 |
Pearl Jam
Binaural
label: Sony
released: 05.16.00
our score: 4.0 out of 5.0
|
Although keeping a lower
profile than other rock giants such as REM and U2, the persistent
quality and depth of Pearl Jam's music over the last 10 years
has rightly installed them as one of the "Big Three."
Since the
ground-breaking album Ten launched them into super-stardom
in 1991 (at the same time as Out Of Time catapulted REM
into the stratosphere of rock), there has been no looking back
for Eddie Vedder's outfit.
Their latest
release, Binaural, is their sixth studio album and is typical
of a rock band that has reached a plateau of greatness, it being
musically sound and lyrically intelligent. A testimony to the
quality of Binaural is "Thin Air," starting as
a cleverly worked ballad and ending on a crest of rousing guitars.
The variety of Pearl Jam's first collection of new tracks for
two years is further reflected in the opening blitzkrieg of "Breakerfall,"
the radio-friendly "Light Years" and the experimental
"Insignificance." Another to watch out for is "Nothing
As It Seems," the album's first single takes its time to
infect the lobes with beautiful dirge-like vocals.
In true rock
style, Pearl Jam are linking the launch of the album to a full
world tour that started in Lisbon and will reach our shores (the
UK) in late May and early June. For those unable to get tickets,
Binaural is a welcome substitute, especially as it comes
with attractive packaging and a 32-page booklet that puts many
major artists to shame.
If you
liked Binaural...
|
Tracklist:
1. Breakerfall
2. Gods' Dice
3. Evacuation
4. Light Years
5. Nothing As It Seems
6. Thin Air
7. Insignificance
8. Of The Girl
9. Grievance
10. Rival
11. Sleight Of Hand
12. Soon Forget
13. Parting Ways
14. Typing
|
|
