Backspacer realistic review

helpme2helpyou

kataractkid wrote:

OP-
I listened to the album again and I realized something.
It is way different from what PJ has done in the past.
It's a different sound, more pop-friendly and down right too soft.
The songs have no "peaks" and the guitar riffs are ..... I don't know?
The melodies are just very blaagh and go nowhere. It seems like
a rushed album. The music seems very forced and uncomfortable,
with the exception of "gonna see my friend" and "fixer", and 1 other one
I don't want to mispell. I think it's Unthought Known.
This is coming from someone who has stood behind PJ for over 10 years
and has backed all their past releases to people who are unwilling to give the new
music a chance.

Do you guys/gals (on this thread) listen to any other bands/music?
Just trying to get a gauge on what else people listen to. Here's a few
bands and recent albums I'm comparing BackSpacer to:

Black Crowes "Before the Frost"
Black Keys "Attack and Release"
Dan Auerbach "Keep it Hid"
Ranconteurs "Consoler of the Lonley"
Neil Young "Fork in the Road"
Grady " A cup of cold poison"

If you really think Backspacer is one of PJ's finest, then please let
me know what other bands you listen to. THis may clear some confusion on my end.

Based upon some of your posts in this thread, it seems that if you don't approve of the music they listen to then that will some how invalidate their opinion. Whether someone listens to just Pearl Jam, or they listen to _______(insert band name), if they like BS then they like BS; it seems like you just can't accept that. Personally, I like the album so far; I have had it for less than a week so it is too early for me to put any sort of label or rank on it. Several songs really speak to me at this point in my life (Just Breathe, Unthought Known and Force of Nature) and others are touch and go. Just my opinion, if someone disagrees I would find it pointless to challenge them to justify their opinion.

Stu42

I'm actually rather suprised how great the reviews have been, but what you said is terrible. You claim to be a guitar player, but according to this post you have never actually just sat down and listened in detail to the music? How can you judge an album without really concentrating on it? That's blasphemy.

yield2me

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.

that prankster Dave A. strikes again

Wilds

helpme2helpyou wrote:

kataractkid wrote:

OP-
I listened to the album again and I realized something.
It is way different from what PJ has done in the past.
It's a different sound, more pop-friendly and down right too soft.
The songs have no "peaks" and the guitar riffs are ..... I don't know?
The melodies are just very blaagh and go nowhere. It seems like
a rushed album. The music seems very forced and uncomfortable,
with the exception of "gonna see my friend" and "fixer", and 1 other one
I don't want to mispell. I think it's Unthought Known.
This is coming from someone who has stood behind PJ for over 10 years
and has backed all their past releases to people who are unwilling to give the new
music a chance.

Do you guys/gals (on this thread) listen to any other bands/music?
Just trying to get a gauge on what else people listen to. Here's a few
bands and recent albums I'm comparing BackSpacer to:

Black Crowes "Before the Frost"
Black Keys "Attack and Release"
Dan Auerbach "Keep it Hid"
Ranconteurs "Consoler of the Lonley"
Neil Young "Fork in the Road"
Grady " A cup of cold poison"

If you really think Backspacer is one of PJ's finest, then please let
me know what other bands you listen to. THis may clear some confusion on my end.

Based upon some of your posts in this thread, it seems that if you don't approve of the music they listen to then that will some how invalidate their opinion. Whether someone listens to just Pearl Jam, or they listen to _______(insert band name), if they like BS then they like BS; it seems like you just can't accept that. Personally, I like the album so far; I have had it for less than a week so it is too early for me to put any sort of label or rank on it. Several songs really speak to me at this point in my life (Just Breathe, Unthought Known and Force of Nature) and others are touch and go. Just my opinion, if someone disagrees I would find it pointless to challenge them to justify their opinion.

I don't want to get all Sigmund Freud on the OP, but it seems as if she is doubting her own musical tastes more than she is lashing out at others.

She doesn't like the album, like her friends who never liked Pearl Jam, so she is trying to qualify that she always liked the band, and see, "I also like these cool bands". It can't be me, it must be that Pearl Jam put out a shit record.

Now young lady, I can sympathize if these feelings are going through your head, but don't take it out on people who love the album.

I don't like Binaural very much. Yes I know shocking, I like 5 or 6 of the songs, and love a couple, but overall not perfect for me. Doesn't mean I have shit taste in music (although some on here might disagree )

I certainly don't need to list off all the "good" music I like to validate the fact that Binaural just doesn't do it for me. And I've never called out the band cause 1 of their 9 records is not my cup of tea.

62strat

I love it when people preface their reviews with " im a guitar player"

Ten was meathead guitar rock ( love TEn, and im a guitar player) but by no means has pearl jam ever been a difficult band to play along to...

