CONFUSED BACHELOR

Vedder should answer more of the press’ questions with this. 

Eddie….you lie! 

If Pearl Jam fails….Vedder on what he might do in his spare time. 

Eddie Vedder tells the press what’s really on his mind. 

So many good albums I just got. I’ll be busy for awhile, hibernating, working and listening to these albums. Here’s some short reviews to go with the album. 


The Chemical Brothers — Hanna Original Soundtrack 
Why do I always doubt The Chemical Brothers? Comparable to Plastic Beach with the sense of consistency in sounds. I’m interested to see how this works in the film. These guys know how to mix and engineer beats with the best of them. Scratch that, they are the best. 

Clint Mansell — Black Swan Original Soundtrack 
Great, just what I need — a reminder of the dark, yet captivating 2010 film Black Swan. I think I’ll listen to this when light is out, so I won’t have to go to bed with the imagery of Winona Ryder stabbing herself in the face. This guy deserves an Oscar already. 

James Blake — James Blake 
“The Wilhelm Scream” is the most devastating love song I’ve heard this year. D’Angelo needs to come out of hibernation and collaborate with this guy like now.  

The Soft Province — The Soft Province
Jace Lasek can do no wrong. He proves it with this side-project album. More rocking than Besnard Lakes, more to the point jams, more bliss. One of the best albums of the year so far.  

The Strokes — Angles 
Julian and the gang make another album of winning guitar-infused pop. “Taken for a Fool” and “You’re So Right” are reminders of why we loved this band so much. There’s no fighting it: they are the most reliable young rock band we have.  

R.E.M. — Collapse Into Now 
Jesus, this album came out of nowhere. “All the Best” is the best R.E.M. song I’ve heard in a decade. The rest of the album is just as good. Collapse Into Now screams, “return to form.” Even Eddie Vedder shows up to wail on a song. A delightful surprise.  

Pearl Jam — Vs. and Vitalogy Deluxe Edition Remasters 
Speaking of Vedder and mainstream alt-rock forefathers, Pearl Jam are making a glorious victory lap with these reissues. Remastered by Brendan O’Brien, these discs show the band at its peak; with these versions, the band sounds as vital as ever.  

The Beatles — Love 
I got this on a whim when a co-worker recommended it. I was reticent, but it’s so eloquently produced and mixed. If you want to hear how records should sound, this isn’t a bad starting point. Fucking Beatles.  

Paul McCartney and Wings — Band on the Run 
“Jet” is a guilty pleasure. Useless trivia: James Coburn is on the cover of this album. Fucking Paul McCartney. Goddammit.  

The Speed, The Axe….The Backspacer?

For those about to rock, or workout, or do something that requires energy, indeed, I salute you.

If you’re like me, you might need some rocking tunes this time of year. Perhaps, it’s the midterm exams, or the fact that it’s raining more often. Whatever the case, here are three options to keep your wheels churning.

If the single “1,2,3 Party!” didn’t convince you that Mission of Burma still has it, check out the glorious cover of their latest album, The Sound The Speed The Light.
I want a poster of this in my room. I don’t normally buy random posters, but I might just browse the internet for anything resembling this album cover.
OK, we get it, Matt, you wanna make children with this album cover. How’s the music?
Mission of Burma fans will love it. They have surprising consistency especially for quitting in the ’80s then rising up like a phoenix and becoming the best punk band to reunite out of the whole bunch.
Their reunion doesn’t sound forced. You can tell they aren’t doing it for the money (Pixies, Rage, Dinosaur Jr). The band’s music still has that sloppy presence to it, and they have the capability to destruct into chaos at any second.
In short, the album is turning me to into an obsessed fan.

What am I doing listening to Converge? I’m not 13. I can’t wear skinny jeans. I don’t have tattoos. I don’t start fights at bars. 
But if I ever had to start a fight, I would want to listen to Converge’s latest, Axe to Fall.
Let’s get one thing straight—I hate that screaming, “BLAARGH,” excuse for metal. Yeah, I liked it when I hated everyone in junior high.
But, these days, I only listen to this while working out. I rarely ever find myself listening to metal outside of the gym.
Axe to Fall might be one I would listen to outside the gym. First off, the drums are spectacular. Ben Koller, I don’t know how he hasn’t broken his ankles or wrists. This is the type of album that will make you want to air drum all day.
Me, in my old age (21), I can’t listen to too much of this, but I’ll use it as an alarm clock. For fans of metal, you will love this. It’s relentlessly loud and consistently rewarding. 
Yeah, I know, I’m a pussy.

Speaking of pussy…
Pearl Jam’s latest album, Backspacer.
Reviewing this album is a Catch-22 for me. You can’t fault the guys, they’re in their 40s, and they still have the ability to make four good rock songs. Then again, there’s a song about surfing (“Amongst the Waves”) and another about breathing (“Just Breathe”).
It’s too clean, but shows some signs of life.
Note that I am reviewing this album after listening to Converge, so everything sounds girly now.
Look, this album isn’t a game-changer. It’s got a few good songs. Pearl Jam, I hate to say it, but they are going to make good singles from here on out. I’m not saying I hate the band, but you can’t count on them to make Vitalogy or No Code again.
Not gonna happen.
For now, enjoy “Unthought Known” and “The Fixer.” Then go see them live.

New Classics Vol. 4 
Pearl Jam—Vitalogy

There’s a lot of hate for Pearl Jam.

Maybe it’s because they dominated the airwaves in 1991 with an unabashed, anthemic rock record, Ten. Maybe they weren’t as heavy as everybody wanted them to be. Maybe they toured with Neil Young.

I’m not buying any of it.

Pearl Jam is one of the last great American rock bands. The proof is in the 1994 masterpiece Vitalogy.

Recorded in the midst of touring, the album captures a not-so-grunge sound that pushed away fans. It’s the first of many Pearl Jam enigma records. Barely any press, an awkward CD packaging that pissed off record stores, then there’s the music.

The album features the most aggressive song in the band’s catalog, “Spin the Black Circle,” the most accessible, “Betterman,” and the most experimental, “Bugs,” and those other skippable, hard-to-listen interludes.

Another first was frontman Eddie Vedder tapping into his personal side and apathy for the music industry. The album might be titled after “the study of life,” but the lyrics are hardly sunny. The words are often detailed ruminations on abuse, whether it be political on “Whipping,” mysterious on “Tremor Christ” or amorous on “Nothingman.”

The band was in a vulnerable position. They toured for days on end, promoting the outgoing rock of Vs. Guitarist Mike McCready was dealing with drug and alcohol addiction while the rest of the band’s friendship was deteriorating.

Yet, Vitalogy mixes so well pain and beauty. It’s the sound of band getting tired of each other but trudging along like a homeless interstate wanderer.

Vedder, a forefather of grunge rock, became an emotional wreck in all the ears of the young dudes wearing still wearing flannel shirts and baggy jeans.