Riot Act > Backspacer

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  • I got in trouble.
  • I got in trouble.

    What'd you do?
    everybody wants the most they can possibly get
    for the least they could possibly do
  • I got in trouble.

    What'd you do?

    Just kidding around. Read back a page or two.
  • The ChampThe Champ Posts: 4,063
    I got in trouble.

    What'd you do?

    Here, this may help fix your golf hook:
    00083562.jpg
    'I want to hurry home to you
    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'
  • Riot Act was OKAY but it was clearly their worst.

    Well I clearly disagree.

    Thumbing My Way's in my top 10, it's such a beautiful song. Nothing on Backspacer holds a candle with it.

    I think Thumbing My Way is one of the most beautiful songs they have written, but I think Just Breathe is right up there. I'm not saying you're wrong in your opinion of Thumbing My Way, but I personally feel that there is definitely one, if not two, songs on Backspacer that rival Thumbing My Way in terms of beauty and emotional impact. My opinion though, it's clear we don't see eye to eye on Backspacer, but that works.

    I am with all who say Thumbing My Way is among the most beautiful songs they have recorded. In fact, it's been pretty much my favorite PJ song since the day I first heard it (I realize this is not a popular sentiment, but it is what it is.). The problem, for me, is that there isn't a single song on Riot Act that even comes close to it, although there are some others that I like, of course.

    Backspacer, on the other hand, honestly has at least 3 songs that I could see overtaking Thumbing My Way in my estimation, not just in the beauty departent, but in downright goodness. I am not saying any of them are there yet -- I have to live with this record for a while -- But the fact that there's even more than *one* song on this album that I deem possibly worthy of unseating a favorite indicates it's pretty special.

    Frankly, I say more power to those who prefer Riot Act to Backspacer. I don't think I do, but what makes us all fans is that we agree about Pearl Jam, but about individual albums.
  • yosiyosi NYC Posts: 3,074
    edited September 2009
    Obviously. Riot Act is their best album. Not kidding.
    Post edited by yosi on
    you couldn't swing if you were hangin' from a palm tree in a hurricane

  • Why does almost every thread connected to the new album start...

    "There I said it...'

    ?
    we're all going to the same place...
  • So I'm a diehard PJ fan, have nearly 100 PJ cds, all the dvds, yada, yada. ... And I rarely listen to Binaural. THere are just 4 songs on it I like. It is my least favorite album.

    Just saying (as opposed to, there, I said it. :lol: ).

    Also, I can't stop thinking it when I listen to Unthought Known: I wish the band would include Vedder's Bad Radio beauty "Believe You Me" on a future project. He did it with Better Man. Do it with Believe You Me. Please!
    __________________
    1998: East Troy2; East Lansing
    2000: Noblesville; Auburn Hills; Chicago
    2003: East Troy; Clarkston1
    2004: Toledo; Grand Rapids
    2006: Grand Rapids; Auburn Hills
    2009: Chicago
    2010: Columbus
    2011: East Troy (PJ20), both
    2013: Wrigley Field
    2014: Detroit
  • So I'm a diehard PJ fan, have nearly 100 PJ cds, all the dvds, yada, yada. ... And I rarely listen to Binaural. THere are just 4 songs on it I like. It is my least favorite album.

    Just saying (as opposed to, there, I said it. :lol: ).

    Also, I can't stop thinking it when I listen to Unthought Known: I wish the band would include Vedder's Bad Radio beauty "Believe You Me" on a future project. He did it with Better Man. Do it with Believe You Me. Please!

    I love Believe You Me, but I think the song may be too similar to Better Man for Pearl Jam to consider releasing it. Not to mention that the lyrics are not exactly on par with the stuff they've turned out for most of their career.

    Would be cool to hear it live sometime, but not on an album.
  • It's not 'too similar' to Better Man. Not lyrically, not musically.
    __________________
    1998: East Troy2; East Lansing
    2000: Noblesville; Auburn Hills; Chicago
    2003: East Troy; Clarkston1
    2004: Toledo; Grand Rapids
    2006: Grand Rapids; Auburn Hills
    2009: Chicago
    2010: Columbus
    2011: East Troy (PJ20), both
    2013: Wrigley Field
    2014: Detroit
  • It's not 'too similar' to Better Man. Not lyrically, not musically.


