Pearl Jam vs Nirvana (2 Viewers)

[Anarchy99]

I am not an Uber fan of either band, but Pearl Jam has placed 69 different songs on global charts. Nirvana had 18. Different strokes for different folks, but I voted PJ.

Clearly, I never was a huge fan of Nirvana, as I once ended a conversation with Dave Grohl (before Nirvana hit it big) by telling him not to quit his day job because I didn’t think they’d make it in the music business.

I guess that’s not as bad as a woman I know that used to date and live with Eddie Vedder, who dumped him because he wasn’t contributing anything to their bills (and laughed at him when he said he was joining a band as their singer).

Wow, so much going on in these three lines.

Here are more Eddie Vedder details. Back 30 years ago, I met a woman who told me the following. She was living in San Diego in 1988/1989/1990, and she claimed to have met Vedder after a gig for one of his various bands. He was a guitarist in Search and Destroy, The Butts, and Indian Style (who featured the future drummer for RATM and Audioslave). The woman said she started casually seeing Vedder . . . and he ended up needing someplace to crash. She let him stay with her as a short term thing. Vedder had a slew of Joe jobs over the years. She was a regular person with a regular job. She mentioned that the short-term thing turned into a longer term stint living together. She would leave in the morning to make money to pay their bills, and her expectation was that he would get another Joe job to help pay for rent and food. She would come home and hear him say that he never really got out looking for work that day, but he worked on some really cool chord progressions and beginnings of songs and lyrics.

One day, she came home to find that a band called Bad Radio had asked Vedder to be their lead singer. She laughed at him and asked if they were aware that he couldn't sing. Here they are performing Better Man before Pearl Jam recorded it (a song Vedder wrote in high school in the early 80s). Eventually, she got tired of him being a free loader and kicked him out. They still bumped into each other on the San Diego music scene on occasion, and she last saw him after he had just recorded a demo for a new band out of Seattle called Mookie Blaylock. He had just recorded vocals for demos of Alive, Once, and Footsteps (1990), used as some of the demos that got them a record deal to make Ten in 1991. He moved to Seattle the following week. She said she didn't really regret what happened and how things turned out, as he wasn't her soul mate or the love of her life. She ended up giving up going to clubs and dating musicians, and she instead started hanging out with regular, non-creative people with more traditional careers.

 

[belljr]

Freshman in college when Nirvana broke and we were all angry lol lol

 

[Gr00vus]

I've often wondered how Kurt Cobain would have felt about Nirvana t-shirts being sold at Target.

 

[El Floppo]

Wetlands

Yep

 

[Jayrod]

It's Nirvana for me... PJs songs tend to blend after their first album. Lots of good stuff, but nothing pops out for me. nirvana's all hits me more distinctly.

But this is like Pie or Cake.

It's both, not one or the other.

This might be the most wrong thing ever written in the history of the FFA.

Pie and PJ are markedly better. MARKEDLY!!!!

 

[Mister CIA]

Make me fries.

 

[Jayrod]

Nirvana is the Kobe Bryant of the music world.

Bold statement, and that is going to mean different things to different people. Some will think you are saying Nirvana is overrated.

That's exactly what I'm saying.

Kurt's early death made people think more highly of him than they ought, same as Kobe.

 

[Jayrod]

Make me fries.

 

[Nugget]

High School 1995, you were either team PJ or team Nirvana

High School 1995? You missed it. Get your own thing.

We are just jealous. My freshman year of college was DMB vs Hootie.

 

[Dan Lambskin]

I've often wondered how Kurt Cobain would have felt about Nirvana t-shirts being sold at Target.

My guess is he’d enjoy it in his bank account

 

[MAC_32]

While it's certainly possible that Nirvana would have aged poorly if Cobain hadn't have died, I don't think it's obvious enough that you can just assume that counterfactual. I liked them both back in the day, and still enjoy a lot of their stuff. I probably slightly preferred Nirvana back then. I'm not sure which side I come down on now as far as pure enjoyment of the catalogue, but I voted Nirvana because they just hit the music scene like no other band in my lifetime, and I think that has to count for something.

