Pearl Jam’s new album: a listening party with Ed Vedder, Jeff Ament & Mike McCready

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First impressions of Pearl Jam’s new album. Eddie Vedder: “I think this is our best work”.

Photo: Michael Ryan Kravetsky

As reported by SPIN, on January 31st a group of industry insiders, reporters and selected guests were invited to a private listening party for Pearl Jam’s highly anticipated new album. The event took place at the Troubadour in West Hollywood, Los Angeles.

Jeff Ament, Mike McCready, Eddie Vedder and producer Andrew Watt were in attendance. The singer poured tequila shots for the guests (like he did four years ago at Gigaton’s listening party). Guests also included Ed Vedder’s Earthlings bandmates (Jane’s Addiction’s Chris Chaney and Chili Peppers’ Chad Smith), Josh Klinghoffer, Olivia Vedder, and a few Ten Club members.

Specific details such as album and song titles are being kept under wraps for now, but SPIN reported that the album offers a little bit of everything for the longtime Pearl Jam fan. “No hyperbole — I think this is our best work,” enthused Vedder. “I couldn’t be prouder of us as a band”, added Ament, who got emotional while describing the experience of making the new album.

The LP features several intense rockers that showcase the ever-powerful drumming of Matt Cameron and the panache of guitarist Mike McCready. Thematically, Vedder is writing about human connection (or lack thereof), aging, parenting and the state of the world. “We’re still looking for ways to communicate” he said. Perhaps the song with the most classic Pearl Jam feel was conceptualized while Vedder and Watt were working on something different.

Eddie said that parts of the upcoming record were tracked at Rick Rubin’s Shangri-La studio after Watt’s was rendered unusable due to flooding. “That space had a vibration to it,” Vedder said of Shangri-La. “I used every bit I could get.”

Pearl Jam is also expected to announce their 2024 touring plans soon. A handful of shows in the U.S. and Europe have already been confimed. The new album will be out soon… stay tuned for more details!