FIXER ~ REVIEW 2
Just a little rant… let’s pretend my opinions are relevant.
I agree with some other people’s thoughts that this song is a bit poppy for Pearl Jam. I didn’t know what to make of it.
“Definitely catchy, but what does it mean?”
I tried reading too much into it and thought maybe, maybe it was about the new U.S. administration. Go back to 2002 GWB was just beginning to destroy the world, and PJ’s newer songs included “Bu$hleaguer” and “Green Disease”. If you want to read more into it, those tracks were from an album called “Riot Act”, reflecting the post-9/11 political climate at the time. Compare this to the name of the upcoming album, “Backspacer”, which expresses a desire to go back, FIX and undo GWB’s mistakes.
But then again, this is all probably wrong, and I think the real reason “The Fixer” exists is that… THIS SONG IS GOING TO SOUND SOOOO KICK ASS LIVE. Imagine this anthem being played in huge arenas, with everyone singing along, and I mean EVERYONE. I mean c’mon — it’s not too hard to remember “yeah yeah yeah”.
This song is for the flannel and Doc wearing fans that have been around since the early days. We’ve grown up with the band, experienced hardships along the way, with PJ being around as a constant that we could rely on when the waves got choppy. We’ve all graduated, ditched the flannel for more professional attire, but this song is a reminder that we’re all still here, and that it’s okay to have a little fun. Things will get better.
I agree with some other people’s thoughts that this song is a bit poppy for Pearl Jam. I didn’t know what to make of it.
“Definitely catchy, but what does it mean?”
I tried reading too much into it and thought maybe, maybe it was about the new U.S. administration. Go back to 2002 GWB was just beginning to destroy the world, and PJ’s newer songs included “Bu$hleaguer” and “Green Disease”. If you want to read more into it, those tracks were from an album called “Riot Act”, reflecting the post-9/11 political climate at the time. Compare this to the name of the upcoming album, “Backspacer”, which expresses a desire to go back, FIX and undo GWB’s mistakes.
But then again, this is all probably wrong, and I think the real reason “The Fixer” exists is that… THIS SONG IS GOING TO SOUND SOOOO KICK ASS LIVE. Imagine this anthem being played in huge arenas, with everyone singing along, and I mean EVERYONE. I mean c’mon — it’s not too hard to remember “yeah yeah yeah”.
This song is for the flannel and Doc wearing fans that have been around since the early days. We’ve grown up with the band, experienced hardships along the way, with PJ being around as a constant that we could rely on when the waves got choppy. We’ve all graduated, ditched the flannel for more professional attire, but this song is a reminder that we’re all still here, and that it’s okay to have a little fun. Things will get better.
• 1991-11-17• 1998-08-28 •2000-09-01
• 2003-07-05• 2004-10-01
• 2005-10-03• 2006-05-27
• 2008-06-19• 2009-10-27 2009-10-28 •2009-10-30
• 2009-10-31
*Tres Mts 2011-03-23
*Eddie Vedder 2011-06-25
- 2013-10-21
- 2013=10-22
-2016 -04-28
-2016 -04-29
• 2003-07-05• 2004-10-01
• 2005-10-03• 2006-05-27
• 2008-06-19• 2009-10-27 2009-10-28 •2009-10-30
• 2009-10-31
*Tres Mts 2011-03-23
*Eddie Vedder 2011-06-25
- 2013-10-21
- 2013=10-22
-2016 -04-28
-2016 -04-29
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Pearl Jam has recently put out a new offering from their upcoming album, Backspacer (to be released in September 20) called "The Fixer." It's three minutes of high volume energy... that's for sure. I heard somewhere that the song is about Obama and all the hope and promise he brought with him as our latest president. Although I haven't actually found anything to confirm this, I can see how it would make sense. The lyrics are optimistic and look towards a brighter future for you, me, the guy sitting next to you at Starbucks, [...]
