8 Underrated Albums From Your Favorite Artists
2. Pearl Jam - No Code (1996)
Ever since their debut album Ten, Pearl Jam's frontman Eddie Vedder was growing more and more wary of the tabloid circus of the rock press. This resulted in limited interviews, no music videos, and albums that became more and more experimental. These all came to a head with 1996's No Code.
Pearl Jam fans were met with songs that were perplexing to say the least. There were definite ragers like Hail Hail but much of the record ended up leaning more towards art rock than typical alternative rock. But don't let that dissuade you into thinking that it's not great.
Some of Pearl Jam's most intimate songs appear on this record like Vedder's self examination on Off He Goes and his recount of a stalker experience on the minute-long freakout Lukin. Hell, even guitarist Stone Gossard gets a turn on the mic on the song Mankind. Other rockers emerge on the tracks Smile and the explosive Habit.
Vedder said that No Code was the record that he wanted to get impersonal and distance himself from his audience. In doing so, it makes you feel like a fly on the wall during the sessions as Pearl Jam take on new creative endeavors every day to see what sticks.