PEARL JAM
Riot Act
Epic
· Latest studio record from the grandfathers of grunge.
After the one-two punch of Ten and Vs., Pearl Jam garnered reasonable success and an indie backlash to go with it. Pacing themselves, they waded through subsequent studio albums (and umpteen live offerings) relying on the strength of their debut and many lacklustre singles. Fans remained true, but Pearl Jam albums arrived with less and less fanfare.
Back with longtime studio partner Brendan O’Brian, Riot Act is a return to form. Rugged and raw, Pearl Jam still knows how to rock, but the members do show their age. That Eddie Vedder is full of himself is evident on "Arc," a faux world-beat vocal wank, that nevertheless keeps the guitars are up front and at top volume. Best of all, the album seems barely able to hold itself together. Some surprisingly good lyrics supported by a palpable urgency ensure that when the album hits, it hits hard.
Riot Act may not be consistent throughout, but on a radio dial awash in imitators, Pearl Jam can still hold its own a decade later.
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