Into the Wild Soundtrack (by Eddie Vedder, Soundtrack)

It's fitting that Eddie Vedder's first full-length solo album tells the story of another man's solo journey. There's nothing offensive anywhere on INTO THE WILD, just soulful, folky songs that follow the doomed Alaskan adventure of Chris McCandless. Vedder's words won't cause parents to pause, but the story might. It's essentially the true story of runaway McCandless, a smart 20-something kid who shunned society and ventured off (with few supplies and even fewer survival skills). But his live-off-the-land dream turned into every parent's nightmare when he was found dead several months later.

Vedder's plaintive voice and simple, soulful lyrics gently guide us into the wild world that McCandless saw, perfectly blending a sense of freedom with a strong foreboding. His songs warn of the dangers of nature as well as the danger of wanting more than you have or need -- messages that many parents may want to instill in their children. Like his muse, Vedder also respects nature while railing against materialism and greed.

Released on: September 18, 2007
Label: J Records
Genre: Soundtrack