After seven years out of the studio, Pearl Jam is back with a new album, Gigaton, expected March 27. This morning, the band dropped the album’s first single, “Dance of the Clairvoyants,” on YouTube. It’s…interesting.
Three cheers for the band trying new things, but in a social climate where people were hoping for a rager to start off the new year, this is not that. Instead, Vedder, Ament, Gossard, McCready, and Cameron seem to be channeling Talking Heads here.
First listen elicited confused looks and harsh reactions, but once the shock wore off, one finds a very listenable new wave-like effort that serves as a warning to the last five people in the world expecting Ten Part Two, that ship sailed decades ago.
Pre-orders for Gigaton are now being taken at the Pearl Jam website: https://pearljam.com/home