"Riot Act" is the last album Pearl Jam is contracted to release with their veteran label Epic Records and it appears the band has made a conscious decision to bow out respectfully. The group has long acknowledged they were no longer the kings of grunge, punk or any other genre of rock. This is not to say that "Riot Act" lacks quality. Pearl Jam has just wisely chosen not to attempt to reproduce "Ten" or "Vs."
The process began long ago with the release of "Vitalogy" in late 1994. It was the first album upon which singer Eddie Vedder expressed his newfound spirituality. "Immortality" may have been the first song to display the new Pearl Jam sound: melancholy and reflective.
This trend was furthered on the 1996 and 1998 releases "No Code" and "Yield," respectfully. With age, Pearl has become more relaxed in style. A group of angst-ridden rockers has given way to a collection of mild-mannered artists expressing an eclectic array of emotions.
Despite the rebellious attitude inherent in the title of the album, "Riot Act" showcases Pearl Jam's maturation. The album begins with "Can't Keep," and it sounds as if the band just woke up at 6 a.m., still rubbing the sleep out of their eyes. Inspiration does not truly weigh itself into the project until the third track, "Love Boat Captain." Vedder, like many poets before him, effectively preaches the necessity of the emotion mentioned in the title.
In fact, love is Vedder's only obsession. Aside from the lyrics in "Love Boat Captain," and the album highlight "You Are," Vedder decides to focus mainly upon a hopeless, existentialist attitude, such as on "Cropduster." He sings, "Eyes, no eyes, there's no difference/every life is looking in/swallowing seeds on the deathbed/dig a hole in the garden." This is not the same man that wrote the inspirational "Given to Fly" four years ago on "Yield."
Crucial tracks on the album are those that show Vedder's determined side, hoping for a better tomorrow. The single "I Am Mine" is the best example. When he finds inspiration, the band follows suit. Mike McCready and Stone Gossard's guitar riffs show exactly where bands like the White Stripes learned their style. The redundant term "guitar rock" used to describe these bands could have accurately been applied to Pearl Jam 10 years ago.
If "Riot Act" truly is the final performance of this legendary band, it'll leave a bitter taste in the mouths of many fans. Hopefully, though, more will see that this is simply a band entering the final stage of the musical maturation process. Vedder is among the greatest artists of the twentieth century, and his music is more than just hooks, melodies and record sales.
