EDDIE VEDDER - Into The Wild (Music From The Motion Picture)

Based on Jon Krakauer's bestseller, "Into The Wild" tells the (true) story of Christopher McCandless (played by Emile Hirsch) who, fresh out of college and with a rosy future ahead of him, decides to set out on a journey in search of adventure.

Encounters with all kinds of people and a total, conflicted immersion in nature will prove to be defining experiences for the protagonist, shaping his understanding of the world and of himself.

In short, a film in perfect on the road style, directed by one of today's most socially and environmentally engaged figures in American entertainment, Sean Penn.

Don't worry, you haven't made a mistake. You're not in the Cinemania section. This preamble is simply here to introduce the real subject of the review: the film's soundtrack, which was crafted, among others, by Eddie Vedder.

That the frontman of Pearl Jam was ready to indulge his solo ambitions had been in the air for some time. The various collaborations he took part in over the years, together with the ever-growing weight his compositions carried within the Seattle band's discography, were more than just a useful hint. The chance to work with his friend Penn turned out to be the perfect opportunity to try his hand at the (at least on record) uncharted role of solo artist.

Although conceived as a soundtrack, the record has all the hallmarks to be considered a genuine debut for the singer. There are eleven tracks, and many of them have the classic song structure. However, it's immediately noticeable that a good half of the pieces don't go beyond two and a half minutes in length, for obvious reasons tied to the film's pacing. Either way, we'll see how this aspect actually ends up benefiting the work.

The album sounds exactly as one would imagine a record written entirely by Eddie Vedder would sound. For the most part, it brings to mind a Pearl Jam stripped of their more distorted, forceful tendencies, as in "Far Behind", which sounds like it could have come from the sessions for the band's recent self-titled album, or from a jam with Pete Townshend. Elsewhere, other inevitable references emerge, as in the Springsteen-esque "Long Nights" or the Young-esque "Society".

In other cases, instead, a mood takes hold that we can rightly call Vedder-esque, as in "Rise" (albeit with the ghost of Rem's "You Are The Everything" lurking), or the standout track "Hard Sun", with an effective, engaging chorus in the refrain.

The Pearl Jam of "Arc" and "Wasted Reprise" peek through on "The Wolf", while with "End Of The Road" Vedder gives us one of the record's most evocative pieces. "Guaranteed" is an intimate, acoustic-driven farewell, recalling "Soon Forget" (from "Binaural").

In conclusion, the record is an easy, effortless listen (and in this respect, the brevity of some tracks is an asset rather than a shortcoming), although, if you're not a fan of Pearl Jam or of Eddie Vedder's style in general, it might get a bit tedious at times. Were it a full-fledged solo album, it might leave you slightly underwhelmed, but placing it within the context of the film means other aspects also have to be taken into account. From that point of view, it's a successful soundtrack. Ultimately, Eddie Vedder presents us with a choice: if you love him, you never tire of him; if he leaves you cold, then this record certainly won't be the one to win newcomers over.

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08/11/2007