Pearl Jam put on the greatest show I have ever seen which is why I picked them, but based on the turn Nirvana made with unplugged there is zero doubt in my mind they had staying power. I don't know what their second stanza had in store, but they were not a one trick pony.

 

[Eephus]

Nevermind is obviously the best album to come from the two bands combined. In Utero is the second best.

 

[Jayrod]

Nevermind is obviously the best album to come from the two bands combined. In Utero is the second best.

I could see someone arguing Nevermind > Ten, but ain't no way In Utero is better than Ten.

 

[Eephus]

Nevermind is obviously the best album to come from the two bands combined. In Utero is the second best.

I could see someone arguing Nevermind > Ten, but ain't no way In Utero is better than Ten.

That's OK. I'm just practicing my hot takes.

 

[MAC_32]

Nevermind is obviously the best album to come from the two bands combined. In Utero is the second best.

I could see someone arguing Nevermind > Ten, but ain't no way In Utero is better than Ten.

Gimme Vs over all 3

 

[thecatch]

I like both groups, but given the choice, I'd usually prefer to put on Nirvana. So Nirvana.

In fairness, I only know Pearl Jam's first few albums, but I imagine that the case for a large majority of people.

Name more than 2 Nirvana albums.

Ten, Versus & Vitalogy are all better than any single Nirvana album.

Nirvana is the Kobe Bryant of the music world.

This might be your worst post ever and I've read you discuss the Celtics extensively.

 

[Jayrod]

I like both groups, but given the choice, I'd usually prefer to put on Nirvana. So Nirvana.

In fairness, I only know Pearl Jam's first few albums, but I imagine that the case for a large majority of people.

Name more than 2 Nirvana albums.

Ten, Versus & Vitalogy are all better than any single Nirvana album.

Nirvana is the Kobe Bryant of the music world.

This might be your worst post ever and I've read you discuss the Celtics extensively.

You are a cake-fan as well I presume?

 

[bagger]

Pearl Jam easily for me. Nirvana never resonated with me, but love Foo Fighters.

Alice In Chains above Nirvana as well.

 

[Major]

Pearl Jam wins on the strength of longevity, big catalogue, and Eddie's voice.

Nirvana however was sonically powerful and unique. If Kurt hasn't said goodbye so early it might have flipped.

That's a good take that I can get behind. If you add some of that Temple of The Dog goodness in there it's clearly PJ.

 

[skol asylum]

Make me fries.

 

[skol asylum]

Saw PJ in Vegas. Mike Mccready.......
If Mccready was just some decent guitar player I'd still lean PJ by a little bit, but damn he's good.

When in Vegas? I was there this year.

 

[Skipdog77]

I went Pearl Jam, and it's not that close for me. They are still putting out great music (I think Dark Matter is a fantastic album), and I can't remember the last time I thought to consciously put on a Nirvana song, although I do like them when they pop up in my playlist.

Nirvana was a phenomenon though. I was DJ-ing at a bar in college in late '91- early '92 when Smells Like Teen Spirit was exploding, and I would play it 3x every night I was there. Once early in the night, once in the middle and once at the end, and people would go nuts and pack the floor every single time. Never seen anything like it.

 

[belljr]

I like both groups, but given the choice, I'd usually prefer to put on Nirvana. So Nirvana.

In fairness, I only know Pearl Jam's first few albums, but I imagine that the case for a large majority of people.

Name more than 2 Nirvana albums.

Ten, Versus & Vitalogy are all better than any single Nirvana album.

Nirvana is the Kobe Bryant of the music world.

I'm sure it's been mentioned but they only made (3) . 2 big commercial ones and their original because you know Cobain dying and all

 

[Major]

I like both groups, but given the choice, I'd usually prefer to put on Nirvana. So Nirvana.

In fairness, I only know Pearl Jam's first few albums, but I imagine that the case for a large majority of people.

Name more than 2 Nirvana albums.

Ten, Versus & Vitalogy are all better than any single Nirvana album.

Nirvana is the Kobe Bryant of the music world.

I'm sure it's been mentioned but they only made (3) . 2 big commercial ones and their original because you know Cobain dying and all

That MTV Unplugged album was incredible though and probably my favorite.

