Editorial Reviews Music Review:
Music Review
Alfredo Kraus Sings A Neopolitan Serenade
Music: Un Gars Ben Ordinaire [Import]
A Mormon Tabernacle Choir Christmas
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Even if the term "official bootleg" still strikes one as something of an oxymoron, the intentions are good behind Pearl Jam's unprecedented documentation of its entire Europe 2000 tour (giving their hardcore fan base an eminently affordable alternative to music pirates)--and, for the most part, the music is even better. This set from the band's first night at London's fabled Wembley Arena begins with material from the band's Binaural album, building from a tentative version of "Of the Girl" and quickly picking up steam with bracing versions of "Breakerfall" and "Grievance"; the insecurities Eddie Vedder expresses with the new material's performances seem superfluous. From there it's a well-paced mix of crowd-pleasers, with Eddie good-naturedly acknowledging the venue's history by introducing a manic, riveting version of the staple "Even Flow" as "Don't Let Your Grievance Go Down on Me." The generous, upbeat encore is preceded by a rambling Vedder tribute to London ("where all the gods came from") and highlighted by covers of The La's' "Timeless Melody" and a '60s chestnut, "Soldiers of Love." --Jerry McCulley