WITH four strings and its distinctive Hawaiian sound, the ukulele is not a versatile instrument, and this album suffers for that, but luckily the Pearl Jam front man’s equally unique voice provides enough range and emotion to cover the shortfall.
When Ukulele Songs works, as on the too-short Sleeping By Myself, Without You and Broken Heart, it’s a great juxtaposition of rock legend and toy guitar, challenging you not to enjoy it. Where the album falters is that, save an occasional cello and guest vocals from Cat Power and The Frames’ Glen Hansard, there’s no variety.
Vedder wrote ten of the 15 tracks ten years ago, with four covers from the 1920s and 1930s, and a surprisingly gruff take on Dream A Little Dream rounding out the album. Something of a vanity project? Maybe. But there’s a high standard of melancholy lyrics and craftsmanship under the playful, kitsch charm that rewards persistent listeners.
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