Cody Jams on Friday (March 28, 2005)

Rather than grabbing ten random tunes from the 1,065 in the “Purchased” play list in my iTunes (see Ten Random Cody Jams Volumes I, II, III), I’m going with more structured platform for this week’s Cody Jams on Friday (and, yes, I’m aware it’s Monday – I was in DC for a day off last Friday). Anyway, this week’s songs are some of my favorite Pearl Jam songs. Pearl Jam is a great “jam band” and you’ll notice that a lot of my favorites below are covers of other great band’s songs. Other than Eddie’s terribly disappointing covers of the Beatles’ “You’ve Got to Hide Your Love Away”, Pearl Jam usually takes a classic tune and makes it their own and the resulting music just oozes intense feelings.

Alive (Pearl Jam) - The original and one of PJ’s best. Such a bad ass guitar riff and you gotta love Eddie’s angst which was particularly raw when this song first came out.

Yellow Ledbetter (Pearl Jam) - Doesn’t the rhythm guitar (forgive me, for I know not who actually plays which guitar when) in this song basically talk on its own?

I Am a Patriot (Pearl Jam) - Written by Steven Van Zandt, some awesome lyrics that are reflective of the exploding non-partisan movement in this country right now. Love it when Eddie screams “I am a patriot! And I ain’t no communist, and I ain’t no socialist, and I ain’t democrat, and I ain’t no capitalist, and I ain’t imperialist, and I ain’t democrat and I never been a republican either – I only know one party and that is FREEDOM --- I am a patriot.” And I get the chills when they chant “And the river shall open for the righteous”. Good stuff.

Baba O’riley (Pearl Jam) - Written by the Who’s Pete Townshend, it’s one of the greatest rock songs ever, performed here by one of the greatest rock bands ever.

Driven to Tears (Pearl Jam) - Written by the Police’s Sting, this version by Pearl Jam is simply interesting enough that I like to listen to it sometimes. I can’t stand Sting nor much of his music though you can’t fault his writing skills in songs like “King of Pain” and “Don’t Stand Too Close to Me”.

Daughter (Pearl Jam) - Beautiful and haunting with its unique guitar tuning and Eddie’s disturbing lyrics.

Corduroy (Pearl Jam) - One of the only non-Cody-original songs I can play from beginning to end on my Les Paul. Such a bitchen guitar riff.

Rearviewmirror (Pearl Jam) - As I before: Some very personal lyrics to me in this song. Things weren't always calm at my house growing up. Cried when I heard Pearl Jam sing this song the first time live.

Chloe Dancer / Crown of Thorns (Pearl Jam) - Andy Wood’s beautiful tune, originally by Mother Love Bone.

Not for You (Pearl Jam) - Wanna go kick someone’s ass? Listen to this before you enter the ring. “This is not for you! Fuck you!”

Glorified G (Pearl Jam) - Ah, yeah. Just a great jam. And I’d note that I literally had a “glorified version of a pellet gun” that I used to shoot bottles, cans and sometimes mettlesome birds at the farm as a kid.

I Won’t Back Down (Pearl Jam) - Tom Petty’s instant classic. So cool.

Gimme Some Truth (Pearl Jam) - Written John Lennon, of course, Pearl Jam’s version somehow makes it feel inspirational or something entirely away from the rant that Lennon’s version entailed.

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