Another NoNo from NaNo?

For those who don’t know, November has been known as National Novel Writing Month for some time and writers of all likes have participated in NaNoWriMo to finish a novel within a month. It’s spawned two Camp NaNoWriMo months and I’ve participated in both.

Last year, they were in very hot water for how they handled allegations of grooming and sexual misconduct on their forums. They offered a response, adjusted, adjusted it further, and were reactive to what is a very dicey situation. A lot of things have been speculated about NaNo since then and once again they find themselves in hot water with another problematic situation, this time sharing their stance on the use of AI. They emitted their opinion and have already started adjusting and I can't help but feel like they're treading water again.

 

I’d seen the buzz doing the rounds so I read NaNoWrimo's stance on AI, which you can read here. In the last year, the conversation on AI has been increasing as has been the overall use of it. I've seen positive applications of AI technology in certain circles and I'm all for using it ethically...however, the prevalent use of AI as a cost-cutting measure is abundantly clear in countless industries and ignoring that is ignorant at best.

 

Last year there was the actor's strike because studios wanted to pay an initial paltry sum and then use your likeness in perpetuity. With the level of shafting actors and creators get, this is an additional slap in the face. The strike was a no-brainer. During the last two years, the amount of "digital artists" who have started “offering their services” by using generative AI to sell results of prompts has multiplied several times over.

 

Working in advertising I'm seeing the use of AI continue to increase at all levels. I'm seeing applications where I see the benefit and I see others where it is a bit worrying. Working as a copywriter in a creative department, one of my tasks is to come up with concepts or texts to either sell, convince, or communicate.

 

In addition, another big chunk of what I do is translating and transcreating.

 

Translating is just the ask of taking one message from one language and effectively transposing the same message to another.

 

Transcreation is making adjustments to make sure it's culturally relevant. So, for a bare-bones example, in one you try and figure out how to translate the term cherry slushy while with transcreation you go a step beyond and figure out if you need to even change the object so that people can relate to the core idea and not get distracted by what a cherry slushy is.

 

I've seen bilingual catastrophes since I was an English mentor in college over 20 years ago and I still see occasions where people use a text translator, copy-paste, and do NOT proofread or fail to do a proper quality assessment.

 

THIS is one of my main problems with AI and certain tools, i.e. people getting lazy, complacent, or not doing their due diligence. What I've also noticed is certain questions in conversations with internal and external clients that make me raise an eyebrow...

 

I'm human and not perfect and if I see a preference in a term or how to phrase something that is equal to what was written originally but sets someone at ease, the odds are in favor of me being OK with that change as long as it makes sense. I do this so people see that I take their opinion onboard and that I welcome people to challenge what was written to get to the best possible option and yes, a change in a word can make a big difference.

 

But some questions prompt me to use either Google Translate or ChatGPT to verify a gut feeling.

 

Working so long in communications, I sometimes get a peculiar feeling of where a question is coming from, and when I take the original English and pass it through either Google Translate, Linguee, or ChatGPT (among other options), I have often found what I'm being suggested. Sometimes the option works and sometimes it doesn't, and actually, quite often it doesn't work so you need to know why something doesn't work to defend the original text or look for a third option. Here is one example where AI technology is problematic and I'm being ultra-specific because it can be that specific.

 

I see the use in this example and you can make a case that it's trying to make sure that the work was done correctly or trying to give people tools to verify work that's being done rather than just take our word for it that it's OK. What's curious is that humans are questioned more often than the results of a prompt or at least it sometimes feels that way.

 

I've also seen people say they know another language when they clearly don't. From written examples to casting calls where someone thinks that “fake it until you make it” also applies to language. This is why when we do casting calls for Spanish ads, I worry when we get from certain cities, but more on that later.

 

When it comes to design, I've seen many other companies using AI heavily, because the due date for deliverables is too aggressive to do X or Y thing without using every single tool in your arsenal.

 

And things are delivered.

 

And the client sees that they can be delivered.

 

And this brings additional issues.

 

The creative process is ever more rushed. Btw, I'm not saying I haven't been rushed before and haven't done crazy turnaround times. In a job way back, I knew to develop 3 entire creative ad campaigns with Print, Radio, Out of Home, TV Scripts, and digital adaptations within 3 days and then have to present with a fresh face.

 

This

I

Shall

Never

Recommend

 

But we did it.

 

And we did it well.

 

But I always wonder what we could have done with an extra day or two. Maybe cock around? Or maybe a better idea could have come about. Both are possible.

 

The problem is that once you deliver something in a crazy time frame, that becomes the new bar. The use of AI and how I've seen timetables impacted also raises a flag.

 

Clients want more work, quicker, but at the same price, or why not ask for it cheaper? Within this there are a bevy of topics to discuss, I know, but for this case, let's focus on delivering something fast and that becoming a problem. What if you can't deliver? What if another project overlaps?

 

None of this is the client's problem.

 

They have a need (though often it's a want more than a need) and you have to deliver.

