Pearl Jam
by Pearl Jam
User Score
8.7

Universal acclaim- based on 325 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 290 out of 325
  2. Mixed: 17 out of 325
  3. Negative: 18 out of 325

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  1. Mark
    Aug 3, 2006
    7
    Aside from a few god-awful tracks, I enjoyed most of this album. Sounds a bit like Audioslave at times. Not that I don't like Audioslave, I just wish Pearl Jam would stick to their own style.
  2. JesusE
    Sep 9, 2006
    10
    This album is a great collection of musically and lyrically sophsticated songs. The people who hate it have most likely been "brainwashed" by made for radio bands like Nickelback, etc. Similar to their earlier stuff, if you listen to the songs a few times, you will start to really appreciate the music.
  3. DaveR.
    Mar 8, 2008
    9
    This is my second favourite Pearl Jam album. It opens with urgency, and doesn't let up until the beautiful Parachutes. Marker In The Sand has a killer chorus that's excellence is matched only by Corduroy. Unemployable is different from anything they've done but is just as undeniable. Army Reserve is scathing but beautiful, and the album finished off with two amazing, songs: This is my second favourite Pearl Jam album. It opens with urgency, and doesn't let up until the beautiful Parachutes. Marker In The Sand has a killer chorus that's excellence is matched only by Corduroy. Unemployable is different from anything they've done but is just as undeniable. Army Reserve is scathing but beautiful, and the album finished off with two amazing, songs: one, the poignant and heart-breaking Come Back and two, the epic Inside Job. There isn't a bad cut on the entire album, and it's easily their BEST SINCE YIELD (despite what others who gave it a ridiculous ZERO might tell you...). I love every Pearl Jam album. To me they are the best and most underrated band in the world, and this album certainly did not disappoint. Do yourself a favour and pick it up NOW.… Expand
  4. AlanE
    Apr 14, 2008
    9
    Damn this album kicks ass. cant imagine them getting better then this.
  5. BrianR.
    Aug 5, 2008
    9
    This album is probably the most political the band has released. It has none of the unintelligible screaming songs that require a fast car and a good sound system. This is a matured Eddie, waxing poetic about what's happening here in America right now. "Gone" is one of the best tracks on this disc, another song about driving away from something.
  6. kirks
    Oct 24, 2006
    9
    This is the band that has you hooked now or will over the next 30 or 40 years.
  7. PaulF
    May 11, 2006
    10
    I'm a long-time PJ fan, and have enjoyed everything they've put out, but I'd only give a 10 rating to 'Ten' and 'Vs.' This is definitely the best PJ album in years, even though I like them all. Much more riff-driven than the last three albums. Feels like the whole band is adding something to every song: Matt on Drums comes out more in the mix, Stone and I'm a long-time PJ fan, and have enjoyed everything they've put out, but I'd only give a 10 rating to 'Ten' and 'Vs.' This is definitely the best PJ album in years, even though I like them all. Much more riff-driven than the last three albums. Feels like the whole band is adding something to every song: Matt on Drums comes out more in the mix, Stone and Mike are ripping it up on guitars, Jeff is solid and driving on Bass, and Eddie is as growly and amazing as ever. The title sums it up...this album is Pearl Jam, at its best.… Expand
  8. ben
    May 11, 2006
    10
    the best record of the year pearl jam`s best album!!!!
  9. DaveD
    May 1, 2006
    10
    This is by far the best album in years from Pearl Jam. Fans of Vitalogy will not be disapointed. Do yourself a favor and pick up this album.
  10. RonC
    May 1, 2006
    10
    This album came on Saturday and I cannot stop listening! Not only are they rocking out, but it will be cool to see all the new fans flock to get this when 'Marker in the Sand' and 'UnEmployable' hit the Rock radio waves. I'm imagining the crowds hopping up and down to 'World Wide' and 'Severed Hand' .....PJ Rules!! Coming to Cleveland 5/20
  11. StevenB
    May 1, 2006
    3
    Maybe the most aggrivatingly dull release of the year so far. For people who were already PJ fans only.
  12. MikeK
    May 1, 2006
    0
