The Prodigal Band Returns

Sorry for the long break. I think we've all been pretty busy, but I'm back.

I'm sitting on my couch right now, watching Peral Jam on VH1 Storytellers. If you aren't familiar with it, Storytellers is a show where bands have a chance to talk about their songs and play them. I've never been a fan of the "less talk, more rock" school of thought, so this show is one of my favorites. I love to hear what bands have to say about the songs they wrote, it's an an interesting insight into the creative process.

I've particularly enjoyed hearing Eddie Vedder talk about Pearl Jam songs that I've loved for years. He's always
had a reputation of being overly serious, and sort of aloof, but this show has smashed that image. He's articulate, passionate, political, and funny as hell. Pearl Jam sort of lost me after Vitology (even though Kurt think this is heresey), but with their avocado-laden new record, they are back with the great punk with melody combination that made me fall in love with their music 12 years ago. I'm not sure if I would recommend the album to you "shut up and sing" types out there, although I'm sure you are all familiar with Vedder's avowed liberalism and you've gone out, pouted, and smashed up all of your old Pearl Jam CD's in a gloriously display of the power of the marketplace.

Here's a snippet from the show where Eddie Vedder answers a question about Pearl Jam's policial expression....

Q: How do you feel about having a contengincy of fans having a different ideology than you?

A: I think that we're aware. As someone who's in a band, who, you know, we're sharing music ultimately, I think you have to be very comited to your ideals, because you are risking taking some people out of your equation and turning some people off. We have felt that what's been happening in US History in the last decade is so important, and we should all be part trying to adjust the direction of history, and it's such an important time, that we had to do it, at all costs.

I respect everyone's opinion, actually, if you are way different than us, I respect that. We can only implore that they do their own research and don't live life with blinders on. And if anything else, if they don't agree, maybe we've taken part in creating some kind of discussion.

Comments

[elfslinger]

oh, come on.... i would never call that heresy, my dear boy. actually, i haven't heard the new album yet myself. maybe that's heresy. i haven't really had the cash to get to any new ablums lately. even the new tool. but, if you happened to have recorded that storytellers in some way, that would be sweet if we could view that when i come into town.

there's a little something else i miss about cable, i guess.