 

Period.

 

But hiring more people is not an option.

 

So, you rely on any and all tools to get the job done.

 

Btw, quality and strategy often suffer but this isn't a priority to some clients. I can't say many or all, but none? That I cannot say either.

 

Above are just some of the examples of how AI is impacting the day-to-day life of companies and I'm not even mentioning customer service, research, proposal drafting, hiring processes, tech, and beyond. When you turn back the lens to creative work, meaning books, music, art, film, and more, there are more problems to be had, many of which a lot of people standing to make money wouldn't mind ignoring.

 

NaNoWrimo's stance kind of hints that they can't full-fledged say no or cancel the use of AI or any technology. They have since slightly adjusted their message to include the paragraph that's highlighted in this screenshot.

 

So, is AI a big umbrella technology? Yes.

 

Is its use being regulated? No or it’s just starting.

 

Are people taking advantage of this? Yes.

 

Beyond clicking a box that says you didn't use AI to generate artwork or content, are large companies like Amazon doing anything to check for the use of AI? Unclear.

 

Are people using AI to develop manuscripts, covers, translations, and other creative materials? Yes. We don't know to what extent, but it's been happening and will continue to happen and with some worrying results.

 

Some people might make a case that generative AI can’t produce quality work. However, in 2022 the winner of an art contest won using AI generated art.

 

People were not happy.

 

Also in the last 2 years, it’s more common to see digital artists struggle to find freelance work. Dismissing any correlation seems irresponsible. You can make a case for some applications. However, other applications are extremely concerning because the intent of companies to streamline processes, cut costs, and reduce personnel is blatant. In the creative spectrum, the impact is also being felt...and it's not to make things better. Quicker and more efficient? Yes. But better…that depends on what you mean by better.

 

When it comes to books, working with artists who don't use AI and working in tandem is an option, especially if you want a unique cover that breaks through the clutter and that can stand out from the shelf. There are also options for people without the means to pay for a cover to develop simple covers for books.

 

In my experience, I’ve used Canva and I’ve done so without using their AI tools, instead using simple elements to capture the essence of the book. When I’ve needed something more complicated, I’ve set aside a budget and hired illustrators and artists. Below are some of my books.

 

Books 1 and 2, I made those covers.

Book 3 was designed by Melissa Lettis

Book 4 was designed by Karelys Luna

 

NaNoWrimo wants to make a case for using Ai to develop covers to even the field...I disagree with this stance because AI as used in this scenario is generative AI which feeds off original and copyrighted work. I would suggest keeping it simpler or looking for more cost-effective options, like pre-made covers instead of using generative AI. But that's my opinion. I say this because if you save money and pay for the right person, that's doable and if you put in the time and effort, you may still get a decent to great cover. If you also find the right person, then how much is it worth it to use the right person for the job? For the Human Cycle, I worked with José Arocho and he was able to navigate the ask amazingly well and I wouldn’t have it any other way.

 

Some people may say that I used stock images or vector illustrations from a website to make my simpler covers. This is true, but I read the usage rights and the images and illustrations/elements I've chosen were either clear to use, or I paid for their use.

 

That's very different from going to AI platforms, typing in a prompt, downloading the result, and putting your name on the artwork without researching anything. If you choose to do this because regulations aren't set in place yet, that's your choice, but know that you may be served with a Cease & Desist sooner rather than later. And again, it's your choice.

 

My choice is to work with artists when I have the means and to do simple covers when I do not. My choice is to also work with editors from here on out because I've seen the value of their work and have found options of people I trust and prefer that to depending solely on software.

 

AI offers many murky waters to navigate and will impact every aspect of life in the foreseeable future. Skynet analogies will come full force and you will have choices to make. For me, I shall keep writing by hand and transcribing because it's part of my process. I shall also keep working directly with artists because I see my covers and I don't see any like them...and that makes me happy.

 

At the end of the day, if you have to spin something to not feel bad about your decision, then what does that say about what you're doing?

 

That's for you to answer.

 

Peace, love, and maki rolls.

4ll 4bo4rd for 44

Time is a curious thing. Sometimes it crawls. Other times it goes at light speed and without realizing it, a couple of weeks (or months) seem to go by in a blur. This last year has had a lot of those stop-and-go moments where you think you have an idea of how things will flow and life says, “Oh! You had plans? That’s cute.”

 

That said, looking back on year 43, even with challenges, I got a lot done and also enjoyed a lot of things. A lot happens in a year and we sometimes don’t realize how much we get done because we’re onto the next thing. By the way, it’s not like I’m going to suddenly change and be all feng shui, namaste, and chill. I’m a curious cat and have always been a bit bananas, so I fully expect some shenanigans to come my way and to produce my own set of shenanigans. I may have no idea what the future holds, but what I do know is that every day I choose to begin and end the day by giving thanks.

 

Thanks for the good.

Thanks for the not so good.

Thanks for the amazing.

Thanks for the random (and BOY do I encounter a lot of random and LOVE it).

