Album Retrospective: 25 Years of Stone Gossard's 'Bayleaf'

"Bayleaf represents the idea/concept of a child who doesn't understand why there's a hard old leaf in his pasta sauce, and only later comes to understand how that leaf imparts a special flavor/seasoning. Enough metaphors."

The press sheet for Bayleaf is an unusual one. The then-34-year-old Stone Gossard writes about his debut solo album with a hint of hesitation. He leads with his age, then casually states his name. He also makes sure to thank his main collaborators, Ty Wilman and Pete Droge (who produced the album and contributed vocals and/or instrumentation to all tracks). While Bayleaf is labeled as a solo work, Stone emphasizes that it was a great collaborative effort. Most notably, Stone doesn't introduce himself by rattling off his vast accomplishments; he tacks them on as an afterthought.

"By the way, I have played with Pearl Jam, Brad, Mother Love Bone, Temple of the Dog, and Green River."

Stone continues, still reluctant, wringing his hands over the idea of being a frontman.

"I don't have any plans to tour. It took me a long time to make this record. It may take a long time before I feel 'ready' to tour as a lead singer. I may never be ready... we'll just have to see."

The album was released on September 11th, 2001. There was never a tour; live performances online are nearly non-existent, and the album is unavailable on streaming. Then, in 2002, Brad's Welcome to Discovery Park was released, and shortly after, Pearl Jam's Riot Act. Over time, Bayleaf seemed to quietly slip onto the shelf. It now occupies a peculiar space within the Pearl Jam canon. Yet, after 25 years, Bayleaf still has a special place on my shelf, as it does for many other fans.

The album is a collection of 10 songs that Stone worked on for a period of four to five years, seven of which feature Stone on lead vocals. For the other three, Ty Wilman is the primary vocalist ("Unhand Me," "Cadillac," and "Fend it Off"). Known primarily as a guitarist and songwriter, Stone also plays bass, percussion, and piano, showcasing a broader instrumental repertoire. Bayleaf pulls from numerous influences, resulting in an eclectic mix of garage, folk, psychedelic rock, blues, and even reggae. Often an elusive and cerebral songwriter, Stone unveils some of his most accessible work on Bayleaf. In his lyricism, Stone tends to say a lot without saying much at all, but he says a lot more here. In fact, on the album art, Stone is shown in a triptych of photos, brushing his teeth, shaving his face, and plucking his nose hairs.

In the press sheet, Stone drops some clues about the meanings behind some of the songs:

Unhand Me - Ego vs. Spirit., Fend It Off - Material World vs. Love, Pigeon ("I'm not through sleeping around.") - Embracing Decline and Renewal

Bayleaf opens with "Bore Me," a title Stone explained as the past tense of "bear," meaning "to carry." Upbeat and nonsensical, "Bore Me's" first few seconds unravel with laughter and descend into what feels like a Scooby-Doo chase song. Matt Chamberlain plays drums for this track. The opener is fun, but the tone quickly shifts after that.

"Pigeon" is one of the standout songs on Bayleaf. The breakup song boasts catchy, easily digestible lyrics and an infectious riff, and is the most memorable of the bunch. "There goes her love, there goes her heart" ... "I'm not done sleeping around"... In another timeline, maybe this song would have ended up on some indie movie soundtrack.

"Bayleaf," the album's title track, draws direct inspiration from collaborator Neil Young (as does the song "Fits"). Of the song, Stone says, "In that song there's a guy who had a lot to give but only ended up giving in. If only he could have held on..." An insightful ballad, "Bayleaf" is the centerpiece of the album and features strong riff work by Stone. During the song's nearly six minutes, Stone allows himself to jam out and expresses vulnerability through song.

"Unhand Me" was chosen as the album's lead single. This is one of the three songs where Ty Wilman takes over on vocals. Passionate and melancholy, Ty's vocals take Stone's lyrics to the next level. Described by Stone as a struggle between ego and spirit, "Unhand Me" was the right choice to lure people into the record. For this track, Mike Stone takes over on drums, while Ron Weinstein plays piano.

"Every Family" is the spiritual predecessor of the song "Beyond Measure" on Stone's second album, Moonlander. Heavily rooted in blues, bordering on gospel, "Every Family" is a ballad about generational trauma and letting go, a recurring theme throughout the album:

"If you've had experience beyond your years... You've had your head up in the clouds... It's time to let go... Let the tears begin to flow..."

Closing track "Fend It Off," another Ty-led performance, is a pensive, slow-moving groove, but it's a feel-good relationship song that brings together Mike Stone on drums, Guy Davis on bass, as well as Zac Baird, Mike Dillon, and Pete Droge once more. Stone sings background vocals and plays guitar.

In some metaphysical interpretations, the bay leaf can be defined as an "herb of self-awareness and observation. Its energies encourage you to open your mind and be receptive to guidance and advice from others. Set aside your ego, learn what needs to be learned from the masters, and create your own vision from the knowledge gained."

In Bayleaf, Stone does exactly that. That's a lot to come from a small, crinkly leaf. Looking across his artistic contributions over the past few decades, Stone Gossard begins to resemble the bay leaf himself. Understated and a product of patience, he is often the ingredient that imparts a special flavor without demanding all the attention for himself. Sorry for one more metaphor...