• 2003-07-05• 2004-10-01
• 2005-10-03• 2006-05-27
• 2008-06-19• 2009-10-27 2009-10-28 •2009-10-30
• 2009-10-31
*Tres Mts 2011-03-23
*Eddie Vedder 2011-06-25
- 2013-10-21
- 2013=10-22
-2016 -04-28
-2016 -04-29
3-minute bliss A lot happens in first fifteen seconds. Complimenting guitars - predictably Stone and Mike, but possibly just one, multi-tracked - start off with booming toms by Matt. Joining in for the next measure is Jeff and within four seconds you’ve got an instantly recognizable millenium-era Pearl Jam single.
Like trying to cram pillows in the trunk of a car destined for a summer vacation, Ed manages to fill the tiny amount of empty musical space with his first appearance of “ye-ay-ay-ay”. Following are some “Uh-huh”s using his trademark one-octave-apart baritone/falsetto voices, similar to recent tracks like “Help Help”.
At this point, Pearl Jam is once again putting their deceptive stamp on “The Fixer” - you can easily (and briskly) tap your feet to it, but over time there are some beats and transitions that throw off your timing. This should have clued you in that Matt Cameron had something to do with this, and Mike just revealed that Matt wrote the song with the whole band arranging it. Remember, Matt is famous for the mesmerizing beats of “In The Moonlight” and “Evacuation”, whose dizzying beats often leave you reaching for the Dramamine.
When it’s time to start the verses proper, the deceivingly simple straight-time beat is actually alternating 6/4 then 4/4 time signatures. But it’s when the verse’s guitars start that the magic happens, and you are teleported VH-1 style back to the early ’80s and you scramble to see if The Police’s Andy Summers is listed with a writing credit. Is that guitar riff from “Spirits in the Material World” or “Synchronicity II”? It’s a coin flip. Assuming this riff is Stone, complimenting him is Mike’s wah-wah-ed coloring that blend the guitar and vocals equally.
Jeff’s beat is pulsing and juicy, a sound that came back in Pearl Jam but hadn’t been heard as prominently since Yield.
Ed’s unique approach to melody is evident immediately, and by the first line already declares his fixing formula of when something’s <insert problem here> that he’s got a fix for it. Our vocal handyman even hits these problems by singing a word starting on one note (”dark” and “cold”) and “fixes” the melody by cleverly sliding up to the next note.
When something’s dark, let me shed a little bit of light on it
When something’s cold, let me put a little fire on it
If something’s old, I wanna put a bit of shine on it
When something’s gone, I wanna fight to get it back again
Yeah Yeah Yeah Yeah … Fight to get it back again
From the moment we heard the “Yeah, Yeah, Yeah, Yeah” during the song’s teasers at the MLB All-Star game, the focal point of the song was realized. And the nearly anomatopoeic “Fight” in the chorus gives it that punch of shout-it-out choruses of songs past. Ed’s voice is strong and raspy as he belts out the chorus. But as we know, the recorded-Ed is a tease for the real place to hear our singer - on stage, in front of the masses.
But stop for a fuckin second! As the second verse starts, let’s not overlook what underwater magic Mr. Matt Cameron is doing here. Hear that steady beat during the verses? Yup, cowbell. No joke! And at right about the 0:20 mark, listen for that stutter-step crack right out of the verses of U2’s “I Will Follow”.
When something’s broke, I want to put a little fixing on it
When something’s old, I want to put a little shine on it
If something’s low, I wanna put a little high on it
When something’s lost, I wanna fight to get it back again
Yeah Yeah Yeah Yeah … Fight to get it back again
During each verse, the guitars add just a few more riffs here and there to make them distinguishable, again making use of all available dead air in the song. I guess that’s why they pay producers like Brendan O’Brien the big bucks. The only line in any verse that’s repeated is the “When something’s old, I want to put a little shine on it” line, and I chuckle to think that it could be dry dig at each 4-year term of Dubya.
As a segue into the bridge, we even get a half verse. Starting like the others, this one is complimented by some nice Ed harmonies.
When signals cross, I wanna put a little straight on it.
If there’s no love, I wanna try to love again.
As “love again” fades out, classic harp-like (some say Piano, I just don’t hear it) lead to a lovely bridge. Crisp distorted guitar riffs and cowbell (hehe, still makes me chuckle) yield to strummed minor chords, Matt’s classic ride cymbal and gorgeous harmonies heard recently like the second verse of “World Wide Suicide”.