Thanks for the quirky.

Thanks for the silly.

Thanks for the inspirational.

Thanks for the confusing.

Thanks for the challenges and the solutions I’m able to land on.

Thanks for the solutions that come from others and the maturity to welcome them.

Thanks for health.

Thanks for the fun.

Thanks for the thoughtful.

Thanks for the sweet.

Thanks for the patience.

Thanks for the opportunities to work on my patience.

Thanks for the gray hairs (long may they remain and they can stay if they help keep the rest in check and in place).

Thanks for the details.

Thanks for the human moments.

Thanks for the recommendations.

Thanks for the messages.

Thanks for the super tasty adventures.

Thanks for the laughs when something I try is terrible.

Thanks for the hugs.

Thanks for the jokes.

Thanks for the tears.

Thanks for the laughs.

Thanks for the insights.

Thanks for the support.

And thanks for love from so many places, time zones, and countries.

 

Of course, there are days when the daisies don’t smell as vibrant and the sun feels a bit dim. But on other days, daffodils dance, the sun tag teams with the moon to both show off, the food tastes better, the air smells beautifully, and life flows. Life offers you both, so recognize both and if you can’t enjoy it, try to learn from it…or use it as a plot point for a story or inspiration for a song or a poem.

 

It’s been a year of many achievements, from winning my first ad award and other work opportunities (more on this later), to giving writing courses to students in Puerto Rico and Pennsylvania, and a writing course to people in several time zones, to finishing the Human Cycle, to getting back to sending Estrada Crates, to personal adventures, like having my first trip with my oldest brother to see Peter Gabriel in Chicago, to going to Puerto Rico with the Captain to be with family, and countless other things.

 

365+ days give us the opportunity to do a LOT of things and experience a spectrum of emotions. Here’s to embracing all of it.

 

44 feels like a great number and it seems to encompass abundance in many ways. I have several firsts I’ll be pursuing so let’s see how that goes, and if you can spare a sec to wish me luck, it’s always welcome. Regardless, thank you for joining me for this or any read. For being in touch. For connecting. For accepting my expression of humanity and for sharing yours. There are plans ahead and I hope you’ll join me for them. But for now, I’ll focus on giving thanks.

 

It was a great year.

 

Here’s to making this new one even better.

 

Peace, love, and maki rolls.

 

 

4ll 4bo4rd for 44

 

Time is a curious thing. Sometimes it crawls. Other times it goes at lightspeed and without realizing it, a couple of weeks (or months) seem to go by in a blur. This last year has had a lot of those stop-and-go moments where you think you have an idea of how things will flow and life says, “Oh! You had plans? That’s cute.”

 

That said, looking back on year 43, even with challenges, I got a lot done and also enjoyed a lot of things. A lot happens in a year and we sometimes don’t realize how much we get done because we’re onto the next thing. By the way, it’s not like I’m going to suddenly change and be all feng shui, namaste, and chill. I’m a curious cat and have always been a bit bananas, so I fully expect some shenanigans to come my way and to produce my own set of shenanigans. I may have no idea what the future holds, but what I do know is that every day I choose to begin and end the day by giving thanks.

 

Thanks for the good.

Thanks for the not so good.

Thanks for the amazing.

Thanks for the random (and BOY do I encounter a lot of random and LOVE it).

Thanks for the quirky.

Thanks for the silly.

Thanks for the inspirational.

Thanks for the confusing.

Thanks for the challenges and the solutions I’m able to land on.

Thanks for the solutions that come from others and the maturity to welcome them.

Thanks for health.

Thanks for the fun.

Thanks for the thoughtful.

Thanks for the sweet.

Thanks for the patience.

Thanks for the opportunities to work on my patience.

Thanks for the gray hairs (long may they remain and they can stay if they help keep the rest in check and in place).

Thanks for the details.

Thanks for the human moments.

Thanks for the recommendations.

Thanks for the messages.

Thanks for the super tasty adventures.

Thanks for the laughs when something I try is terrible.

Thanks for the hugs.

Thanks for the jokes.

Thanks for the tears.

Thanks for the laughs.

Thanks for the insights.

Thanks for the support.

And thanks for love from so many places, time zones, and countries.

 

Of course, there are days when the daisies don’t smell as vibrant and the sun feels a bit dim. But on other days, daffodils dance, the sun tag teams with the moon to both show off, the food tastes better, the air smells beautifully, and life flows. Life offers you both, so recognize both and if you can’t enjoy it, try to learn from it…or use it as a plot point for a story or inspiration for a song or a poem.

 

It’s been a year of many achievements, from winning my first ad award and other work opportunities (more on this later), to giving writing courses to students in Puerto Rico and Pennsylvania, and a writing course to people in several time zones, to finishing the Human Cycle, to getting back to sending Estrada Crates, to personal adventures, like having my first trip with my oldest brother to see Peter Gabriel in Chicago, to going to Puerto Rico with the Captain to be with family, and countless other things.

