Pearl Jam New Album 2013: Guitarist Mike McCready Says New Music ‘Way Better’ Than 2009’s ‘Backspacer,’ Targets Late 2013 Release Date?

Pearl Jam is in the latter stages of recording its next yet-to-be-titled album and guitarist Mike McCready says the new album will be "way better" than the band's last album, Backspacer, which it released in 2009.

McCready told "The Bob and Groz Show" on KIRO Radio in Seattle in early May that the he has high expectations for the new album. He revealed that the band is in the mixing stage of the new record and that the five members are overdubbing the tracks.

The hosts asked him about a release date for the new album but McCready was tight-lipped.

"I've been told by the powers that be I can't say anything yet because we are just mixing it right now," McCready said. "(The powers that be) are basically the five of us and our manager. We sit down and talk about...honestly, we don't have a date for it yet."

But the Pearl Jam guitarist did offer his positive thoughts on what the band has done thus far with the new album.

"(Just) know that it's going to be way better than Backspacer, I think," McCready said. "It's just different. It's going to be great. I'm very happy about it and we're not done with it yet. I'm not sure when it's out, but it should be out someday."

Loudwire.com reports that Pearl Jam has aimed for a late 2013 to early 2014 release for the new album.

McCready's full interview is available here. The Pearl Jam guitarist talks about performing the national anthem and the reissue of Mad Season's album Above.