<span class="s1"><strong>Stone Gossard <br/> </strong>Moonlander</span><br/> (Monkeywrench)<br/>*** An influential figure on the still-going grunge scene, Stone Gossard is best known as a co-founder of Pearl Jam, the mighty Seattle outfit for whom he has essayed many a memorable riff. The guitarist's second solo album comes a dozen years after the first, 2001's <em>Bayleaf</em>, and is something of a retrospective, rounding up and finishing off numerous demos that were not quite right for his main band. <em>Moonlander</em> is light years away from Pearl Jam's stadium-rocking anthems, partly due to Gossard's pleasingly fragile vocals but also a folkier, friendlier musical tone. You may note unlikely hints of The Eagles, Kings of Leon, and – on the title track – Glen Hansard's Oscar-winning ballads for the movie <em>Once</em>. Lyrically there are surprises, too, with frequent nods to the spiritual (despite Gossard's recent admission that "I'm probably at my least religious I've ever been in a while"), all culminating in the joyous refrain to <em>Beyond Measure</em>: "a simple gospel song; we hope you sing along." Relieved of the intense angst that turns many rock fans away from grunge, Gossard may well acquire some enthusiastic new followers. <span class="s1"><strong><a href="mailto:artslife@thenational.ae">artslife@thenational.ae</a></strong></span> Follow us Follow us on <a href="https://www.facebook.com/thenationalArtsandLife">Facebook</a> for discussions, entertainment, reviews, wellness and news.