Pearl Jam: Riot Act

By RUSSELL BAILLIE

(Herald rating: * * * * )

Initially it sounds like Pearl Jam's seventh studio album is mining a similar vein to LPs number three to six, which means a dense and often intense collection of rock songs which come on rugged, angular and angry, and which take their time to reveal themselves from behind production that gives the sound of the former grunge gods a decidedly matt finish.

But it soon shows itself to be a more direct, outspoken and tuneful affair than the previous Binaural. There are shining melodies aplenty on the waltz-time, REM-like single I Am Mine, the slow-burning, Beatles-referencing and stirring Love Boat Captain, and the acoustic-framed lament Thumbing My Way. It also has some hard-headed messages in Save You (a wiry punk-sprint blast about drug buddies) and Bushleaguer (a Eddie Vedder-mumbled art rock state-of-the-union address).

But if its over-riding mood is world-weary, Riot Act still manages to be fun around the edges, especially on a rather good tribute to fellow Seattle-ite Jimi Hendrix, from the band's guitar department (1/2 Full) and what sounds like Eddie Vedder's Split Enz fixation finally surfacing - Green Disease could have come off side two of True Colours.

That all might sound like a strange combination, but Riot Act is more cohesive than many of its immediate predecessors and reminds that being in it for the long run might not be very rock'n'roll, but in Pearl Jam's case it suits them fine.