Live: 8-23-00 - Jones Beach, New York - Pearl Jam

In a move to beat bootleggers to the punch, Pearl Jam decided to release each of their 2000 American concert performances in a series of inexpensive double-CD sets. The August 23rd concert recorded in Jones Beach, NY, begins with the softly droning "The Long Road" and slides into the decidedly more upbeat "Corduroy." The concert rarities "Grievance," "God's Dice," and "Habit" are met with lukewarm response, but crowd favorites like a blast through "Animal" and the singalong "Betterman" win the crowd over. "Daughter" drifts into an impromptu version of Tom Waits' "Hold On," and the high-speed "Rearview Mirror" finishes out the first set. Eddie Vedder's flawless ukulele-only "Soon Forget" opens the second set, accompanying some politically charged conversation regarding presidential candidate Ralph Nader. His raspy voice charges through several more songs from throughout the band's career, finishing with a raucous version of Neil Young's confessional anthem "Fucking Up." While the concert has its high points (the aforementioned "Soon Forget," "Black," the extended jam of "Rearview Mirror"), on the whole it is an average, but entertaining, entry into their "bootleg" collection. ~ Zac Johnson, All Music Guide