No Code
is the fourth studio album by the American alternative rock band Pearl Jam, released on August 27, 1996 through Epic Records. Following a troubled tour for its previous album, Vitalogy
(1994), in which Pearl Jam engaged in a much-publicized boycott of Ticketmaster, the band went into the studio to record its follow-up. The music on the record was even more diverse than what the band had done on previous releases, incorporating elements of garage rock, worldbeat, and experimentalism.
Although No Code
debuted at number one on the Billboard
200, it left a large section of the band’s fanbase unsatisfied and quickly fell down the charts. The album became the first Pearl Jam album to not reach multi-platinum status. The album has been certified platinum by the RIAA in the United States.
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NO CODE - A TRIBUTE TO PEARL JAM TICKETS
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Recording
For its fourth album, Pearl Jam again worked with producer
Brendan O'Brien.
No Code
was the band's first album with drummer
Jack Irons, who had joined the band following the release of
Vitalogy
. Following the summer U.S. leg of the band's
Vitalogy Tour, the band began work on
No Code
in
Chicago,
Illinois in July 1995 during the infamous
Chicago heat wave. The Chicago session lasted a week. During a break in a string of make-up dates for the 1995 tour the band went into the studio for a week-long session in
New Orleans,
Louisiana, where the band recorded "Off He Goes".
[1] [2] The rest of the recording took place in the first half of 1996 in
Seattle,
Washington at Studio Litho, which is owned by guitarist
Stone Gossard. The album was then mixed by O'Brien at his mixing facility at Southern Tracks in
Atlanta,
Georgia.
[3]
The sessions for the album began with strife and tension. Bassist
Jeff Ament wasn't made aware that the band was recording until three days into the sessions, and said that he "wasn't super involved with that record on any level."
[4] Guitarist
Mike McCready said, "I'm sure Jeff was pissed, but it was more about separating, because if we played all together nothing would get done. We'd all just get pissed off at each other."
At one point Ament even walked out of the recording sessions,
[5] and considered quitting the band due to lead vocalist
Eddie Vedder's control of the creation process.
[6] Due to Pearl Jam balancing recording and touring, Irons commented that the band was "more on-the-fly during the making of
No Code
, and some good thing happened out of that, but we were also really tired. It was difficult to tour and play these shows that were two or three hours long and then force ourselves to produce something in a studio."
[7]
McCready said that a lot of the songs were developed out of
jam sessions, and said "I think we kind of rushed it a little bit."
[8] Ament said that the band members would bring in fragments of songs, and it would take hours before Vedder could have music to which he could add vocals.
He added that "Ed's typically the guy who finishes off the songs...But by the end of
No Code
, he was so burnt, it was so much work for him."
[9] By the time the album was done the band seemed to have found a calmer place in which to exist, and gave credit for this to Irons. Regarding Irons, O'Brien stated that "everybody was on their best musical behavior around him."
McCready said that Irons urged the band members to discuss their problems, and called him "a big spiritual influence, if not the biggest."
Vedder said, "Making
No Code
was all about gaining perspective."
[10] Commenting upon the sessions as a whole, O'Brien said, "It was really a transitional record. We had a good time making it."
Music and lyrics
below =
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While
Vitalogy
had shifted away from the earlier albums' accessible compositions and polished production,
No Code
represented a deliberate break from ''
Tens anthemic stadium sound, favoring experimental ballads and noisy garage rockers. It stood out with its emphasis on subtle harmony ("Off He Goes"), Eastern influences ("Who You Are"), and spoken word ("I'm Open"). Irons lends a tribal drum sound on the songs "Who You Are" and "In My Tree". Irons stated, "To turn my drum music into a song is pretty challenging, but the guys have been really supportive of me doing it, and we've worked some things into a few songs."'' stated that "
No Code
displays a wider range of moods and instrumentation than on any previous Pearl Jam album."
The lyrical themes on the album deal with issues of spirituality, morality, and self-examination.
Vedder said, "I think there's a little self-examination in those songs, something that a lot of my friends are going through too, as they approach 30."
Ament said, "In some ways, it's like the band's story. It's about growing up."
The lyrics of "Hail, Hail" refer to two people in a troubled relationship struggling to hold it together.
Vedder has said that he wrote the song "Off He Goes" about himself and how he is a "shit friend," adding, "I'll show up and everything's great and then all of the sudden I'm outta there..."
During the mid-1990s, Vedder faced what he called a "pretty intense stalker problem,"
and the issue is referred to in the song "Lukin".
[12] "Around the Bend" was written by Vedder as a
lullaby that Irons could sing to his son.
The lyrics to "Smile" are taken from a note that
Dennis Flemion of
The Frogs hid inside Vedder's notebook while he was onstage performing.
