Pearl Jam inspire extreme love or extreme hate. We asked two writers to take sides on the Seattle grunge stalwarts' worth. Let the verbal fisticuffs begin!

THE LOVER

I came from Huntington Beach in 1986 to Issaquah High School and knew nothing of Seattle's music scene. At 14, I made some friends here, but music got me through. In 1991, while still listening to Metallica, Depeche Mode, and SoCal punk, I heard Pearl Jam's Ten.

Pearl Jam opened a musical floodgate. I had no idea there was such great music being made in Seattle, which led me to bands like Hammerbox, the Gits, Zeke, Supersuckers, Seaweed, Critters Buggin', Nirvana, Screaming Trees, etc. These bands have a lot to do with where I am today.

Pearl Jam stood out, though. They possessed enormous talent, played well together, and featured a singer who actually had something to say. I found everything I could by Pearl Jam. Live records (including bootlegs), vinyl, a fan club where I got a 45 every year? This was my kind of band—not about fame or ego, but about their music and their fans.

Another great thing about Pearl Jam: They don't make the same record every time; they experiment, take chances, make mistakes, and, most importantly, have the balls to stand up for their beliefs.

Pearl Jam's members have side projects, yet there's nothing quite like what happens when they play together live. That's where they shine. Realizing that their fans were rabid about their live shows and attempting to curb bootleggers, Pearl Jam allowed fans to record them live. They also release several live CDs each tour to further combat bootlegging.

Pearl Jam have used their status to do good, including contributing to charities, taking on Ticketmaster over its dubious business practices, even planning an entire tour without using that service (which worked quite well). PJ took on MTV, ceasing to make videos for years, and they've stood steadfast in their political views on and off stage, adding tour dates in 2004 to help raise awareness for Vote for Change.

So, 14 fan-club singles (45s), almost 20 live shows, and close to 100 CDs later, I still love Pearl Jam. I thank them for opening that musical gate for me and for being a great band with chops, smarts, and balls. LISA WOOD

Lisa Wood is a KEXP DJ and blogs at www.lisawood.blogspot.com.

THE HATER

Pearl Jam are undoubtedly nice guys—they donate to Vera, they're pro-choice, and they try not to gouge their fans. But nice guys don't always make good art, and, consequently, Pearl Jam are an entirely unnecessary band.

Here's why:

1. Pearl Jam's one great contribution to the history of rock music has been a vocal style, popularized by Eddie Vedder, known as "yarling." This essentially makes Vedder and, by extension, Pearl Jam, culpable for such crimes against music as Stone Temple Pilots, Creed, Staind, and many other "yarling" late-'90s grunge-lite acts.

2. Pearl Jam were never that good. A slightly above-average bar band that just happened to be in the right place at the right time, they were swept up as part of Seattle's great grunge hype and canonized alongside Nirvana and Soundgarden as some kind of Holy Trinity. But Pearl Jam possessed neither the transgressive punk sensibilities of Nirvana nor the giant, metallic awesomeness of Soundgarden. Instead, Pearl Jam produced a bland, digestible "alternative" music founded upon limp balladry, bloated arrangements, formulaic blues-rock grooves, and laughable lyrics made more painful by the aforementioned "yarling."

3. Pearl Jam have nothing interesting to say. Antiwar? Pro-choice? Fond of avocados? So is half the damn country, but you don't see us recording a million useless live "bootlegs" about it, do you?

If you like "yarling," weak ballads, and tame ideas, or if you're a preadolescent, then Pearl Jam are your band. Otherwise, do yourself a favor and listen to something new already. Grunge is over; let the dream die. ERIC GRANDY

Eric Grandy performs often as DJ FITS.