New York, NY (Top40 Charts/ Cornerstone Agency) PEARL JAM's tenth full-length studio album, Lightning Bolt, has struck the #1 spot on the Billboard Top 200, selling over 165,000 copies in its first week. Making for the biggest rock debut of 2013, Lightning Bolt also held the top of the iTunes Overall Albums Chart and Rock Albums Chart. Internationally, it became the #1 album on iTunes in 56 countries. The album also yielded "Sirens," which was #1 in 18 countries and also topped the iTunes rock song along with "Mind Your Manners."
This marks the multiplatinum-selling Grammy Award-winning band's fifth number one album on the chart and second consecutive chart-topper, following 2009's Backspacer. It's also the first record in the legendary Seattle group's history to be released under the newly minted joint venture between their very own Monkeywrench and Republic Records.
Lightning Bolt has also garnered unanimous critical acclaim from top tastemakers. Bestowing 4 stars upon the album, Mojo proclaims "its aching charm is undeniable," and People adds in its 4-star review, "It's everything you want from a PJ album: earnest, furious, tender, transcendent." The Los Angeles Times describes, "the album's most striking moment, the atmospheric 'Pendulum' is framed by ghostly guitar and echoey percussion as Vedder ventures into another dark night of the soul," and The Guardian dubs it, "a sturdy return to great form." Entertainment Weekly writes, "In fact, the band has thrived this long by heeding an ocean-like motion, shifting with crack assurance from choppy and punk-y to swelling and gorgeous, as if an enigmatic wind stirs it all up," while Rolling Stone claims, "the band's exacting musicianship, storied integrity and respect for fans - is key to PEARL JAM's longevity." New York Daily News asserts, "It pays homage to
Pearl Jam's core style, proving it to be remarkably durable and fresh," and ARTISTdirect.com says, "PEARL JAM at their most pure and powerful... one of the year's best records."
Right now, PEARL JAM is in the midst of a nationwide headline tour, playing key arenas across the country. Kicking off 2014, the group will head down under to headline the historic "Big Day Out" festival in New Zealand and Australia.
This week also saw Late Night With
Jimmy Fallon honor the band with a five-day tribute. On October 21, legendary Soundarden frontman
Chris Cornell joined The
Avett Brothers for a heartfelt rendition of "Footsteps," a classic B-side. October 22 saw
Fleet Foxes frontman
Robin Pecknold offer a stirring rendition of Vitalogy classic "Corduroy," while tonight country superstar
Dierks Bentley teams with The
Roots and PEARL JAM guitarist Mike McCready for a "one-of-a-kind-performance." The boys themselves will grace the stage October 24 and 25.
Moreover, their music is serving as the official soundtrack to the 2013 MLB World Series. A partnership with Fox Sports will include extensive use of 48
Pearl Jam songs across the promotional and music beds for this month's World Series coverage, set to air Oct. 23-31 on Fox, and feature the group's music throughout November as Artists of the Month across all Fox Sports properties.
Catch this Lightning Bolt on iTunes and www.pearljam.com.
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