well made = yes. future classic = no. it's just a fun, enjoyable record. maybe a little too safe in that respect.
so I really look forward to more experimentation on the next one, or possibly darker type shit.
One year later and I still don't think it's any good.
"FF, I've heard the droning about the Sawx being the baby dolls. Yeah, I get it, you guys invented baseball and suffered forever. I get it." -JearlPam0925
Haven't listened to it much after the first 8-10 listens...def at the bottom of their albums for me, way too poppy sounding and I thought Eddie's vocals were average at best. Lyrically, I think Eddie delivered in a big way, incredible lyrics! And the band is playing great, especially Matt (thought is was his best album with PJ). The tour was short, but I thought they KILLED it at several shows, especially Boston and Eddie's voice sounded the best it has since 06.
I liked Backspacer but I wasn't in awe or drooled so much over it like their past records. It just felt like an EP to me, not really a complete all around record. It was short & Mikey's guitar strength wasn't so much there. I thought those tracks Ed played on his solo '09 tour were maybe Into The Wild bonus tracks or his own solo thing. But when I heard that they were on the new record I was kinda shocked. Maybe I'm spoiled that I had already heard them (Ed's solo '09 tour) and going in with the new record wanting more new Pearl Jam tracks.
I'm finally getting tired of it after a year. It hasn't gotten much play in the last few months, but before so, pretty much every day I was throwing it on.
Usually I play Pearl Jam albums to death for the first year and then move on. I'm ready for the next one already.
I liked Backspacer but I wasn't in awe or drooled so much over it like their past records. It just felt like an EP to me, not really a complete all around record. It was short & Mikey's guitar strength wasn't so much there. I thought those tracks Ed played on his solo '09 tour were maybe Into The Wild bonus tracks or his own solo thing. But when I heard that they were on the new record I was kinda shocked. Maybe I'm spoiled that I had already heard them (Ed's solo '09 tour) and going in with the new record wanting more new Pearl Jam tracks.
I'd rather have shorter records released more frequently. Binaural and Riot Act are too long and don't feel as cohesive as Backspacer. They feel like multiple albums mixed into one. Backspacer is solid and get to the point material.
I ended up listening to only Gonna See My Friend, UK, and Johnny Guitar. I like Eddies 'solo' stuff stripped down, too, just not on the album, and I don't skip the Fixer on the boot when walking as well, gives me boost. All in all, when I read this, it seems it fares better than I thought it would. Was dissapointed when I heard it first.
A year already?! Than I had gone a good 11 months straight of listening to that album in its near entirety (minus The End due to the emotional drainage it required...not since Jeremy has a song given me goosebumps every single time I hear it) on my daily 37 minute commute to work each day! It is just soo damn compact, how can anyone not like it?!
The longest record I hold personally of listening to an album in it's entirety on a daily basis is Tool's Lateralus for 18 straight month. Fortunately, my commute at that time to school was 40 minutes one way but it required a round trip effort to complete that experience
A year later I am still listening to backspacer more than the other discs by a landslide. I have even come to enjoy speed of sound. Never thought that would happen.
im fucking sick of tired seeing the end and just breathe
speed of sound is my fave song from backspacer
hmmm... share your above stated thoughts (although maybe not quite as emphatically!!-LOL) about the end and just breathe... i really like just breathe.... but after a while it starts to sound... idk... whiny? (yeah yeah yeah...i know... YES... you said it... you need me... want me... blah blah... i get it! ) please no one get all huffy!!
i love speed of sound.... love. love. love.
and i love backspacer
supersonic is awesome. speed of sound. awesome. amongst the waves. force of nature. got some. johnny guitar... it's a really good solid album from start to finish... including just breathe and the end... just breathe was my fave for the first month... non stop playing... but I (and they) wore it out for me.... (heh... maybe i go to too many shows... nah... no such thing!!)
BUT! That said... the other day i played Avocado... and decided i like it.... over all... better than backspacer.
and that is my random, long winded and partially coherent 22 cents.
backspacer has made me like avocado more
btw- yes you do go to too many shows ya wiseass
Ron: I just don't feel like going out tonight
Sammi: Wanna just break up?
It burned out pretty quickly for me. Liked it a lot when it was released but that didn't last. There are some good songs on there but if I'm being honest overall I'm a little disappointed.
Still like the demo version of Speed of Sound better than the album version.
I love it and think it will be fondly remembered as a classic. I don't love every song, but just about. As an album, I think it's their strongest since Binaural, but Riot Act and Avocado have individual songs that I like a bit more. Said it before and I'll say it again: people will be begging to hear these songs live for the remainder of the band's career, which I hope is very very long and fruitful. Can't wait to hear what they do next -- this album was a great shot of adrenaline for them, IMO. They've never, ever been as good live as they are right now.
