Pearl Jam has built a fanatically loyal following on the backs of
legendary live shows and great public relations, but the past three
records haven’t sustained the quality of its first decade. Things are
better here: “The Fixer” marries The Cars and Tom Petty to excellent
effect, while “Just Breathe” is a gorgeous little number that might
have fallen off Eddie Vedder’s soundtrack for Into the Wild. And all
“Supersonic” needs is a summer day and a convertible. The rest of it is
recognizably good, though the band still doesn’t quite match the dynamic,
epic thrill of its best work.
This article appears in Oct 8-14, 2009.
