Mirror Ball, an ill-conceived collaboration teaming Neil Young with grunge stars Pearl Jam, was timed to capitalize on Neil’s sudden popularity among the burgeoning alternative nation, who identified with the Godfather of Grunge’s occasionally disaffected worldview and fondness for plaid shirts. Neil has performed with many backing bands — some great, some less so — but Pearl Jam may go down as the worst. Rather than push the momentum or try to tease at wresting control from their leader, as Crazy Horse is wont to do, the members of Pearl Jam seem to take their auxiliary role a little too seriously; the younger band sounds frequently exerted following their hero through these half-written tunes. That is, except for drummer Jack Irons, who overcompensates, keeping time as if he’s sitting in with the Talking Heads. Mirror Ball isn’t all bad: dirge-like opener “Song X” provides enough minor key ill-ease to hint at what might have been had Neil teamed up with a band that better defined the era like, say, Unwound, while “I’m The Ocean” imagines Dead Moon draped in mohair. Worth a purchase if discovered in the used bin, where it can always be found.