Compatible with all MP3 players including iPod, iPad, iTunes and Window Media Player
Recorded in Seattle, Washington; Atlanta, Georgia; New Orleans, Louisiana.
The CD version of VITALOGY includes a 32-page book; the cassette version includes a 16-page book.
"Spin The Black Circle" won a 1996 Grammy Award for Best Hard Rock Performance. VITALOGY was nominated for 1996 Grammys for Album Of The Year and Best Rock Album.
Wider in scope than any 70mm film, VITALOGY is the album on which Pearl Jam demands that the pigeonholing cease and desist once and for all. Whether by throwing meatless bones at some blindly zealous fans, or by moving their sound out of the grunge-land that they once called home, Vedder & Co. present this 55-minute tour de force as a treatise to win over the alternative non-believers and drop the excess baggage of fame.
There's nothing fancy to VITALOGY: no ACHTUNG BABY or OUT OF TIME-like transformations, no post-modern gimmickry, no Steve Albini sound. Nevertheless, VITALOGY is revolutionary by Pearl Jam standards because it presents a collection of actually crafted songs, and succeeds in spotlighting the band's growing diversity.
The proof is all over the place: "Corduroy" is an honest-to-goodness pop song, disguised in Seattle garb; "Not For You" brings the band's Crazy Horse fetish to the forefront, combining a folky melody with a ripping, electric arrangement; while "Bugs," "Aye Davanita," and "Hey Foxymophandlemama" are, respectively, an accordion-driven stomp, a raga-like instrumental, and a feedback-laden sound collage. All are delivered with such taste and assurance, that rather than sounding unnatural and forced, they only further illuminate Pearl Jam's artistic strides. Each helps make VITALOGY a proud notch on the band's growing musical belt.
Pearl Jam: Eddie Vedder (vocals, guitar, accordion); Stone Gossard (vocals, guitar, Mellotron); Mike McCready (vocals, guitar, slide guitar); Jeff Ament (vocals, acoustic & electric bass); Dave Abbruzzese (drums).
Additional personnel: Jack Irons (drums).
Rolling Stone (5/13/99, p.55) - Included in Rolling Stone's "Essential Recordings of the 90's." Rolling Stone (12/15/94, pp.91-93) - 4 Stars - Excellent - "...it's a wildly uneven and difficult record, sometimes maddening, sometimes ridiculous, often powerful..." Spin (12/95, p.62) - Ranked #5 on Spin's list of the `20 Best Albums Of '95.' Entertainment Weekly (12/9/94, pp.72-74) - "...one seriously demented record...VITALOGY leaves an odd, unsettling aftertaste. You walk away from it energized, but wondering what price Eddie Vedder, and Pearl Jam, will ultimately pay for it..." - Rating: B+ Q (1/95, pp.248-249) - 4 Stars - Excellent - "...anything but the sound of a band stuck in a rut....It speaks volumes for Pearl Jam's continuing creative acumen that they can respond so confidently to a new punk scene that has sprung up...as a reaction [to] the lumbering heaviosity ...of the old grunge pioneers..." Musician (1-2/95, p.71) - "...In 1994 rawness, unpredictability and artistic depth are rare....America's most popular rock'n'roll band boasts all three attributes--and sounds damn fine to boot..." Village Voice (2/28/95) - Ranked #25 in the Village Voice's 1994 Pazz & Jop Critics Poll. Mojo (Publisher) (1/95, p.104) - "...VITALOGY is a deeply thought-out representation of what fame means, and the vision it describes is not pretty....[includes] themes of diverted passions, frustration and amorphous discontent..." NME (Magazine) (12/24/94, p.23) - Ranked #40 on NME's list of the `Top 50 Albums Of 1994.'
inconsistent Well, I agree with those that say this album would have made a good EP because some tracks are so so bad that I can't believe anyone would seriosly record them. How Ed Vedder might have said "Mmm, thats a good song we'll put it on our third album lads" is quite frankly beyond belief.
Those REALLY BAD tracks are: Bugs, Stupid Mop, Spin The Black circle and Satan's Bed.
The GREAT tracks are: Corduroy, Better Man,Immortality and Aye Davanita.
All the other tracks are just dull. Submitted by hobnob123 (Leicester, England.) Was This Review Helpful? YesNo 4 of 5 found this helpful.
Favorite Pearl Jam Album This album is not only the best (by far) Pearl Jam album it is also one of the best albums of the 90's. I'm not sure how anyone could find this dull unless they listen to some pretty far out music. This was an attempt to make a more substance filled rock album during a time when modern rock was beginning to stagnate. The album seems to be an homage of sorts to Vinyl records, specifically the underground rock records of the 70's and 80's. They hearken to different rock sub-genres of those eras. They punk influenced single "Spin the Black Circle" is reminiscent of late 70's New York or DC area club rock. "Betterman" is the radio friendly single but still has a certain edge that most songs did not have at the time it was released. This is an enjoyable album from start to finish, and in vinyl fashion you have no reason to skip ahead to the next track. Stylish, meaningful, interesting. Submitted by rlcapps (Nashville TN) Was This Review Helpful? YesNo 1 of 2 found this helpful.
Vitalogy Vitalogy is not really an album it is more of an EP because if you consider it to be an album, half of the songs being terrible, it dissapoints and hides the world that it actually is a MASTERPIECE.
Had Pearl Jam actually decided to release an EP with say Last Exit, Not For You, Nothingman, Corduroy, Better Man and Immortality as the main songs, and only a few "fillers", it probably would have been seen by every single alternative rock lover as their best work so far.Unfortunately there is a contraversial aspect to it.
The question is how do you judge an album when half of the tracks on it sound excellent and the other half terrible.Do you say its average altogether or do you ignore what you don't like and acknowledge what the tracks which sound so good make the others insignificant.
To say Vitalogy is only an average album is truly unfair considering that Pearl Jam are at their best here.
No, it is better to stick to the idea that Pearl Jam have created a masterpiece as Vitalogy being one of the best EPs ever. Submitted by tomjeremiebruce (sydney) Was This Review Helpful? YesNo 1 of 2 found this helpful.
Daring Release A really daring release from Pearl Jam.Really complex,furious,and raw.You don't see alot of bands being as daring or creative these days.Tells you how much of a decline rock has been on. Submitted by Southsidaz1985 (Downey,CA,usa) Was This Review Helpful? YesNo
half good I dont like Vitalogy as much as Vs or Ten.I dont think Pearl Jam are at their best in this album.I like "Last Exit" "Not For You" and "Corduroy", appreciate "Better Man" and lightly appreciate "Nothingman".Had those five songs made an EP it would have been a fantastic one.The rest to me is crap. Submitted by a reviewer (sydney) Was This Review Helpful? YesNo
inconsistent
Favorite Pearl Jam Album
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