The Complexity that is Pearl Jam (with no claim to any answers)

The problem is this: Pearl Jam cannot simply be written off as a grunge band who has survived too long.

There was this band, Mother Love Bone, whose lead singer Andy Wood died a few days before the release of their first album (I once talked to a waiter in Seattle who claims to have known him—but then again, what wannabe rocker in Seattle over the age of 35 doesn’t claim to have known at least one of the members of either Pearl Jam or Nirvana?). Through some connection or another, some vocal-less demos of the band ended up in the hands of surfer dude Eddie Vedder.
After he got back from catching some rad waves, he tracked grunts of several different notes and sent the tapes back with that correspondence—like Aphrodite birthed from a shell created by ocean water meeting the blood of her father’s testes, Pearl Jam was founded.

Now, don’t be misled by my jesting—Pearl Jam freakin’ rocks. I own every studio album (plus a few of their hundred live albums) from 1991’s “Ten” (songs from which can be heard at least five times a day in any city in the U.S.), to the self-titled album, released 2006. My father introduced me to them (as with most of my good music), and I was singing along to the album “No Code” at six years old (I would have to argue for “No Code” as their best, with “Yield” coming in a close second).

Some people, critics, would gladly debate my assertion in the opening sentence. They call “No Code” and “Binaural” too experimental and that the band should stick to what made them famous. Their newest album has been extremely well received because of the semi-return to “ten” style—but at least this one has better vocals and much better lyrics.

Just for kicks, let’s take a look at 2001’s rarities and B-sides compilation “Lost Dogs.” Thirty songs that, for some reason or another, didn’t make it onto any studio album. Why is this? Producers claim the songs just didn’t fit the flow, fit with the rest of the respective albums for which they were recorded. I don’t buy this. These songs are weirder, often times recorded spur of the moment (Eddie Vedder is a master at improvising lyrics, incorporating entire 60’s rock song lyrics into the course of a P.J. song at concerts). capable of grabbing the attention of bubble-gum-chewing 13-year-olds? probably not.

so, let's leave it at this: Pearl Jam has looked around them and found inspiration, creating songs for the last 15 years. why stop now? they're innovative, talented, active protesters of things they disagree with; what more could you want in a rock band?