Battle of the Grunge: Pearl Jam vs Nirvana vs Alice in Chain

[KSig RC]

Yeah, this isn't close - Pearl Jam's relevance is entirely predicated on Nirvana, and the fact that PJ has released approximately half a good album's worth of material since the 1990s shouldn't earn them bonus points.

Nirvana is somewhat overrated, sure, but they're still the top of this pile. For proof, check out the "Live at Reading" reissue - just unfathomably good.

I get the appeal of Pearl Jam, and they're a generation's "Favorite Band"-type of band, but Nirvana did more with markedly less (and I'll admit Nirvana may benefit from not being around to suck in their later years).

[ZTAngel]

Originally Posted by KSig RC

and I'll admit Nirvana may benefit from not being around to suck in their later years.

Totally agree with this. I've always said that if Kurt hadn't died that Nirvana would not be nearly as big. His death pushed the band into a "legacy" status.

I am a HUGE Pearl Jam fan. Own all the albums, been to four concerts, use to have an Eddie poster on my bedroom wall in high school...lol. Their newer stuff has been kinda meh but their live shows are still amazing to this day. They can still rock out.

-ZTAngel aka the girl who drove 11 hours to Florida to see Pearl Jam in concert since they weren't coming to Atlanta on their latest tour and got all misty-eyed when they played Yellow Ledbetter. Yes, I am a dork.

[KSig RC]

Originally Posted by ZTAngel

Totally agree with this. I've always said that if Kurt hadn't died that Nirvana would not be nearly as big. His death pushed the band into a "legacy" status.

Yeah - it's hard to separate those factors though . . . after all, Pearl Jam benefited immensely from Vedder being attractive, from 'popular' politics/GWB, and from a sort of populist slant that could have only happened then (I mean, Ticketmaster wasn't available for the Who to rail against) . . . it makes for a tough comparison.

Their newer stuff has been kinda meh but their live shows are still amazing to this day. They can still rock out.

This is also a good point, and definitely something to be considered - I don't think live work has gotten enough love in these threads (also why I brought up Live at Reading - just a superlative live show). Pearl Jam is a notoriously solid live band though, while Alice in Chains got a 20 year old Layne Staley impersonator to tour with.