Has PJ given up on Backspacer? No 3rd single?

Haijay

lukin2006 wrote:

hopethatuchoke wrote:

I was thinking about how Dave Matthews does a NA tour almost every single summer (Blech) and almost every show sells out. For some reason, I don't think Pearl Jam could get away with doing that successfully. I just can't see them selling out shows all summer all over the country. I don't think we are ever going to see a proper tour ever again...which means higher and higher ticket prices if they don't do it often and don't really sell many albums.

I'm sure their fan base is shrinking, but that is partly do to the fact they don't tour as much as other bands. I am going to see Rush this tome around and they announced the tour today right through October, my guess most shows will be 95% full or sold out.

dude, you need to go to wikipedia(ya, that's right) and check out the tour stats for snakes and arrows. You will find the attendance to almost all the shows is embarrassing. You wanna talk shrinking fanbase.

KG26416

"UNTHOUGHT KNOWN" would be a great single. Too bad Pearl Jam doesn't care anymore about getting their music out there....

Wolf At Bay

maddog36 wrote:

PJ has enough money that they can support themselves and their families for the rest of their lives. IMO, for them it is now about making an occasional album that their fans like, and getting their kicks playing energetic live shows (why you don't see them play huge cavernous stadiums).

Personally, the only way I see them going the "single" route is if they make the decision that they want to be more socially relevant. I wouldn't mind seeing them do what Green Day has done their past couple of albums. But I think that's a larger time commitment than they're probably willing to give right now.

I think that they're moving closer to what Bruce Springsteen does than what U2 does in terms of albums/touring though....

But Springsteen does massive tours, so when do we get to see Pearl Jam do that?

Wolf At Bay

Johnny Sitar wrote:

I don't get why some of you seem to think that you have all the answers, i.e: "if you want to be a rock star touring is part of the package". The package is whatever the fuck they want the package to be. If they don't want to tour, they don't have to.

This isn't really true. If you want a career as a rock musician, touring is job. Yes you have to write songs and record albums, but that's really just a means to and end, and performing/touring is the end. If you want to retire, that's fair. If you want to pull a Beatles and say records only, no more performing, well the only reason they could get away with that is because they were so fucking huge that touring was actually getting in the way.

Anyway, not sure what my point is, but with Pearl Jam going with out a record label and deciding to be completely in charge of their own career, they should realize that a full scale US tour is the only way to promote a record and keep your integrity intact.

LikeAnOpeningBandForTheSun

im pretty sure Got Some would have been third (or Just Breathe), but they just decided to release them both since singles dont really matter anymore, especially after the first or second one.

there isnt another radio hit on this album anyway.

Jason P

Unthought Known would be a great single. That said, I think most radio stations think Pearl Jam broke up after Vitalogy and staged a brief reunion for Last Kiss. Besides getting some airtime on commercial break outro’s on Fox Sports NFL games, I don’t think I’ve heard any airplay from Backspacer.

I think the boys have all the F.U. money they need and are content with just playing a few dates a year and maybe meeting up every 2-3 years to crank out a new album.

LikeAnOpeningBandForTheSun

i think UK would die a quick death on modern rock radio. maybe it would stick on some adult contemporary stations, though.

SoonForgotten2

I love how when it's about the ticket prices, the sheep all say how the band have to support their families and such. When it's about how few shows they actually play, the sheep say how the band don't need the money.

The best part? No matter where you stand on the debate, the fans are the ones losing... less dates and higher ticket prices.

joebot

Maybe they should downgrade to smaller venues like theaters and amphitheaters instead of large scale venues. They could sell out more cities if they went smaller, the fact that they avoid half the country is biting them in the ass, hence the same cities over and over, not that I'm complaining I am lucky enough to live in nyc and moving to seattle so I'm covered but missing major markets like dallas may not be smart.

DewieCox

MrSmith wrote:

im pretty sure Got Some would have been third (or Just Breathe), but they just decided to release them both since singles dont really matter anymore, especially after the first or second one.

there isnt another radio hit on this album anyway.

Singles matter as much as they ever have(relative to sales), probably more since everybody has an ipod or some variation. They're the only thing that give an album staying power. KoL are a great example of this. 3 single in 2 years from one album, and they're still milkin that thing.

There's barely a good tune on the album(Backspacer).

inlet13

DewieCox wrote:

MrSmith wrote:

im pretty sure Got Some would have been third (or Just Breathe), but they just decided to release them both since singles dont really matter anymore, especially after the first or second one.

there isnt another radio hit on this album anyway.

Singles matter as much as they ever have(relative to sales), probably more since everybody has an ipod or some variation. They're the only thing that give an album staying power. KoL are a great example of this. 3 single in 2 years from one album, and they're still milkin that thing.

