Pearl Jam Back on Top

"We just found out our new album is number 1" shouted Eddie Vedder to the Gibson Amphitheatre crowd in Los Angeles. "We had some number one albums a while ago. We didn't give a shit then." He stopped to gauge the crowds reaction and went right back to the microphone after a slug of some red wine, "We don't give a shit now. But some of us are dads. So now, we can say to our kids, 'Hey, just remember, you're dad is number one" Vedder went on.

So yes, although it's hard to believe, Pearl Jam has finally got an album that they can brag about and the suits at the record labels get. The latest release from the band plants them on the top of the Billboard Top 200 chart for the first time since 1996's No Code.

The release, entitled "Backspacer" is the bands ninth studio album of their long guided career. The release sold 189,000 units nationally in it's first week on the charts. Locally, Pearl Jam has always had a strong following and it showed in the local stores as well. Radio 2.0 reported that the album went to the top in the local market as well, followed closely by the Dave Matthews Band at number two in it's 15th week and Mark Knopfler's new release Get Lucky.