Binaural (album)

Binaural
In a black background is the image of a nebula, which resembles two orange rings of smoke, with an eye-like structure in their intersection. Below it is the title "BINAURAL" in white letters.
Studio album by
Pearl Jam
ReleasedMay 16, 2000
RecordedSeptember 1999 – January 2000
StudioStudio Litho (Seattle)
Genre
Length52:05
LabelEpic
Producer
Pearl Jam chronology
Yield
(1998) 		Binaural
(2000) 		Riot Act
(2002)
Singles from Binaural
  1. "Nothing as It Seems"
    Released: April 25, 2000
  2. "Light Years"
    Released: July 10, 2000

Binaural is the sixth studio album by American rock band Pearl Jam, released May 16, 2000, through Epic Records. Following a full-scale tour in support of its previous album, Yield (1998), Pearl Jam took a short break before reconvening toward the end of 1999 to begin work on a new album. During the production of the album, the band encountered hindrances such as singer Eddie Vedder's writer's block, and guitarist Mike McCready's entrance into rehabilitation due to an addiction to prescription drugs. This is Pearl Jam's first album to feature former Soundgarden drummer Matt Cameron, who joined during 1998's Yield Tour to replace Jack Irons.

The music on the album featured an experimental sound, evident on songs that used binaural recording techniques. The atmospheric tracks, mostly featuring somber lyrics dealing with social criticism, led the band to convey these themes with images of nebulas in the album artwork. Binaural received positive reviews, and debuted at number two on the Billboard 200. Although the album was certified gold by the RIAA, it became the first Pearl Jam studio album to fail to reach Platinum status in the United States. The album's 2000 tour spawned a large collection of official bootleg releases.