The longevity of a band relies heavily on their ability to continue to create artistically. Sure, the old songs will always hold a place in our hearts, but, no true artist aspires towards a dependency on biannual revival tours to earn money. With this in mind, it is Lightning Bolt, the tenth studio album from perennial alternative rockers Pearl Jam, that demonstrates an artist is never done creating, even after doing so for over two decades.
Lightning Bolt shows that Pearl Jam’s maturation as human beings has not affected their songwriting or their familiar Pearl Jam style. For those concerned, the raw, gritty, longing vocals of front-man Eddie Vedder are a mainstay of Lightning Bolt, only, the means to those vocals has shifted over the years. The album is best viewed as a progression from loud to soft, initially reaching the punk-rock energy of days past before moving to sentimental, calmer music. This is no surprise, as Backspacer, Pearl Jam’s last album release from 2009, is a particularly thoughtful musical experience.
Lightning Bolt begins with the crescendoing guitar riff of “Getaway,” a bona fide electric-guitar-distortion-bass-pumping-drum-thumping rocker that would have fit perfectly in the band’s catalog twenty years ago. It’s a great opening track, something that could easily kick off an arena rock concert. The next track is the first single from the album, “Mind Your Manners.” This, too, is wrought with the alternative-punk spirit that defines Pearl Jam. At this point, one could have expected an album that harkens back to the Pearl Jam of old. But, while paying tribute to the style that defined their success, the progression of Lightning Bolt leads to sentimentality. Perhaps this is due to Vedder’s recent marriage or even his child-raising – life events that would, and should, affect the focus of any artist.
Vedder’s vocals are still as powerful as ever, but, on a song like “Sirens,” they are rechanneled. Unlike the previous tracks on Lightning Bolt, “Sirens” marks the first use of piano and acoustic guitar on the album. The song may address deep issues like love and mortality, but it does so with the angst-ridden soul that is distinctly Pearl Jam. As the album continues, the songs progressively mortgage their hard rock edge for a more contemplative spirit. “Swallowed Whole” opens with an acoustic guitar, as Vedder sings “I can feel the sun/ I can feel the sound/ I can set myself right here and drown.” Another track, “Sleeping By Myself,” has Vedder singing about lost love to an acoustic guitar and ukulele melody. The song builds with a haunting electric guitar melody, drops into a ukulele-only section, before ending with a particularly sentimental verse.
While the last four or five songs on this album are slower, Vedder is readily able to demonstrate the power behind their thoughtfulness. For Pearl Jam fans, Lightning Bolt is worth the listen. It may be new material, but it’s still got that flavor that we all know and love. Lightning Bolt is officially released on October 15th, though the album is streaming on iTunes before that date. And, if the studio album isn’t enough, Pearl Jam is performing at the Barclay’s Center on October 18th and 19th. Enjoy!
–David Melamed