Eddie Vedder delivered a Christmas surprise to fans on Friday with the release of a new solo EP, Matter of Time. The six-song offering includes the title track which was released as a single back in November along with “Say Hi”, as well as acoustic renderings of Pearl Jam tracks, and a take on Bruce Springsteen‘s “Growin’ Up”.
Matter of Time includes renditions of “Porch” and “Just Breathe” from the Pearl Jam catalog that were recorded “acoustic at home” during the COVID-19 lockdown. The EP also includes Vedder’s solo performance of “Future Days” from the 2020 Game Awards.
This is far from Vedder’s first attempt at the Greetings From Asbury Park, N.J. classic as he first performed it live with Pearl Jam on July 14th, 2003. When he debuted the cover at that concert—which took place in The Boss’ home state of New Jersey—Vedder said that it was a song he used to play on guitar in his bedroom as a kid and has since gone on to play it live during solo performances.
The solo acoustic rendering of the song takes on that same bedroom feel as Vedder begins with the familiar guitar riff and jokingly says over it, “name that tune.” The song also achieves an air of looseness as the Pearl Jam frontman makes a lyrical mistake in the opening verse, but leaves it in the recording anyway. Overall the cover of “Growin’ Up” serves as a fitting tribute and a cyclical nod to how far Vedder has come since playing Bruce Springsteen songs in his bedroom as a kid.
Hear Eddie Vedder cover Bruce Springsteen’s “Growin’ Up” below, and scroll down to listen to the full Matter of Time EP.
Eddie Vedder – “Growin’ Up” (Bruce Springsteen)
[Video: Eddie Vedder]
[H/TÂ Rolling Stone]