75. Matt Norlander Discusses Pearl Jam, Yield

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Matt Norlander, basketball writer and analyst for CBS Sports and host of the Records & Riffs podcast, is this episode's guest, and he introduces Al to Pearl Jam's fifth album, Yield.  Matt talks about his fandom for Pearl Jam in general and his love for this particular album, commenting in detail on nearly every track. He also delves into his viral moment involving a Guster sticker and what's coming up for him, both at CBS Sports and on Records & Riffs.

This was not a great episode for Al in terms of correctly citing song titles. He referred to "Elderly Woman Behind the Counter in a Small Town" from Vs., as "Elderly Lady," and "Red Dot" from Yield as "Red Bar."

Be sure to follow Matt on Twitter and Instagram at @mattnorlander, and to check out his website, mattnorlander.com. Also find the archive of episodes for Records and Riffs at https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/records-riffs/id1038311526?mt=2.

Al is on Twitter at @almelchiorBB, and this show has accounts on Twitter and Instagram at @youmealbum. Be sure to follow @youmealbum to find out in advance about upcoming guests and featured albums for this podcast.

Al launched You, Me and An Album: The Newsletter earlier this year. You can subscribe for free to get Al’s monthly posts, but paid subscriptions give you access to weekly posts and much more. Please consider trying a paid subscription as it also helps to support this podcast! https://youmealbum.substack.com/

Finally, You, Me and An Album now has a YouTube channel! If you missed the recent livestream episode with Rebecca Clay Cole, Mariana Timony, Ellen Adair and Eric Gilde, you can replay it there...https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCbABgYqn4lMrG4NE3dqniIw.

1:24 Matt joins the show

2:22 Matt talks about interviewing Steve Lillywhite for his music podcast

5:46 Matt explains why he picked Yield

8:37 1998 was a great music year for Matt

10:39 Why is Yield Matt’s favorite Pearl Jam album?

19:00 Al references albums that were the first ones he loved from certain bands

19:32 Al appreciates the elements that make Yield different from previous Pearl Jam albums

22:31 Matt thinks the band’s collaborative approach on Yield produced great results

25:38 Matt singles out his favorite songwriter in Pearl Jam

Discussion of specific tracks

27:52 No Way/Faithful

31:50 Wishlist and an appreciation of Jack Irons

34:22 Given to Fly

36:28 Brain of J./Do the Evolution

38:33 Red Dot/Push Me, Pull Me

42:15 Matt surmises which other albums Yield’s tracks could have been placed on

43:45 MFC

45:57 Low Light

47:42 Matt admires Brendan O’Brien’s production on Yield

48:44 Matt’s closing thoughts on the album

52:04 Matt talks about his current work at CBS Sports and with Records & Riffs

56:29 Matt talks about the viral moment he had with his Guster laptop sticker

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