Back in November, Pearl Jam drummer Matt Cameron hinted at a new album for 2024. On Wednesday (January 31), the group held a listening party at the Troubadour club stage in Los Angeles. A selected audience was able to listen to her 12th studio album.
The band members Eddie Vedder, Mike McCready and Jeff Ament were on stage to present their new work. Producer Andrew Watt, who already supervised Vedder’s solo album “Earthling”, was also there. The audience consisted of a few hundred family members, friends, industry insiders and journalists.
Rockier than “Gigaton”
According to Spin, the album offers a diverse palette for longtime Pearl Jam fans. Vedder expressed his enthusiasm: “Without exaggeration – I think this is our best work.” Ament added: “I couldn’t be prouder of us as a band.” The LP is said to showcase some intense rock pieces that feature the powerful drumming of Matt Cameron and to highlight the skills of guitarist Mike McCready. Many of the songs begin with the drums, which “sometimes drown out the bandmates’ playing and Vedder’s singing,” ABC News reported. Typical Pearl Jam stylistic devices are also at the start, such as the time changes known from “Parachutes” or “All Those Yesterdays”.
Thematically, Vedder’s lyrics address topics such as human connection (or lack thereof), aging, parenthood and the state of the world. “We’re still looking for ways to communicate,” the singer commented on his inspiration.
“We sat on it”
The title of the LP and the songs are not yet made public. Neither does the release date. But you are now ready. “We made this record about a year ago,” Ament told the audience. “We sat on it.”
When it comes to 2024 tour plans, Pearl Jam is expected to announce details soon, having already confirmed a few shows in the US and Europe.
The European dates so far:
- July 11, 2024 – Madrid, Spain
- July 13 – Lisbon, Portugal