The problem facing Pearl Jam is that for every good song on Lightning Bolt, there lurks a great one somewhere in the band’s past.
That the band is reinvigorated for a second time in four years after reuniting with producer Brendan O’Brien is a welcome surprise in itself. But the inescapable fact is that each highlight on the band’s 10th album comes intertwined with the memory of something better.
The exciting first single “Mind Your Manners” sounds like the better “Spin the Black Circle”; the midtempo “Sirens” lacks the hooks of “Better Man”; the rollicking “Lightning Bolt” is joyous noise in the mold of “Rearviewmirror.”
The more generous comparisons are to Pearl Jam’s most recent albums—not the band’s fantastic first three. As far as the singles go, “Mind Your Manners” hits stronger than either “World Wide Suicide” or “The Fixer” (from 2006’s Pearl Jam and 2009’s Backspacer, respectively).
After 23 years, Pearl Jam shouldn’t be expected to surprise. And, thankfully, Lightning Bolt remains true to the band’s essence. Pearl Jam has left the trend-chasing, member shuffling and ill-advised Lou Reed collaborations to other veteran bands. Eddie Vedder even graciously went solo to indulge his ukulele impulse.
Lightning Bolt ranks in the middle for Pearl Jam, a bit below Backspacer but better than most of the band’s other output in the 21st century. It’s solid, at times exciting, but a bit bloated. For better or worse, Lightning Bolt is exactly what should be expected from Pearl Jam in 2013.
Eric Swedlund
This article appears in Oct 24-30, 2013.
When you say, “exactly what should be expected from Pearl Jam in 2013..” What exactly do you mean and what are you expecting? Lightning Bolt, in my opinion, is the best album they put out since Yield. I liked Backspacer, but it was bland with similar songs and not much that plays on repeat on the IPOD – “Unthought Known, The End, Got Some” are good songs, but do not compare to “Mind your Manners, Sirens, Pendulum, Yellow Moon or Swallowed Whole.” I fear just like a lot of you critics, the yearn for Ten and Vs. is in the back of the mind – and tend to forget that you are reviewing a band nearing 50 years old. What Pearl Jam gave us 23 years later, was more than I could ever have hoped for as an avid rock and roll alternative fan. This album, if you listened to it more than one time, is pretty genius. Yellow Moon and Pendulum are badass jams – Mind your Manners is the best pure rock song I have heard in 2 years since the Foo came out with Back and Forth. Critics appear to be extremely hard on PJ due to their incredible run with their first 5 albums released – amazing. Fact is, they got older and not singing about teenage angst, daddy problems, and being teased at school anymore. But this CD is extremely good and still 23 years later, comes out with new sounding music and new Pearl Jam classic experimental songs, A LA Pendulum and Sirens….I say, thank you Pearl Jam – this is exactly what rock and roll lovers needed – because our youth is not coming out with anything that is worthy of purchasing.