Pearl Jam

Item: Riot Act
Author: Andree Farias

Riot Act

(2002)

Reviewed by Andree Farias

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Label EpicThe Rebel Base2002

alternative rock grunge hard rock

Pearl Jam should be proud: It's no small feat to be the only surviving band of the now-defunct grunge circuit- originally dominated by the likes of Nirvana and Soundgarden and once known for its colorful displays of youthful angst- and still be able to produce music that can masterfully appease both faithful old-timers and Seattle rock bandwagon fans alike.

Yep. Incredibly enough, Riot Act manages to appeal to both audiences with its stripped-down, almost indie-rockish brand of rock and roll. Forget about the alternative elements (Vs., Vitalogy) and sleep-inducing experimentalism (No Code, Binaural) of ages past, and brace yourself for a back-to-basics, almost live-to-tape listening experience. No, the wheel is not being reinvented here, but the musicianship and no-frills feel one gets in one sitting through this album is a legitimate indicator of what you get live: five guys in their 30s who know what rhythmic tightness ("Can't Keep," "Get Right"), guitar bliss ("1/2 Full," "I Am Mine") and vocal passion ("Love Boat Captain") are.

And then there are the lyrics. Disregarding this album's infantile forays into partisan politics and socialism ("Bushleaguer" and "Green Disease," respectively), there's plenty to chew on here. Weaved through these songs is a marked sense of urgency and longing, a noticeable desire for liberation, direction and (gasp!) spiritual surrender. From the confessional tone of "Can't Keep" (I've lived all this life like an ocean in disguise / I don't live forever / You can't keep me here) and the worshipful nuances of "You Are" (Love is a tower and you're the key / Leading me higher / When you let me in) to Vedder's depressing-yet-hopeful yearning for heaven in "Thumbing My Way" (No matter how cold the winter, there's spring time ahead... / I'm thumbing my way back to heaven), we find a band on a quest, a band coming to grips with the realization that life is passing, that there's something that transcends it, something worth shooting for.

The real gem on here, though, is the deceivingly calm "Love Boat Captain." Chock-full of imagery and contemplation, this ode to love perfectly exemplifies the renewal Pearl Jam has undergone by meshing together the exquisite rawness of their sound and their admirable ability to paint resonant word pictures. What's more... if you listen closely, you'll find, among other things, a homage to those who died in the Roskilde tragedy two years ago, and even an uncontrived nod to The Beatles.

Despite their declining record sales and the possibility of going completely unnoticed in a world dominated by fickle pop trends and an overabundance of Nickelback pinups, Pearl Jam's latest offering is worth checking out. The members can now be safely considered seasoned veterans and have never sounded more reassured, both instrumentally and lyrically.

Make no mistake, though- Riot Act is no Ten. But then again, what is?