A leading music journalist's riveting chronicle of how beloved band
Pearl Jam shaped the times, and how their legacy and longevity have
transcended generations. Ever since Pearl Jam first blasted onto
the Seattle grunge scene three decades ago with their debut album,
Ten, they have sold 85M+ albums, performed for hundreds of
thousands of fans around the world, and have even been inducted
into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. In Long Road: Pearl Jam and
the Soundtrack Of A Generation, music critic and journalist Steven
Hyden celebrates the life, career, and music of this legendary
group, widely considered to be one of the greatest American rock
bands of all time. Long Road is structured like a mix tape, using
18 different Pearl Jam classics as starting points for telling a
mix of personal and universal stories. Each chapter tells the tale
of this great band - how they got to where they are, what drove
them to greatness, and why it matters now. Much like the generation
it emerged from, Pearl Jam is a mass of contradictions. They were
an enormously successful mainstream rock band who felt deeply
uncomfortable with the pursuit of capitalistic spoils. They were
progressive activists who spoke in favor of abortion rights and
against the Ticketmaster monopoly, and yet they epitomized the
sound of traditional, male-dominated rock 'n' roll. They were
looked at as spokesmen for their generation, even though they
ultimately projected profound confusion and alienation. They
triumphed, and failed, in equal doses - the quintessential Gen-X
tale. Impressive as their stats, accolades, and longevity may be,
Hyden also argues that Pearl Jam's most definitive accomplishment
lies in the impact their music had on Generation X as a whole.
Pearl Jam's music helped an entire generation of listeners connect
with the glory of bygone rock mythology, and made it relevant
during a period in which tremendous American economic prosperity
belied a darkness at the heart of American youth. More than just a
chronicle of the band's career, this book is also a story about
Gen- X itself, who like Pearl Jam came from angsty, outspoken roots
and then evolved into an establishment institution, without ever
fully shaking off their uncertain, outsider past. For so many
Gen-Xers growing up at the time, Pearl Jam's music was a beacon
that offered both solace and guidance. They taught an entire
generation how to grow up without losing the purest and most
essential parts of themselves. Written with his celebrated blend of
personal memoir, criticism, and journalism, Hyden explores Pearl
Jam's path from Ten to now. It's a chance for new fans and old fans
alike to geek out over Pearl Jam minutia-the B-sides, the beloved
deep cuts, the concert bootlegs-and explore the multitude of
reasons why Pearl Jam's music resonated with so many people. As
Hyden explains, "Most songs pass through our lives and are swiftly
forgotten. But Pearl Jam is forever."
General
Imprint: |
Da Capo Press Inc
|
Country of origin: |
United States |
Release date: |
October 2023 |
Authors: |
Steven Hyden
|
Dimensions: |
210 x 140mm (L x W) |
Pages: |
272 |
ISBN-13: |
978-0-306-82643-6 |
Categories: |
Books
|
LSN: |
0-306-82643-7 |
Barcode: |
9780306826436 |
Is the information for this product incomplete, wrong or inappropriate?
Let us know about it.
Does this product have an incorrect or missing image?
Send us a new image.
Is this product missing categories?
Add more categories.
Review This Product
No reviews yet - be the first to create one!