Saturday, March 10th 2012
News: Pearl Jam
New Pearl Jam Album To ‘Experiment & Shake It Up’
The release of a new Pearl Jam album seemed to come a lot closer to reality last year, with the group announcing that they started recording with Brendan O’Brien in March and even releasing a brand new track in September. Fortunately, fan anticipation is rising once again, as guitarist Stone Gossard recently took the time to give an update on how the recording process is coming along. 
In an interview with Rolling Stone (via Omelete), the guitarist spoke mainly about his other band, Brad, and their forthcoming LP United We Stand. Obviously, Mr. Gossard was asked about how close to completion Pearl Jam’s tenth studio album is, and the answer was somewhat vague: “We’ve recorded some songs, and we’re going to record and write some more. You never know, it might be that we’re a song away or two, or it might be that we’re going to record six or seven more songs. I think the main thing is that were not in a rush and there’s no urgency to it”.
When speaking about how the record might sound, Stone was more direct, saying that the band wants to “put something out that continues to expand our boundaries rather than trying to follow what we’ve done in the past.” He continued, further stating about the band’s possible foray into new sounds: “I think it’s a good time to hopefully continue to experiment, and continue to shake it up. So that people can go ‘Wow, that’s kind of weird for Pearl Jam,’ and then 10 years later they can go, ‘Oh, that’s my favorite period.’ Which is always kind of what happens. You try something and at first everybody doesn’t necessarily understand it, and then you look back and you go, thank God we tried something new, because it really opened a door up for us to be able to do this and this and this beyond that”.
As mentioned by the interviewer, Pearl Jam’s fourth album No Code was one of their oddest (though among our favorites in their catalogue), and one that amassed a strong following of fans over the years. Stone then compared that album to their current recordings: “No Code kind of came out and everyone was like, ‘uhhh…’ That was the first record where the record company and maybe even some of the press were going, ‘It doesn’t make any sense.’ But this record is refreshingly cool, because it’s just us in the studio screwing around, not taking it too seriously”. He finished his line of thought by saying that “one of the biggest problems in rock is people thinking too much, putting too much emphasis on getting things perfect or completely sorted out,” implying that that problem is unlikely to happen, whenever Pearl Jam decide to release their next LP.
While we await for more details on new Pearl Jam music, Brad’s United We Stand drops on April 24. Watch their video for Diamond Blues below:
Naturally, we’ll update as soon as there’s more concrete news.
Great news. Backspacer was a disappointment and easily PJ’s weakest album. Any departure from that will be welcomed. Many of PJ’s more interesting songs (Sleight of Hand, Help Help, You Are, etc.) are of the experimental variety (experimental for PJ that is). I for one am really looking forward to hearing where they go with this. As Stone said, hopefully this release will be “kind of weird for Pearl Jam” and our “favorite period” of newer Pearl Jam music. I just hope the release comes sooner rather then later.
i dsagree. there has not been a weak pj album yet. the
Backspacer is definitely their weakest. I was stunned when I heard it. No Code is amazing.
I contend that Avocado is the weakest, but that is neither here nor there.
Hopefully “Of The Earth” ends up on the record.
I really loved the self-titled album. It was deep.
Y’all gotta check out the new Bruce album, though. Especially, Jack of All Trades.
Rob, I’ve listened to Wrecking Ball and it wasn’t bad but what the hell is Rocky Ground all about? Completely un-Bruce if you ask me. I don’t like that kind of experimenting (but that is just my opinion)
The guy pushes it sometimes, think I would have liked the tone of ‘rocky’ better without the rap breakdown at the end but the record is solid. Love the last two songs on the record
I really love the S/T album too. The production isn’t good but the songs are very strong. I think it is their best album since Yield.
I agree with most of you – Backspacer was a pop record, not a rock record and very disappointing. It was weak instrument wise and although Eddie’s voice can save almost anything, even the lyrics were mostly lame. I certainly won’t look back in a decade and think of that as my favourite period.
Sadly, I think we need another G W Bush or something similar that Eddie can get mad about to inspire some heavier music with deeper meaning. As glad as I am for them, the band is in a happy space at present and in my opinion that is at least partly to blame for the lame music. Ole is another pop song. Of the earth sounded good (my wife and I was in Dublin when they performed it the first time) except that the middle section dragged a bit.
Of course I know I will buy the next album, I just hope I am pleasantly surprised this time (unlike the last two times and especially the last one)
i disagree. there are many many strong moments in backspacer. tender, aggressive n a lotta great grooves. you need to expand your listening. if u think this aint a rock record, i dont think u understand rock n roll. so dont even try venturing into jazz or flamenco or schoenberg.
Backspacer was far and away PJ’s least definitive, least cohesively engaging as an album. There were some tremendous parts and moments, but overall it doesn’t arrive as a single framework of musical greatness.
“i dont think u understand rock n roll. so dont even try venturing into jazz or flamenco or schoenberg.”
Impressive, how even Pearl Jam fans can be righteously disgusting comment trolling snob assholes. I’d have thought that was one batch who’d conduct themselves a little more civilly.
Backspacer is easily the worst record in Pearl Jam’s catalog. It usually takes me a few spins for new PJ to sink in, but god that thing is terrible.
youre an idiot. backspacer kicks ass. go home n listen to ten all day long..or whatever makes you feel on top of your little world.
Backspacer was/is great. Get a clue.
Relative to what? Great compared to average radio pop/rock? Yes. Compared to the rest of the PJ catalog? Not even close.
GFY
Backspacer is kinda weak i agree..When No Code came out in agust 96 i went to the release party at coconuts records in Chicago…those were the days being first in line for a pj record…and easily their best record …red mosquito, present tense, black red yellow, all night, hail hail, in my tree, and my personal fav track of all time Around the Bend!!! plus you got rodman, jordan, bulls versus sonics etc.. love that album/time period to death!!!
Loved backspacer that brought me back….I hate there politics.I am glad they got away from w…The reason everyone loves yeid and no code…….JACK IRONS…..NUFF SAID
[...] Mike McCready’s main act Pearl Jam are reportedly taking their time in recording their tenth LP. In the interview above, he calls the record a “slow-cooked turkey”, that [...]
You guys are muppets. Not much wrong with backspacer. Please remember the age of these dudes and think about other older bands releases. Why expect the best album ever each time they put out something new?
Really loved Backspacer! If I had to say a least ” played ” album I’d have to say Riot Act. I like a few songs on the album a ton, but the album as a whole didn’t do it for me. I am looking forward to this next album bigtime, but I truly hope Ole never makes it on a pj album. Seemed like a B side for Backspacer.
I’ve loved PJ from the beginning, and I loved Backspacer
[...] you’re jonesing for new PJ, the band is sporadically working on a new album in 2012 between touring and solo projects, and they’re looking to “shake it up” [...]
[...] The album is well underway, with the promise of extensive touring to follow. http://www.antiquiet.com/news/2012/03/new-pearl-jam-album-to-experiment-shake-it-up/ [...]