Backspacer realistic review

245

Comments

  • slightofjeff
    slightofjeff Posts: 7,762
    kataractkid wrote:
    Well. First of all I'd like to state that I'm a huge PJ fan and have been since 98'.
    I am , however, a realistic fan and I am not going to say everything is great all the time
    no matter what they produce.
    I have to say I find nothing great about the new album, Backspacer.
    Nothing sticks out as awesome and there are a few tracks that I find
    really dissapointing and that I would never push on a "so-so" Pearl Jam fan.
    It's too poppy, too short, and there are only a few good guitar riffs (being a guitar player).
    Ed's melodies are the same in most of the songs. Overall , its a very soft LP and between
    the over-marketing of the album and the cheezy artwork, I have to say I'm not impressed at
    all. I also don't understand all the great reviews by the newspapers, music experts, etc.
    Maybe they are getting paid off or something.
    I have given the album many chances, listened in the car, while partying, while working out, etc.
    The only songs that I am interested in even listening to again are the following:

    Gonna see my friend (I actually like this song)
    Amongst the Waves (really cool guitar riff in the middle, but way too short)
    Just breathe
    Unknown Thought
    The Fixer is allright, but it's already overplayed and I'm sick of it.

    Sorry if I have offended anyone but I've read too many overrated reviews
    and i wanted to see if there were any other realistic reviews of this LP?
    I'm assuming that the songs will be better live and I am holding out hope for this.

    As I've told others, that's a shame. I wish this album could make everyone feel like it makes me feel. The goosebumps don't lie. I feel sorry for the people who don't get them. It's kind of like a man who can't get an erection. Not his fault, but you just feel sorry he can't feel what you feel.

    Maybe somebody there will be a little blue pill that allows you to "get" Backspacer. Until that day, my condolences.
    everybody wants the most they can possibly get
    for the least they could possibly do
  • slightofjeff
    slightofjeff Posts: 7,762
    cajunkiwi wrote:
    The only thing I really don't like on this album, and the thing that makes the hairs on my neck stand up, are the lyrics. EV used to tell stories with his lyrics, and they were put together brilliantly. On Backspacer, some of the lyrics are great, and some are "Now Johnny he be havin' lots of women, the reason he be smilin' known to him." Ouch.

    So you pick one line from one song with lyrics that are almost intentionally bad, and that means the album doesn't have great lyrics? :roll:

    The lyrics fucking MAKE this album. Look around this forum, there are great discussions and dissections going on on various lines, and words, and phrases that are just spectacular.

    For your one "Johnny he be having lots of women" -- in a song about a fucking pimp -- I can name half a dozen lines that rank among the best shit Ed's ever thought of. Hell, I can pick some out of Johnny fucking Guitar.
    everybody wants the most they can possibly get
    for the least they could possibly do
  • zootown
    zootown Posts: 666
    slightofjeff wrote:
    cajunkiwi wrote:
    The only thing I really don't like on this album, and the thing that makes the hairs on my neck stand up, are the lyrics. EV used to tell stories with his lyrics, and they were put together brilliantly. On Backspacer, some of the lyrics are great, and some are "Now Johnny he be havin' lots of women, the reason he be smilin' known to him." Ouch.

    So you pick one line from one song with lyrics that are almost intentionally bad, and that means the album doesn't have great lyrics? :roll:

    The lyrics fucking MAKE this album. Look around this forum, there are great discussions and dissections going on on various lines, and words, and phrases that are just spectacular.

    For your one "Johnny he be having lots of women" -- in a song about a fucking pimp -- I can name half a dozen lines that rank among the best shit Ed's ever thought of. Hell, I can pick some out of Johnny fucking Guitar.


    Man, slight of jeff, are you getting paid by the band or something? Your responses are so intense to anyone who criticizes this album, WTF? Is PJ the only band you listen on a regular basis? I mean this would make sense seeing your vigilance in defending YOUR OPINION of the album.....
    I hold the pain, release me!
  • troubled_soul
    troubled_soul Posts: 56
    slightofjeff wrote:

    The lyrics fucking MAKE this album. Look around this forum, there are great discussions and dissections going on on various lines, and words, and phrases that are just spectacular.

    For your one "Johnny he be having lots of women" -- in a song about a fucking pimp -- I can name half a dozen lines that rank among the best shit Ed's ever thought of. Hell, I can pick some out of Johnny fucking Guitar.

    Absolutely spot on.
  • slightofjeff
    slightofjeff Posts: 7,762
    zootown wrote:
    Man, slight of jeff, are you getting paid by the band or something? Your responses are so intense to anyone who criticizes this album, WTF? Is PJ the only band you listen on a regular basis? I mean this would make sense seeing your vigilance in defending YOUR OPINION of the album.....

