 Pearl Jam ( sometimes referred to as The Avocado Album ) is the eponymous eighth studio album by American alternative rock band Pearl Jam , released on May 2 , 2006 on J Records . It was the first and only release for J Records , their last album issued by Sony Music . It was the band 's first full @-@ length studio release in almost four years , since Riot Act ( 2002 ) . Following their performances at the Vote For Change tour in 2004 , the band commenced work on Pearl Jam in November 2004 at Studio X in Seattle , Washington and finished in February 2006 . 
