Article: A "Mixed" Review; Hates Johnny Guitar
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EXPOSED
Pearl Jam mellows out
ADAM RICHTER The Express-Times
18 September 2009
The Express-Times (Easton, PA)
EXPRT
X8
I think of "Backspacer," the new Pearl Jam album that hits stores Sunday, as another bold experiment for the onetime grunge rockers. More on that in a second.
Pearl Jam, through a combination of talent, pluck and determination, has managed to avoid the fate of many rock superstar groups: They've stayed together and stayed interesting for two decades. Their first album, "Ten," was a seminal work in the grunge fad of the early 1990s. But Pearl Jam outlasted grunge; nothing from 1996's "No Code" onward belongs to that genre.
Pearl Jam has always been at their best when they were doing their own thing. When they tinker and push beyond their comfort zone the results can be triumphant - like the sublime "I Am Mine" from "Riot Act" - or ridiculous, like "Bushleaguer" from the same album. Even with the latter, I was glad they tried.
"Backspacer" is another exercise in trial and error for the band. I think the band's strength lies in songs that feel epic - if not in length then in sound. But this album is Pearl Jam's most compact to date. Think of it as an experiment in a more simple kind of rock 'n' roll.
As such, it's understandable that there are failures. "Johnny Guitar" just may be the worst song Eddie Vedder has ever written and Pearl Jam has ever performed. The title sounds like it should be some kind of homage to Bruce Springsteen but it's instead a clumsy rocker about a guy pining for his ex-girlfriend, who left him for the title character: "Now Johnny he be having lots of women. Oh the reason he'd be smiling known to him."
It ain't no "Worldwide Suicide," that's for sure.
Speaking of which: "Backspacer" is also a departure in its uncharacteristically sunny disposition. The first single, "The Fixer," is as optimistic as the band has ever gotten: "When something's broke I wanna put a bit of fixin' on it," Vedder sings, his gravelly baritone a voice for hope after years of deploring the state of the world.
Two slower numbers stand out in particular. Vedder's skill with acoustic songs was demonstrated on the "Into the Wild" soundtrack, and he shows it again on "Just Breathe" and "The End," songs that are sentimental without becoming maudlin.
Another highlight is "Supersonic," a fast number about looking for optimism. I like to think it's about how Seattleites felt when their NBA team, the SuperSonics, pulled up stakes for some dust-bowl burgh: "Supersonic gone and took my soul. I caught the rhythm but the clock was slow."
"Backspacer" is Pearl Jam's ninth album. While it's not their best, it is still a good album. It's nice to see that age has mellowed Vedder's outlook, but not the band's ability to rock.
Pearl Jam mellows out
ADAM RICHTER The Express-Times
18 September 2009
The Express-Times (Easton, PA)
EXPRT
X8
I think of "Backspacer," the new Pearl Jam album that hits stores Sunday, as another bold experiment for the onetime grunge rockers. More on that in a second.
Pearl Jam, through a combination of talent, pluck and determination, has managed to avoid the fate of many rock superstar groups: They've stayed together and stayed interesting for two decades. Their first album, "Ten," was a seminal work in the grunge fad of the early 1990s. But Pearl Jam outlasted grunge; nothing from 1996's "No Code" onward belongs to that genre.
Pearl Jam has always been at their best when they were doing their own thing. When they tinker and push beyond their comfort zone the results can be triumphant - like the sublime "I Am Mine" from "Riot Act" - or ridiculous, like "Bushleaguer" from the same album. Even with the latter, I was glad they tried.
"Backspacer" is another exercise in trial and error for the band. I think the band's strength lies in songs that feel epic - if not in length then in sound. But this album is Pearl Jam's most compact to date. Think of it as an experiment in a more simple kind of rock 'n' roll.
As such, it's understandable that there are failures. "Johnny Guitar" just may be the worst song Eddie Vedder has ever written and Pearl Jam has ever performed. The title sounds like it should be some kind of homage to Bruce Springsteen but it's instead a clumsy rocker about a guy pining for his ex-girlfriend, who left him for the title character: "Now Johnny he be having lots of women. Oh the reason he'd be smiling known to him."
It ain't no "Worldwide Suicide," that's for sure.
Speaking of which: "Backspacer" is also a departure in its uncharacteristically sunny disposition. The first single, "The Fixer," is as optimistic as the band has ever gotten: "When something's broke I wanna put a bit of fixin' on it," Vedder sings, his gravelly baritone a voice for hope after years of deploring the state of the world.
Two slower numbers stand out in particular. Vedder's skill with acoustic songs was demonstrated on the "Into the Wild" soundtrack, and he shows it again on "Just Breathe" and "The End," songs that are sentimental without becoming maudlin.
Another highlight is "Supersonic," a fast number about looking for optimism. I like to think it's about how Seattleites felt when their NBA team, the SuperSonics, pulled up stakes for some dust-bowl burgh: "Supersonic gone and took my soul. I caught the rhythm but the clock was slow."
"Backspacer" is Pearl Jam's ninth album. While it's not their best, it is still a good album. It's nice to see that age has mellowed Vedder's outlook, but not the band's ability to rock.
Up here so high I start to shake, Up here so high the sky I scrape, I've no fear but for falling down, So look out below I am falling now, Falling down,...not staying down, Could’ve held me up, rather tear me down, Drown in the river
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Comments
nah only 80%. afterall, he did say supersonic was a highlight and that i am mine was sublime.
i woulda though that a journalist who likes pearl jam would be considered as having good musical taste on this board.
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Why does every song have to have "meaning"? This is the problem with a lot of PJ fans. Lighten up and have fun, it's rock and roll. I'm glad PJ has come to terms with that on their last couple of albums.
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In what world does "ridiculous" = "a thumbs up?"
for the least they could possibly do
I like Johnny Guitar ,but am already bored of it. It needs an awesome hook for it to be a meaningful meaningless song.
Ha!
Both are fine songs, but neither is as good as people are makin them out to be. Johnny Guitar has a great arrangement.
For the record, I don't think there is a bad song on the album.
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for the least they could possibly do
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I pretty much agree with all of this. Except Supersonic would be my second-least favorite song. I do like the Soundgarden-esque breakdown at the end, though.
for the least they could possibly do