Following the round of touring for "Vitalogy", the band went into the studio to record its follow-up, "No Code". Vedder said, "Making "No Code" was all about gaining perspective." Released in 1996, "No Code" was seen as a deliberate break from the band's sound since "Ten", favoring experimental ballads and noisy garage rockers. David Browne of "Entertainment Weekly" stated that ""No Code" displays a wider range of moods and instrumentation than on any previous Pearl Jam album." The lyrical themes on the album deal with issues of self-examination, with Ament stating, "In some ways, it's like the band's story. It's about growing up." Although the album debuted at number one on the "Billboard" charts, it quickly fell down the charts. "No Code" included the singles "Who You Are" (), "Hail, Hail", and "Off He Goes". As with "Vitalogy", very little touring was done to promote "No Code" because of the band's refusal to play in Ticketmaster's venue areas. A European tour took place in the fall of 1996. Gossard stated that there was "a lot of stress associated with trying to tour at that time" and that "it was growing more and more difficult to be excited about being part of the band."