Pearl Jam - Rear View Mirror (Rearview Mirror: The Best Of Pearl Jam - Pearl Jam)

Member Name: underdog_78

Product:	Rearview Mirror: The Best Of Pearl Jam - Pearl Jam
Date:	30/06/09 (9 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: A fine, broad and easily accessible collection from a great band

Disadvantages: Could be argued that better songs have been misses off.

With a band with such a huge back catalogue, it's always hard for someone to just jump in and get interested in them. During their years in the business Pearl Jam went from MTV darlings to complete recluses and the music changed as often as they did.

With the release of their best of it finally give people with a slight interest in them somewhere to get started. The CDs cover all the Pearl Jam ground in terms of styles.

From the anthemic stadium rock of Alive and Even Flow, to the darker side of rock with Animal and to the sublime quieter side with Man of the Hour and Nothing Man.

As is usual with Pearl Jam, you get a very alternative CD sleeve, and some nice bits of card etc inside. Also the 2 CDs are split into UP and Down, giving an indication of what mood each CD covers.

If you are a Pearl Jam fan then there is probably nothing on this CD you don't already have, but then it is an excellent CD to pop in the car that kind of covers all bases on a long journey.

If you're not a fan of the band then maybe it gives you a reference point on where (time wise or style wise) in the bands career you could start when picking up some of their studio releases.

A sure treat for everyone is a studio version of Yellow Ledbetter, a song that came about with improvised words over improvised music (based heavily on Little Wing) that is just amazing. Touching on a heart wrenching subject matter and done with so much style.

In summing up, I am sure every fan of the band could argue that some songs should have been on the best of that weren't, and some that were shouldn't have been, but with a band this good that would always be the case.

You really can't go wrong with this double CD set.

Summary: You really can't go wrong with this double CD set.