 

365+ days give us the opportunity to do a LOT of things and experience a spectrum of emotions. Here’s to embracing all of it.

 

44 feels like a great number and it seems to encompass abundance in many ways. I have several firsts I’ll be pursuing so let’s see how that goes, and if you can spare a sec to wish me luck, it’s always welcome. Regardless, thank you for joining me for this or any read. For being in touch. For connecting. For accepting my expression of humanity and for sharing yours. There are plans ahead and I hope you’ll join me for them. But for now, I’ll focus on giving thanks.

 

It was a great year.

 

Here’s to making this new one even better.

 

Peace, love, and maki rolls.

 

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Brindando con palabras

En esta ocasión quiero celebrar a nuestra Madre en verso. Así que si me regalan un minuto o dos y me acompañan, se lo agradezco.

-

Contigo y punto

 

No soy reflejo, ni sombra.

Soy amor destilado.

Una de tres joyas

De una piedra madre.

Una de tres ramas

Que la raíz sigue nutriendo.

Soy un deseo,

Un sueño,

Una sorpresa,

Una sonrisa inesperada pero familiar.

 

Me veo en sus ojos

Como ella se veía en los míos.

 

Compartimos rasgos de una sonrisa

También terquedad y cariño.

Compartimos fuego que arde

Y agua mansa que calma.

Compartimos alma

Compartimos corazón

Compartimos nombre

Y compartimos vida.

 

Porque lo bueno se comparte

Y de ella recibí lo mejor.

 

El amor perdura

Las memorias viven

Y en sueños te sigo viendo.

 

En mi voz te escucho

En mi paciencia te recuerdo

En el olvido queda el tiempo.

 

Un minuto

Cinco años

Una vida

 

En mis palabras te consigo

Y en mis cuentos me descubro

Porque cuando se trata del amor

Descubrir se trata de explorar y develar.

 

Por siempre conmigo

Por siempre contigo

Por siempre y punto.

- 

Gracias por leer y acompañarnos. Dos abrazos y un adiós.

El Hijo de Marietta

Five for one or 1,827

What is a second?

 

What is a minute?

 

What is a day?

 

What are 1,827 days?

 

That’s the time that’s passed since we last had Mom in this plane of existence, give or take a minute or a lifetime. I think of her and the pain is not any lesser or farther. Although I may be more comfortable with it because I keep Her so present, I can’t say it’s easier. That’s the wrong word for what I feel. Instead, I lean into the feeling to better understand it.

 

It’s not a void or an emptiness because her love is incapable of leaving a void. And there’s pain with that love, of course. How could there not be? But I speak to Her every single day. I go on walks and find a moment to catch Her up on things. I journal every night and I write to my personal trinity: God, then Mom, then myself. It’s a practice that has helped me more than I can describe.

 

There’s a common quote that says something along the lines of, “It’s not goodbye, it’s see you later.” I believe in this quote because I think there is something out there after we pass on. Although it’s possible that there’s nothing, it’s just as possible that there is something. What’s true is that 5 years after She’s passed, I still feel Her. People write me from all over my life and all over the world to tell me they were thinking about Mom or they dreamt about Her. People normally preface this by saying, I don’t mean to bring this up but I thought/dreamt/talked to your Mom.

 

There is nothing to apologize and I’m thankful for anyone kind enough to reach out to say something like this. I appreciate people sharing memories and stories I didn’t know about. I treasure every new picture someone finds and sends along. I am treasure every time someone reads anything I wrote and tell me they love Mrs. Fawn.

 

I take particular care in everything I write with characters inspired by people I love and if Mrs. Fawn is amazing, it’s because of Mom. There’s as much magic to the character as there is love, whimsicalness, depth, vulnerability, and strength. As a writer, although I know I can get better, I know that I cannot write with more love in certain circumstances and for certain characters. In hindsight, I realize that I wrote Her just outside our existence and swimming in a river of time because I needed that. I’ll always need that because I need writing to make sense of what I live and Mom helps me make sense of what I live. Some readers find out Mrs. Fawn is based on Mom and many say they wish they could have met Her. I reply by saying that in a way, they did.

 

1,827 days might be a bleep in the cosmos or feel like a lifetime. Maybe it’s a little bit of everything and not just one thing. What we feel and how we feel it is up to us though. When someone loses a loved one, I never say, “I know exactly what you’re going through.” I never say it because it might be a nice sentiment, but it’s false. Only you know how you feel and allowing yourself to feel is something I shall always encourage.

 

For Mom, I feel love, joy, melancholy, laughter, sadness, pride, anger, gentleness, strength, vulnerability, confusion, clarity, and everything in between. I feel this and more. I experience this and more. And I allow myself to feel whatever I have to feel. Life is a river. We might pick things up along the way, but forever much we want to get back to where we were, it flows on and ahead there is the sea. So a part of me thinks we’re giving Mom a good lead so she can find us the best places to surf, to dine, to share a glass of wine or its metaphysical equivalent. I think this in part because it gives me peace and in part because it’s possible.

