September 12, 2007

Come with me and Vedder off “Into The Wild” [with a FULL album stream!]

Ed and I are totally going on a journey into the backcountry and you are invited to join us.

We’re just a few weeks from the opening of the movie Into The Wild that Vedder soundtracked, based on the Jon Krakauer book of the same name. Reports from the Telluride Film Festival had folks leaving the theater screening with tears running down their faces, so people, get ready. I still haven’t read the book so I don’t know the ending (but . . . I’m guessing he dies).

GO LISTEN: The entire Into The Wild solo Vedder album is now streaming at WROV The Rock of Virginia (with voiceovers at the start and end of each song, but who’s complaining?).

I’d heard about half the tracks on this album from little leaks, but this is the first time I’ve experienced it start-to-finish. My impression is that it’s a superbly nuanced, ramblingly organic album. But to allay concerns of going soft or being coddled — even though it is acoustic, it’s not at all boring or sedate or old-mannish. There are several tracks that borderline wanna bust out the rock and yowl, with fierce strumming and solid drum action. There are even a few scarcely suppressed growl-screams that Vedder does best, to the delight of this rocker girl.

We’ve gotten lots of warm acoustic Pearl Jam songs over the years (think Thumbing My Way, You’re True, Soon Forget, Off He Goes) but they’re always sandwiched on albums between other rockers. This cohesive effort feels like a long Saturday afternoon in late summer with the right proportions of relaxed rambling and more intense energies.

As far as first impressions go, one of my favorite songs so far is the closing track, “Guaranteed,” which I’ve listened to about a dozen times. It captures an ineffable, unspeakable sweetness and emotion for me, a song to a soul adrift in a figurative sea. I also am drawn to the humble ukulele meandering of “Rise.” The soundtrack opens with the short and spirited “Setting Forth,” which is acoustic but impassioned. Despite having the same name as both the Candlebox screamer and the new Social D song, “Far Behind” is neither of the two. Instead it is one of those almost-rockers I was mentioning above, and I love that. “Society” is a slightly heavy-handed collaboration with North SF-Bay singer songwriter Jerry Hannan about our modern wants and needs, and both “Tuolumne” and “The Wolf” are instrumentals, with the latter containing some chill-inducing ethereal yips and howls from Vedder.

If the goal of a soundtrack is to effectively score the emotional terrain of a film, and tease out a feeling into the foreground, Vedder seems to succeed with this effort. I look forward to seeing the movie and adding the visual storyline to my impressions of the heart of this film that Ed has scored.

PearlJam.com is currently doing a special presale of the solo album bundled with a limited-edition commemorative tshirt. The album will officially be released next Tuesday the 18th.

[In related PJ bundle news, they’re also taking preorders of the new Immagine nel Cornice DVD with a tshirt as well. Like a good little Ten Club member, I’ve already placed my order, and am waiting with bated breath]

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23 Comments

  • Heather,
    You absolutely MUST read the book before seeing the movie. There is just no way a movie can bring the third person analysis that the author /narrator does. I devoured this book in no time, okay, it’s short, but it really sucks you in.

    Anonymous — September 12, 2007 @ 9:45 am

  • I’m trying! It’s on my waitlist at the library, though I thought about just buying it. I am still holding out cheap stickler hope that it will come into my branch. If it’s not in within, say 2 days before the movie comes out, I will go buy it and read it. I promise. I’ve read Krakauer’s books before (Under The Banner of Heaven is chilling) and am a fan.

    heather — September 12, 2007 @ 9:49 am

  • Dammit. I just pre-ordered both the soundtrack bundle and the DVD bundle. Now I have to buy groceries with air.

    kingseyeland — September 12, 2007 @ 10:25 am

  • btw, i found a copy at a used book store for like $5.

    kingseyeland — September 12, 2007 @ 10:26 am

  • hello there…

    i was wondering what “you’re true” was?

    just got my tickets for the bridge in late october, ed’s doing it solo this year. awesome.

    speaking of, i’m sure you have them all but if not i’ve got all the bridge shows if you’d like them. take care.

    ~lee.

    lee — September 12, 2007 @ 11:03 am

  • the book is chilling and i only hope the movie captures that. i love in previews that it appears to be breathtaking just based on the locations they shot in.

    Owen — September 12, 2007 @ 11:07 am

  • Lee -

    You’re True
    http://fuelfriendsblog.com/listenup/Youre%20True%20(first%20live%20performance).mp3
    (first live performance, 2/26/02, Wiltern Theatre)

    LYRICS: You’re True

    Lonely cliffs and waterfalls
    If no one sees me
    am I here at all?

    You could be the one to liberate me
    from the sun
    so please
    give the moon to me

    And so I thank you dearly
    for letting me see clearly
    open up she said
    be true
    be you

    Oh, I’m at home in my own skin
    I’m like an ocean as tide come in
    You could be the one to watch the full moon
    every night
    with me
    so much left to be
    I’d be indebted to ya
    walk the dog and pay rent to ya
    if you say the words
    i’m yours
    i’m sure
    you’re true
    oooooh woo-ooooh
    you’re true

    heather — September 12, 2007 @ 11:23 am

  • Or you can do what I did and just read Krakauer’s article that preceded the book.

