So five years after the initial announcement, Conan O’Brien finally took the reins from Jay Leno on the Tonight show. Big opening skit? Check. Big name guest? (Will Ferrell) Check. Big name musical act? You betcha. For the first time, well, ever, Pearl Jam broke their alleigence to David Letterman to perform on NBC. And better yet, they played a brand spankin’ new song titled “Get Some” from their upcoming album Backspacer, which is tentatively set for an autumn release. Unfrotunately, the massive television event couldn’t save Eddie Vedder & Co.’s new song from being lackluster and forgettable.

There was a time in my life when I thought Pearl Jam could do no wrong. Now, I wasn’t one of those who would take off work for months at a time to follow every tour date, but I have flown cross-country and driven hours to see them. When all was said and done, I think I’ve seen Pearl Jam about 15 times. I was in their fan club, knew every lyric, every song’s little vocal nuance, and every guitar solo note-by-note. Then about two years ago, something happened. What? I couldn’t tell you. But one morning I woke up and my fire and passion for the band just wasn’t there. Not to say I don’t like them now, but if I cannot consider myself the same Pearl Jam fanatic.

So then last night happened and Pearl Jam debuted a new song from their upcoming Target-exclusive – Yeah, I know – release. It begins with your basic McCready guitar solo over your basic power chords and basic bass line. Matt Cameron’s drums are probably the only musical aspect of the song that are somewhat exciting. Sure it’s rockin’, sure it’s punk, sure it’s everything that Pearl Jam fans having been looking for since Vitalogy…but that doesn’t make it good. Infact, it sounds so dated and derivative, it’s disappointing.

I figured after the back-to-form riff rock of 2006′s Pearl Jam, the band might do something different. They might go back to the more earthy tones from No Code and Binurual (Which are the best two albums they’ve ever done, by the way). Or at least try something a bit experimental like 2002′s Riot Act. Instead, they brake out a simple punk song with dull lead guitar lines and garbled-lyrics. When the song reaches it’s slow-down bridge portion, it just feels excruciatingly methodical. It’s like the band went into the studio and said “Hey, this sounds like Pearl Jam. Cool.” instead of striving for a new sonic approach.

The song isn’t fresh and doesn’t by any means hold up to much of anything from Pearl Jam’s past. It’s a shame really. I always thought of Pearl Jam as being one few bands who could do whatever they wanted to and people would still eat it up. Instead, they’ve fallen into this dumbed down Ramones-wannabe post-punk genre in which they’re cornering the market.

Intro. Verse. Chorus. Verse. Chorus. Bridge. Chorus. End. Yawn.

But that’s not to say I’m not going to keep an open mind when their new album drops in the fall. Like all other music, I’ll come at it from every angle to find the redeeming qualities. I’m rooting for them, honestly I am, but this isn’t helping.

Haven’t head the new tune? Take a listen and SOUND OFF!