Pearl Jam's recording process for their follow-up to the 'Backspacer' album has been a lengthy one, but guitarist Mike McCready has offered some good news for those patiently waiting on new music.

Speaking with The Rob on SiriusXM's Pearl Jam Radio (as excerpted by Grunge Report), McCready stated that their recent recording sessions have concluded with the band very close to finishing up. The guitarist revealed, “The sessions went really well, they went very quick. We were with Brendan O’Brien, and he was kind of whipping us into shape. We all teamed together to bring in another section of songs. We started this project two years ago. We just recently finished another 7 or 8 from that or so. We’re listening to them to see which ones are going to end up ultimately on the record. We’re close to the end zone right now, football analogy!”

McCready added that there might be a few of his compositions that will make the cut for the new album, and added, "Not necessary like 'Inside Job,' but there's one I'm very, very proud of."

As for the sound of the new record, the guitarist revealed, "I think the fans will hear what we are and where we are at now, it’s going to be to their liking I think, it is to us. We haven’t figured it out exactly what everything is that is going to be on this record. Some of the standout tracks on there are pretty amazing. Matt wrote a really cool one that’s kind of ethereal meets U2-ness, I wrote kind of a punk rock one and a Pink Floyd thing, so there’s all these kinds of things going on. Ed has written some beautiful numbers, some kind of garagy type stuff and then also some beautiful lyrical kind of things. We’ll put all of those things in the Pearl Jam thing, and hit mix, and mix it up.”

There's still no official release date for the record, but the band is still aiming for a late 2012 to early 2013 window for the disc.

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