As i've not put reviews out in ages, i'll get back into with something that should've been done mid-May. Seeing as there's nothing decent out currently, i'll look at albums that celebrate a milestone of being released. This week, we have Binaural from Pearl Jam, as it's something i've been listening to a lot recently. Closer by Joy Division'll follow at some point, probably the week after next.
Binaural is Pearl Jam's 6th album, which is remarkable when you consider that album #1 was released in 1991, and Binaural out in 2000. One thing you could (and still can) count on PJ for at that point was for their albums to be, if nothing else, solid, and easily top albums of the year in which they were released. Binaural, despite what critics and sales may indicate, was no different.
Binaural didn't produce any great singles, or any classic songs for which PJ are remembered like they are for others, but there's certainly enough quality on here to define a band. Eddie Vedder suffered bad bouts (if it occurs in such a manner) of writer's block whilst making this album, but when you listen to the full thing, you can't understand how. He contributes the words to 8 of the 13 songs present, including all the stand-out moments. The rest of the band are as wonderful as ever, proving that they can move out of their old comfort-zone of grunge, experimenting with different genres and recording methods (hence the name of the album). Despite the difference in genre, most of the songs sound like they came about the old-fashioned way, through jam sessions.
As mentioned, lyrical prowess is a key featyre of Pearl Jam's work, and it's not any less-so here. From Breakerfall, a tale about a womans unrequited love, to Nothing as It Seems, a song which draws infulence from Pink Floyd with distorted guitars dripping off it, and lyrics from bassist Jeff Ament about a difficult childhood life. Sleight of Hand is a true moment of genius. Another track with hazy guitar effects, the story told is both poignant and relevant to a mass audience, which is part of Pearl Jam's draw to so many loyal fans. Other stand out points include Soon Forget, written by Vedder in one go and featuring music solely from a ukelele, which draws on one of the favourite Pearl Jam influences: homelessness. Gods' Dice, Light Years, Insignificance, Grievance and Of the Girl are all also easily up there with the bands best work.
Binaural can be seen as a pivotal event in Pearl Jam's history, as the tour for this album spawned the bands bootleg collection, which still runs strong to this day. Done by recording a lot of the bands live shows and making them into CD's available for purchase on their website and at gigs, it allows fans to get affordable access to the bands music. 72 such bootlegs were released between 2000-2001 during the tour for Binaural, setting a record for most albums debuting in the Billboard 200 chart in America at the one time. Pearl Jam are the only band to do such a series of releases (so far as I know, feel free to correct me) and it shows a fantastic dedication to their fans, and how grounded they have remained despite their fame. That each show costs $9.99 (£6.70) as a digital download is remarkable, especially in this current climate where money seems to be the only motivation for making music.
If you don't listen to Pearl Jam (your loss), then I don't recommend listening to Binaural first. Do it properly, start at Ten and work your way through. Just know, that by the time you get to Binaural, the brilliance wont let down for a second.
(PS: Sorry for the title. I was really, really stuck)
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