Pearl Jam Releases New Single, Announces Lightning Bolt Album

This week, Pearl Jam put out a double whammy of big news. First, the band announced that fans won’t have to wait too much longer for the group’s long-awaited tenth studio album, and then the group released the first single we’ve heard from the group off of the new endeavor. The new album will be called Lightning Bolt and will hit shelves on October 15 in the United States and October 14 elsewhere in the world.

Pearl Jam has been around for years and years, but the group is still a pretty solid brand, selling out shows regularly. The last record the group put out was in 2009. Called Backspacer, the album earned great ratings from critics and debuted at #1 on the Billboard 200. It has been four years since that album dropped, and Pearl Jam is finally looking to repeat the album’s success.

We know Lightning Bolt was produced by Brendan O’Brien and will be distributed by Universal Music Group International, but otherwise the band is staying mum about most of the details. The album can be pre-ordered over at iTunes or via the band’s site. If you do want to get a glimpse at what Pearl Jam’s latest will offer, you can check out the first single, “Mind your Manners.”

The frenetic, fast-paced and loud track leans heavily on lead singer Eddie Vedder’s vocals, but also features plenty of quick guitar and drumming work. I can’t say I’m more of a fan of this type of Pearl Jam music, preferring the band’s softer side, but assumedly other people are down. The song was also teased in an initial announcement for Lightning Bolt, which shows the guys working together in the studio.

The album and single aren’t the only things the band has planned in the second half of 2013. Earlier, the group announced it would hit the road in support of Lightning Bolt this fall. The tour will kick off just a few days before the album drops, on October 11. The band has plans to tour across the United States and parts of Canada, hitting venues in Pittsburgh, Brooklyn, Dallas, New Orleans, San Diego, Portland and more between October and December. You can check out the full list of tour dates and order tickets via the band’s site.