Pearl Jam's rarities are Vedder than most

While most bands use a rarities and B-sides album to make use of the songs that weren't quite good enough for studio albums, Pearl Jam has amassed a substantial number of songs on the cutting room floor, and it's compiled the 30 best on a two-disc set.\nDisc one is mostly international singles. "Down" was recorded for 2002's Riot Act album, and it harkens back to band's early days. In the cover booklet, front man Eddie Vedder says, "It ('Down') suffered from the 'one of these is not like the others' syndrome." \nJust as the song ends many concerts, fan favorite "Yellow Ledbetter" concludes disc one with Mike McCready's emotions flowing through his guitar.\nDisc two features "Dead Man," which was cut from the Dead Man Walking soundtrack, but could have easily been a hit single from 1996's No Code. Jeff Ament's ominous bass line stirs the feelings of misery on death row. \nAlso on disc two is the 1998 Fan Club Christmas single "Last Kiss." Not often does a band's most successful song, like "Last Kiss," appear on its rarities and B-sides album, but the impact of its rarities seems to be a testament to its brilliant songwriting.