Last night US talk show host Conan O'Brien took over from Jay Leno as host of the preeminent US talk show
the Tonight Show. And to announce the occasion with some starpower, the
White Stripes number one fan booked Pearl Jam, one of the biggest bands in the world (still), to play a new song.
Eddie and Co. played 'Got Some', the first single from the band's forthcoming 9th album
Backspacer. And as a blithely youthful fan of Pearl Jam, I feel fairly qualified in saying...this song really sucks.
Seriously, the moment Eddie Vedder picked up a guitar and inspired the band with his simpleton take on punk the band has regressed the band into stunted blah. Where are the hooks? Melody? For one of the biggest bands in the world, they wouldn't make the second round of your local Battle of the Bands with this lumbering, airless dud. See for yourself.
(Not sure how long this will stay up for - US network NBC is fairly vigilant in pulling down YouTube clips - but we'll endeavor.)
Peal Jam - 'Got Some'
In other Pearl Jam news you
might've heard that the (now) staunchly independent band will be releasing
Backspacer in the US through the mega-chain store Target. Hmmm. The DIY fans spittle will be avoided somewhat as the band also plans to release the record via the band's official website, independent record stores, and an as-yet-confirmed online retailer. Elsewhere in the world the LP will be out through mega-label Universal
Backspacer is due out late September. Let's hope it's deeper than this.