 

What happens next? We don’t know.

 

But what’s happened? That’s our treasure and I’m proud of our crown jewel and all the amazing gems I’ve found along the way. And I’m thankful to you for reading and giving this text a moment of your time, which is the greatest gift of all.

 

Peace, love, and lemon cake

 

 

Pearl Jam albums ranked by JD Estrada

Personal opinion is wonderful, because it means we can agree to disagree, which goes for pretty much any and every list you can think of. This list is based on my experience with the band and having listened to their discography extensively. This means that the list has been impacted with how I came across an album and how I engaged with it. I shall add some context of how I came across it and what my fav tracks are on each album, but I have to say up front, I’m extremely biased and if there’s a reason I love Pearl Jam, it’s because they rarely have throwaway tracks in their albums. Also, I love all of their albums so if there’s anything you particularly hate about the band, then my apologies, this is my band and I see far more that I love rather than anything else.

In addition, I will share my experience with the albums and how they’ve evolved over time. If you think Pearl Jam has not released anything good after Vs., then this blog post is not for you. If instead you’re a fan or are just curious to read what my relationship is with my favorite band, then read along. Get comfy though, this won’t be a short post.

11. Lightning Bolt: 

In the last spot is Pearl Jam’s 10th album and only for the reason, that there needs to be an order to this list. Lightning Bolt is by no means a bad album although I shall always question the decision to not close the album with Yellow Moon, which might be this album’s BEST track. Production here has been questioned on occasion and I think more than anything, track selection and sequencing has this album on the lower spectrum because its high points are marvelous, whether it’s the gut-punching Mind your Manners or the straightforward ballad Sirens. But the fact is that there could have been some songs cut from the final track listing.

Top tracks: Yellow Moon, Mind Your Manners, Sirens, Lightning Bolt


10. Riot Act: 

I think by far the most underappreciated album in PJ’s catalogue is Riot Act, and I get why it happens. With 15 songs, there was room to cut. That said, first three tracks are a one-two-three combo that rocks. Can’t Keep is beautifully pensive, Save You kicks it up several notches, and flowing into Loveboat Captain completes a sequence I absolutely love. but the following two tracks lose a bit of steam and direction until we go into the bar friendly I Am Mine followed by the beautifully subdued Thumbing My Way before shifting into a Peter Gabriel worthy track in You Are, among my favorite tracks on the album just because it’s so different. Then we have another cluster of tracks that are good enough, but pale in comparison with the blues heavy ½ Full that later switches to the very soulful Arc which serves as a gorgeous intro to one of their most beautiful and heartbreaking numbers, All or None.


Top tracks: All or None, Can’t Keep, You Are, Loveboat Captain, Save You, ½ Full


9. Gigaton:

 

Their most recent release polarized listeners in so many ways that it shows that administrating a Pearl Jam forum has to be one of the most thankless jobs in existence. There is absolutely nothing wrong with Gigaton except that they’ve made better albums. They experimented, they pushed the envelope, and they largely succeeded. Truth be told, some tracks on this album helped me a LOT in 2020 just to cope with what was happening worldwide. I was struggling to pick the next three albums and seeing the track listing is what led me to put Gigaton in the ninth spot, but it was by no means an easy choice because I do think that some of their all-time best tracks are on this album with every track at least getting on base if not hitting a home run. Of note are the anthemic punk rocker Superblood Wolfmoon, the grunge-ready Quick Escape, and the ultra-polarizing Dance of the Clairvoyants. You either love or hate that last track and for me, it’s a track that sticks with me and I dig Stone’s bass riff and the whole vibe. But in between these tracks is Alright, a track that made me cry the first time I heard it and that is very special to me. We can go deep into why it means so much, but that would merit its own blog post. Of note in the tracks that aren’t top shelf is the drumming on Take the Long Way. Just for Matt’s drumming alone, this track should be highlighted. But where the album possibly shines the brightest is in its two closing numbers. Retrograde soars and with good headphones or a kick ass sound system, even more so. It’s a gorgeous track that only comes behind the already mentioned Alright and the album closer, River Cross, which almost sings like a healing mantra or a prayer, or something in between. From a band that often knows how to close an album, this is among their best.

Top tracks: Superblood Wolfmoon, Dance of the Clairvoyants (for those who like it), Alright, Retrograde, River Cross


8. Back Spacer: 

 

At just under 37 minutes, this is by far Pearl Jam’s leanest album and they truly did some editing here, presenting one of their tightest albums with some of their most beautiful tracks. No throwaways on this album, just tracks that will connect more with you and that’s the tendency on this list from here on out. I have trouble finding a track that doesn’t make sense and the sequence of tracks itself sings. Highest marks HAVE to go to Just Breathe and The End just on a lyrical level. Sure, they’re pretty much solo Eddie tracks, but that doesn’t mean they aren’t beautiful. What I love about this album is seeing where a track started and how it ended. The Fixer was originally over 5 minutes and Eddie trimmed it into a radio-ready track. I appreciate both versions though I can’t find that demo anymore. But between that and how Speed of Sound ended up, I love the evolution of those tracks. Then you have some classic PJ rockers like the Devo infused Got Some and the punkerrific Supersonic. All in all, super solid.

