Pearl Jam 'Gigaton' Album Review: A powerful 'mixed fruit' of traditional PJ and tastefully applied electronics
Pearl Jam have just released their highly anticipated new album 'Gigaton'. It's time to do some close-quarter headbanging as we look for something to vent while stuck at home during this coronavirus pandemic, and the eleventh new studio album hits our chest cavities at the most ideal time.
'Gigaton' follows the release of LP 'Lightning Bolt', marking the powerful grunge band's first new set of music since 2013. The Grammy-winning band formed in Seattle, Washington, in 1990 and reached worldwide success for their epic expansive take on grunge, hard rock music in the 1990s with a list of intoxicating slower numbers to fuel fans of various rock and roll tastes.
With hits like 'The Fixer', 'Black', 'Alive', and many more, Pearl Jam is a beloved group of amazing musicians who have won masses of music fanatics and received metaphorical handshakes from fellow musicians the world over.
Ask practically any 1980s, 1990s -born rock 'n' roll music lover what one of their favorite hard rock band is from the 1990s, and you can be sure they will utter the words "Pearl Jam" with high ecstasy on their face.
On a side note, 'Gigaton' takes a minor adjustment away from the band's consistent grunge themes, although still audible, but places Pearl Jam in a new light.
With technological advancements in music equipment — more specifically electronic equipment — over the past two decades becoming more prominent over its acoustic counterparts, Pearl Jam has developed a richer sound. This is especially noticeable in the LP's third track 'Dance of the Clairvoyants' which released as a single in January. Read more on the song here.
The first track of the new album, 'Who Ever Said', fires on all Pearl Jam cylinders with fierce distorted guitar riffs atop thrash drumming and frontman Eddie Vedder antheming the lyrics, "It's all in the delivery. I said the messenger who is now dead. Was all on the periphery. I didn't see him but I heard what he said".
The chorus tones down the gritty intro of the song into a very melodic groove with lyrics, "Whoever said it's all been said. Gave up on satisfaction".
'Quick Escape', the fourth track on the 12-track LP, plays a funked-up bop rock beat and scratchy guitar picking after a short feedback build-up reminiscent of a Rage Against the Machine number.
Vedder's verse-to-chorus singing shows just how versatile he truly is. At the verses of the track, Vedder arpeggiates the vocal notes so subtly, it sounds like a man on the edge, seeking a "quick escape" in any which way it is offered.
A beautiful trapeze act of pain before the chorus explodes at full power with lyrics "(Had to) Quick escape" on repeat.
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On 'Alright', the first slow jam of the LP, we get another taste of electronic instruments: a detached beeping melody plays as Vedder sings in gritty lullaby tones (one of the most remarkable singers to pull this style off beautifully).
A triumphant strum of acoustic guitar sparks the buildup while Vedder sings: "It's alright to say no. Be a disappointment in your own home. It's alright to turn it off. Ignore the rules of the state, it's your own".
'Gigaton' seems to have extended Pearl Jam's musical canvas where certain styles and genres enter almost unnoticed at first, but if placed next to previous albums, you may find yourself captivated by the differences.
'Never Destination', one of the LP's faster tracks comes off as a hard country number, albeit a little party in nature, surprisingly enough. 'Take the Long Way' gets an irregular time signature, played faster than the previous track 'Never Destination' at hyper speed, as many musicians would attest is a giant of a task to perform tightly.
'Buckle Up', one of the most melodic tracks of the album, with guitar harmonics, warping instrumentals and Vedder singing in suspended notes, resonates as one of your typical "subliminal message" songs played backwards, only the vocals don't sound like garbled gibberish!
'Gigaton' is a surprise in more ways than one, for sure. One may get taken aback by its slight adjustments to the band's consistent sound, but amplifies its richness on an epic scale with more than enough Pearl Jam-iness for superfans to be overjoyed with its release.
It's safe to call this Pearl Jam album a jam of "mixed fruit", both sweet and powerful at first taste, and 'Gigaton' comes highly recommended to both loyal fans and newcomers to grunge and hard rock genres.