Rearview Mirror: The Best of Pearl Jam

And I must say, from a fans perspective, Sony have done a good job collecting tracks for this album. this is a band with so much quality material that it is impossible to produce a best of, so here we have a greatest hits. Big difference. I cannot deny that these are the most radio-friendly and commercial tunes from Pearl Jam, so while I may consider 'No Way' to be one of their best songs, it was not a hit or a single, so I can't argue for it's inclusion. What we have here is a nice collection of the bands most well known songs, handily packaged together for new-comers or fans like me who want all the songs available, but can't be bothered with an Ipod.

Every track on here is pure gold, I can't imagine any person getting to the end of this album and not having liked a least three songs. There really is something for everyone. I am a fan of later albums so I would have liked to see more Binaural/Riot Act stuff here but, like I said, this is greatest hits, not best of. And a little correction from another review, there is one Binaural track on here; Light Years, a brilliant song with such sublty powerful lyrics that remains too catchy for words.

I am confused by the decision not to remix Even Flow, but then that song has always been quality, and always will be, even if they rerecord it in a dumpster. Inclusion of tracks like State of Love and Trust and Breath is a massive bonus too.

In short, this is an album for anyone who considers themselves a serious music fan or any Pearl Jam fan/potential fan. The CD is not let down by a single track and looks to flow nicely. If I have any critisism, it would be the lack of any live tracks, as Pearl Jam are at their strongest when they are feeling it on stage, and also, the cover art, which is a bit too Grunge IMO. I guess you can tell which image Sony is capitalising on. But the music is there, the passion is there, and with this band, that's all that's ever mattered.

Two discs that give two very different impressions of the band that kept rock 'alive' in the 90's. Disc One is pure high-energy rock, I was totally made up with the inclusion of State of Love and Trust, one of the best raw edge acoustic rock songs ever written. You have the typical tracks from Ten that made it the best-selling grunge album i.e. Alive, Jeremy, Once and Even Flow. Watch out for the catchy Corduroy on track 11 and the emotion-fuelled Rearviewmirror on track 9, both superb! Something from each studio album except Binaural, sadly. On this disc watch out for McCready's solo's on Alive, Even Flow and Animal - fantastic.

Disc two is alot more mellow, an amazing compilation. The lyrics in Elderly woman are beautiful. Better Man is always a favourite, one of Vedder's early accomplishments. Last Kiss was a suprise inclusion, maybe at the cost of Thin Air but in any case really shows vedder's vocal capability. Off he goes is possibly the most mellow, Man of the hour is a real thought-provoker nad If your after good lyrics, sung beautifully, to some really sweet melodies, on disc two you will find what you're after.

This is definitely one of the greatest rock albums of all time form one of the greatest rock bands.

I'm looking forward to hearing the remixed versions of the Ten Tracks, Not sure why Even Flow has been left out of the remixes, after all on the 2000 live touring band DVD it's done better than ever.

No Best of album ever has every track that fan wants but this is so close, fans will miss the likes of: Brian of J, No way, Greendisease, Smile, the before mentioned Thin Air, Insignificance and Indifference. The selection was always going to be debated, I don't think there has been a better album than this since Ten. I think Pearl Jam threw of the label of Grunge by the end of Vitalogy if not sooner, this is just great musicianship displayed in a broad spectrum of styles that ultimately can be classified as rock. If your after intelligent lyrics, great guitar riff, soft melodies, "face-melting solo's" and the greatest Rock vocals since Paul Rodgers this is where you'll find it.