Track Listing

1. Go
2. Animal
3. Daughter
4. Glorified G
5. Dissident
6. WMA
7. Blood
8. Rearviewmirror
9. Rats
10. Elderly Woman Behind The Counter In A Small Town
11. Leash
12. Indifference

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #2987 in Music
• Released on: 2001-01-01
• Number of discs: 1

CD Description
Although it topped the pop charts and sold 5 million copies, Pearl Jam's stunning second album is unknown to much of the rock audience. Recoiling from the octopus-like grasp of the music industry, the group refused to support VS. with either videos, singles or a major tour, and rock radio was givenjust two acoustic-powered ballads, "Daughter" and "Elderly Woman Behind The Counter In A Small Town", as so-called emphasis tracks.
The former was about a sexually abused younggirl promising to rise above her past, the latter about a forgotten woman with nothing but long gone memories. The restof the album rocked significantly harder--harder and more raw, in fact, than anything on TEN--and zoomed in on a cusp between those two stories, on moments when outlaws, outcasts,the dispossessed and the disaffected were being called to political judegement. The woman sheltering a "Dissident" gives in and turns him over to the police. But the abused subjects of "Go" and "Rearviewmirror"--two of the album's most musically heroic songs--manage to turn the tables and get away.
There was a suffocating bleakness to much of VS. (in "Rats", humans are compared most unfavourably to those animals)that would have dragged down a lesser rock band. But singerEddie Vedder had the support of one of the most transcendent of all classic-rock bands, with a supple rhythm section and two creatively complicated guitarists equally at home withthe thrashy pulse of "Go", the delicate prettiness of "Elderly Woman.".. (check out the layered, stereo guitar work there) and the new wave angularity of a song like "Glorified G". It was serious, but also serious rock and roll.

Customer Reviews

Raw beauty for the head and heart
Following the sweeping epic "Ten" was always going to be tough . Or so we thought . The boys from Pearl Jam showed how easy it all was when they released this blistering album , and consequently held the record for five years for the fastest selling album in the world ..EVER. Moonwalk on that thought Mr Michael Jackson. It's easy to see why "Vs" struck a chord with so many people - it has the intimate beauty of acoustic numbers such as "Daughter" ; the percussion led anger and passion as typified by "WMA" , "Animal " and "Rearviewmirror" , and perhaps the most poignant love song they had at this stage penned in "Dissident". Eddie's vocals are wounded and howling , yet that rich baritone is always bubbling under the surface - proving why he is the greatest rock singer of his or any other generation. The lyrics are insightful and heartwrenching as always. On "WMA " (White Middle American ) Vedder raises the political stakes and declares how easy the affluent white population have it - "He won the lottery , by being born.... police stopped my brother today ". A singer with a song and a cause to sing. The music is tight and fluid and aches to be played loud. It rushes out of the starting box with "Go" and never goes flaccid for a second. You end up shell shocked and breathless , but I guarantee you will be reaching straight for that repeat button before you know it. Truly astonishing.

Fantastic album at Pearl Jam's peak
Much more varied and punk orientated than it's predecessor Ten. Tracks such as Leash and Animal will live in Rock history, but acoustic moments show Pearl Jam's softer side in Daughter and Small Town. This album epitomises the Rock scene of the early 90's, moppimg up all the kids who did not relate to the more aggressive Nirvana In Utero. A Fantastic work which shows Pearl Jam at their VERY best!

Jam packed with goodness
I bought this album on impulse and I've never looked back. I would rate Eddie Vedder up there with Kurt Cobain and Billy Corgan, for having the most influence on me. Classic riffs and lyrics that demand a certain, awe-inspiring respect. The intensity of 'Go' the opening track sets the standard for the rest of the album, 'Daughter' and 'Elderly Woman...' will just blow your mind.
Jonny's reccomendation: BUY THIS ALBUM!!