Our theme of soundtrack reviews goes boldly forth into Sean Penn related territory today. Vedder has a unique musical stamp which features in all his recordings from early Pearl Jam through to the present day. Certainly, very few American bands were as explosive, influential and clearly talented as that group. Singer-lyricist Vedder has matured in his endeavors since their 1991 debut Ten. If you are familiar with his usual subjects of poetic trauma and chaos, this tale of tortured masculinity will come as no surprise.

The film itself focuses on the dour and bold figure of Chris “Alexander Supertramp” McCandless. Vedder encapsulates the heroic ideal with his forceful but plainspoken lyrics. The true-life subject of the film, McCandless is an overprivileged kid who rejects materialism, his family and his earthly possessions to wander the vacant expanses of North America only to die, starving and freezing and alone in Alaska. Pearl Jam frontman Vedder who wrote and performed the soundtrack has obviously empathised in some way with the Supertramp character in his search for isolation and harmony with nature.

I would recommend against focussing too much on the slightly pretentious lyrics which try to change the actuality of a pointless death of a young man. McCandless died in an abandoned school bus only 30 miles from the nearest road, the coroners report stating he probably ate poisonous berries because he intentionally didn’t bring enough food with him.

The best song on the album is undoubtedly Tuolmne possibly because it has no lyrics, just Eddie plucking his guitar, the kind of riffs you could imagine a kid like the Supertramp strumming away as he camped in the desert or sat in a frozen bus waiting for death. We’ve posted the highly limited edition vinyl only release in high quality MP3 especially for you, enjoy. More soundtrack reviews and recommendations here.