What's happening between Pearl Jam and Eddie Vedder? Lately, we heard Stone Gossard saying that they would have recorded more albums if it wasn't for Eddie Vedder and now here he is with a solo album? Maybe the singer and the band don't get along anymore? Why focus on your solo career when you are the main composer of Pearl Jam? Also very strange for me is hear that Earthling, in my opinion, is way better than Gigaton, the latest album by the band from Seattle.
Eddie Vedder collaborated on the record with Andrew Watt, who has worked with Miley Cyrus, Post Malone, and Ozzy Osbourne, among others. With Watt on bass, the two set about forming an all-star backing band. Chad Smith and Josh Klinghoffer, current and former members of the Red Hot Chili Peppers, are featured. Elton John, Stevie Wonder, and Ringo Starr make cameos as well. Olivia and Harper Vedder, Vedder's kids, are also credited with supplying backing vocals on the album.
Earthling starts with probably his best shot, the atmospherical track Invincible, with a stunning performance by Eddie Vedder behind the mic. What I like about Earthling is how fresh it sounds and how various it is. You find all the different souls of the American singer: some songs could have been recorded by Pearl Jam, like The Dark and Brother of the Cloud, some punk ones like Good and Evil and Rose of Jericho, and some funny ones (too much?) like Try, duets (with Elton John in Picture) some retro like Mrs. Mills that sounds like The Beatles (Ringo Starr behind the drums!) and, to be honest, even some tracks I always skip like The haves and Long way (this is the boring Vedder - Gigaton edition).
Earthling is not a masterpiece but it's a very fresh album with lots of ideas and very fun to listen to.
Rating 66/100
Rating 66/100
Top tracks: Invincible, Brother the Cloud, The Dark.
Skip tracks: The Haves, Long Way, On My Way.
Earthling tracklisting:
1. Invincible
2. Power of Right
3. Long Way
4. Brother the Cloud
5. Fallout Today
6. The Dark
7. The Haves
8. Good and Evil
9. Rose of Jericho
10. Try
11. Picture
12. Mrs. Mills
13. On My Way
Earthling tracklisting:
1. Invincible
2. Power of Right
3. Long Way
4. Brother the Cloud
5. Fallout Today
6. The Dark
7. The Haves
8. Good and Evil
9. Rose of Jericho
10. Try
11. Picture
12. Mrs. Mills
13. On My Way