SPLICED LIFE /
ISSUE 02
MUSIC / PEARL JAM
Pearl Jam / Lightning Bolt
So, Pearl Jam released a new album and it’s awesome. Yes. That happened. A band that
formed 23 years ago - waving an ambivalent, checkered flag for grunge - have managed
to pull together 12 fantastic songs into a beautifully constructed album. I hope you feel
bad about yourselves, NIN and Soundgarden.
Starting with a big ol’ burst of energy with the
first couple of tracks, it takes you on a bit of an
emotional journey of pathos-fuelled guitar and
essence o’ Eddie Vedder before nudging your
adrenal glands awake again. There are perfectly
timed ups to every down; the lyrics are bloody
marvellous; and although the music is not the
stuff of a technical audiophile’s wet dream,
every sound in this album just works like they’ve
breathed it through their instruments.
Is it genius? No. Is it a classic-in-the-making?
Quite possibly. Is it worth a listen or 73? Absofracking-lutely.
www.pearljam.com
BEST TRACKS
Mind Your Manners /
It’s the first single for a
reason. Great big handfuls
of harmonious mayhem
with a bit of melodic
reprieve.
Sirens / All the feels!
It’s the kind of thing
a romantic sap (even
one hidden in a blackhearted stoic) would
cock their head to the
side and sigh to.
Yellow Moon / Probably
the most reminiscent of
old school PJ, but with a
splash of experience and
sobriety to round it off.
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