So once someone states somethingl ike that i stop reading


hugs! sorry the record doesnt affect you the way it does other.s Beauty of music eh?

Ledbetterman10

62strat wrote:

I love it when people preface their reviews with " im a guitar player"

Ten was meathead guitar rock ( love TEn, and im a guitar player) but by no means has pearl jam ever been a difficult band to play along to...

So once someone states somethingl ike that i stop reading

I never liked the idea of judging a guitar song's merit on "how hard it is to play." A four-fingered monkey could play Day Tripper if he practiced....but it's still an awesome fucking riff.

62strat

I agree....but when people say "where are the big riffs?!"

uh..welcome to 1992...


pearl jam haevnt been writing "big riffs" for fucking 18 years now...

3legged dog

Perception is reality people.................geesh. :roll:

LikeAnOpeningBandForTheSun

Ledbetterman10 wrote:

62strat wrote:

I love it when people preface their reviews with " im a guitar player"

Ten was meathead guitar rock ( love TEn, and im a guitar player) but by no means has pearl jam ever been a difficult band to play along to...

So once someone states somethingl ike that i stop reading

I never liked the idea of judging a guitar song's merit on "how hard it is to play." A four-fingered monkey could play Day Tripper if he practiced....but it's still an awesome fucking riff.

yeah i avoid guitarist reviews of music like the plague.

tastybrew

I never get it when people say this...

"The Fixer is allright, but it's already overplayed and I'm sick of it."

So because you listened to a song too many times it's all of a sudden a bad song? As if the song quality deteriorated with each listen? Although... I guess I'm "weird" in that I love Evenflow now as much as I did when I first heard it 18 years ago and I'm pissed when they don't play it live.

tattooedinblack

For me it takes like at least 5 or 6 listens to a new Pearl jam album before I "get it" so to speak. I think it's that whole expectations thing. 1st listen I didn't like it over all, Then I listened again. Still felt like it dropped off after the middle. Then I listened again, and again and again and I started to love the "2nd half" of the album even more. Now I love Backspacer. But it doesn't really matter what I think because I always love their albums, always. I'm not better than anyone, not a better fan, have little musical talent, just always pretty happy with each album And no I've not been compensated, I wish!

I honestly don't think some people give an album time to breathe, to work on ya. After the 1st day I had Amongst the Waves stuck in my head all day. Now every day there's a new song stuck in my head, it's nice. Today it's Unthought Known

PJ fans are a funny lot. Passionate for sure. I do get worked up myself sometimes, but what's the point? I love certain albums that others don't, why? No idea! Some of my favorites have been called crap in this thread, oh well, still my favorites. Think we all get too worked up, I guess it's just PJ's music is so important to us all.

To the OP, keep listening... and stop bein so silly! Oh BTW I enjoy the music of Juliana Hatfield, Green Day, Regina Spektor, Weezer, Gossip and Foo Fighters to name a few, is my opinion on Pearl Jam's music valid? Really curious!

kataractkid

-OP
Well, I think the statements about "giving BackSpacer more time" are starting to work.
I have to say I think i jumped the gun on my original post. After a Friday night listening,
I have totally changed my opinion. I kind of like it now. Sorry for the negative posts earlier.
The first 5 or 6 songs are the better half of the album for sure, and there is a Riff
in the middle of "Amongst the Waves" that might be one of the best, jammiest riffs
I've ever heard PJ play. There are 2 songs that are complete garbage , however.

It is so true that you have to give new PJ material time to grow. The same thing happened
with Avacado, and I totally forgot.
That being said, Severed Hand is an awesome rocker and I still stand behind my opinion
that it is one of their better songs post No Code. And what's with all the negativity of "guitar player"
reviews. BTW, Green Day and U2 suck balls, and I could understand why fans of those bands
would like Backspacer so much. It kind of reminds me of those bands a tad bit and that is a step
in the wrong direction for PJ in my mind.

tattooedinblack

So then my opinion is not valid... cause I like Green Day, that's what I thought too

You totally just proved my point genius

kiljoythemerciful

kataractkid wrote:

-OP
Well, I think the statements about "giving BackSpacer more time" are starting to work.
I have to say I think i jumped the gun on my original post. After a Friday night listening,
I have totally changed my opinion. I kind of like it now. Sorry for the negative posts earlier.
The first 5 or 6 songs are the better half of the album for sure, and there is a Riff
in the middle of "Amongst the Waves" that might be one of the best, jammiest riffs
I've ever heard PJ play. There are 2 songs that are complete garbage , however.

It is so true that you have to give new PJ material time to grow. The same thing happened
with Avacado, and I totally forgot.
That being said, Severed Hand is an awesome rocker and I still stand behind my opinion
that it is one of their better songs post No Code. And what's with all the negativity of "guitar player"
reviews. BTW, Green Day and U2 suck balls, and I could understand why fans of those bands
would like Backspacer so much. It kind of reminds me of those bands a tad bit and that is a step
in the wrong direction for PJ in my mind.

