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REARVIEWMIRROR: GREATEST HITS 1991–2003
(EPIC)
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Rearviewmirror, which gathers Pearl Jam’s greatest hits from 1991 to 2003, has been overshadowed by the new Nirvana box set. And rightly so, since it doesn’t offer any fresh revelations about the emergence of Seattle’s other great grunge band in the early ’90s. But rearviewmirror reminds us what a powerhouse Pearl Jam were when they first hit the airwaves, and how they managed to remain a vital arena-rock band with everyman appeal and an unflagging integrity that went a long way toward keeping grunge from becoming a total joke. The two-disc, 33-track collection highlights the band’s knack for updating ’70s rock bombast with just a touch of punk urgency and with deft, almost jazzy nuances that are too often overlooked. It also cements Eddie Vedder’s legacy as a frontman with an immediately recognizable, emotive voice that, at its best, conveys both sorrow and joy. The "Upside" disc compiles Pearl Jam’s harder radio hits, including subtle remixes of "Once" and "Alive" by the band’s long-time producer, Brendan O’Brien — these are the songs with the heavy riffs and even heavier emotions that inspired the likes of Creed and Nickelback, and that’s not Pearl Jam’s fault. The "Downside" disc offers more-introspective material, from the familiar ("Daughter" and "Betterman") to deeper cuts such as "Nothing as It Seems," which reveals the more delicate side of Vedder’s voice.
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