Battle of the Bands: Nirvana v. Pearl Jam

[Radical Activist]

Poll question: Battle of the Bands: Nirvana v. Pearl Jam

The ultimate grunge match

Poll result (55 votes)
Nirvana	(33 votes, 60%)	Vote
Pearl Jam	(22 votes, 40%)	Vote

[Tsiyu]

1. Oh. My. God.

Pearl Jam? Are you joking?

[Radical Activist]

2. They're winning so far

apparently I'm not.

[BBradley]

3. Gimme the Jam, I've always hated nirvana.

[Tsiyu]

4. You people are sick. Sick I tell Ya!!!!!!!!!!!!!n't

[Kire]

22. thanks for not elaborating on your position

I might actually be convinced me to vote for Pearl Jam over Nirvana.

[Zing Zing Zingbah]

5. Nirvana n/t

[CanuckAmok]

6. Pearl Jam were a mediocre, pretentious bar band who had the...

...good fortune to come from Seattle at a time when bands like Nirvana and Soundgarden put the city on the map.

I admire their politics, but I just can't think of any contributions they've made to the evolution of pop music, while Nirvana pushed some serious envelopes, and like the Sex Pistols and the Beatles before them, broke with conventional trends and redefined their respective genres.

"Meh" to Pearl Jam and their quasi-introspective, sensitive ponytail guy lyrics. "Meh", I say!

[livinginphotographs]

13. I agree.

I couldn't have said it better myself.

[Mike Niendorff]

31. *bzzzt*, wrong.

First, Stone Gossard and Jeff Ament were involved *bigtime* in the evolution of Seattle music and the scene that surrounded it. Google on "Mother Love Bone" for more background on this. The death of Andrew Wood (MLB's singer) broke that band apart after the recording of their first major release, a breakup which ultimately led to the creation of Pearl Jam by Gossard and Ament. I had the privilege of seeing them perform live at Seattle's "Off Ramp" back when they were first starting out (before they even officially became "Pearl Jam", and just after Vedder had joined the band). It was a 3-band show with Alice In Chains and Sweetwater, and they flat-out blew the other two bands off the stage (and that's saying something). They do good rock and roll in the studio, but their live show is without question one of the best I've ever seen. Vedder is an AMAZING singer in a live setting, and the band's chemistry really shines when they can break form and experiment a bit.

Anyway, it's just my opinion, but it's a strong one


MDN

[Amaya]

7. Nirvana

Pearl Jam

[no name no slogan]

8. NIRVANA. No fecking contest. Hurl Jam is like Zeppelin on ludes.

Pearl Jam is the Grand Funk Railroad of the 90s. They're like Guns-N-Roses without the leather, drunkeness, whoring and the flashy guitar solos. IOW, boring beyond belief.

Nirvana, while not mutch better, was not nearly as self-important as Beddie Wetter and pals. At least Nirvana had some decent pop hooks to offset the self-important naval-gazing...

[Radical Activist]

9. I see. But tell us how you REALLY feel.

[no name no slogan]

10. Yeah, I gotta quit holding back so much

[CanuckAmok]

11. LOL "...the Grand Funk Railroad of the 90s"!!

good one!

[Sandpiper]

17. Beddie Wetter?

LOL

That's a good one!

[livinginphotographs]

12. Nirvana.

Definitely better.

Pearl Jam is really tainted by all the raspy-voiced neu-metal bands that they have spawned.

[Fenris]

14. Not even a contest.

Nirvana.

[Dying Eagle]

15. N I R V A N A.............

Vetter couldn't string Kurt's guitar. NIRVANA FOREVER!!!!!!

[flamingyouth]

16. Nirvana, Nirvana and Nirvana

I respect the good words the Pearl Jam guys do, but I really don't care for their music all that much. They've done some decent stuff here and there, but mostly covers, like their versions of "Leaving Here" and "Masters of War."

[SmileyBoy]

18. Pear Jam was indirectly responsible for Creed, so I'll say Nirvana.

[Sandpiper]

20. But Nirvana was responsible for Bush

The band, not the President.

So I think they cancel each other out in that respect.

[Wat_Tyler]

19. Pearl Jam. No contest.

Pearl Jam are awful, though.

[AntiCoup2K4]

21. Gotta go with Nirvana

Pearl Jam was better when they were called Green River.

[Radical Activist]

23. Out of all the albums from both bands

I like Nirvana Unplugged the best. I like both bands a lot but I get tired of listening to Nirvana faster than I get tired of Pearl Jam.

[ghostsofgiants]

24. Soundgarden

[Radical Activist]

25. Whatever

Audioslave sucks too. I am so sick of hearing that annoying voice and all the even worse metal imitations he inspired.

[Fleurs du Mal]

26. lol, nirvana of course

[last_texas_dem]

27. Pearl Jam

As a matter of personal taste, I prefer Pearl Jam by far. To begin with, I prefer Eddie Vedder to Kurt Cobain when it comes to frontmen; voice, personality, etc. (I mention this only 'cause I think is plays more of a part in people's musical preferences than they often realize.)

Pearl Jam- All of their albums are good to excellent; I think they've only gotten better as a band the longer they're around. I like that they make so many of their concerts (legally) available on album. Their liberal politics are apparent in much of their music, particularly off the more recent albums, which makes it an even more enjoyable listen. Not to mention, they worked hard to get Kerry into the White House last year.

For what it's worth, I don't think there will ever be a fair vote (realizing it's all a matter of opinion anyway...) on a question like this because of Kurt Cobain's suicide. I'm not saying those who voted for Nirvana are voting solely or even in any significant amount based upon this, but I think it does color pretty much any discussion of Nirvana's music.

[Droopy]

28. I'm with you

I just think Pearl Jam is better. More melodic and innovative. They were dark, but not as dark as Nirvana.

[Downtown Hound]

30. I'm with you

Pearl Jam is way better than Nirvana. I love the people on this thread calling Eddie Vedder self-important. I believe it was Kurt that offed himself with a shotgun because he waz un- hawppy. Awww. Sorry, but Nirvana's lyrics are way more self absorbed and pretentious than anything Pearl Jam has ever done, and at least Eddie had the guts to stick around and do something with his life other than become yet another rock martyr. That act became old around the time of Jim Morrison. Kurt sucks!

[tuvor]

29. Even if all other things were equal (which they're not)

Nirvana had first-mover advantage.

Hmm. Does anyone use that phrase anymore?