Binaural
Binaural brings some of Pearl Jam's most interesting playing into an uneven collection of songs. The guitars explore different textures, and Matt Cameron's drumming gives the arrangements a strong presence. There are convincing melodies within that wider sound. The difficulty is that the album does not sustain the same quality from one stretch to the next.
Breakerfall and Gods' Dice provide a direct opening. Both have the rough movement of shorter rock songs, with the guitars and drums supplying an immediate sense of purpose. Evacuation is less successful. Its strained vocal and awkward chorus interrupt the early momentum, showing how much the record depends on the fit between the singing and the instruments.
The middle run is more rewarding. Light Years pairs an effective melody with expressive guitar playing, giving the song a clear emotional centre. Nothing As It Seems has a darker, more spacious character. The acoustic and electric guitar parts work around a substantial bass sound, allowing the extended lead playing to become a major part of the arrangement.
Thin Air offers a lighter acoustic setting. Its more cheerful melody provides a useful contrast before Insignificance brings the rock energy back. Cameron's changes in rhythm add interest to the latter, while the chorus gives the song a strong point of arrival.
The later material is harder to follow as a sequence. Of the Girl creates an appealing quieter atmosphere, but its recurring ideas can lose momentum. Other passages make the mix feel too dense, with details becoming less clear than the musicianship deserves.
Soon Forget makes a smaller, more unusual impression through Vedder's voice and ukulele. The closing stretch remains less compelling than the stronger middle songs.
Binaural is worth exploring for its instrumental detail and several excellent melodies. It also asks for patience with weaker hooks and inconsistent pacing. The best moments reveal a band with plenty of ideas, even when the complete album struggles to bring them into focus.