There's barely a good tune on the album(Backspacer).

Looking at the album's staying power (actual data on chart longevity), Backspacer is their most successful album since Vitalogy. So, saying there's barely a good tune on the album doesn't seem to be the public perception. Clearly, The Fixer and Just Breathe have been pretty damn popular over the past year.

That said, I completely agree that singles matter as much, if not more, than they ever have. It's a singles world now. An additional single would without question help the album in sales and longevity. Without one, I think Backspacer will fall pretty flat from here on out.

pearljamdude420

JOHNNY GUITAR

that should be a single, fuck mainstream radio i like songs that rock

pearljamdude420

inlet13 wrote:

DewieCox wrote:

MrSmith wrote:

im pretty sure Got Some would have been third (or Just Breathe), but they just decided to release them both since singles dont really matter anymore, especially after the first or second one.

there isnt another radio hit on this album anyway.

Singles matter as much as they ever have(relative to sales), probably more since everybody has an ipod or some variation. They're the only thing that give an album staying power. KoL are a great example of this. 3 single in 2 years from one album, and they're still milkin that thing.

There's barely a good tune on the album(Backspacer).

Looking at the album's staying power (actual data on chart longevity), Backspacer is their most successful album since Vitalogy. So, saying there's barely a good tune on the album doesn't seem to be the public perception. Clearly, The Fixer and Just Breathe have been pretty damn popular over the past year.

That said, I completely agree that singles matter as much, if not more, than they ever have. It's a singles world now. An additional single would without question help the album in sales and longevity. Without one, I think Backspacer will fall pretty flat from here on out.

i like most all pj songs, so im not saying fixer or just breathe are bad songs. im just saying if i was the band i probably would of picked different singles, maybe johnny guitar, and unknown thought or amongst the waves

igotid88

MrSmith wrote:

i think UK would die a quick death on modern rock radio. maybe it would stick on some adult contemporary stations, though.

those stations are what help sales.

fox_mulderX

i'm just wondering why everyone cares so much about the album selling... whether it sells 500,000 or 5 million, it doesn't affect any of us. for people who say they want the album to be successful 500,000+ sales in the usa is pretty successful.

81

musicismylife is consulting with the band as we speak on what steps should be taken next.

LikeAnOpeningBandForTheSun

igotid88 wrote:

MrSmith wrote:

i think UK would die a quick death on modern rock radio. maybe it would stick on some adult contemporary stations, though.

those stations are what help sales.

yeah im not interested them making music that captures that crappy audience let U2 and Coldplay have them.

anyway. on to the next album!

goldrush

Wolf At Bay wrote:

Johnny Sitar wrote:

I don't get why some of you seem to think that you have all the answers, i.e: "if you want to be a rock star touring is part of the package". The package is whatever the fuck they want the package to be. If they don't want to tour, they don't have to.

This isn't really true. If you want a career as a rock musician, touring is job. Yes you have to write songs and record albums, but that's really just a means to and end, and performing/touring is the end.

R.E.M. didn't tour for 6 years from 89 to 95 and during that time they released 2 of their biggest albums, 'Out of Time' and 'Automatic for the People'. I know that's an exception to the rule but they were nowhere near as big before releasing those 2 albums as they were afterwards so the decision not to promote them with tours didn't affect their popularity at all.

I'd hope for another Backspacer single (but NOT Unthought Known), but I'm thinking maybe the EP will be coming out in time for the tour instead...

DewieCox

goldrush wrote:

Wolf At Bay wrote:

Johnny Sitar wrote:

I don't get why some of you seem to think that you have all the answers, i.e: "if you want to be a rock star touring is part of the package". The package is whatever the fuck they want the package to be. If they don't want to tour, they don't have to.

This isn't really true. If you want a career as a rock musician, touring is job. Yes you have to write songs and record albums, but that's really just a means to and end, and performing/touring is the end.

R.E.M. didn't tour for 6 years from 89 to 95 and during that time they released 2 of their biggest albums, 'Out of Time' and 'Automatic for the People'. I know that's an exception to the rule but they were nowhere near as big before releasing those 2 albums as they were afterwards so the decision not to promote them with tours didn't affect their popularity at all.

The decision to tour or not tour is gonna affect popularity no matter how you slice it. You might casually like some tunes, then you see the band lay it down live and say "Oooooh, now I get it" or "Jesus they rocked my fuckin tits off".......PJ hooked me with their live show, Bob Dylan scared me away with his.

When did REM pick up their touring again? Wasn't Monster their biggest album? Just curious. I'm not REM aficionado. Don't wanna jump to conclusions, but somethin tells me there may be a connection.

simpleman

crazy people.