Long Road: Pearl Jam and the Soundtrack of a Generation
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Long Road: Pearl Jam and the Soundtrack of a Generation Hardcover – September 27, 2022
by Steven Hyden (Author)
Ever since Pearl Jam first blasted onto the Seattle grunge scene three decades ago with their debut album, Ten, they have sold 85M+ albums, performed for hundreds of thousands of fans around the world, and have even been inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. In Long Road: Pearl Jam and the Soundtrack Of A Generation, music critic and journalist Steven Hyden celebrates the life, career, and music of this legendary group, widely considered to be one of the greatest American rock bands of all time. Long Road is structured like a mix tape, using 18 different Pearl Jam classics as starting points for telling a mix of personal and universal stories. Each chapter tells the tale of this great band — how they got to where they are, what drove them to greatness, and why it matters now.
Much like the generation it emerged from, Pearl Jam is a mass of contradictions. They were an enormously successful mainstream rock band who felt deeply uncomfortable with the pursuit of capitalistic spoils. They were progressive activists who spoke in favor of abortion rights and against the Ticketmaster monopoly, and yet they epitomized the sound of traditional, male-dominated rock ‘n’ roll. They were looked at as spokesmen for their generation, even though they ultimately projected profound confusion and alienation. They triumphed, and failed, in equal doses — the quintessential Gen-X tale.
Impressive as their stats, accolades, and longevity may be, Hyden also argues that Pearl Jam’s most definitive accomplishment lies in the impact their music had on Generation X as a whole. Pearl Jam’s music helped an entire generation of listeners connect with the glory of bygone rock mythology, and made it relevant during a period in which tremendous American economic prosperity belied a darkness at the heart of American youth. More than just a chronicle of the band’s career, this book is also a story about Gen- X itself, who like Pearl Jam came from angsty, outspoken roots and then evolved into an establishment institution, without ever fully shaking off their uncertain, outsider past. For so many Gen-Xers growing up at the time, Pearl Jam’s music was a beacon that offered both solace and guidance. They taught an entire generation how to grow up without losing the purest and most essential parts of themselves.
Written with his celebrated blend of personal memoir, criticism, and journalism, Hyden explores Pearl Jam’s path from Ten to now. It's a chance for new fans and old fans alike to geek out over Pearl Jam minutia—the B-sides, the beloved deep cuts, the concert bootlegs—and explore the multitude of reasons why Pearl Jam’s music resonated with so many people. As Hyden explains, “Most songs pass through our lives and are swiftly forgotten. But Pearl Jam is forever.”
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STEVEN HYDEN is the author of This Isn’t Happening, Twilight of the Gods, Your Favorite Band Is Killing Me, and (with Steve Gorman) Hard to Handle. His writing has appeared in the New York Times Magazine, Washington Post, Billboard, Pitchfork, Rolling Stone, Grantland, The A.V. Club, Slate, and Salon. He is currently the cultural critic at UPROXX. He lives in Minneapolis, Minnesota with his wife and two children.I miss igotid880
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Great writer, great subject. I am so excited for this.0
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pjl44 said:Great writer, great subject. I am so excited for this.0
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Pre ordered. Amazon Canada. https://www.amazon.ca/dp/03068264290
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He is a great writer and a great twitter follow. His podcast Rivals about band rivalries was great too. No more new episodes but still great to listen to if you're looking for a podcast."We're fixed good, lamp-wise."0
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Audiobook Downloadable / ISBN-13: 9781668610916
USD: $25.98 / CAD: $32.98ON SALE: September 27th 2022
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Bump. Don’t sleep on this. I know it’s quite a few months out but it’s going to be good.I’m about a quarter way through his dive into Kid A book, This isn’t Happening0
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Looking forward to reading it.
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coolHugh Freaking Dillon is currently out of the office, returning sometime in the fall0
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I just started reading YOUR FAVORITE BAND IS KILLING ME and it is a very funny, clever and thoughtful book. The chapter on Nirvana vs. PJ is a must read! Looking forward to LONG ROAD!0
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I went ahead and preordered a copy.0
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