Top tracks: Just Breathe, The End, Speed of Sound, Amongst the Waves, The Fixer, Got Some


7. S/T Avocado: 

 

Another drastically underappreciated Pearl Jam album is their 2006 Self-Titled album. If you ask me, there are NO weak tracks on this album. The hard tracks hit HARD, which include the first four tracks. Life Wasted is a solid opener, World Wide Suicide is a hell of a follow-up, Comatose is one of their best punk rock songs, and ending that with the Evenflow-esque Severed Hand, you’ve got a hell of an opening. Marker in the Sand follows and I just love the whole flow of that song as well as Army Reserve further down in the album and how both those songs mark a shift in tone, with particular praise for Matt’s drums on these tracks and also on Unemployable. Gone is a love letter to the Who, Come Back is another heart-achingly beautiful track and finishing the album with Inside Job is a stroke of genius. I've always wondered if Mike had anything else for that ultra bright riff at the end of the album but so far, nothing. The only tracks I didn’t mention were Big Wave which makes me WANT to ride big waves and Parachutes, which is a curiously polarizing track. Very Beatles in feel, I think it is a fun addition to add variety to what is an all-around solid album.


Top Tracks: World Wide Suicide, Comatose, Severed Hand, Marker in the Sand, Come Back, Inside Job

6. Binaural: 

 

PJ’s sixth album began the whole Matt Cameron Vs. Jack Irons debate, which is as silly as it is pointless. Matt has been the main drummer for Pearl Jam for 24 years and people STILL bring this up. I mention this because I feel Binaural is the first truly polarizing album they released, which is odd because more than playing to their strengths, this album explores some very interesting new territory for the band and it’s an album I’ve grown to love MUCH more as time has passed. The opening trio of Breakerfall-God’s Dice-Evacuation has the band opening up a can of whoop ass to show off Matt’s chops. I mean, Breakerfall just slams into you and the groove in Evacuation is definitely not something we’d heard from the band. But those three tracks seem like just an aperitif before the next trio of songs: Light Years and Thin Air are both from Stone and they are absolutely beautiful lyrically and musically. In between those tracks, you have Nothing as it Seems written by Jeff who also wrote Sleight of Hand. Both tracks are broody and dark in a very different way and some of my favorite tracks off the album. From Nothing as it seems, you have to highlight Mike's guitar. Grievance is a classic Eddie rocker and I truly appreciate the broad spectrum of feels on this album. Soon Forget is a silly little ukulele song and Parting Ways sounds like it could have been track #3 on their Merkin Ball single. It’s an album that explores new territory and one I’ve always felt a LOT of people slept on because they got off the PJ train two albums prior.


Top Tracks: Breakerfall, Light Years, Nothing as it Seems, Thin Air, Sleight of Hand, Parting Ways


5. Vitalogy: 

 Five on my list might surprise a lot of people, after all, it’s the only one that’s won them a Grammy for the music (their only other Grammy for the packaging on Lightning Bolt), but at this point in the list, all the albums on here are a deep part of my DNA. Vitalogy is the first album led by Eddie and it shows. You can feel the tension here and soon before the release, Dave Abbruzzese was fired and the power shift went from Stone to Ed. It’s a gritty album and has to me what sounds like a raw classic 70’s rock feel to it, especially on Last Exit and Not for You. Spin the Black Circle has absolutely no f***ks to give and rips your head off and has to be among the top 3 punk tracks by the band. Tremor Christ is broody and a song that’s grown on me big time, because lyrically it flexes some fascinating muscles and it just feels like a foggy hot evening where you’re trying to find your footing and hoping you don’t fall into an open manhole. Nothingman is a song that immediately connected with me and it’s curious that the music came from Jeff, because it feels so intimate. Whipping and Satan’s Bed are both dirty rockers and fun, but you can see that below the main lines there are some interesting guitar dynamics that are often overlooked. Corduroy is a stadium ready track that doesn’t sound like your typical anthem, but it is and you just need to be in ONE concert where they play it to see how much it rocks live. I also really like how Pry, to leads into it. The album does have its experimental moments, where some work like Bugs (quirky, random AF) and Aye Davanita which even inspired a short story I’ll be rereleasing in a future short story collection. Other experiments barely get recognized as a track, meaning that the de facto last track Hey Foxymophandlemama, That's Me might be considered by many as a waste of tape. Seriously, if I’ve heard that full track 6 times in my life, it’s a lot. But then you have instant classics like Better Man and the stunning Immortality. All in all, a hell of an album that shows a band fighting through things and still making magic.

