Corporate Line: This 2-disc album features 31 tracks compiled from Pearl Jam’s extensive b-side archives and from various benefit albums and soundtracks. None of the included tracks have been previously featured on any of the band’s studio albums.
The Good:
“Yellow Ledbetter” – The best Pearl Jam ever.
“Footsteps” – From the “Jeremy” single which came alongside “Yellow Ledbetter”. It makes you wonder why these guys could never get back the magic of that time.
“Alone” – This was a left over from the Ten sessions and the energy level shows just how special those sessions were.
“Leavin’ Here” – Kicking ass.
“Last Kiss” – A grand cover.
The Average:
“All Night” – A chief rocker that came during the No Code sessions and sounds just like every other song on that record.
“Gremmie Out Of Control” – PJ doing surf songs is interesting just not very good.
The Ugly:
“Hitchhiker” – You’ll know why this was left off Binaural the instant you hear it, the problem is it should have been left off this.
“Don’t Gimme No Lip” – Fit for a garage band as Gossard tries to get his kicks as a singer.
Frankly: Talking to a friend who wondered out loud if Pearl Jam might be the most overrated band there is – one album wonders. I tried to argue against the point but I found myself actually wondering if that argument wasn’t valid. I loved Ten. When pressed to tell one other Pearl Jam album that floored me and I can’t answer. Perhaps they set the bar to high because they never come close again or perhaps we as listeners set the bar to high and can’t see anything below that as being good. With that said Lost Dogs goes from Ten b-sides to b-sides from other sessions. There is a grand difference between Ten tracks like “Yellow Ledbetter” to a track like “Hitchhiker” from Binaural. Ten years after Ten it’s easy to say Pearl Jam is a different band. The question is; are they a better or worse band?
+ Rae Gun
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