    Eh, you're probably right. I should probably just let you guys have this thread to yourself. Enjoy!
    everybody wants the most they can possibly get
    for the least they could possibly do
  • Black10
    Black10 Posts: 160
    troubled_soul wrote:
    slightofjeff wrote:

    The lyrics fucking MAKE this album. Look around this forum, there are great discussions and dissections going on on various lines, and words, and phrases that are just spectacular.

    For your one "Johnny he be having lots of women" -- in a song about a fucking pimp -- I can name half a dozen lines that rank among the best shit Ed's ever thought of. Hell, I can pick some out of Johnny fucking Guitar.

    Absolutely spot on.

    I'll second that. Great fucking point slightofjeff.
  • corduroykelly
    corduroykelly Posts: 668
    Oh well if you say it's a realistic review it must be...................
  • rebornFixer
    rebornFixer Posts: 4,901
    zootown wrote:

    Man, slight of jeff, are you getting paid by the band or something? Your responses are so intense to anyone who criticizes this album, WTF? Is PJ the only band you listen on a regular basis? I mean this would make sense seeing your vigilance in defending YOUR OPINION of the album.....

    I don't see his responses as all that intense... Obviously the album moves him, as it does many of us. I happen to agree with his view that some folks miss the point of Ed's lyrical approach on tunes like Johnny Guitar. He's not trying to have impeccable grammar on some of these tunes ... In a song with pimp motifs, he's using some (pretty mild) ghetto speak. The whole point is to create an emotional portrait that is situated right within the song, or put another way, he is using language to tell a story in a way that is high context or "culture-bound", rather than something that is low context (i.e., sterile and grammatically perfect).
  • RoughMix
    RoughMix back of a lorry Posts: 385
    Black10 wrote:
    troubled_soul wrote:
    slightofjeff wrote:

    The lyrics fucking MAKE this album. Look around this forum, there are great discussions and dissections going on on various lines, and words, and phrases that are just spectacular.

    For your one "Johnny he be having lots of women" -- in a song about a fucking pimp -- I can name half a dozen lines that rank among the best shit Ed's ever thought of. Hell, I can pick some out of Johnny fucking Guitar.

    Absolutely spot on.

    I'll second that. Great fucking point slightofjeff.

    I'll third that.Excellent fucking point slightofjeff
    "They don't give a shit Keith Moon is dead,
    is that exactly what I thought I read."
  • over bends
    over bends Posts: 1,568
    There's simplicity because you can't do complex. And there is simplicity once you've already taken yourself into complexity and found you just need to strip yourself down again to not get convoluted in the unimportant stuff. That is Backspacer.
    Yield!

    3 Decibels Doubles the Volume

    2006
  • norm
    norm Posts: 31,146
    slightofjeff wrote:
    Eh, you're probably right. I should probably just let you guys have this thread to yourself. Enjoy!


    yeah you should really be more realistic :roll:



    wtf realistic?? some people really believe their shit don't stink huh?
  • Wilds
    Wilds Posts: 4,329
    RoughMix wrote:
    Black10 wrote:
    troubled_soul wrote:

    Absolutely spot on.

    I'll second that. Great fucking point slightofjeff.

    I'll third that.Excellent fucking point slightofjeff


    4th. No reason to leave this thread. :mrgreen:
  • zootown
    zootown Posts: 666
    slightofjeff wrote:
    zootown wrote:
    Man, slight of jeff, are you getting paid by the band or something? Your responses are so intense to anyone who criticizes this album, WTF? Is PJ the only band you listen on a regular basis? I mean this would make sense seeing your vigilance in defending YOUR OPINION of the album.....

    Eh, you're probably right. I should probably just let you guys have this thread to yourself. Enjoy!


    Great..... :roll: I mean, I think many folks have been fair and not absolute in their criticism of the album- but in days past you seem to want to jump on anyone that has anything negative to say. Glad you love it, not everyone has to...
    I hold the pain, release me!
  • 3legged dog
    3legged dog Posts: 896
    pjsteelerfan wrote:
    Not sure how your Opinion is more realistic than anothers, and its Unthought Known
    :lol::lol::lol::lol::lol:
    In my lifetime, I have conquered the Multiverse by force of trUth.
  • 3legged dog
    3legged dog Posts: 896
    Perception is reality people.................geesh. :roll:
    In my lifetime, I have conquered the Multiverse by force of trUth.
  • the wolf
    the wolf Posts: 7,027
    troubled_soul wrote:
    slightofjeff wrote:

    The lyrics fucking MAKE this album. Look around this forum, there are great discussions and dissections going on on various lines, and words, and phrases that are just spectacular.

    For your one "Johnny he be having lots of women" -- in a song about a fucking pimp -- I can name half a dozen lines that rank among the best shit Ed's ever thought of. Hell, I can pick some out of Johnny fucking Guitar.

