It’s not. That’s not to say that it’s bad – it’s quite good. But it’s not a typical “unplugged” album. The primary difference is the sound of the recording. While “unplugged” albums sound close to a studio recording, Benaroya Hall has the definite sound of a live concert album. Simply put, the sound is not as sharp.

The larger problem is that, with the exception of the brief “Lukin”, Pearl Jam doesn’t really play their electric songs acoustically. There’s no acoustic “Alive” or “Jeremy”, instead they stick to a set of their softer acoustic songs. What we get then, is not a bunch of harder songs that have been reworked for non-electric instruments, but a very similar rendition of recent acoustic works.

The songs do sound good though. We hear a number of songs that you probably won’t hear in a regular Pearl Jam concert, including album closers such as “Around the Bend”, “Parting Ways”, and “All or None”. I particularly appreciate the non-album tracks which have made the set list – eight in total, including “Man of the Hour” from the Big Fish soundtrack.

As Pearl Jam’s has soften since their early nineties grunge days, they’ve also gotten better. Their songs are getting more subtle and more refined with more intricately written melodies. Benaroya Hall showcases the best of these lesser known jewels.

Disk 1
1. Of the Girl
2. Low Light
3. Thumbing My Way
4. Thin Air
5. Fatal
6. Nothing As It Seems
7. Man Of The Hour
8. Immortality
9. Off He Goes
10. Around The Bend
11. I Believe In Miracles
12. Sleight Of Hand
13. All Or None
14. Lukin

Disk 2
1. Parting Ways
2. Down
3. Can't Keep
4. Dead Man
5. Masters Of War
6. Black
7. Crazy Mary
8. 25 Minutes To Go
9. Daughter
10. Yellow Ledbetter