#Good songs by pearl jam full#

One of the most recognizable bass line of the 1990s. Playing an almost counter melody to the guitars, Ament’s innovative playing and desire to stretch the conforms of rock bass playing make this Pearl Jam classic not only one of their most interesting tracks, but perhaps their most unique. His refusal to conform to the norm not only in his bass playing but in the type of instruments he uses propels him to a whole other level. While they all work, none strike better than Ament here, playing an upright bass.

#Good songs by pearl jam full#

Sounding more like a country-punk mashup, “Glorified G” is full of sonic surprises. Ament showcases a number of different approaches on this Vitalogy high watermark with every approach working better than it has any right to. The sound of the fretless bass really hits it’s mark as the bass line takes on a whole new life and roars to the front of the mix. Another example of a less is more approach for Ament, his bass bounces during the verses only to set up a more melodic expressive approach during the chorus. This song perfectly exemplifies that.ĭespite how laid back the song originally sounds, “Tremor Christ” has a real immediacy to it. A rhythm section at their finest can make a good song great. Played straighter, the feel and the swing would be off. On “Amongst The Waves” the bouncy backbeat and swing of the drums lock in with the playing of Ament in a way that hoists this song to another level. Great musicians look to serve the song and in this case Ament does that exquisitely.

“No Way” is no different in that sense, but the way Jeff Ament’s bass lines sit in the mix and marry the guitars and drums together perfectly exemplifies his ability to play to the song. Throughout their discography, guitars dominate the majority of Pearl Jam’s songs. Ament almost exclusively plays fretless bass throughout the band’s debut, Ten, but never sounds as fresh nor as flawless as on “Oceans.”

The sound of a fretless bass is one sound that may sound unfamiliar in an alternative rock song. While traditionally the use of the fretless bass is associated with different types of jazz music, Ament really helped the instrument find its role in alternative rock music. It is during the quiet, subdued bridge that Ament demonstrates his true talent and worth to the band on this early massive hit.īass playing serves many different functions depending on the taste of the listener. Doubling down on the main riff during the verse, Ament pours in on the groove, aiding the guitar attack while providing a wall of sound.

Pearl Jam’s early albums are loaded with undeniable grooves that embed themselves into your brain. Alternative Nation has decided to take a look at ten of his best performances. With the twin guitar attack of Stone Gossard and Mike Mcready as well as contributions from frontman Eddie Vedder, it could have been all too easy to lose the bass playing in the mix. Whereas most bands are content simply to allow the bass to provide the steady backbone to the song, Pearl Jam is at its best when the playing of Ament is afforded the opportunity to drive it. Expanding upon the role of a traditional rock bass player with his use of the fretless bass, upright bass and 12 string bass, Ament has set himself apart in terms of his innovative playing style and his songwriting contributions. Read on.There is nothing ordinary about the bass playing of Pearl Jam’s Jeff Ament. However, over the course of the bandâ€™s career its members became noted for their refusal to adhere to traditional music. One of the key bands of the grunge movement in the early 1990s, Pearl Jam was criticized early on as being a corporate cash-in on the alternative rock explosion. The bandâ€™s current drummer is Matt Cameron, also of Soundgarden, who has been with the band since 1998.įormed after the demise of Ament and Gossardâ€™s previous band, Mother Love Bone, Pearl Jam broke into the mainstream with its debut album, Ten. Since its inception, the bandâ€™s line-up has included Eddie Vedder (lead vocals, guitar), Jeff Ament (bass guitar), Stone Gossard (rhythm guitar), and Mike McCready (lead guitar). Pearl Jam is an American rock band that formed in Seattle, Washington, in 1990.