It may be my imagination, but I think I heard someone analogizing Pearl Jam in the 90's to The Who, but I think that comparison is more apt in the last few years, as they crank out modest, workmanlike efforts. There is also actually a Stones texture to Gossard and McCready's jammy, interwoven guitar interplay. None of this is in evidence in the driving, simplistic "Gonna See My Friend", whose blues-punk would be a good Clash (first album) impression except for the dull chorus, while "Got Some" has a similar feel with some angular early-U2 riffs. By big-single "The Fixer"*****, the hooks are finally sticking - while the lyrical formula yields some silly one-liners such as "I wanna put a little exciting on it," the unusual inside-out feel of these verses gives way to straightforward sunny optimism. "Just Breathe"**** has the personal, intimate presence of Eddie's songs on the Into The Wild soundtrack, though with a lush production that would make Dan Fogelberg proud, while the "Amongst The Waves"**** seems like a throwback to the lighter-waving stadium anthem days. "Unthought Known" walks these well-worn paths as well, this time to the tune of "Given To Fly", building ever-so-predictably to it's anthemic chorus. While there are your requisite bar-band rockers, the album surprisingly winds down to "Speed Of Sound", which might as well be 80's Elton John, and "The End", another big folk ballad to help me sleep.
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