Pearl Jam’s ninth is a Target exclusive?
Remember two months ago when we reported Cameron Crowe and Pearl Jam were working together? Well, the project has surfaced, and frankly, we’re surprised — shocked even. It turns out that Crowe is directing and putting together a commercial for the Seattle rockers, all in anticipation of their ninth studio effort, now set for a fall release. The catch? It’s a Target-only exclusive, and well, that’s what the commercial is promoting.
According to Antiquiet, Crowe shot some footage of the band last week at Seattle’s legendary Showbox Theater. The website reports that, “about 300 extras were hired to be in the crowd for the taping, a large number of whom were reportedly laid-off workers from the area.” That shouldn’t come off as a surprise, considering the band’s always been geared toward the “working man” a la Bruce Springsteen or fellow friend Neil Young.
What did they play, however? Reports indicate they performed a new slower jam, a cover of The Dead Boys’ “Sonic Reducer, and upcoming single, “The Fixer”, which will be performed live tonight at Conan O’Brien’s debut on The Tonight Show. If you’re just dying to hear it now, the website has a leaked audio recording from the taping, and while it’s muddled some, you can still make out the tune. Some reports suggest it’s a throw back to the band’s 2000 Binaural-era sound. They might be right, though there’s some definitive Riot Act action going on, too.
As for the Target nonsense, it’s only for retail. Fans will still be able to purchase the new record via the band’s official webstore and Ten Club.
But, still…
Pearl Jam 2009 Tour Dates:
08/13 - Rotterdam, NL @ Sportspaleis Ahoy
08/15 - Berlin, DE @ Wuhlheide
08/17 - Manchester, UK @ MEN Arena
08/18 - London, UK @ O2 Arena
08/21 - Toronto, ON @ Molson Amphitheatre
08/23 - Chicago, IL @ United Center
08/24 - Chicago, IL @ United Center
08/28 - San Francisco, CA @ Outside Lands Festival
10/04 - Austin, TX @ Austin City Limits
Fans will also be able to buy it through independent record stores. This is not your typical exclusive. Pearl Jam and its manager Kelly Curtis were very clear and careful when stating that target DOES NOT have full exclusive retail rights to their album.
eddie vedder or billy corgan….they both make shitty music.
Haha. Didn’t Pearl Jam release all those albums for Epic Records, which is owned by Sony? If you’re a big name in the music industry, you went corporate long ago. Frankly, if it’s a good record, I don’t care if it’s only sold at Target or next to the pastries at Starbucks. The only corporate tie-in that bugs me is the Walmart one, which often requests that artists produce “clean” versions of their records.
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My God, some of you people are so whiny. Pearl Jam has “gone corporate?” Pearl Jam has “sold out”? Honestly, who gives a damn anymore. I think Phillip is right on the money. Either it’s a advertising gimmick that supports mulitiple causes or it’s for some other reason that I could care less about and will not prevent me from hearing the record.
Give it a bit. In some cases many bands do this because Target gives a lot of their proceeds to certain organization around the world. So lets wait for this to give us more information before slamming PJ. Come on, this is Eddie not Billy Corgan.
“um, what?” is right!
NOooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo
they sold out, plain and simple.
Wow.
no way..i cant see them going corporate
PJ has gone corporate?
Sep 7th, 2009 at 11:05 am
[...] of its highly anticipated ninth studio LP, Backspacer, Pearl Jam has spoken out regarding its deal with big-box retailer Target, and its message to fans is simple: just keep doing what you’ve done throughout their career. [...]
Jun 2nd, 2009 at 10:45 am
[...] off shocking and pissing off fans, Eddie Vedder and team closed the night with new single, “The Fixer”, which will be [...]