PJ On My Mind

All I can seem to think about today is Pearl Jam.  Yesterday, a friend sent me the remaining tracks off of the soon to be released cd.  Since then, with the exception of the few hours I was sleeping lastnight, I have been listening to it non-stop.  Every song is so good that I can’t even pick out a favorite.  I am now so anxious for May 2nd that I can barely stand it.  The leaked version of the songs are not very high quality and I absolutely cannot wait to hear the crisp, clean cd version.  I am certainly not as lucky as ONE LUCKY FAN who has had the pleasure of listening to the actual cd (not that I’m jealous or anything).

I’ve been sitting here all morning scheming up ways to get the mailman to run my route a little earlier on May 2nd so I can go home at lunch and get my hands on my pre-ordered copy.  What do you think would work?  Warm home baked chocolate chip cookies?  Leaving the windows open while I run around the house naked?  No, that would probably scare him away.  Maybe I could teach Zach to say "Bring me my Pearl Jam, sucka!"  The cuteness just might overwhelm him.  Or, the other option is to just beg and plead until he is so annoyed that he gives in.  That works with the hubby sometimes.  As you can see, I’m just not very creative.  I usually get what I want without having to work so hard for it.  If you have any ideas, please share.  I can use all the help I can get with this one.

I was thinking lastnight about when I first got into Pearl Jam.  I was a little bit of a late bloomer when it comes to Pearl Jam.  Most people I know who are the kind of Pearl Jam fanatic that I have become were there with them back in the beginning when Ten came out.  Back then I was still recovering from my NKOTB phase and my musical tastes were all over the place.  I had heard of Pearl Jam, and even knew a few of their songs,  but it wasn’t until my boyfriend brought over his copy of Vitalogy that I really got hooked.  First, it was the slow songs like Nothingman, Corduroy, and Better Man that I got into.  Eventually, the rest of the cd started growing on me and I had to go out and buy my own copy. 

Just after I went off to college in 1996, No Code was released.  I remember driving to St. Joe just to buy the cd.  We immediately popped it into the cd player and it was love at first listen.  Although I will never claim to have a favorite Pearl Jam album, if I had to pick one, it might be No Code.  Not only do I absolutely love the cd, but it has a lot of sentimental value to it as well.  It practically lived in my cd player during my college years…until Yield came out at least.

Some of my best memories during my college years are the Pearl Jam concerts that we went to.  My ex-husband and his best friend are even bigger Pearl Jam fans than myself and the three of us, along with other various friends, went to several PJ shows during those years.  My favorite of those being the one in Knoxville, which I’m sure I’ve mentioned here before.  Ex-hubby’s best friend was in the 3rd row at that show (the rest of us weren’t that lucky) and was able to take a few pictures.  I have one of Ed blown up that hangs on the wall right above my guitars.  Every time I look at it the memories of that show come flooding back.  What I wouldn’t give to be able to make another road trip like that!

After college, my love for Pearl Jam faded just a little bit.  The ex-hubby and I got divorced and listening to Pearl Jam brought back too many memories that I just wasn’t able to face at the time.  I bought Binaural when it came out, but didn’t listen to it much.  I just couldn’t get into it then.  It actually wasn’t until after Riot Act was released that I went back to Binaural and could finally appreciate it.  Once I started really listening to them again, my love was back in full force.

I’ve been to a couple of PJ shows since college and even as much as I love the band, it is just never the same as it was back in the college days.  The difference is that now I don’t have anyone to enjoy it with.  A Pearl Jam concert is just not the same when you go with someone who isn’t a big fan.  One year I took a couple of friends and my brother with me.  The next time I took hubby with me (the one who insists that PJ hasn’t come out with anything good since Vs.).  I enjoyed the shows, but it just hasn’t ever been the same.

I’m really hoping and praying that PJ releases a Kansas City date on their summer tour.  Hubby has already been informed that I am going with or without him.  He is willing to go, but I would much rather go with someone who will really enjoy the concert.  Anyone wanna go with me?  If the leaked songs off of the new cd are any indication, this tour is going to be HUGE and I really want to be there.