    Don't be mad. I haven't heard the entire album yet, just the dreaded single and a couple other crapoffs. I'm just confused as to why anyone still cares about Pearl Jam. Come on, Eddie V is a pretender, always has been and the rest of the band is comprised of marginal talents. It's amazing that people hang onto and continue to praise a band with one great album under Don't be mad. I haven't heard the entire album yet, just the dreaded single and a couple other crapoffs. I'm just confused as to why anyone still cares about Pearl Jam. Come on, Eddie V is a pretender, always has been and the rest of the band is comprised of marginal talents. It's amazing that people hang onto and continue to praise a band with one great album under its belt that was released over 10 years ago. There is other music out there people. On top of sucking, they're hypocritical. "It's not about the money...but lets release 1001 live CDs which all sound like donkey farts." I use to like PJ, but they're finished, they've been that way for years. I can't think of a less relevant band on the planet. I'm convinced that all these posters on metacritic are the band's family and friends. It's not 1994 anymore, let's move on.… Expand
  13. MikeC
    May 10, 2006
    10
    This disc has many great songs (Severed Hand, Parachutes and Unemployable) and many very good songs (Gone, WWS, Marker). It's great to see PJ is back and better than ever.
  14. Nabill
    May 1, 2006
    10
    Rocks!
  15. ChrisB
    May 1, 2006
    10
    ts definitely a strong overall CD....I love how the first 3 songs just absolutley come out and 'rip off your face'....I thought the track ordering was superb to start. The fourth track, Severed Hand is right now my favorite song on it, although the last track, Inside Job, is blowing me away today after a few additional listens. I love Marker in the Sand's harmonizing and ts definitely a strong overall CD....I love how the first 3 songs just absolutley come out and 'rip off your face'....I thought the track ordering was superb to start. The fourth track, Severed Hand is right now my favorite song on it, although the last track, Inside Job, is blowing me away today after a few additional listens. I love Marker in the Sand's harmonizing and Unemployable is a great pop song, it reminds me of good mid-90s REM. Parachutes is a good ballad with great lyrics. It is one of many songs that make me think the main creativity of this record comes from the fact that these guys really felt they had something to say about the world and themselves right now. All that being said, the best part of the record, I think, is the last 5 songs...Gone is tremendous, it reminds me a little of Elderly Woman, because of the images it creates and Wasted Reprise is kind of an answer to the anger in Life Wasted, like he was screaming it to convince himself in the first song, but then gratefully lamenting the sentiment of avoiding a 'life wasted' in this version...Army Reserve is surprisingly awesome, the guitars sound different than anything I have heard them do....it, along with SHand, will probably become one of those songs they play at every live show. Keep listening to Come Back, that song has REALLY grown on me, the first time I heard it, I thought "this is country!"...but it is starting to sound like a Springsteen or Dylan song with McCready's guitar at the end, and Inside Job completely blows me away, the lyrics are as good as I have ever heard from them, and Vedder's delivery of them is awesome. This album just absolutelt blew me away on the first listen, and gets better with each listen, Binaural and Riot Act took, many, many listens before I fully appreciated them. Also being a former Megadeth and Iron Maiden fan, I always like a little blood and gore in album art, I read this stuff as possibly some anti-war sentiment, that might be digging, but certainly its in there somewhere. GREAT RECORD...if you 'were' a PJ fan back in the day, go get this one.… Expand
  16. MarlinM
    May 1, 2006
    10
    Wow. This is an amazing album from start to finish. It's about as diverse as a band can be on one album yet have it all still hang together into one masterpiece.
  17. RockFan
    May 1, 2006
    10