    Okay. Well, I think it just might be. not lyrically, but musically it is very reminiscent.
  • yosiyosi NYC Posts: 3,074
    Riot Act is a one of a kind masterpiece.

    Backspacer is a "filler album", it's a throw away album with some nice pop/punkrockers and a great Just breathe.

    Would like to write more but at work. Boss will kill me.

    But actually listened to Backspacer and directly after that put on Riot Act a few days ago. It is a giant difference in quality to me. Riot act is honest, bold, has a lot of nice unique songs and Eddie sings in a thoughtful and mature way. To me that is how PJ should sound when they are 40+ years old. It's like every word that leaves his mouth he thinks about.

    Backspacer has some fun songs on it, Got Some and The Fixer was great to hear live but it still "nothing special". Easy to listen to, but doesn't stay with me. I respect what PJ is doing this album and with Avocado (which I'm not a super fan of either), but I wish that Rioc Act would have sold more so they would have understood that is the way to go.

    You can't beat the atmosphere on that record.

    Exactly. I totally agree with this post. I think the music on Riot Act is incredible. The lyrics are, in my opinion, probably the most thoughtful, and to be perfectly honest, I LOVE how Ed sounds on that album. I know many people say "it sounds like he just phoned it in" on that album, but I actually think that the album works better without all the screaming (not that I don't love when Ed screams). To me it sounds intentional, like he could get more emotion, more meaning out of just singing; I can really feel the pain and honesty in his voice on that album as much, if not more, than any other album they've done.

    Its not that I don't appreciate what the guys are trying to do on Avocado or BS, but I just don't think that the intelligence, honesty and beauty that they captured Riot Act has even remotely been replicated on either of the proceeding albums.
    you couldn't swing if you were hangin' from a palm tree in a hurricane

  • dpmaydpmay Posts: 643
    yosi wrote:
    Riot Act is a one of a kind masterpiece.

    Backspacer is a "filler album", it's a throw away album with some nice pop/punkrockers and a great Just breathe.

    Would like to write more but at work. Boss will kill me.

    But actually listened to Backspacer and directly after that put on Riot Act a few days ago. It is a giant difference in quality to me. Riot act is honest, bold, has a lot of nice unique songs and Eddie sings in a thoughtful and mature way. To me that is how PJ should sound when they are 40+ years old. It's like every word that leaves his mouth he thinks about.

    Backspacer has some fun songs on it, Got Some and The Fixer was great to hear live but it still "nothing special". Easy to listen to, but doesn't stay with me. I respect what PJ is doing this album and with Avocado (which I'm not a super fan of either), but I wish that Rioc Act would have sold more so they would have understood that is the way to go.

    You can't beat the atmosphere on that record.

    Exactly. I totally agree with this post. I think the music on Riot Act is incredible. The lyrics are, in my opinion, probably the most thoughtful, and to be perfectly honest, I LOVE how Ed sounds on that album. I know many people say "it sounds like he just phoned it in" on that album, but I actually think that the album works better without all the screaming (not that I don't love when Ed screams). To me it sounds intentional, like he could get more emotion, more meaning out of just singing; I can really feel the pain and honesty in his voice on that album as much, if not more, than any other album they've done.

    Its not that I don't appreciate what the guys are trying to do on Avocado or BS, but I just don't think that the intelligence, honesty and beauty that they captured Riot Act has even remotely been replicated on either of the proceeding albums.

    what these guys said.
  • yosiyosi NYC Posts: 3,074
    The Champ wrote:

    I know it's cool to like the unpopular album, but let's get real here..there is no way anyone would willingly sit through Riot Act without skipping..Help Help, Bushleaguer, Cropduster, You Are, Get Right, Ghost...the others I can almost understand, but there is no way in hell anyone could consistently listen to every song..thus, why the record as a whole is widely referred to as their weakest..which it clearly is..

