Pearl Jam guitarist Stone Gossard has given an update on the band's progress in recording their 10th studio album.
The axeman, who is currently promoting his new LP with his side project Brad, has said that the band are "not in a rush", but that they may only be "a song or two away" from finishing.
Speaking to Rolling Stone about the follow-up to 2009's 'Backspacer', Gossard said: "We've recorded some songs, and we're going to record and write some more. It might be that we're a song away or two, or it might be that we're going to record six or seven more songs.
"I think the main thing is that we're not in a rush and there’s no urgency to it. The most important thing is that we put something out that continues to expand our boundaries rather than trying to follow what we've done in the past. I think it's a good time to hopefully continue to experiment, and continue to shake it up."
He continued: "We want people to go 'Wow, that’s kind of weird for Pearl Jam,' and then 10 years later they can go, 'Oh, that’s my favorite period', which is always kind of what happens."
Asked if he could describe the songs for the band's new record, Gossard said that the album was "refreshingly cool" and that the band would make sure it didn't sound too polished.
He added: "It's just us in the studio screwing around, not taking it too seriously. I think that's one of the biggest problems in rock is people thinking too much, putting too much emphasis on getting things perfect or completely sorted out. Sometimes that sound of not having everything sorted out is kind of cool."
Pearl Jam will headline this year's Isle Of Wight Festival alongside Tom Petty and Bruce Springsteen. The festival takes place from June 22–24 next summer.
nme
They could have 13 different versions of baa baa black sheep on an album and I would still buy it
