After a four-year absence and a general withdrawal from the rock-star business, Pearl Jam returns sounding renewed and refreshed.

It helps that there's a war going on. The Seattle band has always drawn inspiration from the turbulence in the air, and its reemergence at a time of heating debate seems like perfect timing.

Considering the unambiguous Bush-bashing in which Eddie Vedder has indulged in the past, the commentary on "Pearl Jam" is surprisingly restrained but powerful. Backed by raging guitars on "World Wide Suicide," he laments a fallen soldier and lashes out: "a handsome face that the president took for granted / Writing checks that others pay."

"Army Reserve" depicts a family deprived by war of its husband and father, and in "Marker in the Sand" Vedder calls out the God whose support is claimed by both sides. "A sickness is coming over me," he intones, surveying the psychic damage in personal terms rather than political polemic.

The album addresses other areas of discontent as well, as its initial hard-rocking attack eases into a series of affecting ballads. The music is leaner and more concise than we're used to from Pearl Jam, the performances brisk, frisky and light on their feet.

Pearl Jam still has its musical limitations. It's a utilitarian, lunch-pail kind of band, but while it can't really storm the heavens, it's perfect for manning the barricades.

— Richard Cromelin

what the fuck does that mean? (without looking it up)

I don't know but I'm

*** loads gun and drinks fake tee in ths small table with the barbies***

a lunch pail is what construction/blue collar workers used to bring their lunches in. An old-timey word for lunch box. From the same era as the jumping trains reference in unemployable.

utlitiarian means useful or greatest good for the greatest number (in philosophy)

Basically the reviewer is calling it solid, working class rock music

Thanks Stip, saved me a lot of work

I think the reviewer means it in a condescending way. Like their music isn't arty enough.

But it's all about personal preference. For a lot of people, either rock is lunch pail/blue collar/beneath you vs. high art/expanding horizons/ground-breaking OR it's good solid rock/music that makes sense vs. pretentious garbage/have-to-know-the-secret-code-to-like-it.

It depends on where you're coming from.