release date: Nov. 12, 2002
format: cd
[album rate: 3 / 5] [2,88]
producer: Adam Kasper, Pearl Jam
label: Epic Records - nationality: USA
Track highlights: 1. "Can't Keep" - 6. "I Am Mine" - 7. "Thumbing My Way" - 9. "Get Right"
7th studio album by Pearl Jam with new producer, Adam Kasper, sounds very much like Pearl Jam, and also the continued story of a band still in search of a sound. The predecessor's experimental approach is continued here, although, this is more restrained with art rock-reminiscence. The album echoes two tragedies: nine deaths in front of the scene at the Roskilde Festival in 2000 while Pearl Jam played, and the 9/11 terrorist attack in 2001. At the same time, it's also a near political uproar against the Bush administration. The writing process exemplifies the band's struggles, as all members bring their individual material to the recording studio after which the band then rework these sketches until a satisfactory result is met - a working process they initiated on the much better Yield; however, this process is also reflected in highly varied compositions without any strong bonds. The most successful compositions are as usual those written by Eddie Vedder, whereas the others bring about the more experimental songs.
In a way, the album contains stronger compositions, is more coherent than Binaural and No Code, but still feels like an unfinished bunch of songs where an overall goal is somewhat blurred.
I don't find that the album contains any really great songs and basically just think of it as another mediocre and easily forgettable release by Pearl Jam.
[ allmusic.com 4 / 5, Rolling Stone, Q Magazine 3 / 5, The Guardian 2 / 5 stars ]