[13] The words used in the note are taken from the Frogs songs "This Is How I Feel" and "Now I Wanna Be Dead". Flemion is given credit in the "No Code"
vinyl, but the credit is inexplicably absent from the CD version. The lyrics to "Red Mosquito" were inspired by the events surrounding Pearl Jam's June 24, 1995 concert at
San Francisco's
Golden Gate Park, which included Vedder's stay at a hospital due to
food poisoning and his attempt to perform at the band's concert the same day at Golden Gate Park in front of 50,000 people.
[14] [15] Vedder only made it through seven songs and the band was forced to cancel the remaining dates of the short tour that it was on.
For the first time on a Pearl Jam album a band member other than Vedder contributed lyrics, with Gossard writing the lyrics to "Mankind". Gossard also sang lead vocals on the track.
Release and reception
No Code
was Pearl Jam's last album to debut at number one on the
Billboard
200 album chart. It stayed at number one for two weeks.
No Code
sold 366,000
copies in its first week of release.
[16] This was significantly less than what the band's previous two albums sold in their respective first weeks of release. It was, however, the biggest-selling debut of what was a slow year for the industry.
No Code
was the band's first album to not reach multi-platinum status.
No Code
has been certified platinum by the
RIAA,
[17] and, as of March 2007, has sold 1.4 million
copies in the United States according to
Nielsen SoundScan.
[18]
Rolling Stone
staff writer
David Fricke gave
No Code
four out of five stars, saying that the album "is abrupt in its mood swings almost to the point of vertigo." He praised the album as "the kind of impulsive, quixotic, provocative ruckus that has become rare in a modern-rock mainstream" and added that "
No Code
basically means no rule books, no limits and, above all, no fear."
gave the album four out of five stars. The review said that the album "constantly adds unexpected and facinating [
sic
] details....A solid attraction amid intriguing oddities is the powerful array of guitar sounds."
Critic
Robert Christgau described the album as "slowly winning a heartwarming battle against constitutional melancholia."
staff writer
Stephen Thomas Erlewine gave the album three and a half out of five stars, saying, "While a bit too incoherent,
No Code
is Pearl Jam's richest and most rewarding album to date as well as their most human."
gave
No Code
a seven out of ten. In the review, it is stated that "Vedder is still preoccupied with his own mortality, but now he appears more quasi-mystical than miserable....for all its relative placidity,
No Code
is still a difficult beast."
Referring to the songs on the album,
Jon Pareles of
The New York Times
said "about half are worth the effort." He observed that "too often, [Vedder] falls into American culture's
Disney syndrome, idealizing childhood innocence above all."
David Browne of
Entertainment Weekly
gave the album a C, saying that while
No Code
"cracks open their sound," it "becomes a collection of fragments that don't add up to much of anything, except a portrait of a musically disjointed band." On the change in mood compared with the band’s previous releases, he said that "the album leaves you with the vaguely unsettling feeling that Pearl Jam without pain are like a pretzel without salt, or Seattle without rain."
Ryan Schreiber of
Pitchfork Media called it "a nice listen," but stated that "there's a ton of filler here. In fact, it's almost
all
filler."
reviewer Christopher John Farley said that the album "makes it sound as if they're having a midlife crisis." Farley added that "too few of the songs on the Pearl Jam CD explore the musical possibilities they suggest in any kind of definitive or provocative manner."
Three singles were released from
No Code
. The lead single "
Who You Are" entered the
Billboard
Hot 100 at number 31, and reached number one on the
Modern Rock charts and number five on the
Mainstream Rock charts. Neither of the album's other singles, "
Hail, Hail" and "
Off He Goes", charted on the Hot 100, but both placed on the Mainstream Rock and Modern Rock charts. Album track "
Red Mosquito" also charted.
Packaging
The album package consists of 144
Polaroid photos that unfold into a 2x2 square. The Polaroid photos are seemingly random. One of the photos featured on the front cover is the eyeball of former
Chicago Bulls player, as well as fan and friend of Pearl Jam,
Dennis Rodman,
while another photo is of Vedder's foot after he had been stung by a
stingray.
[20] The pictures, when viewed from afar, blend to form the
No Code
triangle/eyeball logo that is the theme throughout the album. Later pressings of the album fold into a 1x4 strip, thus losing the 'hidden message' effect. These later pressings also include the band name and album title printed directly onto the album cover—the original release contained this information on a removable sticker. Hidden allusions to the central packaging concept are a common trait among many Pearl Jam albums. There were nine different covers for the cassette, each one a different Polaroid found on the CD and vinyl.
The CD and vinyl came with lyrics printed on the back of replica Polaroids. Only nine Polaroids came in a set, leaving one to have to obtain another set to accumulate all thirteen songs. Even for the same songs, there were different pictures on some of the Polaroids between the different sets. The sets are divided into four groups: set C, set O, set D and set E.
