PEARL JAM'S POSITIVE VIBES
A rare survivor of Seattle’s grunge scene, Pearl Jam are not resting on
their angst-ridden laurels. For their ninth album, Backspacer, they have embraced a fast early-pop sound, tinged with 1980s
California-style punk. This is the band's leanest offering to date--just 37 minutes long--but with time enough for both ballads and soaring anthems.
Brendan O'Brien, the producer behind three of Pearl Jam's early celebrated albums (Vs, Vitalogy and No Code), has returned to the boards for Backspacer, the band's first studio album outside of a major label. This is a good thing. The album explodes out of the gates with two speedy, foot-stomping rockers, “Gonna See My Friend” and “Got Some”, before giving way to “The Fixer”, its first single. All three are sweaty, high-octane numbers that instantly ignite listeners.
The album finally gears down on the fifth track with “Just Breathe”, which features the brooding, soulful baritone of the band's frontman and song-writer, Eddie Vedder. The beautifully crafted ballad is rooted in a cut from his award-winning "Into The Wild" soundtrack, a solo effort from 2007. But the tempo jumps back up with the melodic “Amongst the Waves”. With lyrics like “Have a soul that’s been saved/I can see the light/Coming through the clouds in rays”, this song is destined to become a sing-along at stadium concerts.
Positive vibes abound on Backspacer. Occasionally the pace slows just enough for the band's guitarists, Mike McCready and Stone Gossard, to accent tunes with searing leads. Their interplay often evokes the Rolling Stones’ Keith Richards and Ronnie Wood.
But the album is not without darker reflections, particularly the kind that come later in life. The last track, called “The End", is a sombre, vulnerable ballad that finishes with lyrics “My dear/The End/Comes near/I’m here/
But not much longer”
The end is nowhere in sight for Pearl Jam, whose slate includes a big American tour followed by gigs in Australia and New Zealand. A new music video directed by Cameron Crowe has been released and a Rock Band video game will come out next year. Despite the dissipation of their youthful rage, Pearl Jam has managed to stay relevant.
Backspacer by Pearl Jam (Monkeywrench), out now
~ RICHARD DEWEY
Picture Credit: Metal Chris (via Flickr)
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Saw Pearl Jam's commercial
October 5, 2009 - 09:45 — Visitor (not verified)Saw Pearl Jam's commercial for Target last night. Something tells me that they're trying to backdoor into U2 territory but without the track record. Major musical acts have always shilled for products and corporations, but I couldn't help feeling that as Eddie yelled to the adoring fans in some "Alive"-style club with Target's shimmering brand over his shoulder that a little, insignificant part of my youth died.
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