Binaural is the sixth studio album by Pearl Jam, released May 16, 2000, through Epic Records. Following a full scale tour in support of its previous album, Yield (1998), Pearl Jam took a short break before reconvening toward the end of 1999 to begin work on a new album. During the production of the album, the band encountered hindrances such as singer Eddie Vedder‘s writer’s block, and guitarist Mike McCready‘s entrance into rehabilitation due to an addiction to prescription drugs. This is Pearl Jam‘s first album to feature former Soundgarden drummer Matt Cameron, who joined during 1998’s Yield Tour to replace Jack Irons.
The music on the album featured an experimental sound, evident on songs that used binaural recording techniques. The atmospheric tracks, mostly featuring somber lyrics dealing with social criticism, led the band to convey these themes with images of nebulas in the album artwork. Binaural received positive reviews, and debuted at number two on the Billboard 200. Although the album was certified gold by the RIAA, it became the first Pearl Jam studio album to fail to reach Platinum status in the United States. The album’s 2000 tour spawned a large collection of official bootleg releases.
Tracklist:
- Breakerfall
- Gods’ Dice
- Evacuation
- Light Years
- Nothing as It Seems
- Thin Air
- Insignificance
- Of the Girl
- Grievance
- Rival
- Sleight of Hand
- Soon Forget
- Parting Ways
Pearl Jam
Jeff Ament: bass guitar, upright bass, inside photography
Matt Cameron: drums
Stone Gossard: rhythm guitar
Mike McCready: lead guitar
Eddie Vedder: lead vocals, rhythm guitar, ukulele; credited as “Jerome Turner” for album concept
Additional musicians and production
Matt Bayles: engineering
Tchad Blake: production, mixing, portraits
Liz Burns: assistance with NASA photos
April Cameron: viola
Dakota: canine vocal
Justine Foy: cello
Mitchell Froom: keyboard, harmonium
K.P. Handron, R. O’Dell, NASA: inside cover
J. Hester, P. Scowen, NASA: booklet cover
Wendy Melvoin: percussion
Brendan O’Brien: mixing
Pearl Jam: production
R. Sahai, J. Trauger, WFPC2 science team, NASA: front cover
Adam Samuels, Ashley Stubbert: second engineers
Pete Thomas: percussion
