Pearl Jam Rearviewmirror: Greatest Hits 1991-2003 Review

Pearl Jam is one of the most influential and successful rock bands of the 1990s and beyond. Their music combines powerful riffs, passionate vocals, and socially conscious lyrics that resonate with fans across generations. In 2004, they released a two-disc compilation album called Rearviewmirror: Greatest Hits 1991-2003, which showcases their best songs from their first twelve years of existence.

In this article, we will review the album and explore its highlights, themes, and legacy. We will also look at how the album was received by critics and fans, and how it reflects Pearl Jam’s musical evolution and artistic vision.

What is Rearviewmirror: Greatest Hits 1991-2003?

Rearviewmirror: Greatest Hits 1991-2003 is a two-disc compilation album by Pearl Jam, released on November 16, 2004 through Epic Records. The album has been certified platinum by the RIAA in the United States. It was reissued in 2013 as The Essential Pearl Jam.

The album’s two discs are both devoted to different sides of the band’s catalogue: the first disc, or “Up Side”, contains heavier rock songs while the second disc or “Down Side” consists of slower songs and ballads. Both discs are in chronological order, with the exception of the last song on the “Down Side”, regular show closer “Yellow Ledbetter”.

The tracks “Once”, “Alive”, and “Black” were remixed by Brendan O’Brien, the band’s main producer who worked on most of their albums. Pearl Jam’s version of the Victoria Williams song “Crazy Mary” was supposed to appear on disc two, but was replaced with “Man of the Hour” before release. This release marked the end of Pearl Jam’s contractual agreement with Epic Records.

What are the highlights of Rearviewmirror: Greatest Hits 1991-2003?

Rearviewmirror: Greatest Hits 1991-2003 contains 33 songs that span Pearl Jam’s diverse and rich discography. The album includes some of their most iconic hits, such as “Jeremy”, “Even Flow”, “Daughter”, “Better Man”, and “Do the Evolution”. It also features some of their fan favorites, such as “State of Love and Trust”, “Last Kiss”, “Given to Fly”, and “I Am Mine”. It also showcases some of their lesser-known gems, such as “Breath”, “Nothingman”, “Off He Goes”, and “Light Years”.

The album covers a wide range of themes and topics that Pearl Jam explored in their music, such as alienation, identity, love, loss, spirituality, politics, and social justice. The album also reflects Pearl Jam’s musical influences and styles, from hard rock to grunge to punk to folk to pop. The album demonstrates Pearl Jam’s ability to craft memorable melodies, catchy hooks, and powerful choruses that appeal to a broad audience.

What is the legacy of Rearviewmirror: Greatest Hits 1991-2003?

Rearviewmirror: Greatest Hits 1991-2003 is a testament to Pearl Jam’s enduring popularity and relevance in the rock scene. The album received positive reviews from critics and fans alike, who praised its selection, sequencing, and remixing of songs. AllMusic staff writer Stephen Thomas Erlewine gave the album four and a half out of five stars. He said that the album “does an expert job not only of capturing the moment when Pearl Jam were monstrously popular, but proving that they still turned out good music even when they were fading from the spotlight.”

Rolling Stone staff writer Christian Hoard gave the album four out of five stars, saying, “Pearl Jam have spent much of this decade courting devotees with a series of live bootlegs, so Rearviewmirror is a welcome concession to casual fans, rounding out the hits with concert staples and non-album cuts.”

The album also introduced Pearl Jam’s music to a new generation of listeners who may not have been familiar with their earlier work. The album also served as a retrospective of Pearl Jam’s musical journey and artistic vision, which continues to evolve and inspire today.

How did Rearviewmirror: Greatest Hits 1991-2003 perform commercially?

Rearviewmirror: Greatest Hits 1991-2003 was a commercial success, selling over one million copies in the United States and earning a platinum certification from the RIAA. The album also charted well in other countries, reaching the top ten in Australia, Canada, New Zealand, and the United Kingdom.

The album spawned two singles, “Last Kiss” and “Man of the Hour”, both of which were previously released as non-album tracks. “Last Kiss” was a cover of a 1960s song by Wayne Cochran, and became Pearl Jam’s highest-charting single on the Billboard Hot 100, peaking at number two. “Man of the Hour” was written for the Tim Burton film Big Fish, and received a Golden Globe nomination for Best Original Song.

The album also included some songs that were previously released as B-sides, soundtracks, or fan club singles, such as “I Got Id”, “Breath”, “State of Love and Trust”, and “Yellow Ledbetter”. These songs were popular among Pearl Jam fans and often played live by the band. The album also featured some songs that were rarely performed live, such as “Who You Are”, “Off He Goes”, and “Nothing As It Seems”.

What are the critics’ opinions of Rearviewmirror: Greatest Hits 1991-2003?