I’ll say your prayers I’ll take your side
I’ll find us a way to make light
I’ll dig your grave
We’ll dance and sing
What’s saved could be
One last lifetime
Although the object of the first “your”s are unclear, the “I’ll dig your grave / we’ll dance and sing” is reminiscent of the final haunting verse of “Masters of War”, and a reminder of the last eight years.
By the 1:50 mark, we’re back to the theme of the song’s opening, and not much to report in the song’s final minute. The chorus repeats in full orchestration with (assumingly) Mike adding some up-front colorful - and highly flanged - passages. Sometimes it’s better to burn out then fade away, but “The Fixer” fades away, much to the tongue-in-cheek chagrin of fellow fans.
The lesson here is to not be fooled by this 3-minute anthem, and specifically Ed’s simple lyrics. The antonyms in the verses are all first-grade words, but they reinforce the simplicity of the necessary turnaround in mindset that the USA needed during this decade. Not all, but many - specially PJ of course - are conveying their feeling of living in the Obama-era versus the Bush-era. Listen to “The Fixer” vs. “World Wide Suicide”. Listen to “Got Some” vs. “Grievance”. Clear as day y’all, clear as day.
The immediate and obvious conclusion is that “The Fixer” = Obama. That may be, but with Pearl Jam, the obvious is really complex and the complex is mindboggling. I think back two days ago when I first heard the song and I thought - as well as some of the media reviews - that it was “a simple pop song”. Well, I now pause before committing to that, because here I am writing 1,094 words about it.
• 2003-07-05• 2004-10-01
• 2005-10-03• 2006-05-27
• 2008-06-19• 2009-10-27 2009-10-28 •2009-10-30
• 2009-10-31
*Tres Mts 2011-03-23
*Eddie Vedder 2011-06-25
- 2013-10-21
- 2013=10-22
-2016 -04-28
-2016 -04-29
• 2003-07-05• 2004-10-01
• 2005-10-03• 2006-05-27
• 2008-06-19• 2009-10-27 2009-10-28 •2009-10-30
• 2009-10-31
*Tres Mts 2011-03-23
*Eddie Vedder 2011-06-25
- 2013-10-21
- 2013=10-22
-2016 -04-28
-2016 -04-29
The first single off Pearl Jam’s new, upcoming album “Backspacer” premiered on the radio waves yesterday and it’s already received an incredible amount of exposure. If you haven’t heard it yet, the single is streamed bellow via YouTube. I for one think it’s an awesome tune! It’s catchy, fun and Eddie is in top notch form. Personally, I’ve had enough of Iraqi wars, politics and gas prices Pearl Jam whining, and The Fixer does well to shine a bit of hope. Much in the same line as another song from Backspacer, the incredibly upbeat Get Some.
The 7″ single, along with its anatomy class cover, will drop commercially through the band’s official website on August 24, 2009, accompanied by the B-side “Supersonic”, also from the new album. A digital release will also be available. The new Pearl Jam album Backspacer will be out September 20th.
• 2003-07-05• 2004-10-01
• 2005-10-03• 2006-05-27
• 2008-06-19• 2009-10-27 2009-10-28 •2009-10-30
• 2009-10-31
*Tres Mts 2011-03-23
*Eddie Vedder 2011-06-25
- 2013-10-21
- 2013=10-22
-2016 -04-28
-2016 -04-29
Last week, Pearl Jam unearthed details from its forthcoming ninth studio album, Backspacer, due out September 20th. While fans could pre-order both the album and new single “The Fixer”, they couldn’t hear it… until today. Oh, aren’t we lucky.
Streaming via the band’s Ten Club MySpace, “The Fixer” brings the Seattle heroes back to the front lines again. There’s something remarkably lo-fi, yet multi-faceted about this track, too. Low Japanese-esque piano riddles the song, thanks to Boom Gaspar, while guitarists Mike McCready and Stone Gossard scratch away. The tight rhythm section of drummer Matt Cameron and Jeff Ament can’t be ignored either. Cameron beats away like a hormonal teenager and Ament’s bubbly bass finds the appropriate groove. It’s catchy, but very lo-key, almost like their 2006 self-titled release.