Top Tracks: Nothing Man, Better Man, Corduroy, Spin the Black Circle, Last Exit, Not For You Immortality

4. Yield: 

 

Number four is what is probably my favorite Pearl Jam album cover and some of my favorite songs by the band, but as a whole, other albums rank higher. Yield sparks a moment where it’s not that my love for Pearl Jam was rekindled, more so that it reached critical mass. The album released with the Single Video Theory VHS documentary where they walk you through the process of the album and where I was able to truly appreciate the band’s process more, including moments of creative tension that resolve into beautiful solutions (just see Ed and Stone arguing about what to do coming out of a solo with the eBow on Wishlist. Ed is the singer but has his own guitar tricks, which was pretty cool to see.) How I can describe this album is that you feel Pearl Jam truly gelling. Opening with Brain of J, rather than go for a typical 1-2 punch, they shift gears constantly but in a way where it flows. Brain of J rocks, Faithful bides it’s time and Ed reaches for the sky with his vocals, No Way is a broody track, and then we lift off with my favorite Pearl Jam song, Given to Fly. As soon as I heard Mike’s riff and Jack’s drums I knew this would be one of my favorite songs in my life and Mike describes it perfectly, the song building and building like a wave until it crashes. It’s a variation of Led Zeppelin’s Going to California but feels completely different and for me, much more elevated on the vocal melodies. Then again, I’m a fan and biased, so pardon me for any superlatives. Do the Evolution keeps that grit seen on Vitalogy and seeing that song live in Cleveland was next level. When there’s a church chorus part, the entire crowd went apeshit and they turned on the lights. I get giddy thinking about it. MFC is a super fun track that always takes me by surprise when it comes on. Maybe it’s Jack intro on the previous intro track but it just settles in and fits like a glove. Low Light is a beautiful song with a riff that’s trickier than you think. If you try and learn it on guitar, you’ll stumble more than once because quite a few times you want to play an extra chord that’s not there. How the hell the band doesn’t mess that song up more often, I don’t know. Then you have In Hiding with beautiful music from Stone and soaring vocals by Ed. As for All Those Yesterdays, it’s another in a LONG list of epic album closers. It rounds everything up and wraps it in a nice bow, albeit a more unconventional one than their previous four albums. 

As for Wishlist, it's a gentle and beautiful  track with lyrics from the heart. 

Top Tracks: Given to Fly, In Hiding, Wishlist, Faithful, Brain of J., Do the Evolution, Low Light, All Those Yesterdays 

3. Vs.: 

 

Pearl Jam’s second album is a hugggggggee F U to popular demand, MTV, studios, and critics. It is raw, aggressive, and goes for the throat as often as it comes in for a caress. As far as album openers go, this to me is the best on any Pearl Jam album and I don’t say that lightly. Go does not mess around and it will get you in the mood for a fight after that crazy intro and first riff. If you omit the words that repeat, the lyrics for Animal includes all of 36 words. It is an angry song and it is animalistic in its assault even if it minimalistic in its lyrics, which is the perfect setup for an album that then decides to keep you guessing. There is no other Jeremy, no other Evenflow, no Alive. This is NOT Ten and they will remind you with track after track. The acoustic driven Daughter has become a concert favorite for the way they interlace other songs into it, but by itself, the track is beautiful until you pay attention to the lyrics, because it tells the tale of misunderstood kids that endure abuse in the hopes of disciplining them. It’s a deep song that people sing because it’s catchy but that includes a whole lot of layers. Glorified G has to be one of the most upbeat anti-gun songs you’ll ever hear and I love the song AND the message. Next up is Dissident which is a classic Pearl Jam rocker. Deep lyrics and a complex story behind it. It’s a stunner and it’s heartbreaking on several levels while still being a rocker. Then you have W.M.A which has some groovy tribal rhythms going and Dave flexing some big ole drummer muscles. It’s a fascinating song to follow the rhythm to. Then comes one of Pearl Jam’s heaviest songs if not the heaviest in their entire catalogue, Blood. Ed absolutely shreds his vocal chords and the song is pure adrenaline before settling into a little funk before coming back again with the sledgehammer. Rearviewmirror is what paves the way for anthemic Pearl Jam rockers akin to Leash a bit further in the album. The guitars on BOTH those tracks hit hard and show that Vs. was definitely their heavy album. In between these tracks, you have the dark broody Rats, the smile-inducing and rather long-titled Elderly Woman Behind the Counter in a Small Town, before closing out the album with the stunning Indifference, a song that is haunting and comes back to me in days when I’m not feeling particularly high but still figure it’s best to push through. Lyrically it’s a song that hits hard and one that’s very special to me. As an album, it cemented their path forward.

