Vitalogy Songs Ranked
Vitalogy is the third studio album by American rock band Pearl Jam, released on November 22, 1994, on Epic Records. Pearl Jam wrote and recorded Vitalogy while touring behind its previous album Vs. (1993). The music on the record was more diverse than previous releases, and consisted of aggressive rock songs, ballads, and other stylistic elements, making it Pearl Jam’s most experimental album to date. The album was first released on vinyl, followed by a release on CD and cassette two weeks later on December 6, 1994. The LP sold 34,000 copies in its first week of release, and until Jack White’s 2014 album Lazaretto it held the record for most vinyl sales in one week since SoundScan began tracking sales in 1991.[1] Upon its CD release, Vitalogy became the second-fastest selling album in history, only behind the band’s previous release Vs., selling 877,000 copies in its first week and went multi-platinum quickly.[2] The album has been certified five times platinum by the RIAA in the United States. It is Pearl Jam’s last album to feature drummer Dave Abbruzzese, who left the band before the recording session was finished. He was initially replaced by session drummers and later officially replaced by former Red Hot Chili Peppers’ drummer Jack Irons, who completed the recording of the album. Here are all of Vitalogy’s songs ranked.
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14. Hey Foxymophandlemama, That’s Me
” I actually really get into experimental music, I can’t say I really like this bizarre, atmospheric piece loaded with feedback. It drones on for quite a while, eventually resembling a song to a certain extent with wild drums and a simple bass line. The disembodied voices are quite disturbing. Other reviewers inform me they belong to mental patients.”
13. Aye Davanita
“One of the ones I would probably cut out of the album. The instrumentals are cool, but by this point I’m thinking, “THIS is the follow-up song to ‘Betterman’? Where’s the back button”
12. Pry, To
“I don’t have anything good or bad to say about it, I guess . . . it’s only a minute long, so while it is self-indulgent filler, at least it’s short and harmless.”
11. Bugs
“Pretty awful to be perfectly honest. I don’t care much for accordion to begin with and I certainly don’t care for this rudimentary accordian riff played over and over. Gets an extra point for being totally off the beaten path”
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10. Satan’s Bed
“I really like this song. Supposedly it’s an answer to people who accused Eddie Vedder of devil-worshiping. That’s why I find it amusing, and besides that, just a cool song.”
9. Whipping
“I recently came to really like this song. It makes you want to rock again after the slow “Nothingman.” I like the live version better, but this is good too.”
7. Tremor Christ
“Good song. The rhthym is awesome, and though the drums are really nothing fancy, they drive the song. However, it seems to be lacking something to me. Seems to be about maintaining faith despite everything that goes against it.”
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6. Last Exit
“The erratic smybol clicking and guitar plucking at the beginning of Vitaology is there just long enough to raise an eyebrow, and immediatly, is replaced by the explosive opening track “Last Exit”, whose gorgoeus riffs and delicious melodies let you know long before masterful thumping bridge that, yes, you are in for an experience.”
5. Nothingman
“Nothingman is the album’s centerpiece, a truly beautiful, soaring ballad that stands as one of Pearl Jam’s best songs. It is insanely beautiful and almost makes me cry everytime I hear it.”
4. Not for You
“Not For You is a Pearl Jam classic, with seething vocals and a guitar line that is to die for. This one is played at nearly every Pearl Jam concert. I love this song. It’s one you can get into screaming along to. “
3. Immortality
“The final great song on the album is Immortality, a dark acoustic-based rocker with a great acoustic solo by Mike. Excellent song with intriguing lyrics. Other reviewers have mentioned it’s dedicated to Kurt Cobain. It definitely seems to be about suicide.”
2. Better Man
“The BEST song Pearl Jam has ever done. Heartbreaking, thought-provoking, catchy . . . it’s just the ultimate song. It displays Eddie Vedder’s gift to get outside of himself and view things from other people’s perspectives. It’s just . . . I just love this song
1. Corduroy
“AWESOME song. It’s got a hook that’ll stay in your head for days, and the words break my heart — “I’ll end up alone like I began.” Some are turned off by Eddie’s whining about the pressures of fame, but I don’t mind it if he’s able to turn it into a song as great as this.”