    This post is clearly nonsense. Riot Act is by far the Pearl Jam album I listen to most, and I honestly listen to EVERY track on the album EVERY time. And for the record, I absolutely love all the songs you named. I would go as far to say that Help, Help, and Ghost are in my top four favorite tracks on the album (along with 1/2 Full and All or None). And I would easily take anyone of the songs you named over every track on Backspacer and not because "its cool to like the unpopular album". I don't care what anyone else thinks. I truly love Riot Act.

    What do you think about that?
    you couldn't swing if you were hangin' from a palm tree in a hurricane

  • The ChampThe Champ Posts: 4,063
    yosi wrote:
    The Champ wrote:

    I know it's cool to like the unpopular album, but let's get real here..there is no way anyone would willingly sit through Riot Act without skipping..Help Help, Bushleaguer, Cropduster, You Are, Get Right, Ghost...the others I can almost understand, but there is no way in hell anyone could consistently listen to every song..thus, why the record as a whole is widely referred to as their weakest..which it clearly is..

    This post is clearly nonsense. Riot Act is by far the Pearl Jam album I listen to most, and I honestly listen to EVERY track on the album EVERY time. And for the record, I absolutely love all the songs you named. I would go as far to say that Help, Help, and Ghost are in my top four favorite tracks on the album (along with 1/2 Full and All or None). And I would easily take anyone of the songs you named over every track on Backspacer and not because "its cool to like the unpopular album". I don't care what anyone else thinks. I truly love Riot Act.

    What do you think about that?

    I'll take it easy on you being that you are a fellow long time suffering Met fan..and because our Jets have eased the pain for just a bit ;) ....but clearly you are not thinking straight..lol..Help Help is better than Got Some? That's some hard core Riot Act love right there..I give you credit..
    'I want to hurry home to you
    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'
  • The ChampThe Champ Posts: 4,063
    Sleep With Innocence, here are a few of the songs minus the 'bells and whistles' from last night:

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=viaSOK2l2z4

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KaR_Vnh9zAk

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IUl1K0MyzPs
    'I want to hurry home to you
    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'
  • FWIW,

    Metacritic composite ratings (out of 100 for critics; out of 10.0 for fans/listeners):

    I assume Backspacer numbers will drop as more and more fans chime in. Most telling is how well it's holding up compared to the number of voters vs., say, Binaural. (law of averages says that the more voters there are, the likelier the number is to drop, and given that Binaural received 21 total votes and just 7.9 speaks volumes).

    Backspacer 85 (15 critics) / 9.4 (73 votes)

    Pearl Jam (Avocado) 74 (28 critics) / 8.8 (271 votes)

    Riot Act - 73 (20 critics) / 8.4 (80 votes)

    Binaural 69 (16 critics) / 7.9 (21 votes)

    I know there'll be wide variance on the lists, but what would your Pearl Jam album rankings look like today? I understand your rankings might change a week, month, year from now.

    Here's mine. Quick background on my fandom: I never liked Ten until a few years ago. I was drawn in by band's SNL 94 effort for Vitalogy. I consider Yield the best start-to-finish rock album of the last 20 years:

    1 - Yield
    2 - Vitalogy
    3 - No Code
    4 - Backspacer
    5 - Ten
    6 - Pearl Jam (avocado)
    7 - Vs.
    8 - Riot Act
    9 - Binaural
    __________________
    1998: East Troy2; East Lansing
    2000: Noblesville; Auburn Hills; Chicago
    2003: East Troy; Clarkston1
    2004: Toledo; Grand Rapids
    2006: Grand Rapids; Auburn Hills
    2009: Chicago
    2010: Columbus
    2011: East Troy (PJ20), both
    2013: Wrigley Field
    2014: Detroit
  • yosiyosi NYC Posts: 3,074
    The Champ wrote:
    yosi wrote:
    The Champ wrote:

    I know it's cool to like the unpopular album, but let's get real here..there is no way anyone would willingly sit through Riot Act without skipping..Help Help, Bushleaguer, Cropduster, You Are, Get Right, Ghost...the others I can almost understand, but there is no way in hell anyone could consistently listen to every song..thus, why the record as a whole is widely referred to as their weakest..which it clearly is..