When discussing the album's title, Vedder said "it's called
No Code
because it's full of code. It's misinformation."
[21] In medical terminology, a "no code" order is a medical order to withhold CPR on a patient. It is also known as a "do not resuscitate" order. In another interview, Vedder said that "if the record is a complete failure you've kind of owned up to it in a subliminal way.
No Code
was the same thing. For me,
No Code
meant 'Do Not Resuscitate'."
[22]
Tour
Pearl Jam promoted the album with tours in
North America and
Europe in the fall of 1996.
[23] The short tour of North America focused on the
East Coast of the United States. As with
Vitalogy
, very little touring was done in the United States to promote
No Code
because of the band's refusal to play in
Ticketmaster's venues.
[24] The band chose to use alternate ticketing companies for the shows. A European tour followed in the fall of 1996, of which the band's November 3, 1996 show in
Berlin,
Germany at
Deutschlandhalle was broadcast on many radio stations worldwide.
[25]
During the North American tour fans complained about the difficulty in obtaining tickets and the use of non-Ticketmaster venues, which were judged to be out-of-the-way and impersonal.
[26] Gossard stated that there was "a lot of stress associated with trying to tour at that time" and that "it was growing more and more difficult to be excited about being part of the band." He added, "Ticketmaster, as monopolistic as it may be, is very efficient so we weren't playing the venues we wanted to play."
[
]
Track listing
All lyrics written by Eddie Vedder, except where noted.
Outtakes
The album's singles featured two B-sides from the No Code
recording sessions that weren't included on the album, "Black, Red, Yellow" and "Dead Man", the latter of which was originally intended for the 1996 Dead Man Walking
soundtrack. "Black, Red, Yellow" was a B-side on the "Hail, Hail" single and "Dead Man" featured on the "Off He Goes" single. Both songs were included on the 2003 Lost Dogs
collection of rarities, although "Black, Red, Yellow" appears as an extended version. Both "Leaving Here", which appeared on the 1996 Home Alive
compilation, and "Gremmie Out of Control", which appeared on the 1996 Music for Our Mother Ocean Vol. 1
compilation, were also recorded during the No Code
sessions. Both songs were included on Lost Dogs
as well. Other songs rejected from the album but included on Lost Dogs
are "All Night" and "Don't Gimme No Lip".
Personnel
;Pearl Jam
- Jeff Ament – bass guitar, guitar, Chapman, vocals, Polaroids, black-and-white photography
- Stone Gossard – guitar, vocals, lead vocals on "Mankind"
- Jack Irons – drums
- Mike McCready – guitar, piano, Polaroids
- Eddie Vedder – lead vocals, guitar, harmonica, Polaroids; credited as "Jerome Turner" for layout, concept of No Code
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;Production
- Barry Ament, Chris McGann – Polaroids, layout
- Matt Bayles, Caram Costanzo, Jeff Layne – assistant engineering
- Dr. Paul J. Bubak, A. Fields – Polaroids
- Nick DiDia – mixing, recording
- Bob Ludwig – mastering
- Lancer Mercer – Polaroids, black-and-white photography
- Brendan O'Brien – production, mixing, piano
- Pearl Jam – production
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Chart positions
;Album
| Chart (1996)
| Position
|
| US Billboard
200 [27]
| 1
|
| Australian Albums Chart [28]
| 1
|
| Canadian Albums Chart [29]
| 1
|
| New Zealand Albums Chart [30]
| 1
|
| Swedish Albums Chart [31]
| 1
|
| Austrian Albums Chart [32]
| 3
|
| Norwegian Albums Chart [33]
| 3
|
| UK Albums Chart [34]
| 3
|
| Finnish Albums Chart [35]
| 4
|
| Belgian Albums Chart (Wa) [36]
| 5
|
Belgian Albums Chart (Vl) | 6
|
| Dutch Albums Chart [37]
| 5
|
| German Albums Chart [38]
| 6
|
| Swiss Albums Chart [39]
| 13
|
| Hungarian Albums Chart [40]
| 17
|
| French Albums Chart [41]
| 28
|
|
;Singles
| Single
| Chart (1996)
| Position
|
| "Who You Are"
| Finnish Singles Chart [42]
| 2
|
| Canadian Singles Chart [43]
| 4
|
Australian Singles Chart | 5
|
| Norwegian Singles Chart [44]
| 7
|
New Zealand Singles Chart | 17
|
UK Singles Chart | 18
|
| Irish Singles Chart [45]
| 19
|
| Swedish Singles Chart [46]
| 26
|
| US Billboard
Hot 100 [47]
| 31
|
US Modern Rock Tracks | 1
|
US Mainstream Rock Tracks | 5
|
| Dutch Singles Chart [48]
| 47
|
| "Hail, Hail"
| US Mainstream Rock Tracks | 9
|
US Modern Rock Tracks | 9
|
Australian Singles Chart | 31
|
| "Red Mosquito"
| US Mainstream Rock Tracks | 37
|
| Single
| Chart (1997)
| Position
|
| "Off He Goes"
| US Modern Rock Tracks | 31
|
US Mainstream Rock Tracks | 34
|
| Canadian Singles Chart [49]
| 36
|
Australian Singles Chart | 46
|
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References
- (2003) Album notes for ''Lost Dogs'' by Pearl Jam, booklet. New York: Sony Music.
