If there's any one "thesis" that comes out of Pearl Jam: Under Review, it's that the group is "above" the whole grunge movement. Maybe "above" is the wrong choice of words... but there's a definite echo of endurance ringing throughout the entire documentary. While many bands grew out of the Seattle scene, Pearl Jam is a band that - unlike others - has managed to grow beyond the movement and outlast other groups.
About a year ago, I reviewed Greg Prato's book Grunge is Dead. I enjoyed the book when I read it and little did I know it would find a place at my side as watched Pearl Jam: Under Review. The book, a qualitative collection of quotes and stories chronicling the rise of the Seattle punk/ grunge movement, serves as a great introduction.
Pearl Jam: Under Review begins with the birth of the Seattle music scene in the late 80's, early 90's. Though it doesn't go into great depth (at this point you might want to pull out your copy of Grunge is Dead), it offers a good idea of what was going on in music. The documentary covers the band's history, beginning with its early origins as Mother Love Bone and the death of front man Andrew Wood. From here, it covers Eddie Vedder's arrival and the release of their first album, Ten.
From here, the documentary looks at the impact of Ten and how it managed to become a hit outside of Seattle. One element that rubbed me the wrong way, at least early on, were comparisons between Pearl Jam and Nirvana. Though I'm sure there's something there, some comments trend towards a "cheerleader" tone. I get it, but could have done without the comparisons. Thankfully, the comparisons dissipate quickly.
Still, the thesis rings out loud and clear - Pearl Jam is a different sort of band compared to other groups originating from the era. At times, there's even debate as to whether or not Pearl Jam is actually grunge, or something else entirely. It's an interesting debate, and after watching the documentary, it's hard to argue with the point.
Pearl Jam: Under Review is told through archival footage, pictures and interviews. Actually, interviews make up a good deal of the story being told. There's a good deal of live footage, though little new in-concert footage. In fact, I think I saw more concert footage of Neil Young and other groups than Pearl Jam.
The only noteworthy extra is an interview with Eddie Vedder. It's a decent listen and adds some icing to the presentation, though the real meat is the documentary itself.
If anything, Pearl Jam: Under Review cemented my desire for a Rock Band/ Guitar Hero centered on the Seattle scene. Pearl Jam: Under Review may not provide hardcore fans with a lot of new footage and information about the group, but it's a well-produced documentary and a must own for fans.
