Guardian Backspacer Review
Better Dan
Posts: 5,684
4 out of 5 stars
Pearl Jam were so traumatised by the effect of selling millions of copies of their grunge era debut, Ten, that they spent subsequent years making increasingly wilful albums. But distance is allowing them to chase after what they lost, and when Eddie Vedder yells of a "fight to get it back again" on The Fixer, he is surely referring to the band rediscovering their mojo. Certainly, the Seattle quartet have rarely sounded this energised. The opening salvo of songs - especially the terrific Got Some - nod to the Ramones and the Velvet Underground with the vigour of a debut. But elsewhere, this is a record made by mature men with perspective: full of reflection and eclecticism, finding space for both U2 guitar motifs and Buzzcocks solos. Vedder has acquired a rich, worldly croon, which he brings to most dazzling effect on the lovely, unexpectedly pastoral Just Breathe. Backspacer is full of such curveballs: the ninth Pearl Jam album may even be the best of the lot.
Pearl Jam were so traumatised by the effect of selling millions of copies of their grunge era debut, Ten, that they spent subsequent years making increasingly wilful albums. But distance is allowing them to chase after what they lost, and when Eddie Vedder yells of a "fight to get it back again" on The Fixer, he is surely referring to the band rediscovering their mojo. Certainly, the Seattle quartet have rarely sounded this energised. The opening salvo of songs - especially the terrific Got Some - nod to the Ramones and the Velvet Underground with the vigour of a debut. But elsewhere, this is a record made by mature men with perspective: full of reflection and eclecticism, finding space for both U2 guitar motifs and Buzzcocks solos. Vedder has acquired a rich, worldly croon, which he brings to most dazzling effect on the lovely, unexpectedly pastoral Just Breathe. Backspacer is full of such curveballs: the ninth Pearl Jam album may even be the best of the lot.
2003: San Antonio, Houston, Dallas, Seattle; 2005: Monterrey; 2006: Chicago 1 & 2, Grand Rapids, Cleveland, Detroit; 2008: West Palm Beach, Tampa; 2009: Austin, LA 3 & 4, San Diego; 2010: Kansas City, St. Louis, Columbus, Indianapolis; 2011: PJ20 1 & 2; 2012: Missoula; 2013: Dallas, Oklahoma City, Seattle; 2014: Tulsa; 2016: Columbia, New York City 1 & 2; 2018: London, Seattle 1 & 2; 2021: Ohana; 2022: Oklahoma City
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2012 - Manchester i & ii, Berlin i & ii, Stockholm. 2014 - Amsterdam i & ii, Trieste, Vienna, Berlin, Leeds, Milton Keynes.
2016 - Boston Fenway i & ii, 2018 - Amsterdam i & ii, Pinkpop, London i & ii, Padova, Krakow, Barcelona, Seattle i & ii.
because
ten
vs
no code
are all 5 stars
then vitalogy must be 6 stars.
opinions, opinions
Were the above all rated 5 stars in the Guardian? Boy you have a great memory.
Yep great to see the UK press all giving very good reviews on the new one.