No Code - Pearl Jam (CD 1996)

In 1996, Pearl Jam released No Code, an album that was soon regarded by many as the band's least enjoyable. Only one song from that album still gets radio play while the rest were forgotten by the casual fans and even by some hardcore ones. Personally, I see No Code as the dawning of a new era in Pearl Jam's life. They had long since given up on music videos (until 1998's Do the Evolution), and now, a year and a half after winning a Grammy, they were no longer concerned with making the kind of music people expected from them. They were ready to do exactly what they wanted, and No Code was the album that told everybody, "This is how it's going to be from now on."

This is made clear in the opening track Sometimes, which is slow and quiet, the exact opposite of all their other opening tracks. I remember listening to this and being taken aback by such an opener for a Pearl Jam album. I m sure that reaction is what all fans felt and exactly what the band had in mind.

They save the heaviness for Hail, Hail, the only track still getting consistent airplay on some stations (at least on WAAF). The fast, grinding guitars, pounding drums, and screaming Vedder vocals are a more familiar sound: aggressive and unpolished enough to appease those old-school who were not enjoying the new sounds exhibited on this album. Only two other tracks contain this much aggression: Habit and the short but sweet (and incredibly fast, and loud) Lukin . While I like all three of these songs, they are not what make this album what it is they are just the familiar sounds that show the band can still rock when they want to.

The familiarity ends with tracks like Who Are You, which has a more laid-back, tribal, sing-along-and-clap-your-hands feel to it. It s completely different from their usual style but so well done that it s a welcome change. Other songs that follow this style are In My Tree and Red Mosquito. I admit, it took a while for these songs to grow on me. They re still not my favorites, but I enjoy them. Much like this whole album, they just need a chance. Another one that might need time is the gritty, harmonica-laden Smile. I ve liked this track from the get-go, but I can see how some might not be into it right away. Just watch the Smile montage on Touring Band 2000, and I think you ll appreciate it and possibly sing along to it.

Two of the finest tracks on No Code are Off He Goes and Present Tense. Off He Goes is a slow and beautifully depressing ballad about an old friend who can never stick around very long: Now he s home and we re laughing like we always did/ My same old, same old friend/ Until a quarter to ten/ I saw the strain creep in/ He seems distracted and I know just what is gonna happen next/ Before his first stand/ He s off again. Too bad Pearl Jam Unplugged happened so long ago; this would have been a perfect addition to the set. Present Tense begins with a slow, dark sound moving into a crescendo toward the end. The lyrics are great, but only one needs to be emphasized: Makes much more sense to live in the present tense. This is one of the band s biggest hidden gems.

The fun really kicks in with Mankind, which is sung by Stone Gossard. It s got an upbeat tune and a catchy chorus that seems to be deriding bands that would rather copy the hot trends than create something unique: It s all just inadvertent imitation/ A pattern in all mankind/ What s got the whole world fakin ? The album winds down on serious notes, however. I m Open is a spoken word track with Native American sounds including howling wolves in the background. Vedder speaks of a man wishing he could recapture his youth, a time before he traded magic for fact. Around the Bend is a soft and melodious song, as beautiful as Off He Goes but with a more cheerful feeling.

Many of the lyrics on No Code convey a desire to be individualists. Who You Are speaks of discovering your part in life, and I m Open involves wanting to regain childhood s innocence ( If only he knew now what he knew then"). These individualist lyrics are perfect for Pearl Jam and for this album. This was the time when they decided that Grammys, casual fans, and popularity aren t what music is all about. It s about making the music for yourself and for the fans who appreciate quality work and band evolution rather than rehashes of old styles.

Like it or not, No Code opened the gates for Pearl Jam to be the band they are today.



Also from Pearl Jam:

Full Lengths: Ten / Vs. / Vitalogy / Yield / Binaural / Riot Act / Lost Dogs / Pearl Jam

Singles: Even Flow / Jeremy / Oceans / Daughter / Go / Spin the Black Circle / Not For You / Merkin Ball / Who You Are / Wishlist / Last Kiss / Nothing As It Seems / Save You

Live: Live At Benaroya Hall / Hartford, CT 9-13-98 / Saratoga, NY 8-27-00

DVD: Touring Band 2000 / Live At the Garden / Immagine in Cornice

Books: Five Against One by Kim Neely / Star Profile


::: Looking to trade some live Pearl Jam shows? Leave me a comment or email mreno81@yahoo.com. :::