that I want to tell the world:

We opened for them once in Utah.
Before the show, soundcheck was done, everybody was just hanging out drinking, talking waiting...

The owner told them they couldn't have their dog inside and they threw a hissy fit and said if they couldn't have their dog inside they wouldn't play.

So the owner said, "Jeesh, oKAY! "
And, wouldn't you know it, their dog bit this cute girl on the face, right on her lip.
Her friends took her to the emergency room.
Meanwhile, the owner is yelling at them, "Dudes! Your ****ing dog just disfigured that girl! "

And the singer dude goes, "So? Give 'er a pitcher o' beer or somethin' *shrug*"

ASS****.

Well, singer-dude Bradley Nowell OD'd on smack the eve of the release of their debut album and left said dog an orphan, so.....karma is a b1tch.

jag