If you have lucked out and caught the band on SNL or Letterman's show recently, you know they are on fire. They even look better than they have in a while. The first few tunes are, of course, fast rockers, including the number one rock radio hit, "Worldwide Suicide". Where the band really gets its songwriting legs is on the softer tunes. I can not wait to hear "Marker in the Sand" in a sold out stadium with every single person singing along. If you have been to a PJ show, it will be like "Betterman" but better, man.
There are a couple of fillers too, like "Big Wave". The band always tries too hard to remind everyone they are still of the punk rock ethos. Problem is, they are old and successful, and neither attribute is very punk rock.
A great and simple little ditty is "Parachutes". It reminds me of classic Pink Floyd — the stuff that wasn't psychedelic (they made a few other discs besides Dark Side, see). It reminds me of Animals and Obscured by Clouds-era Floyd. "Life Wasted Reprise" perfectly frames the disc and gently reminds the listener that passion is still good and still relevant.
I won't go through every song here, because there is no need. If you have the disc, you already dig it. If you don't — go buy it. I promise it is money well spent. I haven't listened to a brand new disc this incessantly since U2's 'All That You Can't Leave Behind. It is 8:00 pm here and I am listening to it again for the fourth time today. That is the mark of a classic — and the mark of a dude who should be working at his desk instead of writing album reviews.
Article comments
1 - Mr. Real Estate
Sounds great, Lono! I'm definitely going to pick this one up!
2 - gonzo marx
thanks fer the heads up Lono...since it came form you, this disc goes on my List
in return, yer gonzo sez...
go pick up 10,000 Days from TOOL
it's THAT good...
i thought of it since you made the Pink Floyd reference, i had always thought of TOOL as a heavier new Rush type thing...AEnima and Lateralus enforcing the Thought
but this new disc is more like Floyd's "Metals" or "Umma Gumma"...more emotional than cerebral
seems like these two discs are the ones to have this spring....and i couldn't be happier
nuff said
Excelsior?
3 - Mat Brewster
Good to see ya around, Sir Lono. I'll have to get my brother-in-laws opinion on this record. He's one of the old Pearl Jam die hards, unlike myself who tuned out after VS.
4 - El Bicho
Lono, I was at that amazing triple bill at the LA Sports Arena, although at the time the room was too big for PJ. They've come a long way since then although you won't hear me singing along to Betterman or Jeremy or any of the other hits that are overdone. Interesting to see what different fans like because Yield doesn't even make my top five.
5 - Guppusmaximus
I'm sorry...But, this new stuff still doesn't compare to GO or much of anything on Vs. Nevermind Ten and not anywhere close to their two best songs ever which were on the Singles soundtrack. They died when Dave Abbruzzese was kicked off the kit!!
6 - Lono
No way. It has been another two weeks and the disc keeps getting better. This is more than the album of the year, so far it is the album of the decade.