Pearl Jam - Rearviewmirror: Greatest Hits 1991-2003
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Artist: Pearl JamEdition: Music CD
CD Release Date: 2004-11-16
Music Label: Epic/Sony
Soundtracks:
Music CD 1
- Once
- Alive
- Even Flow
- Jeremy
- State Of Love And Trust
- Animal
- Go
- Dissident
- Rearviewmirror
- Spin The Black Circle
- Corduroy
- Not For You
- I Got ID
- Hail Hail
- Do The Evolution
- Save You
- Black
- Breath
- Daughter
- Elderly Woman Behind The Counter In A Small Town
- Immortality
- Betterman
- Nothingman
- Who You Are
- Off He Goes
- Given To Fly
- Wishlist
- Last Kiss
- Nothing As It Seems
- Light Years
- I Am Mine
- Man Of The Hour
- Yellow Ledbetter
Music reviews of Rearviewmirror: Greatest Hits 1991-2003
Music Review: A greatest hits collection that delivers
Rating: 5 Stars
Rearviewmirror (2004.), a Pearl Jam greatest hits collection spanning from 1991-2003
Pearl Jam are one of my all-time favourite bands; full stop. From their immortal debut 'Ten', released in 1991, right up to the present day, the band have produced album after album of great, innovative and sometimes experimental music. The sole surviving grunge band have so far produced seven studio albums and plenty of live releases and not to mention, singles also. Up until 2004 the one thing the band lacked was a 'best of' or 'greatest hits' collection, to help span their career into 2 discs. However, in Novemeber 2004, Epic records (ironically, now and then at the time, Pearl Jam's former label) put out a 2CD greatest hits set called 'Rearviewmirror'. So how does this package shape up to be; is it another dismal 'best of' which doesn't do the band justice, is it one which fails to satisfy fans of the band or is it really a collection that hits the mark?
If anyone reading this review has seen any of my other reviews for 'best of' or 'greatest hits' complilations for any bands, you'll see that I never really give any of them 5*s. Most either fall down with a lack of chronology to the tracks or due to a number of inexcusable emissions from the band's catalogue. In the case of 'Rearviewmirror', it's success strength is based around five things. Firstly, both CD's cover songs in chronological order (or just about; the placing of 'Yellow Ledbetter', an early song at the end of disc 2 is the only exception) and secondly, both CD's have the right mix of songs with CD1 dealing with the hard rocking/punkish stuff and CD2 dealing with the slower/more brooding/more ballad styled songs. Thirdly, the 'greatest hits' choice of songs is great for displaying Pearl Jam's catalogue because their singles repetoire is diverse, contains some of their best work and also includes tracks which were 'non album/single only' tracks. Fourthly, the collection is a perfect set of songs to introduce someone to Pearl Jam and get them familiar with their music. Fifth and finally, the collection also appeals to Pearl Jam FANS, even hardcore ones like myself - the collection has remixes of tracks from 'Ten' such as 'Alive' which are refreshing to hear and has the non-album singles such as 'I got ID' which may just help to complete your collection. All in all, it is a conclusive collection whose weaknesses (and these are small ones) are just that there is a slight lack of some later material such as from 'Binaural' and 'Riot Act'. The second minor weakness is, due to the fact it's a greatest hits work, great non single release songs such as 'Grievance' are missed off. That said, let's see a break down of the tracks:
Songs from TEN (1991): Once, Alive, Even Flow, Jeremy, Black
This album, for me and many others, was Pearl Jam's finest hour. The five tracks on here are great choices and are fantastic tunes. The remixes of 'Once' and 'Alive' are especially interesting to listen to.
VS (1993.): Go, Animal, Dissident, Rearviewmirror, Daughter, Elderly Woman...
Pearl Jam's second album was a massive commercial success, like it's predecessor and the 6 songs from this album are a great reflection of this and are great choices. The only song I personally miss here is 'Indifference' which is one of my favourite PJ songs...ah, well beggars can't be choosers!
