Music Review: Pearl Jam transcends on 'Backspacer'

It's been said that Pearl Jam has spent most of the last decade essentially in revolt against fame. That may be true, but following a strong return to form on their 2006 self-titled disc, Pearl Jam continues to surprise with an upbeat and hope-filled collection on "Backspacer."

After getting back to basics with its previous disc, which was filled with the emotional and political angst that the band made its name on, "Backspacer" looks forward with positivity.

The disc is infused with some postpunk/new wave punch and it works well behind the guitar flourishes of Stone Gossard and Mike McCready -- who still work so well off each other -- and the pulsating bass of Jeff Ament. Matt Cameron remains one of the most dynamic drummers in rock.

On the disc's lead single, "The Fixer," Eddie Vedder gives voice to the overall tone of "Backspacer" with shouts of "I wanna fight to get it back again" and "I wanna try to love again."

The disc's finest moments come on "Amongst the Waves" and "Unthought Known" -- both are the kind of soaring rock anthems Pearl Jam is renowned for with solos by Gossard that are nothing short of uplifting.

-- AP