After ten years, Pearl Jam is still standing.

Considering the fate of most of its former peers, such as Soundgarden and Alice In Chains -- not to mention the pending demise of the Smashing Pumpkins -- the Jammers have emerged as one of the few bands to have survived and outlasted the early-'90s alternative explosion.

With "Binaural," Pearl Jam's sixth studio record, the group demonstrates that not only are they survivors, they continue to produce some of the most potent and compelling music of the group's career, as indicated by such LP tracks as the rambunctious rocker "God's Dice" or the eerily enchanting "Of The Girl."

Shortly before the release of the new album, MTV News' John Norris sat down with bassist Jeff Ament and guitarist Stone Gossard and discussed the fate of some of the band member's side projects, the dark and foreboding sound of "Binaural," and the surprise success of the 1999 "Last Kiss" benefit single.

John Norris: After releasing "Yield" and "Live On Two Legs" and touring in 1998, the band spent a fair amount of time working in your other projects. Did absence make the heart grow fonder?

Jeff Ament: Yeah. As soon as I was done with my side project last year, I couldn't wait to get back into Pearl Jam. Man, I'm over being the manager and kind of being the guy that's doing it all. I can't wait to be just the bass player.

Stone Gossard: That's one thing about a side project: it will definitely make you remember your band. It's like, "Oh, yeah. They're not that big of an a**hole." I wasn't staying at the Four Seasons [Hotel] when I was on the road with Brad.

MTV: Jeff, how are the guys from Three Fish? Are they fine knowing that most of this year you're gonna be dedicated to Pearl Jam?

Ament: Yeah, sure. Well, actually I haven't even talked to those guys since last summer, so...

MTV: It's safe to say that nothing you guys have done on the side has ever threatened the future of Pearl Jam.

Gossard: At different times, I think all of us have been ready to quit Pearl Jam, but I think over the last couple of years, it's been very stable and there's a lot more maturity. I think at the times that we were starting to do our side projects, they were direct outlets because of our frustrations [within the band]. I think any time you are in a relationship for ten years, there's going to be a time when you're going to go, "God, I don't need this," or, "This is something I want to try out," or, "I want to move to India."