The strange part of Matt with PJ is that he doesn't play to his strengths and he doesn't bring out the best in each player. Both Dave and Jack brought different feels to the band but Mike, Jeff and Stone seemed to flourish with them behind the kit, Stone less so though. Stone really locked into that impenetrable wall that Dave and Jeff built.

There was an interview with Matt I posted a couple months back, in which he said he didn't ever try to make rim shots, that he was always trying to hit the dead center of the drum head. That's such an odd approach to an instrument with a range of sounds, and it doesn't really work for a lot of PJ songs.

Yeah I remember that too. I don't know anything about playing instruments, especially drums, but I get that you play how you like to play and what you think you're good at... but seems like it could be a slippery slope into boredom or mediocrity? I dunno.

**queue Mike playing Even Flow behind his head**

It's just silly to me...You can get a whole range of sounds from a snare drum, yet Matt always wants his to sound brawny and meaty?

They do seem to have become percentage players. Except Ed. or maybe especially Ed. I have no idea.

I know this sounds hyperbolic but I think they essentially broke Pearl Jam by bringing Matt in and they've never recovered.

It's not his fault, I love Matt's drumming to bits and his songs are invariably highlights of their albums since he joined, but his style just doesn't fit the band.

Case in point, check Matt Chamberlain (who is much more suited to playing in Pearl Jam) playing in SG a few years back:



He's an incredible drummer but the songs just don't move in the right way.

Yep. I mean, sometimes it works and there are really great moments between the band, but that extra flavor Jack and Dave brought is just gone. Matt / the band sounded great in 1998 / 2000 though.

What is 'something you'll never listen to?'

I don't know Alex. I'll take Confusing Questions from Confucius for 800, please.

I'll take 'Directions to the Conventional Big-Box Suburban Bukkake Supermarket; when a Locally-Sourced Urban Elitist App is Available to Guide Me to an Organic Artisan Free-Range Rustic-Yet-Gentrified Open-Air Bukkake Farmers' Market and Designer SteamPunk Fondue Bar' for 1000

I've got you to win the whole thing, 9. Keep up the good work.

Dave A. recently posted that he'd been jamming (recording?) with Shawn Smith.

I'd be all over that.

From Brad? Will Stone be on the record?

Yes from Brad.

Nothing in the post about Stone. It didn't mention an album or anything all that concrete.

I was kidding, guys. Doesn't Stone hate Dave more than Ed did?

Not at all, from my understanding.

I think firing Dave was done by Stone with a degree of reluctance.

He's still very complimentary towards Dave in interviews, much more than the other band members are.

Huh. Look at that. You learn something new erry day. Thanks, team.