Pearl Jam Live On Two Legs CD

Pearl Jam: Eddie Vedder (vocals, guitar); Mike McCready, Stone Gossard (guitar); Jeff Ament (bass); Matt Cameron (drums).
All tracks have been digitally mastered using HDCD technology.
Personnel: Eddie Vedder (vocals, guitar); Mike McCready, Stone Gossard (guitar); Matt Cameron (drums).
Audio Mixer: Brett Eliason.
Photographers: Mark Atherton; Vito Costarella; Coby Schultz; Lance Mercer; Nate Williams; George Estrada; Kristin Callahan; Jeff Ament.
Not long after Ten unexpectedly topped the charts, Pearl Jam became notorious for their intense live performances. Even more notable than the group's unbridled energy was their willingness to stretch out their songs or throw in covers, reminding jaded audiences that rock concerts could be electric and energetic. Their Seattle peers were equally (sometimes more) compelling, but Pearl Jam skillfully made arena rock feel as intimate as a punk club show -- something that no other band of their time could do. Instead of building this reputation throughout the course of the '90s, the quintet let it fade away as they became embroiled in a vicious battle with Ticketmaster that ultimately proved unfruitful. Not only did the court cases tie up several years of touring, they also refused to play any venue with contracts with Ticketmaster once it was finished -- which meant they played off-market venues that were difficult to reach, thereby decreasing their potential audience substantially. Once 1998's Yield didn't move as much as anyone expected, the band released Live on Two Legs a few short months later. It was culled from Yield's supporting tour, and the difference is substantial -- Pearl Jam still sounds good, but they lack the wild energy that distinguished their early years. Professionalism has its good points, however, and it's true that Live on Two Legs is eminently listenable, thanks in no small part to a fine track selection illustrating that the best moments of No Code and Yield rank with Ten, Vs., and Vitalogy. For all the good points -- the tight interaction, the occasional nifty solo, Eddie Vedder's powerful performance -- the album never quite catches fire. Instead, Live on Two Legs is a souvenir, a thank you to fans who have stood by throughout the years, and on those terms, it's successful. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine
After spending most of the '90s charting an independent course, Pearl Jam makes LIVE ON TWO LEGS its live debut after recording five studio albums. Recorded during a 1998 tour, TWO LEGS is an excellent representation of PJ's mid-'90s material. The urgent "Corduroy" opens this record and from here, the band is firing on all cylinders. Eddie Vedder shreds his voice on the primal "Do The Evolution" but sounds almost bored as he introduces "Elderly Woman Behind The Counter In A Small Town" before giving it as heartfelt reading as he did on the previous song "Daughter."
Former Soundgarden drummer and longtime friend-of-the-band Matt Cameron fills in behind the excellent interplay of guitarists Mike McCready and Stone Gossard, particularly on "Even Flow," a song that still sounds fresh despite being the oldest one in the set. NO CODE's "Off He Goes" has an easy-going tempo and guitar phrasing reflecting the prior year spent recording and touring behind Neil Young. Young is given further props with a slightly turgid reading of his "F*ckin' Up." LIVE ON TWO LEGS doesn't break any new ground, but does reverberate with a passion for music that burns deep within the soul of Pearl Jam.Entertainment Weekly (11/27/98, p.81) - "...Despite the band's continuing self-importance and fuzzy-around-the-arrangments, this set of uptight anthems (`Corduroy,' `Better Man,' `Go') packs a post-grunge wallop..." - Rating: A-
CMJ (12/21/98, p.24) - "...Lest these live versions come across as too faithful to the studio version, though, two Neil Young tributes....add an element of surprise and improvisation to an otherwise already impressive, rock-solid effort."