A bit of a rant...Out of love...Not to be a hater.

CG49089

I love PJ as much as the next rediculously over-obsessed fan, but I've had a bit of a hard time adjusting to the latest two Backspacer Singles... (The Fixer and Speed of Sound) though I think Got Some has some balls. The Fixer has grown on me, but when I first heard it on youtube, I was deeply dissapointed... I liked the message, but the song as a vehicle overall... just seemed liked the greatest movement to date away from the PJ I've grown to love.

I was on youtube and came across this original take of the song Brother... and it just highlighted and underscored what I am talking about... Check out this link below and then listen to the Fixer... it's almost like how could both of those songs come from the same band...and since Brother and The Fixer are the two songs most recently released to radio... the comparison seems all the more appropriate.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CdftShpDKCo

Obviously, I realize that almost twenty years separates the two recordings... but again, listen to the youtube link below and then listen to the fixer and tell me that something integral to Pearl Jam isn't missing.

This original take of Brother is just dripping with ass-kicking aggression and attitude that typifies Pearl Jam... whereas The Fixer, well, just seems like a shell of the same band.

I can appreciate the good stuff in new stuff like the Fixer, and I'll be spinning it repeatedly so that I can do so, but I'd rather not have to work so hard to do so... I don't necessarilly want to say that the Ten era is what I'm referring to since I think everything as late as Yield is brilliant and some moments of brilliance even later exist, but I hope PJ can somehow recapture that swagger and aggression that we all love.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CdftShpDKCo

CG49089

haha,

or maybe I'm just overreacting a bit... long live PJ!!!!

LikeAnOcean

The Fixer is much better than Brother.

soulsinging

CG49089 wrote:

I love PJ as much as the next rediculously over-obsessed fan, but I've had a bit of a hard time adjusting to the latest two Backspacer Singles... (The Fixer and Speed of Sound) though I think Got Some has some balls. The Fixer has grown on me, but when I first heard it on youtube, I was deeply dissapointed... I liked the message, but the song as a vehicle overall... just seemed liked the greatest movement to date away from the PJ I've grown to love.

I was on youtube and came across this original take of the song Brother... and it just highlighted and underscored what I am talking about... Check out this link below and then listen to the Fixer... it's almost like how could both of those songs come from the same band...and since Brother and The Fixer are the two songs most recently released to radio... the comparison seems all the more appropriate.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CdftShpDKCo

Obviously, I realize that almost twenty years separates the two recordings... but again, listen to the youtube link below and then listen to the fixer and tell me that something integral to Pearl Jam isn't missing.

This original take of Brother is just dripping with ass-kicking aggression and attitude that typifies Pearl Jam... whereas The Fixer, well, just seems like a shell of the same band.

I can appreciate the good stuff in new stuff like the Fixer, and I'll be spinning it repeatedly so that I can do so, but I'd rather not have to work so hard to do so... I don't necessarilly want to say that the Ten era is what I'm referring to since I think everything as late as Yield is brilliant and some moments of brilliance even later exist, but I hope PJ can somehow recapture that swagger and aggression that we all love.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CdftShpDKCo

Sounds the same thing everyone said about 'Who You Are' when it came out... a lot of those people left the fold.

I hate Got Some. It sucks so bad. I love the Fixer, it's the most fun they've had on a song in years. Oddly, I do kinda miss the drama and swagger and tension of their earlier music. But those days are done and if we're left with what we've got, I'll take a fun song like the Fixer over crap thrash numbers like Comatose, Big Wave, and Got Some any day.

flyinwhole313

I can understand not liking The Fixer. What I never understood or will never understand is how SO MANY people say "Yeah but, TEN was their best album"...Pearl Jam has been an ever-evolving band...like the time that TEN was released, Pearl Jam was a different band, in a different era. And for me, I think a reason they are still as dear to me today as they were in 1992 is that they are evolving as musicians, and as people. Do you still think, behave or even dress the same as you did in 92? I hope not. Things change and people change, and I do not think that PEARL JAM has "sold-out", "gotten soft" or any of the other suggestions people have made...They are just very diverse, have MANY different influences, and are great at meshing those influences into their own music. Sure, I think that "The Fixer" is a poppier song than maybe we expected after seeing "Got Some" on Conan, but I LOVE the song, as do MANY others, and it is not forced. Speed of Sound...is nothing short of amazing....All I am suggesting is that you just take a minute to look at the body of work we have received from our favorite band, and look at the times...It is amazing how Pearl Jam's albums can tell a tale in themselves...about what was going on in their lives, in our lives, and at times, what is going on in the world in different times with different albums. Pearl Jam in one word is relevant. I think that Backspacer has all of the makings to be yet another great Pearl Jam album.