- Vedder, Eddie. (Speaker). (2000). ''8/14/00, New Orleans Arena, New Orleans, Louisiana'' Recording. Epic Records.
- (1996) Album notes for ''No Code'' by Pearl Jam, booklet. New York: Sony Music.
- Weisbard, Eric, et al. "Ten Past Ten". ''Spin''. August 2001.
- Garbarini, Vic. "All For One: Pearl Jam Yield to the Notion That United They Stand and Divided They Fall". ''Guitar World''. March 1998.
- Sculley, Alan. "Kick Out The Jams: Seattle sound gears up for Rupp". ''ACE Weekly''. 2003.
- Peiken, Matt. "Jack Irons: This Inner Life". ''Modern Drummer''. June 1998.
- Engleheart, Murray. "Interview with Mike McCready". ''Massive!''. February/March 1998.
- Moon, Tom. "Calling Off the Crusades". ''The Philadelphia Inquirer''. February 8, 1998.
- Marks, Craig. "The Road Less Traveled". ''Spin''. February 1997.
- Hilburn, Robert. "Working Their Way Out of a Jam". ''Los Angeles Times''. December 22, 1996.
- The Second Coming of Pearl Jam
- "Pearl Jam Concert Chronology: 2006". TwoFeetThick.com.
- Vedder, Eddie. (Speaker). (2006). ''7/18/06, Bill Graham Civic Auditorium, San Francisco California'' Recording. Ten Club.
- Kava, Brad. "'I'm Just looking to make it right.' --- E.V.". priv.twoje-sudety.pl. November 3, 1995.
- Harris, Chris. "Tool, Pearl Jam Claim Billboard Chart In The Name Of Rock". MTV.com. May 10, 2006. Retrieved on May 28, 2008.
- Gold and Platinum Database Search. RIAA. Retrieved on May 28, 2008.
- Sales questions: Nirvana vs. Pearl Jam
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- "Pearl Jam: Rumor Pit Issue #24". sonymusic.com. June 10, 1997.
- Vedder, Eddie. "Fritz, Drugs & Rock 'n' Roll - Eddie Vedder Radio Show". Radio Fritz, Berlin, Germany. November 3, 1996.
- Dwyer, Michael. "Steady Eddie". ''Rolling Stone''. August 2000.
- Pearl Jam: Set Lists. pearljam.com.
- Philips, Chuck. "Pearl Jam to Tour on Own Terms Again". ''Los Angeles Times''. July 25, 1996.
- "Pearl Jam: Rumor Pit Issue #20". sonymusic.com. October 21, 1996.
- Pearl Jam Yields to Ticketmaster
- Pearl Jam – Billboard Albums
- Pearl Jam in Australian Charts. Australian-Charts.com. Retrieved on May 28, 2008.
- Canadian Charts
- Pearl Jam in New Zealand Charts. Charts.Org.NZ. Retrieved on May 28, 2008.
- Swedish Single/Album Chart / Pearl Jam / Longplay
- Austrian Single/Album Chart / Pearl Jam / Longplay
- Norwegian Single/Album Chart / Pearl Jam / Longplay
- EveryHit.com
- Finnish Single/Album Chart / Pearl Jam / Longplay
- Belgian Single/Album Chart / Pearl Jam / Longplay
- Dutch Single/Album Chart / Pearl Jam / Longplay
- Chartverfolgung / Pearl Jam / Longplay
- Schweizer Hitparade
- Pearl Jam in Hungarian Charts. Hungarian chart Retrieved on June 4, 2008.
- French Single/Album Chart / Pearl Jam / Longplay
- Finnish Single/Album Chart / Pearl Jam / Longplay
- Canadian Charts - "Who You Are"
- Norwegian Single/Album Chart / Pearl Jam / Longplay
- The Irish Charts — All there is to know
- Swedish Single/Album Chart / Pearl Jam / Longplay
- Pearl Jam – Billboard Singles
- Dutch Single/Album Chart / Pearl Jam / Longplay
- Canadian Charts - "Off He Goes"