Los Angeles - Sep 11, 1992
Memphis - Aug 15, 2000
Chicago - May 16, 2006
Chicago - Aug 23-24, 2009
Columbus - May 6, 2010
Noblesville - May 7, 2010
Manchester - June 20-21, 2012
Amsterdam - June 26-27, 2012
Berlin - July 4-5, 2012
Just knocked the dust off Backspacer and IMO it's aging quite well. Just listened to it on my son's headphones that are at the office. As time passes I'm able to better appreciate its conciseness and focus. It's a solid blend of the boys evolving their wheelhouse while still treading new ground w/ songs like Johnny Guitar (I'm in the minority here in thinking it's one helluva song, no?) and the string arrangements for the beautiful and sobering The End. As an album, it gets a lot of flack but it's been and will continue to be interesting to see how it's perceived in the years ahead.
Anyone else gained appreciation for it over time??
Anyone else gained appreciation for it over time??
Yes, I gained an appreciation the second time I heard it. A solid disc! Still have not fully appreciated Johnny Guitar though.
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Standing in the Jersey rain… Posts: 14,431
There are songs I love on it and songs I skip. Overall I like it and go back to it often. Not putting it up there with Yield or Vs. but I don't get the hate it gets around here.
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Anyone else gained appreciation for it over time??
Yes, I gained an appreciation the second time I heard it. A solid disc! Still have not fully appreciated Johnny Guitar though.
There seems to be no middle ground for that song, ha. Either folks like it or don't and, for whatever reason, seems to be more of the latter. I like, in particular, how Ed's voice is as much a part of the rhythm section as the guide/storyteller, and wonder if it would have been more well received had it been released as a b-side or Lost Dogs-like compilation. Not to say it doesn't fit the flow of the album, it does. It's a unique song in the PJ catalog, and in some ways represents the polarity of people's opinions of the album.
Force of Nature is that song for me on Backspacer....I've tried to like it but always come back to perceiving it as flat and cheesy. The lyrics are solid, but the music and Ed's delivery make it one of the very, very few (may be the only one??) PJ songs that just don't do it for me.
Anyone else gained appreciation for it over time??
I really liked Backspacer right out of the gates, and still do. Solid PJ album for start to finish. The only miss for me is Speed Of Sound, but it's not that bad of a song either. I love The Fixer, Johnny Guitar, Amongst The Waves, Force Of Nature, Just Breath, Gonna See My Friend. Of their ten records, I'd say it's probably in the lower five, but all their records for me are separated by a pretty slim margin anyways, so it's still pretty f'n great.
This album has a handful of good songs but as a whole not complete but I will put it this way I have Amongst the Waves tattooed on my forearm so that says a lot with all the songs in their entire catalog that song resonates with me
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so I really look forward to more experimentation on the next one, or possibly darker type shit.
THANKS TO THE BOYS FOR A GREAT ALBUM
AND HAPPY BDAY BACKSPACER - THANKS TOM TOMORROW FOR HIS HUGE CONTRIBUTION!!
Best on the web - check them out
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2008 Bonnaroo - 2009 Philly 2&3 - 2010 MSG 1&2
My favorite Pearl Jam album since Yield.
I'm finally getting tired of it after a year. It hasn't gotten much play in the last few months, but before so, pretty much every day I was throwing it on.
Usually I play Pearl Jam albums to death for the first year and then move on. I'm ready for the next one already.
MSG 1 & 2 2016
Central Park 2015
Barclays 2, Seattle 2013
MSG 1 & 2 2010
Boston 1 & 2 2006
Boston 1 2004
Augusta 1996
I love the songs. I think in some ways it's their first cd with a story. At least, it seems like a story with a beginning, middle and end to me. :eh:
The longest record I hold personally of listening to an album in it's entirety on a daily basis is Tool's Lateralus for 18 straight month. Fortunately, my commute at that time to school was 40 minutes one way but it required a round trip effort to complete that experience
"Vinyl or not, you will need to pay someone to take RA of your hands" - Smile05
424, xxx
backspacer has made me like avocado more
btw- yes you do go to too many shows ya wiseass
Sammi: Wanna just break up?
Like everyone else, I have my favorites on the record, but it's a really solid album and, to me, much better than most things out there right now.
Still like the demo version of Speed of Sound better than the album version.
"...I changed by not changing at all..."
8/7/08, 6/9/09
Memphis - Aug 15, 2000
Chicago - May 16, 2006
Chicago - Aug 23-24, 2009
Columbus - May 6, 2010
Noblesville - May 7, 2010
Manchester - June 20-21, 2012
Amsterdam - June 26-27, 2012
Berlin - July 4-5, 2012
Anyone else gained appreciation for it over time??
Yes, I gained an appreciation the second time I heard it. A solid disc!
Still have not fully appreciated Johnny Guitar though.
Force of Nature is that song for me on Backspacer....I've tried to like it but always come back to perceiving it as flat and cheesy. The lyrics are solid, but the music and Ed's delivery make it one of the very, very few (may be the only one??) PJ songs that just don't do it for me.
Of their ten records, I'd say it's probably in the lower five, but all their records for me are separated by a pretty slim margin anyways, so it's still pretty f'n great.