 

[TripItUp]

Nirvana - not close

 

[TripItUp]

Embarrassed for the FFA here

 

[Willy]

While it's certainly possible that Nirvana would have aged poorly if Cobain hadn't have died, I don't think it's obvious enough that you can just assume that counterfactual. I liked them both back in the day, and still enjoy a lot of their stuff. I probably slightly preferred Nirvana back then. I'm not sure which side I come down on now as far as pure enjoyment of the catalogue, but I voted Nirvana because they just hit the music scene like no other band in my lifetime, and I think that has to count for something.

Pearl Jam put on the greatest show I have ever seen which is why I picked them, but based on the turn Nirvana made with unplugged there is zero doubt in my mind they had staying power. I don't know what their second stanza had in store, but they were not a one trick pony.

Same here. I was at the show where they yelled at Josh to turn the lights out at the beginning of the Evenflow video. I knew PJ were born partly from Mother Love Bone, but I didn't know any of their music at that time. I was there to see Smashing Pumpkins and the Red Hot Chili Peppers. By the third song my buddy and I looked at each other like who the 'f are these guys? They are incredible. By the end of the show I was a fan for life. I've seen a lot of live music, nothing ever came close to that show.

That said I have a hard time putting one over the other. Never got to see Nirvana live, but Lithium is one of my all-time favorite songs. That freakin baseline and melody... Actually the whole album really works for me, On a Plain is way up there too.

For me, it's like choosing between my kids.

 

[Jayrod]

Embarrassed for the FFA here

Don't be ridiculous.

One band was pretentious.

The other just wanted to rock and did so at a very high level for a long time.

 

[Desert_Power]

They are still putting out great music (I think Dark Matter is a fantastic album), and I can't remember the last time I thought to consciously put on a Nirvana song, although I do like them when they pop up in my playlist.

This encapsulates how I view Nirvana as well.

 

[Dr. Octopus]

One band was pretentious.

Can you give some examples?

 

[tuffnutt]

Pearl Jam by a country mile.

 

[HellToupee]

Better band , Nirvana
Better album , Nirvana
Better song, Pearl Jam

neither were as good as Husker Du or The Replacements from the 80s , imo

 

[Jayrod]

One band was pretentious.

Can you give some examples?

Let me google that for you.

I always rolled my eyes at Kurt's attitude towards being famous or mainstream. He seemed to look down on everyone else that just wanted to be rock stars. He even had a name for it called "**** rock". In Bloom was basically about his disdain for fanboys who weren't "genuine enough" or didn't know what the lyrics meant.

Please, his girlfriend was Courtney Love for Pete's sake. They played SNL and MTV Unplugged. He was super mainstream and then tried to act like he was too cool for mainstream.

 

[HellToupee]

Please, his girlfriend was Courtney Love for Pete's sake. They played SNL and MTV Unplugged. He was super mainstream and then tried to act like he was too cool for mainstream

Kayfabe

 

[uwillbsoon]

Didn't Pearl jam fire their drummer because he bought a nice car?

They were just as pretentious. If you're saying it's pretentious to get famous and then say you don't want to be famous.

It's funny how groups of people will boycott a band because they express an opinion they don't like, but when bands express a disdain for a certain segment of their fans that don't share their beliefs, they're pretentious.

 

[thecatch]

Cobain = pretentious and Vedder = man of the people is certainly a take.

 

[nirad3]

I like both bands.... but, as stated upthread at least once, due to Cobain's untimely suicide, they obviously didn't have the staying power that PJ has had. Therefore I voted PJ, but who knows what could have happened if Cobain didn't take his own life....

 

[FairWarning]

If I were to name my favorite 10 songs between the two bands, more are Nirvana. Overall, I thought PJ was a more consistant and better band though. The electricity of Nirvana Live at Reading is truly special.

 

[Dr. Octopus]

One band was pretentious.

Can you give some examples?

Let me google that for you.

I always rolled my eyes at Kurt's attitude towards being famous or mainstream. He seemed to look down on everyone else that just wanted to be rock stars. He even had a name for it called "**** rock". In Bloom was basically about his disdain for fanboys who weren't "genuine enough" or didn't know what the lyrics meant.

Please, his girlfriend was Courtney Love for Pete's sake. They played SNL and MTV Unplugged. He was super mainstream and then tried to act like he was too cool for mainstream.