Of course, we can’t forget the band’s real star: Mr. Eddie Vedder. Once again, the gruff continues and when he screams,”When something’s gone, I wanna fight to get it back again,” you can’t help but enjoy the little fire that ignites in your guts. That’s called soul, brother.
Yeah, this is all around good.
• 2003-07-05• 2004-10-01
• 2005-10-03• 2006-05-27
• 2008-06-19• 2009-10-27 2009-10-28 •2009-10-30
• 2009-10-31
*Tres Mts 2011-03-23
*Eddie Vedder 2011-06-25
- 2013-10-21
- 2013=10-22
-2016 -04-28
-2016 -04-29
Initially, I didn't know what to think of the new Pearl Jam song from their upcoming album Backspacer. Ed looked like he was competing with Russell Crowe for the slightly out-of-shape bearded Eddie Vedder look. (In the years 2000 and 2006, bearded Eddie Vedder was a bit more fit.) Mike had some strange distortion effect that make his guitar a bit like a trumpet or sax, which was kind of cool, actually. Jeff seemed to have recovered from his recent mugging in Atlanta. With the new song, Matt was given the opportunity to jazz it up with some drum soloing. Stone apparently hasn't had a haircut since I last saw him in October. The apparently entitled "Fixer" or "The Fixer" didn't hook me in at first listen, probably because I was distracted by the band itself. In any case, check out the performance:
I wanted Pearl Jam to play "Brother" (with vocals) from their Ten reissue box set, but that would mostly benefit the band's former record company, Sony/Epic, which owns the Ten master recordings. Backspacer belongs to Pearl Jam, and they have the freedom to distribute it themselves (through Ten Club LLC) and partner with whomever they choose (Target, among other Music Industry 2.0 dealings).
With that thought in mind, I then wished they had played "Santa Cruz" from their belated holiday vinyl single. Then again, it's a mellow song - maybe too mellow for a debut show. So I decided to give "Fixer" another listen - I found it again before through Google News, before Hulu can upload an official copy of the episode - and it's growing on me.
Pearl Jam 2006, with the rally-against-Bush swagger of "World Wide Suicide," grew on me instantly. Pearl Jam 2009 is slowly growing on me, on the other hand. Let me qualify that statement: New mellow stuff like "Santa Cruz" instantly connects with me these days, but raw rockers like "Fixer" might need some time and extra spins. It just might be the sign of the times - the whole cautious economic recovery of today and whatnot. Or maybe other songs - both loud and mellow- from Backspacer will change my rate of acceptance.
In any case, the band had better play SoCal sometime soon, and hopefully the fan club can give me some good tickets, like last time. Also: Where's Boom?
• 2003-07-05• 2004-10-01
• 2005-10-03• 2006-05-27
• 2008-06-19• 2009-10-27 2009-10-28 •2009-10-30
• 2009-10-31
*Tres Mts 2011-03-23
*Eddie Vedder 2011-06-25
- 2013-10-21
- 2013=10-22
-2016 -04-28
-2016 -04-29
Jesus Christ, I admire the dedication, but that's a LOT of words for a 3-minute song! No review should take longer to read than the song takes to hear!
Isn't it that chick who writes about Vedder's solo gigs on Twofeetthick? Yeah, she's a bit, how do you say, "passionate"
I love this though:
The whole world will be different soon the whole world will be RELIEVED
#resistgezi #resistturkey #resisttaksim #direnturkiye #direngezi
#standingman #duranadam
This is nuts, and for anyone to sit there and actually read the entire thing is nuts as well
put on a slow, dumb show for you
and crack you up
so you can put a blue ribbon on my brain
god I'm very, very frightening
and I'll overdo it'
• 2003-07-05• 2004-10-01
• 2005-10-03• 2006-05-27
• 2008-06-19• 2009-10-27 2009-10-28 •2009-10-30
• 2009-10-31
*Tres Mts 2011-03-23
*Eddie Vedder 2011-06-25
- 2013-10-21
- 2013=10-22
-2016 -04-28
-2016 -04-29
"..That's One Happy Fuckin Ghost.."
“..That came up on the Pillow Case...This is for the Greek, With Our Apologies.....”