Pearl Jam’s Eddie Vedder Fancies the Ukulele

Eddie Vedder, the lead vocalist for alternative rock band Pearl Jam, decided to trade in his guitar for a slightly smaller four-stringed version of the instrument- the ukulele.

In Vedder’s brand new solo album, “Ukulele Songs,” the baritone voiced singer-songwriter proves that he is capable of more than the melancholic grunge music that Pearl Jam is often associated with. The new album, which is comprised of music that Mr. Vedder originally had no intention of going public with, succeeds in showing that the famous arena rock star has an introspective and laid-back side as well.

This refreshingly new and subdued Vedder lands at the top spot of the Billboard Folk Albums chart for his album featuring only his voice and a ukulele. Vedder, whose first solo album was a soundtrack for the film Into The Wild, also debuts at number two on the Rock Albums chart and number four on the Billboard 200 album charts with sales of 71,000 units of “Ukulele Songs.”

This is the artist’s first top ten album and his highest charting release since Into The Wild peaked at number eleven back in 2007.

Eddie Vedder is slated to perform some of his ‘Uke’ songs at the Bushnell in Hartford, CT on June 18th.