You realize he eventually stuck a shotgun in his mouth and pulled the trigger? Maybe...just maybe...he was a little messed up in the head,

 

[uwillbsoon]

Please, his girlfriend was Courtney Love for Pete's sake. They played SNL and MTV Unplugged. He was super mainstream and then tried to act like he was too cool for mainstream.

Since you mentioned Courtney, my unpopular take: Hole's Live Through This is better than anything Pearl Jam released after Live Through This.

It's an underrated album.

 

[Brunell4MVP]

Slight nod to Pearl Jam. More of their songs stick in my head. I don't think either band was great. They were solid grunge and a nice answer to bad pop music and the end of hair metal. But there's no depth to their catalogs. 5-7 decent songs. Then nada. I much preferred STP who also had limited depth, but IMO had better songs. Sex Type Thing, Interstate, Creep, Plush, Wicked Garden. All excellent tunes.

 

[Ridgeback]

Who is the better band?

Criteria is up to you.

@massraider seems to think I'm in the extreme minority on this one. I think it is closer than he thinks.

And no, we aren't going to include Alice in Chains or even Soundgarden. This is for serious scientific research.

Too bad as Alice in Chains and Soundgarden blow both others out of the water. Commercial success does not equal talent.

 

[B Maverick]

Nirvana is the Kobe Bryant of the music world.

Bold statement, and that is going to mean different things to different people. Some will think you are saying Nirvana is overrated.

That's exactly what I'm saying.

Kurt's early death made people think more highly of him than they ought, same as Kobe.

I agree with Kobe.

Disagree with Nirvana. But that's part of what I was alluding to in my first post. Its popular to lean into PJ>Nirvana just to be contrarian, and pointing to Kurt's death as why he is overrated.

 

[eoMMan]

Linkin Park
Nirvana
All American Rejects

Pearl Jam

 

[Andy Dufresne]

Last Kiss is the worst cover song of all time so it can't be Pearl Jam.

I do like one song from each band. Breed and Rearviewmirror are good. I've said before that the latter is probably the best SNL performance I've ever seen.

 

[Dr. Octopus]

Who is the better band?

Criteria is up to you.

@massraider seems to think I'm in the extreme minority on this one. I think it is closer than he thinks.

And no, we aren't going to include Alice in Chains or even Soundgarden. This is for serious scientific research.

Too bad as Alice in Chains and Soundgarden blow both others out of the water. Commercial success does not equal talent.

I've seen 3 of the Big 4 (not Nirvana) live. AiC is the best live band.

 

[Leroy Hoard]

AiC is the best live band

I've always liked this short but sweet riff of an AIC song:

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music.youtube.com

 

[HellToupee]

Please, his girlfriend was Courtney Love for Pete's sake. They played SNL and MTV Unplugged. He was super mainstream and then tried to act like he was too cool for mainstream.

Since you mentioned Courtney, my unpopular take: Hole's Live Through This is better than anything Pearl Jam released after Live Through This.

It's an underrated album.

Over the years I’ve totally changed my opinion on Hole. The persona of Courtney Love dragged their rep

 

[FairWarning]

AiC is the best live band

I've always liked this short but sweet riff of an AIC song:

Your browser is deprecated. Please upgrade.

music.youtube.com

As much as I like that one, I love the riff to Check My Brain.

 

[uwillbsoon]

Slight nod to Pearl Jam. More of their songs stick in my head. I don't think either band was great. They were solid grunge and a nice answer to bad pop music and the end of hair metal. But there's no depth to their catalogs. 5-7 decent songs. Then nada. I much preferred STP who also had limited depth, but IMO had better songs.

Please, his girlfriend was Courtney Love for Pete's sake. They played SNL and MTV Unplugged. He was super mainstream and then tried to act like he was too cool for mainstream.

Since you mentioned Courtney, my unpopular take: Hole's Live Through This is better than anything Pearl Jam released after Live Through This.

It's an underrated album.

Over the years I’ve totally changed my opinion on Hole. The persona of Courtney Love dragged their rep

She's complicated. Lanegan - who didn't pull any punches in his autobiography - attributed his getting clean to her.