Year in Rock 2011 Nominee: Eddie Vedder
Longing to Belong
From: Ukulele Songs
Released: May 31
Being a Pearl Jam lifer can sometimes be a little overwhelming. Take this year, for instance: marking the 20th anniversary of their debut album Ten, 2011 was designated "PJ20", and saw a big year of special treats for fans of the band. It culminated in the premiere of the Cameron Crowe-directed feature film, which just saw release on DVD and Bluray. There was also that film's two-disc soundtrack, massive coffee table book, Live on Ten Legs concert collection, and deluxe (and super deluxe) reissues of their second and third albums Vs. and Vitalogy. All told: four albums, a ginormous book and a feature film. And that's not even mentioning their Labour Day Weekend concert, or the two releases Eddie Vedder released solo this year.
Given all the hoopla surrounding PJ20, it's understandable that Ukulele Songs might get lost in the shuffle. Released alongside a live concert video, Eddie's second solo album is a baffling concept to most casual fans; it comes as advertised, a full 35-minute album of nothing but Eddie and a ukulele (to be fair, there is one song with cello, and two with a guest vocalist, but they're not intrusive). To those unfamiliar with Vedder's love of surfing (or who haven't heard Soon Forget from Pearl Jam's oft-overlooked 2000 album Binaural), it can all seem a little too WTF, especially when you throw in a Pearl Jam song, a couple of Great Depression era standards, and a couple of doo-woppers. Plus, all of the new originals (although "new" is a stretch; many of these songs have been in Vedder's solo setlists for years) are songs about love and the loss of it.
It's a brazen idea, and it's one that doesn't quite work. Just like his Into the Wild soundtrack, which I found to be rather tedious in its lopsidedness, it gets a little grating to her that damned ukulele strummed over and over and over and over, with barely any flavour added. It's like eating a loaf of bread, but there's only enough butter for three slices. That said, there are great songs to be found when taken out of context. Buried under the first half of sun-soaked stylings, the trio of Satellite, Longing to Belong and You're True is a thoroughly entertaining listen, and the true heart of the album. Their impact is lessened by the six songs that come before them; maybe it's an intentional placement to make sure listeners are over the initial shock of hearing Eddie in full-on heartbroken balladeer mode. He does get pretty shmaltzy here, especially on the album's first half. But those three songs feel fully formed, alive with emotion and melody, just like Vedder's best compositions for his band.
And, at the end of the day, that ensures Ukulele Songs draws a smile from me. Because it's not like Vedder left Pearl Jam to pursue a career as a ukulele player. And it's not like he released an album of Pearl Jam Lite. It's a novelty piece, and that said there is some novelty here, even if it wears off a little quickly. Quite simply, it's the product of a man having a quirky idea and following it all the way through. Vedder doesn't lose anything by doing it, and we get a few smiles. Who are we do deny Eddie Vedder, or ourselves, that right?
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