    It's a Monday and I have just listened to the new self titled Pearl Jam album. This rock album will have a huge impact on the music world. I can only imagine what it must have felt like listening to Bob Dylan, Janis Joplin, Neil Young and all those artists back when music had an impact on the world. Listening to this album ( Pearl Jam ) is like getting hit in the chest with a It's a Monday and I have just listened to the new self titled Pearl Jam album. This rock album will have a huge impact on the music world. I can only imagine what it must have felt like listening to Bob Dylan, Janis Joplin, Neil Young and all those artists back when music had an impact on the world. Listening to this album ( Pearl Jam ) is like getting hit in the chest with a louisville slugger from a Steroid enduced major leaguer. Simply the most powerful onslaught of heart felt meaningful songs to come around in years. If you listen to this collection of songs, you will be a differt person, it is a gaurantee. Pearl Jam is a rock band that has now put themselves right up there with Dylan and all the other greats. Led Zepplin never even reach this level. Wow, my earth has been shattered, what an album. I felt the earth on this Monday, it moved beneath my feet. In the form of this aewsome album, my world will never be the same!… Expand
  18. SamA
    May 1, 2006
    10
    Wow! Pearl Jam shines again on its first self-titled album.
  19. JohnJ.
    May 1, 2006
    10
    Best album since No Code.
  20. GurR
    May 12, 2006
    10
    phenomenal. this album hooks you and won't let you go. some of my favorite of their work resides right here on this lil album.
  21. OscarD
    May 1, 2006
    10
    The best album of the year
  22. Eli
    May 12, 2006
    2
    Boring as all hell.
  23. TylerB
    May 13, 2006
    9
    Pearl Jam mixes hard rock with a couple ballads and outrage on this wonderful album. They wear their influences on their sleeve and even reference their own catalogue while still sounding fresh, new and re-focused. A must buy.
  24. CesarO
    May 14, 2006
    10
    This sounds like "Pearl Jam", more than ever! My favourites where the first song and the last twelve... A perfect album...
  25. rockerrocker
    May 15, 2006
    10
    pj has done it again!
  26. Matt
    May 17, 2006
    8
    I don't think Pearl Jam have made a bad album, but this is up there with their best, and arguably their strongest effort since Vitalogy. Basically, everything everyone is saying is true.
  27. SeanT
    May 18, 2006
    10
    Americas best band doing what they do best, with an amazing collection of great rock songs and some superb quieter ones.
  28. AlbertM
    May 19, 2006
    10
    The album cover and title says it all: this is the band reduced to it's core. There's nothing such as "experimentation" here, they've focused and have come to terms with what they do best and seemed they had forgotten: classic hard rock with a punk rock punch. Following the steps of such heroes as Zeppelin, Hendrix, The Who and Neil Young they've recorded the best The album cover and title says it all: this is the band reduced to it's core. There's nothing such as "experimentation" here, they've focused and have come to terms with what they do best and seemed they had forgotten: classic hard rock with a punk rock punch. Following the steps of such heroes as Zeppelin, Hendrix, The Who and Neil Young they've recorded the best album since Vitalogy, by far. There's no filler here, every song rocks.… Expand
  29. SethM
    May 2, 2006
    10
    Incredible album. I got goosebumps listening to a couple of the songs on here. It incorporates the best elements of Pearl Jam's past work, eliminates most of the bad and add a lot of interesting new twists. GO BUY THIS RECORD! "Pearl Jam" is the kind of album that makes me drive to work sloooowly just to hear another song or two on the way.
  30. SteveP
    May 2, 2006
    10
    Best PJ album since Vitalogy!
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Awards & Rankings

11
#11 Most Discussed Album of 2006
11
#11 Most Shared Album of 2006

Critic Reviews

All reviews »
Metascore
74

Generally favorable reviews - based on 28 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 22 out of 28
  2. Mixed: 6 out of 28
  3. Negative: 0 out of 28
  1. Entertainment Weekly
    83
    The seriously hopped-up effort fans have been pining for since Vitalogy.
    Read full review
  2. Rolling Stone
    80
    As immediate and despairing as breaking news from Baghdad... Pearl Jam is also as big and brash in fuzz and backbone as Led Zeppelin's Presence. [4 May 2006, p.55]
  3. The Guardian
    60
    Though few of these 13 numbers have the drama of tracks by the Who or Led Zeppelin, from whom the band draw much of their style, Pearl Jam play like men on a mission.
    Read full review
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