As fans, sometimes we acquire a sense of entitlement. We badly want to influence the sound of the bands we love, whether it be to implore them to stick to the same formula or revert back to a previous style long abandoned. We take it as a slap in the face when our wants are rebuked, as if somehow the band in question should be taking their direction from us. While I have subscribed to this line of thought many times, and believe it has some merit, it is nice to hear a band eschew the popular opinion and just play what they want to play. To me, Pearl Jam illustrates this better than just about anyone in the music business. Ever since the supercharged rocking sound of their landmark debut Ten, they have gradually moved to a more calm and folksy sounding, dare I say more mature style of rock. This has been a constant source of friction for those who long for a return to the original sound, but if anything has become clear, its that Pearl Jam play what they want to play, regardless of what conventional “wisdom” says they should. This attitude continues in earnest on their 2002 offering Riot Act.

This album would find a very subdued Pearl Jam, a natural continuation from the sound of the previous album Binaural. New producer Adam Kasper was enlisted, as were the services of organist Kenneth “Boom” Gaspar. Matt Cameron was back for his second outing as the band’s drummer, and had begun to solidify himself as an integral part of the group. Everyone seems to have fair amount of songwriting input, and their different preferences add a good deal of subtle variety to Riot Act. The first single, the brooding but yet empowering I Am Mine, was written entirely by Eddie Vedder, as was the folk influenced acoustic track Thumbing My Way. The vocals on the latter are a perfect illustration of a style often used on this album, once aptly described by a critic as sounding “purposefully tired”. Vedder’s croon has a comforting sound to it when restrained in this way. To this effect, his credited tracks tend to be more reserved and low key. This includes Love Boat Captain, which is the track to most prominently feature the organist Boom Gaspar, and they sound great alongside Vedder's softer vocals, as you might expect. Matt Cameron brought some of his past expertise with him to the songwriting table, as You Are sounds as if it would be right at home on the later works of his previous band, Soundgarden, with its dark and feedback laden guitar sound. I should add that this song sounds completely out of place, and that I love it nonetheless. When the other members are more involved in the songwriting, the more straight up rockers are found, such as the riffing showcase of Save You. This is where Gossard, McCready, and Ament hearken back to their hard rocking roots, and they still sound as good as ever. The only track that really garners my ire is Bu$hleaguer. I’m sure you can probably ascertain the subject matter of the lyrics without much effort, taking into account Pearl Jam’s outspoken left wing tendencies. The music is actually pretty good, courtesy of Stone Gossard, but the vocals are dominated by Vedder’s scathing spoken word diatribe against George Bush. It comes off sounding more like a pisstake (to borrow a term from my British friends) than an actual song. Political rants are nothing new, and Vedder throws in some zingers (“Born on third/thinks he got a triple”), but by and large I could have done without it. This is especially true when you consider that it was included at the expense of some of the B-sides which would later surface on Lost Dogs. Thankfully, this monotony is followed by one of the better tracks in 1/2 Full, a nice mid paced rocker with some of the more memorable solos on the album.

Riot Act is the sound of a band who is very comfortable with the niche they have carved out in the music world. In an age of pandering, it is actually quite refreshing to hear. Sure, there are times when I would love to see Pearl Jam try and release something more in line with Ten or Vs., but more than anything I want them to be genuine and play for themselves. Riot Act never gained landmark status, but I still consider it one of the better efforts by a band who have always done things their own way.