    Death of an Innocent

    Elvis — September 12, 2007 @ 11:37 am

  • Thanks for the information and the link to the stream- you are helpful as always, and I picked up my cool shirt and cd bundle of pj.com

    Neiner — September 12, 2007 @ 11:47 am

  • That book is amazing. Pick it up at Costco if you have one near you. They’re selling it brand-new for $8. You won’t be disappointed. It’s THE BOOK that sold me on John Krakauer.

    Dainon — September 12, 2007 @ 12:59 pm

  • End of the Road and Dead Man, the same guitar.

    Nice tune.

    Jason

    Anonymous — September 12, 2007 @ 2:24 pm

  • heather…

    thanks for getting back to me. had never heard it!

    ~lee.

    lee — September 12, 2007 @ 2:33 pm

  • Heather, the book is akin to a reporter’s long-form story about McCandless. Just finished reading it 10 days ago.

    The movie will offer a much different look. It won’t be a port of the book. It will plug in many visuals missing from the otherwise excellent read.

    Pick it up before you see the film. :)

    Brian

    Anonymous — September 12, 2007 @ 3:43 pm

  • heather,

    I’m in Toronto, saw Eddie play at the world premiere of Body of War (he played the two tracks he’s contributing to the soundtrack, lent his support to the filmmakers) was a truely remarkable evening. A few nights ago I saw the world premiere of Into The Wild, Vedder was there, got the biggest applause (bigger than Sean!)- his songs add soooo much to the film- we were blown away. It’s a good time to be a Vedder fan.

    Sweet Illusions (Kessler)

    Anonymous — September 12, 2007 @ 4:08 pm

  • fantastic … i’m on the second listen and already ordered it online for my brother for his birthday (with the promo t-shirt, yeah) … thanks heather!

    will — September 12, 2007 @ 6:18 pm

  • OMG, that station is from my area! I had no a idea they were doing that (the fact that I don’t listen to it might be the reason..), was that just today? :|

    Karina — September 12, 2007 @ 8:49 pm

  • I am stunned. I was listening to the soundtrack stream not really paying attention when I heard a song I have not heard since 1989. It’s Hard Sun, originally done by a group called Indio. I had it on tape and either lost or disposed of it and have never been able to find it since. I absolutely love this song. Hearing Ed cover it absolutely jolted me. Thanks for putting this on my radar. I will certainly see it now.

    Tali — September 13, 2007 @ 4:38 am

  • A. You can get this book on Amazon for $5-6 and earn some street cred by having it on your bookshelf.

    II. The original article is nothing compared to the book. The book delves MUCH deeper than the article with a retrospective look at the story.

    #3. WTF is better than hearing Ed play the banjo! Seriously this is awesome to listen to – grinning ear-to-ear.

    D. “Music on demand”

    IV. Thanks Ms. Heather for the link. My preorder’s in but everyone loves a spoiler!!

    Pete K — September 13, 2007 @ 8:23 am

  • Heather – once again, I’m a little frightened by our sameness but I’m blown away by Guaranteed. I hadn’t heard any of the songs yet and had been reading all of the posts at Red Mosquito and this song is not getting as much attention as some others but I can’t stop listening to this over and over. Good times…

    Smik — September 13, 2007 @ 11:58 am

  • thanks for that link. you got me totally addicted to Society. its absolutely brilliant. cant wait to buy the album.

    Anonymous — September 14, 2007 @ 4:14 am

  • Perfect!!! So happy to have a new Vedder CD!!!

    stnle — September 16, 2007 @ 5:25 am

  • I have the MNF game on in the background tonight and looked up twice when they went to commercial because they were playing Hard Sun. Thought I’d mention it since you’re such a huge EV fan.

    brian s. — September 17, 2007 @ 8:26 pm

  • got the preorder delivered last night (day early??) – the cd is awesome (but WAY too short). And the shirt is sweet too! with my name on the back! eV!

    eV — September 18, 2007 @ 11:59 am

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Bio Pic Name: Heather Browne
Location: Colorado, originally by way of California
Giving context to the torrent since 2005.

"I love the relationship that anyone has with music: because there's something in us that is beyond the reach of words, something that eludes and defies our best attempts to spit it out. It's the best part of us, probably, the richest and strangest part..."
—Nick Hornby, Songbook
"Music has always been a matter of energy to me, a question of Fuel. Sentimental people call it Inspiration, but what they really mean is Fuel."
—Hunter S. Thompson

Mp3s are for sampling purposes, kinda like when they give you the cheese cube at Costco, knowing that you'll often go home with having bought the whole 7 lb. spiced Brie log. They are left up for a limited time. If you LIKE the music, go and support these artists, buy their schwag, go to their concerts, purchase their CDs/records and tell all your friends. Rock on.

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