Vedder_Girl77

I think it would be boring if all of Pearl Jam's albums sounded exactly like Ten. I like how they have evolved over the years.

Niko80

flyinwhole313 wrote:

I can understand not liking The Fixer. What I never understood or will never understand is how SO MANY people say "Yeah but, TEN was their best album"...Pearl Jam has been an ever-evolving band...like the time that TEN was released, Pearl Jam was a different band, in a different era. And for me, I think the reason they are still as dear to me today as they were in 1992 is that they are evolving as musicians, and as people. Do you still think, behave or even dress the same as you did in 92? I hope not. Things change and people change, and I do not think that PEARL JAM has "sold-out", "gotten soft" or any of the other suggestions people have made...They are just very diverse, have MANY different influences, and are great at meshing those influences into their own music. Sure, I think that "The Fixer" is a poppier song than maybe we expected after seeing "Got Some" on Conan, but I LOVE the song, as do MANY others, and it is not forced. Speed of Sound...is nothing short of amazing....All I am suggesting is that you just take a minute to look at the body of work we have received from our favorite band, and look at the times...It is amazing how Pearl Jam's albums can tell a tale in themselves...about what was going on in their lives, in our lives, and at times, what is going on in the world in different times with different albums. Pearl Jam in one word is relevant. I think that Backspacer has all of the makings to be yet another great Pearl Jam album.

Im all for diversity, but they have always managed to be diverse and still have a unique sound and quality to their work. In other words, they have always been able to sound a bit different than everyone else. In the fixer, I cannot find this pj ingredient and they end up sounding like everyone else.
Its a fun song, but unfortunately it gives me very little and I am finding myself more and more grateful of their back catalgue.

Might sound like I have given up backspacer but I havent. Still looking forward to attack the album with all my nails. Things may change still for me..

cincybearcat

soulsinging wrote:

Sounds the same thing everyone said about 'Who You Are' when it came out... a lot of those people left the fold.

I hate Got Some. It sucks so bad. I love the Fixer, it's the most fun they've had on a song in years. Oddly, I do kinda miss the drama and swagger and tension of their earlier music. But those days are done and if we're left with what we've got, I'll take a fun song like the Fixer over crap thrash numbers like Comatose, Big Wave, and Got Some any day.

Hahaha...maybe it's a great thing that there is such diversity in the songs...

I'd take Comatose, Got Some over the Fixer every day of the week and twice on Sunday. Big Wave...hmmm...probably take the Fixer over that 4-5 days out of 7.

pandora

I don't really get why fans want them to "go back" be like ten
really how can any of us? Thats like me saying i need to think and act like i did when I was 33 years old
we are what we are experiencing day in and day out
enjoy and embrace the changes of our favorite band
its what we have and its awesome

Indifference71

Vedder_Girl77 wrote:

I think it would be boring if all of Pearl Jam's albums sounded exactly like Ten. I like how they have evolved over the years.

+1.

PatrickBateman

yesterday, a friend whom I haven't seen in a few weeks said to me " I know your a big PJ fan, but WTF is up with "the Fixer song" on the radio.....it's horrible"

He is a casual fan that loved 10, VS, Vitalogy, then thought they disappeared. To me, the fixer is a fun upbeat song...but think if it was another band wouldn't like it so much.

dreamweaver

The Fixer fuckin rocks socks, Brother is a shitty b-side (j/k.... kinda)

LikeAnOpeningBandForTheSun

the problem is everything IN STUDIO is so polished since Binaural, including the Fixer, and it doesnt even sound like they do live recordings anymore. sounds like they just hand everything over to the producer (which in this case i guess is Ed and his pro-tools.) and it comes out without any rawness or edge at all.

Of course, this song will be fun live, once all the garbage is stripped out of it and it sounds like a real rock band is playing it, but there was a time when their studio output could at least approximate the raw energy of their live shows.

look at anything from Vitalogy through Yield, and there is a fire on their albums. it sounds like 5 guys JAMMING THE FUCK OUT in their garage. now it seems they reserve their fire for live shows.

Im still thinking the Fixer is going to be an anomoly on Backspacer though, judging from the other stuff i heard.

flyinwhole313

MrSmith wrote:

the problem is everything is so polished since Binaural, including the Fixer, and it doesnt even sound like they do live recordings anymore. sounds like they just hand everything over to the producer (which in this case i guess is Ed and his pro-tools.) and it comes out without any rawness or edge at all.

