The beauty of these official "bootlegs" is that, like the unauthorized versions that frequently emanate from Europe and in some countries are legal, these recordings contain all the imperfections, the ad libs, and the uniq... more »ue moments that make each show different. Out-of-tune guitars, bum notes, missed lyrics, and dropped drumsticks are all included, while the tape continues to roll uninterrupted. The Dublin set has fewer songs than some of the other dates, but the quality of the performance, especially vocalist Eddie Vedder's passionate howls, more than makes up for the brevity of the set. It's filled with excellent tour staples, such as "Rearviewmirror," "Animal," "Do the Evolution," "Wish List," and "Alive," but still includes some special moments with the inclusion of Ten's "Garden" and "Off He Goes" from No Code. --Adem Tepedelen« less
The beauty of these official "bootlegs" is that, like the unauthorized versions that frequently emanate from Europe and in some countries are legal, these recordings contain all the imperfections, the ad libs, and the unique moments that make each show different. Out-of-tune guitars, bum notes, missed lyrics, and dropped drumsticks are all included, while the tape continues to roll uninterrupted. The Dublin set has fewer songs than some of the other dates, but the quality of the performance, especially vocalist Eddie Vedder's passionate howls, more than makes up for the brevity of the set. It's filled with excellent tour staples, such as "Rearviewmirror," "Animal," "Do the Evolution," "Wish List," and "Alive," but still includes some special moments with the inclusion of Ten's "Garden" and "Off He Goes" from No Code. --Adem Tepedelen
CD Reviews
Pearl Jam captured
Eric Franklin | Seattle, WA | 10/07/2000
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Talk about a brilliant marketing concept! Take a band which is known for their intimate live performances, make beautiful recordings of their shows, and sell the hell out of it. If this album is any indication of how good the rest of these recordings are, I'm going to be picking up a couple more. As fans, we should hope and pray that this becomes a viable proposition for our favorite bands to do.It is hard to put into words the value you get when you pick this up - two discs with minimal packaging for a great price. You're buying music, not a record studio's production of it.Anyways, this is exactly the type of show Pearl Jam is famous for. Fantastic music with personalized stories from front-man Eddie Vedder. McCready and Gossard sound amazing together, even when they completely flub "Alive" (how many times do you think they've played that song?). I, for one, am happy to know that the guys are human (I was beginning to wonder). Even when they screw up they're having a great time and their enthusiasm is completely infectious. Playing this at my house for my roommates, brought back pleasant memories of shows past. Good times for all!And to close with "Black"? You've got to be kiddin' me! Do yourself a favor - if you own Pearl Jam albums and have never heard them live, pick one of these up. If you've already seen them, you shouldn't need any convincing."
Destined to be remembered
Benjamin K. Potter | Memphis, TN | 11/27/2000
(4 out of 5 stars)
"To think that someday Pearl Jam's music will be considered "oldies"! If you get one or more of these live albums, this one is a great place to start. Pearl Jam hasn't missed a beat since Ten (OK, so No Code wasn't that great) so you'll be doing yourself a huge favor by getting one that falls heavily on their first two albums."Daughter" and "Elderly Woman..." are already sing-along classics, and you'll also find GREAT cuts from Ten. One highlight is "Garden", a song that even Eddie Veddar admits the band "hasn't done in awhile" but they nail it nonetheless. The second disk (a meager 40 minutes) is worth the 12 bucks alone. It starts with scorchers "Go", "Do the Evolution" and "Lukin" before settling into a softer finale with "Garden" and a great version of "Black."I can't bring myself to give this set five stars due to some minor imperfections - namely, Eddie's ramblings that slow the pace of an otherwise fantastic show. I have heard some of the other shows, but this is the one that keeps finding its way back into my CD player. Wherever music trends take us over the next 20 years, it's good to know that Pearl Jam has left behind these treasures that will be played and played again for many years to come. (4.5 stars)"
"I missed this event - big mistake !! It's great to get the CD, though - sounds like it was a helluva show. This is the only CD from the Euro Tour set which I have heard so far and if they are all like this, there won't be many disappointed Pearl Jam fans out there. The performance is lively and energetic and Vedder is in particularly fine form throughout. The recorded sound is vibrant and bright. Every instrument comes through clearly and the whole thing sounds very uncluttered and balanced. It is not overly powerful though, and sounds like an onstage recording rather than a PA recording (soundboard?). One point to note : This concert is not the longest of those available - so perhaps it is not the automatic first choice if you're only going to buy one CD from the entire set (hence only 4 stars). However, taken on its own merits it's well worth purchasing - especially if you were there on the night."
Intense and amazing in Dubh Linn...
Dominic | Clare, Ireland | 03/25/2001
(5 out of 5 stars)
"This is amazing. Although it is one of the shorter gigs from the European tour, it does not fail to showcase Pearl Jam's extensive back catolouge. The music is intense, Vedder as always is soul capturing. I have purchased all of the European bootlegs and find this one to be the most unique in many ways. The band stride through a scroching version of 'Garden', 'Do the evolution' is Pearl Jam at there absoloute best. Stone and Mike fumble through 'Alive' which makes it all the more special. 'Black' is tantalising and is the suitable closer for what must have been a hectic night for both fans and band alike. Buy this album for a lesson in legendary rock music at its peak."
Track Listings (15) - Disc #1