For an album that seems to get almost totally dismissed outright by fans, Pearl Jam’s Binaural sure was packed with an awful lot of extremely strong songs. One of those that stands out is “Soon Forget,” the charming little ukulele number by Eddie Vedder.
It’s not just that it’s a great little song (or a hint of things to come years later on his solo albums) but it’s also a great recording: “Soon Forget” has a little something special thanks to producer Tchad Blake, who is an aficionado of binaural recordings (hence the album’s title).
This tune, in particular, highlights the effects of Blake’s favorite technique, which typically captures sound using a dummy head with one microphone placed in the ear spot on each side – the better to replicate exactly where you would hear sound – and the band playing live around it.
In this case, it’s just Pearl Jam’s frontman and his uke, and as “Soon Forget” comes on, it’s as if Vedder has stepped up in front of you and begun playing – as if you’re there listening in the studio while he records. Released on May 16, 2000, “Soon Forget” isn’t the only binaural recording on Binaural, but it’s the one that really shows off the technique.
So, your homework assignment is simple: Get out some good headphones (read: not Apple-supplied iPod earbuds) and give Pearl Jam’s “Soon Forget” a good listen. The effect is pretty powerful.
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