Of course, this song will be fun live, once all the garbage is stripped out of it and it sounds like a real rock band is playing it, but there was a time when their studio output could at least approximate the raw energy of their live shows.

VERY interesting. Spoken like a person I would like to have a beer and conversation with...but how about this thought...Daughter was not even in my 5 favorites off of Vs. yet it was such a hit single that many people identify Pearl Jam with Daughter. RVM is more of a "hard core fan" type song...Better Man was not a favorite of mine either, yet it was such a hit single that those same people identify Pearl Jam with Better Man. Give me Satan's Bed...Need I go on? Do you see where I am getting here??? The singles are intended to be radio friendly, people...STOP WORRYING!!!

Get_Right

they are older and probably happier
but I will withhold judgment on the new stuff until I hear it live
plus it always takes time for new PJ to settle into my head
im not loving the fixer, but Im digging got some and speed of sound (although it makes me think of coldplay-not cool)
As with the last two records, Im sure there will be songs I love and songs I dont-but I hear what the OP is saying-they havent made a record I love from start to finish since Binaural

we shall see

decides2dream

CG49089 wrote:

haha,

or maybe I'm just overreacting a bit... long live PJ!!!!

thereya go!



hey, i hear ya....but there's no going back, for any of us. we all grow older, we change, and while our core beliefs may well still fuel our fire.....we still will change. pearl jam has been at making music for close to 20 years, and a LOT has happened in the world, in our lives, in their lives...since then. none of us get to be 20 again, and i am truly happy that at 40+...with wives or GFs....with children.....they still are out there making music.

flyinwhole313

Get_Right wrote:

they havent made a record I love from start to finish since Binaural

Since Binaural!!!!!!!????? :shock:

LikeAnOpeningBandForTheSun

flyinwhole313 wrote:

MrSmith wrote:

the problem is everything is so polished since Binaural, including the Fixer, and it doesnt even sound like they do live recordings anymore. sounds like they just hand everything over to the producer (which in this case i guess is Ed and his pro-tools.) and it comes out without any rawness or edge at all.

Of course, this song will be fun live, once all the garbage is stripped out of it and it sounds like a real rock band is playing it, but there was a time when their studio output could at least approximate the raw energy of their live shows.

VERY interesting. Spoken like a person I would like to have a beer and conversation with...but how about this thought...Daughter was not even in my 5 favorites off of Vs. yet it was such a hit single that many people identify Pearl Jam with Daughter. RVM is more of a "hard core fan" type song...Better Man was not a favorite of mine either, yet it was such a hit single that those same people identify Pearl Jam with Better Man. Give me Satan's Bed...Need I go on? Do you see where I am getting here??? The singles are intended to be radio friendly, people...STOP WORRYING!!!

thats true. i think what worried me is that The Fixer is a fast song, unlike Betterman, Daughter, etc. I was like "wait, if this is fast, hard PJ, than what the hell does the rest of the album sound like?" but yeah, its probably just like all their other recent singles in that it won't sound anything like the rest of the album.

norm

Get_Right wrote:

they are older and probably happier
but I will withhold judgment on the new stuff until I hear it live
plus it always takes time for new PJ to settle into my head

plus for me i reserve judgment until i've heard the album...hearing the fixer out of context of the album it does sound odd for this band...to hear it as part of backspacer will be the telling point imo

mfc2006

norm wrote:

Get_Right wrote:

they are older and probably happier
but I will withhold judgment on the new stuff until I hear it live
plus it always takes time for new PJ to settle into my head

plus for me i reserve judgment until i've heard the album...hearing the fixer out of context of the album it does sound odd for this band...to hear it as part of backspacer will be the telling point imo

good point. time will tell. in my opinion, i still like it a lot more than WWS.

decides2dream

flyinwhole313 wrote:

Get_Right wrote:

they havent made a record I love from start to finish since Binaural

Since Binaural!!!!!!!????? :shock:

me, i'd say since yield.
and hell, to be honest...just about every record has a meh song or 2 on it....but a lot of the older albums were just soooooo brilliant that i give a pass on heyfoxymommathat'sme or red dot, etc. :P i truly LIKE every one of their albums, some i really LOVE....and i absolutely ADORE a ridiculous amount of their songs. and so it goes. they make far and away sooooo MUCH great music, that it's all good.

decides2dream

norm wrote:

