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Pearl Jam’s Jeff Ament Scores Under the Banner of Heaven TV Adaptation

Soundtrack also features Pearl Jam collaborators Josh Klinghoffer and Josh Evans
jeff Ament
(Credit: Courtesy of Jeff Ament)

FX on Hulu’s new adaptation of Jon Krakauer’s best-selling book Under the Banner of Heaven has fans buzzing as much for its content as for project star Andrew Garfield’s recent revelation that he would be taking a hiatus from acting. Now, music fans will have added reason to check out the show, with the announcement that Pearl Jam’s Jeff Ament has crafted its soundtrack.

Ament has been working on the music at his home studio in Montana since last October, in tandem with Pearl Jam touring member Josh Klinghoffer and longtime band associate Josh Evans, who produced Pearl Jam’s most recent album, Gigaton. John Wicks, Ament’s collaborator in his side project Deaf Charlie, was also involved in the sessions, according to a tweet from Ament on Pearl Jam’s account.

Each episode features 25 minutes of score, the piano-heavy ambiance of which recalls the work of such legendary composers as Philip Glass and Brian Eno.

Originally published in 2003, Under the Banner of Heaven weaves together the origin story of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints with a real-life 1984 murder committed in the name of a fundamentalist version of Mormonism. The first two episodes of the FX on Hulu series premiered today (April 28), with additional episodes rolling out for the next five Thursdays.

“Jon Krakauer’s book and Lance Black’s personal vision and leadership made this one of the most gratifying projects I’ve ever worked on,” Ament wrote. “Truly epic. Thank you. Thank you.”

In an interesting twist, Pearl Jam frontman Eddie Vedder previously worked on the soundtrack for the 2007 film adaptation of Krakauer’s 1996 book Into the Wild, with “Guaranteed” winning the Golden Globe for best original song.

As previously reported, Pearl Jam will begin its first North American tour in six years on May 3 in San Diego. The group is also working on a new studio album with producer Andrew Watt, who produced Vedder’s latest solo project, Earthling.