Review: There's a clear statement of intent when a band puts out a retrospective compilation subtitled Volume 1. Pearl Jam are unarguably an outfit that can back up that hinted threat with genuine goods, too, ranking among the most influential US alternative rock bands of the 1990s. As such we're already chomping at the bit with anticipation for the sequel.
Sticking with this one, though, there's plenty here to introduce newcomers to exactly why the act that gave us landmark LPs like Ten warrant revisiting and celebrating. Tracks like 'Alive' and 'Even Flow', and 'Once' still sound as powerful and inimitable (no that many haven't tried) as they did when said album landed, with a slew of other material here proving just how many new ideas came from the team in their formative years.
Elderly Woman Behind The Counter In A Small Town (3:16)
Immortality (5:09)
Better Man (4:25)
Nothingman (4:34)
Who You Are (3:51)
Off He Goes (5:45)
Given To Fly (4:01)
Wishlist (3:23)
Last Kiss (3:16)
Nothing As It Seems (5:20)
Light Years (5:05)
I Am Mine (3:35)
Man Of The Hour (3:44)
Yellow Ledbetter (5:03)
Review: Surely everyone had at least some period in their younger years where they were fully signed up fans of Eddie Vedder and his Pearl Jam? Well, if that's you, relive your youth with this bumper collection of their great hist from arguably their best period - the early nineties on to the turn of the millennium. Rearviewmirror comes in two volumes which really speaks to the number of big tunes the American band put out in their time. This first one has the likes of 'I Am Mine,' 'Daughter' and personal favourite 'Elderly Woman Behind The Counter In A Small Town.'
Review: There's many eras of Pearl Jam where you may have been fortunate enough to see them perform live. But if you were given the opportunity to time travel, we suspect that 1992 will have been top of the list. The grunge icons had just released their most successful and arguably best album to-date - Ten. With it came 'Jeremy', 'Even Flow' and 'Black'. Three of the greatest songs of the 90s. All three are played here on this live album, as is their epic cover of Neil Young's 'Rockin' In the Free World', which has gone on to remain a staple in their live sets for years to come. Eddie Vedder and co. were at their absolute peak commercially and creatively and hearing them on this audiophile format live leaves us understanding why they were such a phenomenon.
Review: As the title suggests, this Under The Covers album is a collection of tunes the legendary band played at their live gigs, but which they hadn't actually written themselves. There are many glorious overs here, all of which are very much done in true Pearl Jam fashion - with passion and energy. The collection also demonstrates quite how wild and eclectic the band's taste must have been. As such the collection tells you plenty about their enormous knowledge and love of music past and present. There is plenty to love here, so dig yourself in deep and lap it up.
Review: For the first time in over 26 years, much-loved metallers Pearl Jam finally topped mainstream rock airplay charts in the US with the first single off their latest album. That came some 1000 days ahead of the album itself which has now finally arrived and has soon won over fans. That single, 'Dark Matter', became Pearl Jam's first No. 1 on the chart since 'Given To Fly' led for six weeks all the way back in January-February 1998. The rest of the album is full of just as much gold as that, with plenty more of their signature riffs and potent grooves all topped with Eddie Vedder's legendary lung-busting vocals.
Review: Give Way has all the hallmarks of a collector's item. Originally intended to be given away for free with copies of Pear Jam's 1998 documentary, Single Video Theory, neither label nor band cleared the promotion and so it all went down the drain, with 50,000 copies destroyed a day before the flick hit in one of those How Much Money Did They Have? kind of moments.
25 years on and fans can finally see what they've been missing out on. The record itself is a snapshot of a date at Melbourne Park in Australia, a stop off on the Yield Tour, cutting down the original 25 track show to a shorter playlist, ensuring it can fit on the release. In terms of standards, this gives a strong nod to a peak period in the legacy of this US grunge rock behemoth, and should appease even the most demanding fans.
Dark Matter: Dolby Atmos Immersive Mix & HD Audio (Blu-ray)
Review: Pearl Jam's 12th album, Dark Matter, sees the veteran rockers returning to their roots with a renewed sense of vigor. Departing from the reflective tone of their previous release, Gigaton, the band opted for a more spontaneous approach to songwriting, gathering in a room to craft material that feels refreshingly loose and live. The album as a whole delivers some convincing arguments for a classic Pearl Jam collection. Tracks like "'Scared Of Fear,' 'Wreckage,' and 'Setting Sun' showcase the band's trademark grandeur, with muscular guitar leads, powerful drumming, and Eddie Vedder's unmistakable vocals leading the charge. Many long time fans will appreciate this album as a fiery rebirth after a series of more stilted releases. Ultimately, Dark Matter is a audio guidepost to Pearl Jam's enduring identity and their ability to deliver authentic rock music that resonates with both diehard fans and casual listeners alike.
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