Rearviewmirror: Greatest Hits 1991-2003 received mostly positive reviews from music critics, who praised the album’s selection, sequencing, and remixing of songs. The album also highlighted Pearl Jam’s musical diversity and evolution, as well as their lasting impact on the rock scene.

Pitchfork gave the album a mixed review, rating it 5.9 out of 10. The reviewer Scott Plagenhoef criticized the album’s division into two discs, arguing that it disrupted the chronological flow and made the band sound “schizophrenic”. He also felt that the album was too long and included some filler tracks. He wrote, “Rearviewmirror is a reminder that Pearl Jam were once an important band who mattered to a lot of people and who made some great music. It’s also a reminder that they were never as good or as important as they or their fans thought they were.”

AllMusic gave the album a more favorable review, rating it four and a half out of five stars. The reviewer Stephen Thomas Erlewine praised the album’s balance between the band’s hits and fan favorites, as well as the new mixes of some songs. He wrote, “Rearviewmirror does an expert job not only of capturing the moment when Pearl Jam were monstrously popular, but proving that they still turned out good music even when they were fading from the spotlight. Unlike most career-spanning, multi-disc retrospectives, Rearviewmirror does not emphasize latter-day albums in order to achieve a sense of balance that’s inherently phony.”

How does Rearviewmirror: Greatest Hits 1991-2003 compare to other Pearl Jam albums?

However, Rearviewmirror: Greatest Hits 1991-2003 does not capture the full scope and depth of Pearl Jam’s albums, which often contain hidden gems, experimental tracks, and thematic concepts that are not evident on a single-disc compilation. For example, Ten is a classic debut album that showcases Pearl Jam’s raw energy and emotion; Vs. is a darker and more aggressive album that reflects Pearl Jam’s disillusionment with fame; Vitalogy is a diverse and eclectic album that explores various musical styles and influences; No Code is a spiritual and introspective album that reveals Pearl Jam’s personal struggles and growth; Yield is a mature and confident album that balances rock anthems and acoustic ballads; Binaural is a subtle and atmospheric album that experiments with different recording techniques and sounds; Riot Act is a political and social album that comments on the state of the world after 9/11; and Pearl Jam is a self-titled album that returns to Pearl Jam’s roots and reaffirms their identity.

Therefore, Rearviewmirror: Greatest Hits 1991-2003 is not a substitute for Pearl Jam’s albums, but rather a complement to them. It is a snapshot of Pearl Jam’s career, but not the whole picture.

Conclusion

Rearviewmirror: Greatest Hits 1991-2003 is a comprehensive and compelling compilation album that showcases Pearl Jam’s best songs from their first twelve years of existence. The album covers a wide range of themes and topics that Pearl Jam explored in their music, such as alienation, identity, love, loss, spirituality, politics, and social justice. The album also reflects Pearl Jam’s musical influences and styles, from hard rock to grunge to punk to folk to pop. The album demonstrates Pearl Jam’s ability to craft memorable melodies, catchy hooks, and powerful choruses that appeal to a broad audience.

Rearviewmirror: Greatest Hits 1991-2003 is a testament to Pearl Jam’s enduring popularity and relevance in the rock scene. The album received positive reviews from critics and fans alike, who praised its selection, sequencing, and remixing of songs. The album also introduced Pearl Jam’s music to a new generation of listeners who may not have been familiar with their earlier work. The album also served as a retrospective of Pearl Jam’s musical journey and artistic vision, which continues to evolve and inspire today.

Rearviewmirror: Greatest Hits 1991-2003 is not a typical greatest hits album, as it does not include all of Pearl Jam’s singles or chart-toppers. Instead, it is a curated collection of songs that represent the band’s artistic vision and musical journey. As such, it is a good introduction to Pearl Jam’s music for new listeners, as well as a satisfying overview for longtime fans. However, Rearviewmirror: Greatest Hits 1991-2003 does not capture the full scope and depth of Pearl Jam’s albums, which often contain hidden gems, experimental tracks, and thematic concepts that are not evident on a single-disc compilation. Therefore, Rearviewmirror: Greatest Hits 1991-2003 is not a substitute for Pearl Jam’s albums, but rather a complement to them. It is a snapshot of Pearl Jam’s career, but not the whole picture.

Conclusion

Rearviewmirror: Greatest Hits 1991-2003 is a testament to Pearl Jam’s enduring popularity and relevance in the rock scene. The album received positive reviews from critics and fans alike, who praised its selection, sequencing, and remixing of songs. The album also introduced Pearl Jam’s music to a new generation of listeners who may not have been familiar with their earlier work. The album also served as a retrospective of Pearl Jam’s musical journey and artistic vision, which continues to evolve and inspire today.