Mike McCready has provided an update on what’s next from Pearl Jam, assuring fans that their forthcoming album — produced by Andrew Watt — will be “a lot heavier than you’d expect.”
The guitarist offered some details about the album in a recent interview with Classic Rock, and although it’s yet to be announced, it sounds like the LP is just about complete: “I’m hoping it’s gonna come out [in 2024],” McCready said. “We have a bunch of songs tracked. We worked with Andrew Watt, who’s a younger pop producer-type guy, but he’s really a rock guy at heart — I think we’re his favorite band. When we were in the studio with him this past year, he really kicked our asses, got us focused and playing, song after song.”
Though Watt has worked with the likes of Miley Cyrus, Post Malone, and Lana Del Rey, our 2022 Producer of the Year has collaborated with such artists as Ozzy Osbourne and Iggy Pop in recent years. “It’s a lot heavier than you’d expect,” McCready continued. “There’s the melody and energy of the first couple of records. Andrew pushed us to play as hard and melodic and thoughtful as we’ve done in a long time. I feel like Matt Cameron’s drumming has elements of what he did in Soundgarden.”
As for his own contributions to the album, McCready got to revisit some of his old chops: “For better or worse, you’re gonna hear a lot more lead guitar from me, stuff I haven’t done in a long time. I went crazy, like with Chris Cornell and [our supergroup] Temple of the Dog on Reach Down, all those years ago. I got to do it again. Usually the first or second takes are best. After that I start thinking about it and it doesn’t have the feel. But Andrew caught the lightning in a bottle, as they say.”
Bassist Jeff Ament discussed the future of Pearl Jam on an episode of Consequence‘s Kyle Meredith With… podcast last year, while Cameron hinted that they’re hoping to celebrate the follow-up to 2020’s Gigaton with a big tour.