    This post is clearly nonsense. Riot Act is by far the Pearl Jam album I listen to most, and I honestly listen to EVERY track on the album EVERY time. And for the record, I absolutely love all the songs you named. I would go as far to say that Help, Help, and Ghost are in my top four favorite tracks on the album (along with 1/2 Full and All or None). And I would easily take anyone of the songs you named over every track on Backspacer and not because "its cool to like the unpopular album". I don't care what anyone else thinks. I truly love Riot Act.

    What do you think about that?

    I'll take it easy on you being that you are a fellow long time suffering Met fan..and because our Jets have eased the pain for just a bit ;) ....but clearly you are not thinking straight..lol..Help Help is better than Got Some? That's some hard core Riot Act love right there..I give you credit..

    Haha, thanks. At least being a Mets fan has finally come in handy...

    And I don't know what it is about that album, it just speaks to me. Maybe I'm crazy, I certainly wouldn't count that possibility out.

    But just so you know, I'm actually a NYG fan :D
    you couldn't swing if you were hangin' from a palm tree in a hurricane

  • The ChampThe Champ Posts: 4,063
    yosi wrote:
    Haha, thanks. At least being a Mets fan has finally come in handy...

    And I don't know what it is about that album, it just speaks to me. Maybe I'm crazy, I certainly wouldn't count that possibility out.

    But just so you know, I'm actually a NYG fan :D

    Shit, even better for you..in fact, your team just won a Super Bowl the other year, so you should be set for a while..I've gotten nothing but ulcers as a Met/Jet fan for 21 years and counting.....anyway, getting back on topic..yes, you may be crazy with this Riot Act obsession..If you only had one album to listen to for the rest of your life, you'd actually pick Riot Act over Yield or Vs? That is crazy ;) ..
    'I want to hurry home to you
    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'
  • yosiyosi NYC Posts: 3,074
    The Champ wrote:
    yosi wrote:
    Haha, thanks. At least being a Mets fan has finally come in handy...

    And I don't know what it is about that album, it just speaks to me. Maybe I'm crazy, I certainly wouldn't count that possibility out.

    But just so you know, I'm actually a NYG fan :D

    Shit, even better for you..in fact, your team just won a Super Bowl the other year, so you should be set for a while..I've gotten nothing but ulcers as a Met/Jet fan for 21 years and counting.....anyway, getting back on topic..yes, you may be crazy with this Riot Act obsession..If you only had one album to listen to for the rest of your life, you'd actually pick Riot Act over Yield or Vs? That is crazy ;) ..

    Yea, it was really weird to see a team I root for win. It had never happened, so it was quite awesome. However, I definitely love the Mets more than the Giants.

    Back on topic, yes I would choose Riot Act over any other PJ album. But truth be told, I probably wouldn't pick PJ if I only had one album I could listen to for the rest of my life... I would probably go with something by the Who, Zeppelin, or the Beatles.

    Wow, that may be a little too much honesty/heresy for one thread.
    you couldn't swing if you were hangin' from a palm tree in a hurricane

  • You're allowed to have your opinion, even if it's horrifically wrong ;)

    Lol, you can have ANY song on Backspacer, and I'll take Sleight of Hand. ;)
    u just kill us all that we love backspacer..Sleight of hand..come on its a masterpiece,,cant compaire..but its from Binaural my friend..
    "...Dimitri...He talks to me...'.."The Ghost of Greece..".
    "..That's One Happy Fuckin Ghost.."
    “..That came up on the Pillow Case...This is for the Greek, With Our Apologies.....”
  • FWIW,

    Metacritic composite ratings (out of 100 for critics; out of 10.0 for fans/listeners):

    I assume Backspacer numbers will drop as more and more fans chime in. Most telling is how well it's holding up compared to the number of voters vs., say, Binaural. (law of averages says that the more voters there are, the likelier the number is to drop, and given that Binaural received 21 total votes and just 7.9 speaks volumes).