Get_Right wrote:

they are older and probably happier
but I will withhold judgment on the new stuff until I hear it live
plus it always takes time for new PJ to settle into my head

plus for me i reserve judgment until i've heard the album...hearing the fixer out of context of the album it does sound odd for this band...to hear it as part of backspacer will be the telling point imo

and this is why some of us await the album for first listen.

norm

decides2dream wrote:

norm wrote:

Get_Right wrote:

they are older and probably happier
but I will withhold judgment on the new stuff until I hear it live
plus it always takes time for new PJ to settle into my head

plus for me i reserve judgment until i've heard the album...hearing the fixer out of context of the album it does sound odd for this band...to hear it as part of backspacer will be the telling point imo

and this is why some of us await the album for first listen.

well i've listened to everything of backspacer that's out there and it won't spoil it for me...the real test will be when i spin the vinyl

LikeAnOcean

MrSmith wrote:

the problem is everything IN STUDIO is so polished since Binaural, including the Fixer, and it doesnt even sound like they do live recordings anymore. sounds like they just hand everything over to the producer (which in this case i guess is Ed and his pro-tools.) and it comes out without any rawness or edge at all.

Of course, this song will be fun live, once all the garbage is stripped out of it and it sounds like a real rock band is playing it, but there was a time when their studio output could at least approximate the raw energy of their live shows.

look at anything from Vitalogy through Yield, and there is a fire on their albums. it sounds like 5 guys JAMMING THE FUCK OUT in their garage. now it seems they reserve their fire for live shows.

Im still thinking the Fixer is going to be an anomoly on Backspacer though, judging from the other stuff i heard.

I prefer the studio stuff polished. If we want raw there's hundreds of boots to choose from.

Get_Right

flyinwhole313 wrote:

Get_Right wrote:

they havent made a record I love from start to finish since Binaural

Since Binaural!!!!!!!????? :shock:

well yes I dont like all of riot act or the last record-I skip songs on both records

time will tell

decides2dream

norm wrote:

decides2dream wrote:

norm wrote:

plus for me i reserve judgment until i've heard the album...hearing the fixer out of context of the album it does sound odd for this band...to hear it as part of backspacer will be the telling point imo

and this is why some of us await the album for first listen.

well i've listened to everything of backspacer that's out there and it won't spoil it for me...the real test will be when i spin the vinyl

of course you have ....and of course it won't......all in good fun my dear!
we've had this convo many a time now....

btw - let's all go to australia, you mbrace your 'inner koala' at home....comeon and embrace an outer one!

josevolution

Talk about redundant i mean how many ways can we fillet a fish yes the band will have new sounding music from here till it ends .....what do people expect from this band the same all the time ....it's refreshing to my ears at least :oops: ....and do people really cares when someone you know say's that song the fixer sucks i for one don't care who likes the music at all i've never listend to PJ music based on the opinions of others .....they for the most part just don't get this band at all .........

flyinwhole313

josevolution wrote:

Talk about redundant i mean how many ways can we fillet a fish yes the band will have new sounding music from here till it ends .....what do people expect from this band the same all the time ....it's refreshing to my ears at least :oops: ....and do people really cares when someone you know say's that song the fixer sucks i for one don't care who likes the music at all i've never listend to PJ music based on the opinions of others .....they for the most part just don't get this band at all .........

You da man!

LikeAnOpeningBandForTheSun

josevolution wrote:

Talk about redundant i mean how many ways can we fillet a fish yes the band will have new sounding music from here till it ends .....what do people expect from this band the same all the time ....it's refreshing to my ears at least :oops: ....and do people really cares when someone you know say's that song the fixer sucks i for one don't care who likes the music at all i've never listend to PJ music based on the opinions of others .....they for the most part just don't get this band at all .........

this is not what anyone is saying. the only thing redundant is the "why do people just want more of the same" response. something is missing from the last few studio albums.

Its as if you think Ten through Yield were somehow 'the same' when they clearly weren't. In fact, i'd say those 5 albums were much more varied than Binaural through Avocado.

Gary Carter

josevolution wrote:

Talk about redundant i mean how many ways can we fillet a fish yes the band will have new sounding music from here till it ends .....what do people expect from this band the same all the time ....it's refreshing to my ears at least :oops: ....and do people really cares when someone you know say's that song the fixer sucks i for one don't care who likes the music at all i've never listend to PJ music based on the opinions of others .....they for the most part just don't get this band at all .........

Agreed

U R A Crazy Breed

anyone who thinks fixer kicks Brothers ass needs to stop snorting COMET CLEANSER!!!!

and yeah..BINAURAL is a fucking brilliant album....some already know this, others may need a few more years to catch on.