Pearl Jam wisely moved away from grunge before it was watered down by the likes of Creed and Nickelback. It's taken more than 20 years for the Seattle band to finally settle into what they are: a good, old-fashioned classic rock combo crafting riff-heavy songs with poppy hooks, a punk edge and a solid guitar solo in the middle. Getaway, Mind Your Manners and My Father's Son are tightly wound bursts of controlled anger, tempered by the maturity of veteran contrarians. There's always been a sense that Pearl Jam are America's band, and don't really speak to the rest of us, but power ballad Sirens proves that singer and lyricist Eddie Vedder can cast his emotional net beyond the homelands. And due tribute to Zep and REM are paid via the bluesy Let the Records Play and the jangly Swallowed Whole. pearljam.com
Download tracks: Getaway, Sirens, Lightning Bolt