    Backspacer 85 (15 critics) / 9.4 (73 votes)

    Pearl Jam (Avocado) 74 (28 critics) / 8.8 (271 votes)

    Riot Act - 73 (20 critics) / 8.4 (80 votes)

    Binaural 69 (16 critics) / 7.9 (21 votes)

    I know there'll be wide variance on the lists, but what would your Pearl Jam album rankings look like today? I understand your rankings might change a week, month, year from now.

    Here's mine. Quick background on my fandom: I never liked Ten until a few years ago. I was drawn in by band's SNL 94 effort for Vitalogy. I consider Yield the best start-to-finish rock album of the last 20 years:

    1 - Yield
    2 - Vitalogy
    3 - No Code
    4 - Backspacer
    5 - Ten
    6 - Pearl Jam (avocado)
    7 - Vs.
    8 - Riot Act
    9 - Binaural
    i will not say anything for put ten in 5th place ..TEN IS THE BEST ALBUM OF ALL TIMES..NOT ONLY PEARL JAM....but..BINAURAL last one???????..the music police must put u behind bars.!!!!!!! :lol::lol:
    "...Dimitri...He talks to me...'.."The Ghost of Greece..".
    "..That's One Happy Fuckin Ghost.."
    “..That came up on the Pillow Case...This is for the Greek, With Our Apologies.....”
  • Then counter my list by putting Binaural at the top of yours. ;)
    __________________
    1998: East Troy2; East Lansing
    2000: Noblesville; Auburn Hills; Chicago
    2003: East Troy; Clarkston1
    2004: Toledo; Grand Rapids
    2006: Grand Rapids; Auburn Hills
    2009: Chicago
    2010: Columbus
    2011: East Troy (PJ20), both
    2013: Wrigley Field
    2014: Detroit
  • Riot Act is a heaping mess of music. Some of it good, some with potential, and some completely uninspiring. Some of the lyrics, by other band members, and Ed's vocal delivery on songs leave a lot to be desired. I would guess that most of the people who like RA became fans post 1998. Just a guess. I'm glad some fans like it more than any of the other PJ albums cause I don't.
  • I like most of Riot Act but it is nowhere near as good as Backspacer
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  • Love Riot Act, deal with it :D
  • SomethingCreativeSomethingCreative Kazoo, MI Posts: 3,398
    Its not the best thing since Yield. Its the best thing since Binaural.
    "Well, I think this band is incapable of sucking."
    -my dad after hearing Not for You for the first time on SNL .
  • JordyWordyJordyWordy Posts: 2,261
    My favourite thing about this thread is that it reads like a series of confessions. Like an AA meeting or an intervention or something. Admitting to loving songs on RA, Bin etc.

    "Mom, Dad: i know im a PJ fan, and i wasnt meant to like Riot Act, but i do. I cant help it. It's just who i am. Can i still live here?"

    People daringly admitting that they like Ghost, Sleight Of Hand. It's refreshing to see on this board.


    Now that I've said that, im going to make my admission: (im gona go to town with this one): I enjoy listening to Sweet Lew. This is not a joke, the bass in it is really fun to play.


    FLAME AWAY, SHOW ME WHAT YOU'VE GOT!! 8-) power high, power low.....they'd still have nothing on you.....
  • Its not the best thing since Yield. Its the best thing since Binaural.

    we have a winner.
    Jam out with your clam out.
  • I like most of Riot Act but it is nowhere near as good as Backspacer

    ha ha funny how we all have different tastes in music. I love Riot act and dislike backspacer.
    This album is comparable to Metallica : death magnetic in a way. You hear different pearl jam songs throughout the entire album. Man of the hour,mankind(the song stone sings on no code right ?) gauranteed,comatose they all appear on this album.It just doesn't feel like a Pearl jam album to me. i love got some and fixer is alright but where the hell are the other good rock songs !?

    oh well this is just my opinion so whatever eh.
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