*** THE CASUAL GAMER ***
| Main | Rating: Transcendent |
Pearl Jam: Riot Act
Pearl Jam is a rock band that has been stimulating the rock community for the past decade or so. If you call yourself a fan of rock music and you haven't at least heard of Pearl Jam then you are probably a space alien or something. Well, space aliens, let it be known to you that Pearl Jam just released their seventh studio album, Riot Act.
When Pearl Jam's mainstream career first took off in the early nineties, the band was lumped among other bands, and billed as part of the trend or movement known as "grunge." Pearl Jam gained a lot of exposure and therefore (thanks to their great rock music) amassed a legion of fans. Well, like any sane artists or musicians, Pearl Jam were not content limit their musical adventures to a strict, hard rock formula. So, as time went on, Pearl Jam's music evolved as they tried new things and experimented a little with each new album. And, as one would expect, the very trend that they were a large part of (but never defined them, as is apparent) took a nosedive as the general public moved on to its next quick fix. This ultimately meant that fewer Pearl Jam records would be sold, as fickle American record buyers lacked patience for anything but "the next big thing." Also, most of the bands of the "grunge" heyday were all but gone by the time the late nineties rolled around. That type of situation wouldn't have seemed conducive for the band, but Pearl Jam continued to make records and pack stadiums anyway.
The point of this rant is that Pearl Jam's large catalogue is something to tap into, something to be explored and experienced. It's a musical journey. The more time you take to listen, the more you get out of it. Riot Act, like Pearl Jam's last few albums, is not immediately poppy or sugary, ready to be gobbled up in large sums by the masses. It is a more rewarding experience than that, like contrasting a balanced meal of steak, vegetables, and potatoes with eating a couple of snickers bars and a Mountain Dew. Sure, the candy and sugar tastes really good at first, but it won't last; you'll soon grow tired of it, or you'll get sick from it. Pearl Jam's music is more like the former; it balances the interesting and experimental sounds with some wholesome, kickass rock that you're more familiar with. It is a great mix that ultimately results in quality rock music with lasting appeal. This isn't something you'll crank in your CD player for a week and then forget about. In fact, in that amount of time you'll probably have barely scratched the surface of potential enjoyment that can be derived from Riot Act.
Those familiar with all or most of Pearl Jam's large repertoire will feel right at home with Riot Act. The group continues to produce a very organic and varied amount of material. That's one thing that has given Pearl Jam's music legs amongst their fans, despite apathetic and sometimes (unnecessarily) harsh criticism by the mainstream press. These days it is hard to fit Pearl Jam's music into one, neat little category, because they like to experiment with different styles. Riot Act is a perfect example of this, because the disc's tracks include everything from semi-ballads to crunchy hard rock to blues rock to a bit of satire. It is an album that ecompases everything Pearl Jam does best, but also diverges a little from what people might expect of the band. Obviously, if you are one of those people who are still waiting for Pearl Jam to make another Ten, then you'll just have to keep waiting.
The bottom line is that Riot Act is another solid entry into the PJ library, and also rock music as a whole. Longtime fans of the band will surely enjoy this album, and I strongly encourage any fan of rock and roll to give this album a chance. I won't say that it's a perfect record or that it'll change your life, but it is one hell of a fun ride if you just let go of the safety bars for a while and enjoy the experience.