Backspacer strikes again. Glad you continued to give it a chance.

OutOfBreath

Well, I have to chime in again that I mostly agree with the criticisms of the album in this thread.

I am still a bit heartbroken that there was not a single place throughout that made me take notice. This is their lowest ranking album for me, and I sincerely hope they go a very different direction next time up.

Now, before you all jump me, I will say that I pass no judgement on what others like and not. I'm just saying that for me, they went a completely irrelevant place this time. For the first time in 15 years, I dont really want to listen to the new album. I do it now mostly as a chore (Surely there must be something). It's Eddie, and backing band mostly. They dont do anything but race strightforward through happy pop punk songs. That disappoints me immensely.

I say this, and need to say this, because I feel like a 15 year love affair is coming to an end. I love the band, always have, and have always found good stuff on all their albums. I loved that they changed and experimented regularly. This one didnt challenge me one bit.

My last hope is that these songs are a LOT better live.

This has been an opinion, from a longtime fan, who now are a bit disillusioned and heartbroken. The heartbreak is because I love them so much otherwise. I'm not hating on them, just saying that this here didn't do anything for me.

I respect that others liked it, and thought they were hit straight on with this one. I'm not hating on you. I'm just expressing my personal heartbreak over this one.

Peace
Dan

tattooedinblack

Sorry to hear about your heartbrokeness (probably not a word), I am sad to hear that. This is straight up, no sarcasm intended I thought Got Some and Unthought Known were great live the other night in Seattle, if that helps

OP, does it blow your mind that don't like U2 at all. Your insults confuse my small brain

stranger34

kataractkid wrote:

I am the OP, and I have to say again that yous should come down off this BackSpacer High.
Someone said that they hated Riot Act and Binural, but they like this Ablum (Backspacer)???
That to me is obsurd. Binural is a great album and Riot Act is not too far behind.
Even Pearl Jam (self-titled ablum) is much better than Backspacer. Life-wasted and
Severed Hand alone make a better album than the new one.
The songs on BS are just flat-out boring. Here's a test:
Find someone who is not a die-hard PJ fan and try to get them to listen to the whole album.
They won't make it far. I'm a die-hard fan and I couldn't even finish it on my first try.
There is no way in Hell that this Album is even close to being their best, or even since No Code.
I actually was a bit embarrased and still am when I listen to a few songs.

As far as the "realistic" bashings I've recieved, I not saying that my review is the realistic one- I just
wanted to get a few opinions that weren't all " Wow this is the best album ever".

Still one of the best bands of all-time and can't wait for 10/30 in Philly!

You are spot on, when people say I listened to some of the new Pearl jam I cringe. None of my other PJ fans really like the album, when the other people in my house come around I turn it down, sometimes off if it's a vocally hoarse song like the End or Johnny Guitar.

And i would never introduce someone to PJ with this album or give it to someone who is on the fence. And I know I lot of you don't like S/T but some of my best PJ friends were brought into the fold by that album.

I just don't get this album - There are things I really like about it individually but as a whole I'm a little disappointed. It's pretty disjointed.

There's no reason to have GSMF and Supersonic on the same album.
Johnny Guitar would make a killer B-Side
Got Some is PJ doing their take on Springsteen's radio nowhere
The Fixer is a really good song
Just Breathe Works
Amongst the Waves - there's just something too harmless about it for PJ
Unthought Known - standout
Force of Nature - Good song begging for a better vocal take and a reduction in guitar cheese
Speed of Sound - Standout track ruined by production
The End - it is what it is, but it adds to the disjointing.

Got some, the Fixer, GSMF, Unthought Known, Amongst the Waves, Force of Nature, Just Breathe
Those 7 have the making of a good PJ album. Too long for an LP but what fills in around it bothers me. In the context of those 7, Supersonic is redundant, Johnny Guitar is a B-Side or could be used as a good weird later tracks (Think - Help, Help, Rival) and use one of the End/Speed of sound rather than trying to turn SOS into something it isn't.

I suppose this post is convoluted, but that's fitting because I find this album convoluted.

nuffingman

Played it a few times the first week, left it alone and went back to it.

It's really growing on me. I think it's excellent.

malcyrvs

I think it's what you call a grower.

brandon10

It's for sure a grower. Especially after hearing and seeing the songs live. When I first heard the album "The End" did nothing for me. After I had seen it live a few times, that song nearly has me in tears. It's sad but fucking beautiful. And soooo powerful!!!

I think if any PJ fan gives this album a solid chance they will find it grows on them. If not then I feel sorry for you. Because it really has some gems and rhinestones.