Pearl Jam; Bringing back grunge?
With the release of their new single The fixer, Pearl Jam is beginning their celebratory tour and gearing up for the release of their new album Backspacer in September. So is this the return of grunge to the forefront of the alternative scene? Or should we expect something a little bit different from the American rock band that has always thumbed its nose at what music culture expects from one of the biggest names in the music business, even if it isn´t the mainstream?
Pearl Jam certainly never dissapointed its faithful fanbase before by conforming to the expectations of the music business. After taking over the grudge movement in the early 1990s, fighting criticism from then reigning dirty rockers Nirvana, particularly lead singer Kurt Cobain, for being commercial sell outs, then proving to the world that they were indeed the opposite of such unfair name calling with such idealistic actions as refusing to create music videos and their infamous boycott of Ticketmaster, Pearl Jam has become one of the most influential and popular rock bands in America.
Sure, Nirvana may have carried that whole grungy style to the mainstream, but Pearl Jam outsold them in a heartbeat and has outlasted contempories of that decade like Nirvana and Soundgarden. Many consider Pearl Jam to be the mothering influence of many of todays modern rockers, with bands like Silverchair, Puddle of Mudd and The Strokes citing them as inspiration. And in a 2005 USA Today reader's poll, Pearl Jam was voted the greatest American rock band of all time.
When asked about Pearl Jam's legacy in a 2000 interview, lead vocalist Eddie Vedder said, "I think at some point along the way we began feeling we wanted to give people something to believe in because we all had bands that gave that to us when we needed something to believe in. That was the big challenge for us after the first record and the response to it. The goal immediately became how do we continue to be musicians and grow and survive in view of all this… the answers weren’t always easy, but I think we found a way."
Now with its ninth album, Pearl Jam may be trying something new, though they still plan on sticking to their idealistic rock roots. After deciding to work with Brendan O´Brien for the first time since their 1998 album, Yield, Vedder admits to handing over a bit more control to O´Brien. "At this point, I think we're willing to let somebody cut the songs up a little bit, in the past, Brendan would say, 'It's a great song, but I think you should do it in a different key', and we'd say no. But now that we've heard Bruce Springsteen has listened to his suggestions, I think we will too."
While the album won´t be ready until late September, Vedder has stated, "The new record feels good so far—really strong and uptempo, stuff we can sink our teeth into." The first single The fixer has brought good reviews, though a recognized shift towards a more pop feeling that can be expected in the entire album. Guitarist Mike McCready said, "I'd sum it up as kind of a tight, concise, rock ’n’ roll record with kind of pop or maybe new wave elements to it…It’s a really quick record, but I like that element to it."
Until the release of Pearl Jam´s Backspacer in September, right don´t you give some of their classics like Alive, Daughter and The Last Kiss a try here on Red Karaoke. Or go to the forum and tell us if you think Pearl Jam really is the most influential rock band from the alternative grunge scene.