Top Tracks: Go, Daughter, Glorified G, Blood, Rearviewmirror, Elderly woman, Indifference, Dissident


2. Ten: 

 

If you know me, you’ll know why Ten is #2. As it stands, it’s still their best album and I’m not saying it as a putdown to a stellar discography, I’m simply stating facts. The Doors never did better than their debut, neither did Guns N’ Roses, neither did a bunch of bands, but Pearl Jam has never set out to do a sequel to Ten or repeat themselves in any way. They set a crazy high water mark and then decided to stray from formulas, guarantees, and instead have pushed themselves to create a catalogue that is deep, rich, and endlessly rewarding. That doesn’t change the fact that it’s one of the greatest debut albums of all time. What is amazing about Ten and Pearl Jam as a band is the emotional range in their music. Ed might have a deep baritone and a hell of a yell, but the emotional vulnerability either lyrically on songs like Release and Black is one aspect, but so are his falsettos on songs like Oceans. As a story, Ten is a delight to play through and it’s not a particularly short album, clocking at over 50 minutes thanks to the end segue from Release to Master Slave. But there is no throwaway track or even a track that isn’t top shelf. This album starts and doesn’t relent. It is intense (Deep-Porch), anthemic (Alive-Even Flow), rocking (Once-Why Go-Garden), beautiful (Oceans-Release), heart breaking (Black), political + angry (Jeremy). It came out to compete with Nevermind, Facelift, and Badmotorfinger and helped take down a musical genre. It is gigantic, an instant classic, and came about because the drummer of one band gave a tape to the surviving members of another band, magic happened, and the rest is history. Although it has eleven tracks and a secret track, the title is appropriate because in a phrase, it is a perfect ten.

Top Tracks: the Whole Damn Thing



1. No Code: 

 

If you know me, you know this is my favorite album and it’s for several reasons. I’ll start with the least obvious reason first: it’s the Pearl Jam album I can listen to the most times on Repeat All in a row. There are no hidden tracks. No gimmicks. No intros. There are 13 songs, it is almost 50 minutes long, and it never drags, never skips, never hits a bleep, all while exploring a vast musical and emotional field. I compare No Code to Led Zeppelin 3, also a misunderstood gem that is better than people give it credit for. The album opens with the contemplative Sometimes. It’s tender, gentle, and intimate, lulling you into a false sense of security before hitting you with the uppercut of Hail, Hail. No one makes rockers like this. It’s unconventional and only something Pearl Jam can do and not only do I love it, I love that it leads to two of Jack Irons’s best drum songs. Who You Are is existential and the beat just flows and swells, grooves, grows, and keeps you on your toes. It’s a small masterpiece for me and a song that REALLY invited me to pay attention to what’s going on below the obvious and on the drums. In My Tree is probably in my top 20 PJ songs and top 5 drums on any of their songs and only Jack could play it like it’s meant to be played from what I’ve heard. I’ve seen alt versions of it but nothing tops the original and it shows it’s a tricky bastard of a song, which makes me love it more. Smile follows and it’s a song about bromance and quirky in a way only Jeff Ament can bring to life, him playing lead guitar on it, which is another reason I love this album. Stone sings lead vocals on Mankind, Ed plays a sitar and harmonica, Mike plays piano, and it feels like an organic jam session. Off He Goes is a gorgeous although self-deprecating track where the lyrics talk about the challenges of being friends with someone who is difficult. Habit is a punk rock nod to their previous album while Red Mosquito is one of their oddest songs, and one I love so much that I included a red mosquito as a tribute in my first novel. Going for a gritty 1 minute punk rock number, Lukin only exceeds the minute mark by two seconds. That said, for a punk song, Lukin has a LOT of groove in it. After that 1 minute rocker, Pearl Jam offer one of their finest tracks ever in Present Tense. This song has always hit home but the more I live, the more it resonates. Probably top 10 PJ tracks for me and it got some traction thanks to the Last Dance documentary. After a pretty deep look into life and everything in it, we switch to Stone Gossard singing lead vocals in a straight forward garage rock track that I wish they would do more of. But the little blip of sunshine from Mankind then shifts to a very meditative, spoken word, dream-state track of I’m Open, which I think it’s the first time ever that you’re invited to let the lyrics lead the way throughout the mantra. Finally, the album finishes with the beautiful Around the Bend and I’ll just sum it up by saying that it’s one of the songs I want played at my funeral. This album is special for so many reasons, including how I came across it. I was 16 and at the mall when being at the mall was a joyful experience. I was at a record store, browsing, perusing, and suddenly in the New Release track I see this weird album with pictures on it. I pick it up, no track listing, no title, nothing. When I flip it around, I see a sticker that says NEW ALBUM BY PEARL JAM. Needless to say, I almost lost my mind and they had put the album out to sell the next day and I had to beg the clerk to sell me the album. After my best puppy dog eyes, he acquiesced and I went from just killing some time to finding what is one of the most important albums in my life and one I listened to hours before most of the world had the chance to. And that my friends, is just a slice of the magic that is Pearl Jam in my life.

Top Tracks: The whole thing, but notably In My Tree, Who you Are, Sometimes, Red Mosquito, Present Tense, Around the Bend


Now all that’s left is to listen to the new album. Where will it rank? Can't wait to see.