Pearl Jam is 'Back'

Pearl Jam is back with a brilliant vengeance. Their ninth studio album "Backspacer" provides a slightly different sound crammed into only 36 minutes and 11 tracks. Nonetheless the album supplies you with Eddie Vedder's distinct and talented vocals along with the band's unique ability to match him stride for stride.

"Backspacer" has a slightly more upbeat sound than Pearl Jam's recent albums. The album comes out of the gates strong, with three tracks that provide musically distinct variations on a theme. The first track, "Gonna See My Friend," allows Vedder's voice to travel wherever it wants, with your mind only able to catch up because of Matt Cameron's brief, yet awesome, drum solo in the middle of the song. Two minutes and 48 seconds in, Pearl Jam has shown its listeners only a brief sample of what is to come.

The second track is a little more political, and is a small step down from the first. Pearl Jam quickly throws another hit out with their single, "The Fixer." The song reminds you of Kings of Leon, but then you realize that Pearl Jam has have been doing this for the past 19 years, and in all honesty it still sounds amazing. Although it is a little more "pop" than any of the other songs on the album, it is still true Pearl Jam through and through.

After another fast-paced song, Pearl Jam finally throws a few changeups with "Just Breathe" and "Amongst the Waves." After four consecutive head-nodders, the band invites you to kick your feet up, and both are delivered with poise and confidence. "Just Breathe" is a phenomenal track, which could be the best of the album if not for its successor. "Amongst the Waves" describes how Vedder is finally on top of love, although he has seen the bottom as well. The song is a killer, and it's perfectly placed in the middle of the album. Its replay value is extremely high.

The back half of "Backspacer" falls short of its front half. The next four tracks are well worth listening to, but won't be the ones that you flick back to on your iPod. However, Pearl Jam closes the show as only Pearl Jam can with a classic acoustic song, which sounds eerily similar to a child's lullaby all grown up. Vedder, accompanied by an acoustic guitar, pours lyrics forth with passion. It's a near-perfect ending for an album that accomplishes everything you could ask for.

Check out: "The Fixer," "Gonna See My Friend"