Monkeywrench

Stone Gossard wrote the music for some of Pearl Jam’s best songs: “Alive,” “Black,” “Daughter,” “Not For You” and “Do The Evolution.” He also was responsible for Pearl Jam precursor Mother Love Bone’s epic “Chloe Dancer/Crown Of Thorns.” So it isn’t surprising that his second solo album, Moonlander, is a keeper. But what makes this LP different from anything that the guitarist has done outside of PJ is the dynamic turns these 11 new songs take through the exploration of different instruments outside Gossard’s comfort zone – like the soulful brass blasts on “King of the Junkies” or the spaced-up analog synths of “Moonlander.” Meanwhile, it is a shock that Gossard didn’t bring such winning ballads like “Your Flames” and “Beyond Measure” to Pearl Jam first. But that is what makes Moonlander an essential listen for any Pearl Jam fan.