The Into The Wild soundtrack -- featuring music exclusively from Eddie Vedder -- came out today. It's the closest thing we've ever seen to a Vedder solo album, and now people are wondering whether Vedder will launch a solo tour. Though he has no official plans to do so, Vedder did drop some hints to Rolling Stone.
He said:
If you surf fifty-foot waves all the time, you can't try too many new things, because fifty-foot waves are kind of life and death. Playing big shows is like that. So you want to take on some smaller waves to rework or refine what you do, and then take it back to the big surf.
Vedder also assured the magazine (and Pearl Jam fans) that PJ would not be breaking up:
We've been a group for a long time. And we will continue to be so, I hope, for a really long time.
It's been months since I've been able to flaunt my Pearl Jam super-fan status, so I'm glad I finally have the chance again.
Regarding the tour: If it happens, it happens. Vedder already plays acoustic shows all the time, so this wouldn't be that surprising.
About any rumors of Pearl Jam breaking up: That is pure conjecture, do not pay attention.
As far as the Into The Wild soundtrack, this is not a Vedder solo album. Believe what you want, but this is definitely a movie soundtrack. Several of the songs are only a minute-and-a-half long. At times it seems like Vedder only recorded what was going to be in the actual movie. There are only 4 or 5 longer songs, and naturally, those are the best songs on the album. Don't get me wrong, it's still great. It's Eddie Vedder, after all. This is not for casual Pearl Jam fans, though; Die-hards and above-average fans only. For all you die-hards out there that haven't already picked up the album this morning -- all 5 of you -- it's pretty much what you'd expect. Vedder goes acoustic, shows off his Bob Dylan influences, writes lyrics that relate to the storyline of the movie, and even busts out the ukelele for a song (I'm a big fan of that one). It's no No Code, but it raises your hopes for the day when he finally releases a legit solo album.
Finally, for all you people wondering why Vedder uses so many surfing analogies, well, that's like asking why Kanye West brags so much. This is what Vedder does. He loves surfing. In fact, he loves all of the elements. Water is definitely his favorite, but he's also a big fan of Earth, Wind and Fire (the elements, not the band... well, maybe the band, I don't know). Awhile back, the Intern and I invented a drinking game where we would listen to Pearl Jam's Avocado CD and drink every time Vedder mentioned any of the four elements or said the word "life." Let's just say we ended up pretty wasted. The song "Big Wave" was nothing but chugging the entire time.
Where was I? Oh yeah, Eddie Vedder is the man.
