Pearl Jam retains it's position as a voice and sound culled from the boiling of a generation, an age, a brief spark in history. Along with Nirvana and Soundgarden, Pearl Jam pointed out Seattle as a hot spot on the musical map and now the garage is considered a formidable studio space and grunge music one of it's most listened to creations. Though it's been just about 15 years since Pearl Jam first appeared as a brand new popular band they manage to remain one of the most accessible and respectable alternative rock bands of the 1990's. Their latest release wastes no steam and is a welcome addition to the Pearl Jam discography.



The one aspect most appealing, and which most likely lead to the success of Pearl Jam, is lead singer Eddie Vedder's voice and persona. From his gravely voice one might consider him a disgruntled and unlikable beast, but I consider his voice one of the most sensitive in alternative rock. His vibrato singing can shift from passionate disgust to affectionate compassion and most everything in between song after song. It's the same quality that Nirvana's Kurt Cobain carried with him; the 'grungy' attitude but contemplative lyrics and soulful deliver, Seattle soulful. He's not the mainstay of the entire band but his pulsating singing carries the listener through the apocalyptic and sometimes gentle compositions of Pearl Jam.

The other aspect which lets Pearl Jam settle above the stew of alternative rock is their sound. Countless bands have come out of their musical wombs sounding either exactly or close enough to the Pearl Jam sound. Their blend of country, rock, blues, folk, and soul is mixed so well that it has become a now indistinguishable style, but remember class, at one point in time no-one played like these guys; 15 years ago. It's easy to listen to this album and think "Why, they sound just like Muddy Joe from down the street" but these guys refined the music that lead these disgruntled and confused youth (muddy joe from down the street) into an accepted freedom. The only thing Pearl Jam are doing now is continuing to refine their sound.



On this album Pearl Jam have stretched their musical palette even more to cool the situation engulfing the world, just the same as many artists are beginning to do. On songs such as "Unemployable" and "Army Reserve" Vedder addresses specific issues which are dominating the United States these days. "Army Reserve" has a smooth rhythm and stretches a desolate scene of a war time world. Vedder sings such lines as "I'm not blind/ I can see it coming/ Looks like lightning/ In My Child's Eye" with a furious conviction and then closes with "Darling you'll save me/ If you save yourself" stating that you're not saving anyone by simply dying being brave. On earlier tracks such as "World Wide Suicide" Vedder doesn't waste any time to criticize war and the current presidents decisions to spend money and send soldiers to fight a war which should never have been. Vedder sings with an earth-shaking tremor of a voice "It's a shame to awake in a world of pain/ What does it mean when a war has taken over". Vedder has a country-man's way of relating to people in a way that is both understandable and poignant while still laying out music that will crush your ear-drums.



After rocking out on a few harder tracks Pearl Jam slows things down with the contemplative acoustic song "Parachutes" and the slow rocker "Gone". Vedder rides the bass and punctures the pattern being played by the guitar changing his pitches and allowing his voice to float freely throughout the space of the music on "Parachutes". The song is a lament on death and with such lyrics as "I got/ All the friends I'm needing/ Before my light goes out/ As the doors are closing now." the song carries a beautiful and somber mood. On "Gone" Vedder switches to the bleak reality of American consumerism and the thought of leaving it all behind. The song builds to a great rolling tune as if you're kicking your Chevy into 5th gear and speeding down the highway. It's a surprisingly optimistic song with a very real and grim undercurrent.



With a heavy burden of expectation hanging over Pearl jam from millions of fans, Pearl Jam play it cool and don't disappoint. They never fray their motivation and message in their music; powerful songs of meaning are mixed in generously with sheer rockers and melancholy laments. The album is a clear indication the band isn't slowing it's production. With every year Vedder's voice matures and grows wiser and more potent; by the time he's considered a legend he'll have the voice to match. I gotta say though, it may be a great fruit, but what's the deal with the avocado?



Track Listing

1 Life Wasted

2 World Wide Suicide

3 Comatose

4 Severed Hand

5 Marker In The Sand

6 Parachutes

7 Unemployable

8 Big Wave

9 Gone

10 Wasted Reprise

11 Army Reserve

12 Come Back

13 Inside Job