Not to me.

And I think the more famous Britpop groups tend to have been heavily overhyped.

Not exactly an unpopular opinion.
You could argue that about any mainstream genre

The 5 classic Pearl Jam albums are Ten, Vs, No Code, Binaural (personal fav) and Riot Act.

The rest Vitalogy, Yield and Pearl Jam are not as good but still have some good material. Backspacer is the only album that I haven`t re-listened to after first hearing it a couple of years ago.

I`ve become pretty obsessed with their albums and I could name a whole load of standout tracks off their albums. Absolutely love the song "Insignificance" off Binauaral. Its just the kind of classic album track so typical of a 70`s and 80's hard rock album, the sort of thing that you just don`t seem to get anymore! Maybe its the highly nostalgic feel of this group that is their attraction.

I don`t think REM is a fair example, they probably have one of the best discographies in the history of music. I can listen to an REM album and recognize its brilliance especially on their earlier material. The problem is that I`m not overly into their sound, so no matter how great one of their albums is, I`m probably never going to go through repeat listens with them.

Interesting discussion here. Personally, Pearl Jam have always struck me as the blandest of the commercial grunge bands, even after giving most of their "classic" material a number of run-throughs throughout the years. And in terms of heaviness or catchiness, they're nothing compared to groups like The Wildhearts, so I don't really get the appeal from that end either.

On a side note, my old high school psychology teacher is married to Dave Abbruzzese. xD

Their commercial label is largely thanks to "Ten" along with the majority of their subsequent singles. The vast majority of Pearl Jam`s material though, is just the opposite of commercial sounding.

Given that most of their material sounds like a jamming session with vocals thrown in, unfinished riffs, stop/start melodies, bits of nostalgic classic rock takes and a heavy dosage of experimental stuff thrown in, I don`t see the commercial label really applying to this group. If the buying public decides to buy their music and make it commercial, then that is another matter.

I`ve recently played a selection of Pearl Jam material to various friends who are not overly into music and spend their time listening to whats in the charts and their knowledge of the heavier side of rock music is limited largely to the likes of Bon Jovi, Linkin Park and Nirvana etc. Their response to Pearl Jam was a no no as I expected. To them Pearl Jam sounded noisy, muddled and the vocalist to rock sounding!!! I`m guessing they like Nirvana just due to their popularity and radio time, and the well hidden pop melodies in the Nirvana sound. I`m guessing that they like both Bon Jovi and Linkin Park because these two groups really are blandness personified!

By the way I haven`t listened to the Wildhearts in years!!!

I find it odd how Pearl Jam is such a dividing line around here.

They fall into a category that is occupied by the likes of say Nirvana and the Doors etc. Groups whose fans (such as myself) see them as the best thing since sliced bread and being amongst the greatest groups in the history of rock.

Then there is the other side of the dividing line, where others see these groups as being extremely overated, not understanding the appeal, tired of hearing them on the radio or just having a general gripe against them.

then again, what do I know?

I love Queensryche (yet another unpopular music opinion?)

It seems to me most people dislike them because "wah wah, they inspired Creed, wah wah they inspired Nickelback" or some people have a misconception about them writing meaningless rock (ala Kiss/ACDC) when most of their lyrics have a strong meaning. (Black, Immortality, Nothing As It Seems, Do The Evolution etc)

Personally, I think they are a great band. While they are not always as musically stimulating as a band like Radiohead or R.E.M. they still don't get the credit I think they deserve for staying true to themselves and always looking out for the fans.

people who use the "they insipred _____" make me laugh. Lame reason for why you hate a band, if this were the case we might as well all hate the Beatles for inspiring them. The trickle down influences I say.. I judge each one of the bands i like or dislike on an individual basis.

Creed, I just hate Scott. I think the rest of the band was pretty good. They are ruined by bad vocals and bad lyrics. The band is actually good though, I think Mark is a good guitarist. I just can not stand Scott Stapp. "My Own Prison" had some good songs that would of been great had they a better vocalist and a better songwriter. Could of been a lot more.

Nirvana is one of the best bands to come out in rock. Anybody who doesn't understand why needs to figure it out themselves. I think people who say they are overrated, are the same people saying the Beatles are overrated. People who say they do not like something to look cooler than somebody else. Personally though, I think people who use overrated are not that cool to start with. I prefer to use "overhyped" as opposed to overrated.