VITALOGY (1994.): Spin The Black Circle, Not For You, Corduroy, Immortality, Betterman, Nothingman
Vitalogy was another massive success for Pearl Jam; although for me, the records overly difficult and sometimes barmy nature is what makes it the band's weakest album (others may disagree). That aside the 6 song choice cut from the album is a damn fine one. Songs like 'Corduroy' and 'Not For You' are awesome and 'Immortality' is a classic, brooding ballad.
NO CODE (1996.): Hail Hail, Who You Are, Off He Goes
No Code marked the beginning of the band's move from the mainstream and into a more underground status. This is reflected by the album only having 3 hits featuring here. That said they're all damn good songs. The punk rocking 'Hail, Hail' cannons out of the speakers and 'Off He Goes' is very heartfelt and powerful. The only fan choice omissions from my perspective would be 'Perfect Tense' and 'LUKIN!!!'
YIELD (1998.): Do The Evolution, Given To Fly, Wishlist
Pearl Jam's rocking fifth album again did not sell as well as the earlier work but still, dare i say, 'yielded' a fair share of singles. The three listed tracks reflect the album very well.
BINAURAL (2000.): Light Years, Nothing As It Seems
Pearl Jam hit the millenium and returned with one of their finest efforts. Sadly, though this work is a little under-represented on the complilation. It would be great to have seen 'Grievance' and 'Of The Girl' featured on here but they weren't hits.
RIOT ACT (2002.): Save You, I Am Mine
Pearl Jam's most recent studio effort is represented by two great hit songs in the punkish 'Save You' and the introspective 'I Am Mine'. 'All Of None' or 'You Are' are my personal choices which would have been nice to be seen.
NON ALBUM SONGS: State Of Love And Trust, I Got ID, Breath, Last Kiss, Man Of The Hour, Yellow Ledbetter
Here we go!! This were the collection was great for me as I didn't have some of these songs and it helped complete my collection. That said, these songs are great hit singles, especially 'Yellow Ledbetter' and the charity fundraising 'Last Kiss'.
Overall, aside from a few very minor niggles, this 'greatest hits' complilation does Pearl Jam real justice. PJ are one of the all time great bands and this compliation covers all angles of their music. This double CD is great for anyone wanting to get into Pearl Jam's music but it is also a useful buy for fans of the band as it has some remixes and non-album tracks. Definitely worth the investment!
MY RATING: 9/10
Description of Rearviewmirror: Greatest Hits 1991-2003
All products are BRAND NEW and factory sealed. Fast shipping and 100% Satisfaction Guaranteed.In an era when pop nihilism fulfilled its dark promise all too regularly, Pearl Jam not only survived, but thrived to become one of rock's greatest bands. This 33-track double-disc career retrospective documents the arc of a career that went from arena and radio triumphs in the early 90's (while Nirvana's promise imploded in the wake of hype, Pearl Jam's crowd-pleasing fame only burgeoned) to the uncompromising, core audience-focused tack that carried the band into the 21st century. Shrewdly compiled by the band into an "Up" disc that chronicles the band's driving, Stone Gossard-Mike McCready fueled hard rock dramatics (including such early career landmarks as "Jeremy," "Alive" and "Even Flow" alongside more aggressive fare like "Go" and "Spin the Black Circle") and a "Down" side that focuses more on Eddie Vedder's brooding, often dark ballads ("Elderly Woman Behind The Counter In A Small Town," "Yellow Ledbetter," their unlikely hit cover of the oldie "Last Kiss"), it's a collection that underscores both the band's range and musical integrity. Though centered largely on the band's pre-Vitalogy studio era and containing no new material, longtime producer/collaborator Brendan O'Brien contributes remixes of "Once," "Alive" and "Black" that offer new insights on the familiar, while non-album tracks like "Man of the Hour" and "State of Love and Trust" considerably enhance the overall listening perspective here. --Jerry McCulley
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