BACKSPACER REVIEW - Q
Just seen the review in Q of Backspacer, it got 4/5 stars which for PJ in this particular magazine is very good, although blink and you would certinally miss it, it's a tiny piece for such a big band, probably because of printing deadlines. It got the same rating in Mojo too although I only read that at the newsagents. I think Q want to be objective as they are not big PJ fans from what I can see in all the years of reading the mag, and cancelled my subscription a few months ago - this edition is the last one I think. Anyway here it is...
Grunge’s last men standing lighten up, rock out.
Even within Seattle’s none-more-bleak grunge scene, Eddie Vedder was always considered an overly intense young man. So to hear him yelping, “I need to hear it, need to feel it loud” like a young Gene Simmons on the bar-band boogie of Supersonic on the quintet’s ninth album is something. Backspacer has its introspective moments – Just Breathe could sit on Vedder’s folksy Into The Wild soundtrack – but it’s largely characterised by joyous new wave-influenced rock’n’roll, and for the first time in their 19-year career, Pearl Jam actually sound – whisper it – fun. No, honestly. PAUL BRANNIGAN.
Suggested downloads: Got Some, Just Breathe and Amongst The Waves(also in Q’s top fifty songs to listen to this month).
Grunge’s last men standing lighten up, rock out.
Even within Seattle’s none-more-bleak grunge scene, Eddie Vedder was always considered an overly intense young man. So to hear him yelping, “I need to hear it, need to feel it loud” like a young Gene Simmons on the bar-band boogie of Supersonic on the quintet’s ninth album is something. Backspacer has its introspective moments – Just Breathe could sit on Vedder’s folksy Into The Wild soundtrack – but it’s largely characterised by joyous new wave-influenced rock’n’roll, and for the first time in their 19-year career, Pearl Jam actually sound – whisper it – fun. No, honestly. PAUL BRANNIGAN.
Suggested downloads: Got Some, Just Breathe and Amongst The Waves(also in Q’s top fifty songs to listen to this month).
Rock on!!!! Seen Pearl Jam 4 times in London, once in Manchester, as well as an Eddie show at Hammersmith.
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Seen Pearl Jam 4 times in London, once in Manchester, as well as an Eddie show at Hammersmith.
Seen Pearl Jam 4 times in London, once in Manchester, as well as an Eddie show at Hammersmith.
I disagree a little bit. The songs I've heard from backspacer are got some, supersonic and the fixer and for me they sound funnier like everything else they done before. Supersonic could be a Ramones song, that says a lot no ?
Butt-head: This guy makes faces like Eddie Vedder.
Beavis: No, Eddie Vedder makes faces like this guy.
Butt-head: I heard these guys, like, came first and Pearl Jam ripped them off.
Beavis: No, Pearl Jam came first.
Butt-head: Well, they both suck.
Thanks for the write-up.
I gave up on Q a few years ago now, when it stopped being about music, and turned into more of a celebrity gossip mag with some of the interviews and stuff.
It honestly doesn't suprise me they gave that little space to such a big release. I'm pretty sure avocado got small print space too.
Pearl Jam
Backspacer
4/5
How to use a ninth life wisely...
"Neil Young taught us dignity," said singer Eddie Vedder, discussing the veteran American rocker's influence on Pearl Jam. The group's ninth album is proof that down the years the Seattle five-piece have learnt their lessons well. While the reissue of their 1991 debut earlier this year reminded fans of their initial impact, Backspacer - wrapped in a warm Brendan O'Brien production - has more in common with REM and Tom Petty than its melodramatic grunge ancestry. The heroic tracks (opener Gonna See My Friend, Supersonic, Johnny Guitar) capture Pearl Jam in pure classic rock mode, but it's Vedder's more considered moments that win the day. Just Breathe (acoustic mysticism and pump organ reverie), Amongst The Waves (anthemic, yet lithe) and The End (a reflective final bow) make this one of Pearl Jam's most satisfying albums. Listen without prejudice.
Phil Alexander
And yes groovyf, Avacado got the same space and 2/5 stars I recall.
Keep checking Kerrang, Rolling Stone and NME for their muses, or assaults!
But so far the reviews are consistantly good so that is happy news at least.
Seen Pearl Jam 4 times in London, once in Manchester, as well as an Eddie show at Hammersmith.
I agree, I live over here in the UK and they have always been treated badly by the press over here.
Ever since Kurt slated them in NME back in 1991 they have always seemed against Pearl jam.
I have never understood the ridiculous argument that they always sound unhappy! Clearly these people dont listen or see them live!