Yield (1998)

No Code was an opinion-divider upon its release in 1996, but time has proven it to be an affirmation of the band’s creative integrity. Nevertheless we want to give some love to its followup too. The laid-back sessions are captured in the “Single Video Theory” documentary, and Jeff Ament’s “Lowlight” and Vedder’s wistful “Wishlist” give this record the sound of a band on the same page. McCready contributes understated but perfectly pitched leads — even breaking out an E-Bow for the latter song. He’s steeped in Zeppelin’s “Going to California” to build the waves for standout “Given to Fly,” but unleashes punk rock riffage for opener “Brain of J.” Gossard ups his ante too on “Do the Evolution” — a damning indictment the human race has never sounded so good.

Download: “Given to Fly”