    Absolutely spot on.

    I also agree with slightofjeff
    Peace, Love.

    "To question your government is not unpatriotic --
    to not question your government is unpatriotic."
    -- Sen. Chuck Hagel
  • J.
    J. Posts: 41
    rebornFixer wrote:
    zootown wrote:

    Man, slight of jeff, are you getting paid by the band or something? Your responses are so intense to anyone who criticizes this album, WTF? Is PJ the only band you listen on a regular basis? I mean this would make sense seeing your vigilance in defending YOUR OPINION of the album.....

    I don't see his responses as all that intense... Obviously the album moves him, as it does many of us. I happen to agree with his view that some folks miss the point of Ed's lyrical approach on tunes like Johnny Guitar. He's not trying to have impeccable grammar on some of these tunes ... In a song with pimp motifs, he's using some (pretty mild) ghetto speak. The whole point is to create an emotional portrait that is situated right within the song, or put another way, he is using language to tell a story in a way that is high context or "culture-bound", rather than something that is low context (i.e., sterile and grammatically perfect).


    Thank you.. thank you..THANK YOU! Jesus! is Johnny guitar that hard to understand?? Ed is having FUN using some bad grammar telling the story from the point of a person that may not be that educated or is mildly street! WOW! That is not the most profound thing to wrap your head around.

    Next.. why are slightofjeffs responses being taken more defensive than they really are? He said he feels sorry for people that don't dig this album becasue it makes him feel goosebumps and just gives him that warm fuzzy feeling, as it also does for me. I know several other people; hardcore or casual fans that feel tha same as I do about the album. Sorry if I am coming off a bit strong, and yes everyone is entitled to their opinion. I am just having a real issue with how people who don't like it and are trying really..really hard to make it a piece of shit album, and the worst thing they have ever heard. That simply is just not the case... or at least not to me and a lot of other folks.
  • The Champ
    The Champ Posts: 4,063
    kataractkid wrote:
    Well. First of all I'd like to state that I'm a huge PJ fan and have been since 98'.
    I am , however, a realistic fan and I am not going to say everything is great all the time
    no matter what they produce.


    Sorry if I have offended anyone but I've read too many overrated reviews
    and i wanted to see if there were any other realistic reviews of this LP?

    This quite possibly and 'realistically' may be one of the dumbest threads I've seen, and unfortunately I've seen a lot of stupid shit around here. People who like Backspacer are not all necessarily mindless sheep. I happen to love Backspacer and have openly criticized Riot Act and Binaural to no end..my opinion is no less realistic than yours. The record as a whole flows effortlessly without having to skip every other song..and thus I'd love to pork this cd if only it had a larger hole....it is that good..
    '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'
  • J.
    J. Posts: 41
    The Champ wrote:
    kataractkid wrote:
    Well. First of all I'd like to state that I'm a huge PJ fan and have been since 98'.
    I am , however, a realistic fan and I am not going to say everything is great all the time
    no matter what they produce.


    Sorry if I have offended anyone but I've read too many overrated reviews
    and i wanted to see if there were any other realistic reviews of this LP?

    This quite possibly and 'realistically' may be one of the dumbest threads I've seen, and unfortunately I've seen a lot of stupid shit around here. People who like Backspacer are not all necessarily mindless sheep. I happen to love Backspacer and have openly criticized Riot Act and Binaural to no end..my opinion is no less realistic than yours. The record as a whole flows effortlessly without having to skip every other song..and thus I'd love to pork this cd if only it had a larger hole....it is that good..


    LOL..Yes...yes it is!
  • mikepegg44
    mikepegg44 Posts: 3,353
    I just love how on the internet, in order to be realistic it means you have to not like something.

    It is a douche bag thing to say. You can also just say something like, Am i the only one who feels this way? and then go into why you don't like the album. Maybe people will agree or disagree, it doesn't mean you are any more realistic.

    I certainly cannot agree with most of your criticism of the album. I happen to like it. There are a couple of throw aways for me, but overall, if I like an album this much when I first hear it, I know it is only going to move me more as time goes on.
    I have a lot of shit going on in my life right now, and I desperately needed to hear a song like Unthought Known. It is fucking great.
    Only band that can move me with a simple song.

    And i only received 100 dollars to post this support/review of the album, hopefully all the other unrealistic reviewers got more than I did. You are entitled to your opinion, but to question the integrity of this band on this forum is gutsy, and to question the character of the band in general is just stupid. They have earned their reviews, each and every one of them
    that’s right! Can’t we all just get together and focus on our real enemies: monogamous gays and stem cells… - Ned Flanders
    It is terrifying when you are too stupid to know who is dumb
    - Joe Rogan

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