Formed after the demise of Gossard and Ament's previous band, Mother Love Bone, Pearl Jam broke into the mainstream with their debut album, Ten, in 1991. Ten stayed on the Billboard 200 chart for nearly five years, and has gone on to become one of the highest-selling rock records ever, going 13× platinum in the United States. Released in 1993, Pearl Jam's second album, Vs., sold over 950,000 copies in its first week of release, setting the record for most copies of an album sold in its first week of release at the time. Their third album, Vitalogy (1994), became the second-fastest-selling CD in history at the time, with more than 877,000 units sold in its first week.
One of the key bands in the grunge movement of the early 1990s, Pearl Jam's members often shunned popular music industry practices such as making music videos or participating in interviews. The band also sued Ticketmaster, claiming it had monopolized the concert-ticket market. In 2006, Rolling Stone described the band as having "spent much of the past decade deliberately tearing apart their own fame."
Pearl Jam had sold more than 85 million albums worldwide by 2018, including nearly 32 million albums in the United States by 2012, making them one of the best-selling bands of all time. Pearl Jam was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2017 in its first year of eligibility. They were ranked eighth in a readers' poll by Rolling Stone magazine in its "Top Ten Live Acts of All Time" issue. Throughout its career, the band has also promoted wider social and political issues, from pro-abortion rights sentiments to opposition to George W. Bush's presidency. Vedder acts as the band's spokesman on these issues.
Full Wikipedia article: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pearl_Jam
Studio albums
Ten (1991)
Vs. (1993)
Vitalogy (1994)
No Code (1996)
Yield (1998)
Binaural (2000)
Riot Act (2002)
Pearl Jam (2006)
Backspacer (2009)
Lightning Bolt (2013)
Gigaton (2020)
Free Jazz
Pearl Jam Lyrics
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Experiment of jazz
The lyrics of "Free Jazz" by Pearl Jam are concise and to the point. The repeated phrase "jazz, jazz, jazz" is a nod to the genre this song is paying tribute to, but it also serves to emphasize the importance of jazz in the experimentation of music. Jazz is a genre that has always been associated with experimentation and improvisation, and this song acknowledges and celebrates that aspect of it. The second line, "experiment of jazz," reinforces this idea, acknowledging that jazz is not just a genre but an approach to music that allows for endless possibilities and exploration.
Beyond the lyrics, the instrumentation of "Free Jazz" also pays tribute to the genre. The song opens with a saxophone solo, one of the most recognizable instruments in jazz. Throughout the song, the musicians- particularly drummer Matt Cameron- explore different rhythms and patterns, frequently shifting time signatures in a way that is reminiscent of avant-garde jazz. The guitar and bass parts are relatively minimal, allowing the drums and saxophone to take center stage.
Overall, "Free Jazz" is a celebration of a genre that has always pushed the boundaries of what is possible in music. It acknowledges the importance of improvisation and experimentation in jazz while also being a tribute to the genre itself.
Line by Line Meaning
Jazz, jazz, jazz
Jazz, the musical genre, is repeatedly proclaimed and emphasized as the subject of this song.
Experiment of jazz
Jazz is referred to as an 'experiment,' implying that it is an ever-evolving, innovative art form that continuously pushes boundaries and defies convention.
Contributed by Bailey S. Suggest a correction in the comments below.