Eddie Vedder
After Into The Wild and Ukulele Songs, Vedder’s first solo LP since 2011.
PRIME NAVIGATOR of Pearl Jam, it’s not clear why Eddie Vedder needs a further outlet. Skewing towards the earnest, melodic rock his day-job has made a virtue of for three decades, Earthling scarcely answers this question, but is satisfying nonetheless. The first side peaks with Brother The Cloud, serving as both a powerful memorial for his friend Chris Cornell, and a chronicle of Vedder’s enduring grief. The second half is more playful, a trio of punk-rockers reminding us Vedder spent his teens worshipping Bad Religion (with Stevie Wonder on thrashpunk harmonica on Try). A hokey duet with Elton John (Picture), meanwhile, is balanced by the charmingly Beatles-esque Mrs Mills. Throughout, Earthling toys with classic radio-rock clichés, only to cleanse them of jadedness via Vedder’s trademark wholehearted investment, a trick which still charms.