It's been almost a year since Backspacer...

TJ25487

I think BS is great! The best part about the band is that they change up their sounds. I know we are bias but how many of the few legends have done such a good job mixing it up? I love the lyrics, Ed's voice etc. I also love the fact that there is no filler. Just straight to the point and done.

BTW - Have you loaded up all the studio songs on an ipod and then hit shuffle and spent the day listening to the whole catalog in random order? That freaked me out a bit. It was great. Go do it.

LikeAnOcean

To me Backspacer is an optimistic, upbeat album. I love it. It's hard to even listen to Riot Act or Binaural anymore because they are so dark and pessimistic. I'll save them for a dark, shitty day.

At this point in my life, I think Backspacer is one of their best. Ten is a classic, but I don't connect with it on a personal level anymore.

I think Backspacer, Yield and No Code speak the most to me now.

demetrios

Paul Andrews wrote:

demetrios wrote:

Backspacer feels like an EP to me! Not so much a complete Pearl Jam record as a whole.

Yes, I fell this too, we've been spoilt with long PJ records. At 37 mintues it seems to end as you expect it to kick on. But there are plenty of other records that are shorter, just no PJ records.

Exactly! Also to add a few of those tracks were played by Ed on his solo "Into The Wild' tour many month's ago. Many thought those were b-sides to that film. Hearing them professional done on the studio record was great & all but the band as a whole contributing to this record was not mindblowing like their previous records.

the wolf

theserialthrilla wrote:

you cant compare one album to another ..the bands changed over the years..so have we..

it would seem that some of us have not changed over the years,... :roll:

You are 100% right, trying to compare one album to another from this band can't be done.


I for one love me some Backspacer. I think it's a brilliant record, and it makes me feel good.

LikeAnOcean

Paul Andrews wrote:

I must really suck ass then - Supersonic is probably my favourite song on the record and I got to see it at Newark - it fucken rocks!!!

I agree. I must suck ass too, because Backspacer is holding my interest longer than any other Pearl Jam album I can remember. I really think its awesome. It's light, simple, cohesive, and awesome. I think it feels more complete of an album than Avocado, Riot Act or Binuaral. I love Binaural, but it feels like three different albums mixed into one, more like a compalation.

thraker

RW8297 wrote:

I'm sorry to tell you this but Backspacer sucks ass. It's the worst PJ album. I'ts been a year since released but still can't listen to it. If I could have a request it would be something like this: please don't play backspacer songs live, at least in Berlin.
Folks! Compare this album to Vitalogy or Yield. These are masterpieces not mention Ten or vs. Nowadays PJ is getting worse and worse and it's very difficult for me (fan for 20 years) to say this. Fortunately they play excellent live shows and for this... big thanks.

Opinions are like assholes; Everybody's got one. Some are just shittier than others.

zootown

demetrios wrote:

Backspacer feels like an EP to me! Not so much a complete Pearl Jam record as a whole.

+1. Perhaps its due to the fragmented way in which it was written---Eddie was absent for most of the "grind work" and came in later adding his songs and the lyrics/vocals. I personally would rank it behind Avocado. The thing that is kinda surprising is that the band, and particularly Stone, seemed especially proud of this record. I have always liked Eddie & Stone songs the best-sorry Jeff, Mike and Matt, but your contributions were admirable, but not quite up to snuff. The only keepers on the album for me are Johnny Guitar (best track), GSMF, Unthought Known and maybe Amongst the Waves (although it's getting overplayed on local radio and its starting to get old). I am hoping for a more aggressive, straight ahead rock album next time, and less poppy-radio friendly songs.

Electric_Delta

zootown wrote:

demetrios wrote:

Backspacer feels like an EP to me! Not so much a complete Pearl Jam record as a whole.

+1. Perhaps its due to the fragmented way in which it was written---Eddie was absent for most of the "grind work" and came in later adding his songs and the lyrics/vocals. I personally would rank it behind Avocado. The thing that is kinda surprising is that the band, and particularly Stone, seemed especially proud of this record. I have always liked Eddie & Stone songs the best-sorry Jeff, Mike and Matt, but your contributions were admirable, but not quite up to snuff. The only keepers on the album for me are Johnny Guitar (best track), GSMF, Unthought Known and maybe Amongst the Waves (although it's getting overplayed on local radio and its starting to get old). I am hoping for a more aggressive, straight ahead rock album next time, and less poppy-radio friendly songs.

You have a station locally which plays "Amongst the Waves"? Consider yourself lucky. Around here, they don't even play "The Fixer" anymore. We do have a station that plays all the Ten singles, plus the Vs. singles, and Betterman and Corduroy. That's about it.

LikeAnOpeningBandForTheSun

it has nosedived for me. most of their albums i didnt like at first but then grew on me.but BS is the opposite. i kinda liked it at first, now i think its pretty terrible with a couple exceptions. i cant see what i ever liked about it. except for Just Breathe.

the little rockers in the first half (except the awful Fixer) are ok, but none of them compare to their rawer, more awesome old rockers. they are all too polished and safe sounding. I think its a case of mediocrity being worse than one really great one and the rest total shit.

the second half is just adult contemporary garbage. Amongst the Waves is the most embarassing thing they've ever done and should be ashamed of. Speed of Sound and FOrce of Nature are boring, I forget Supersonic even exists. but Unthought Known and The End are ok. not great but ok.

live all the songs are flat and tedious to get through. they just have no weight behind them at all. thankfully they are short.

nothing really rises to Pearl Jam standards except Just Breathe and maybe one other one (which im not sure about) for me. rest ranges from just ok to shit.

basically it doesnt pass my "if it were by another band, would you listen to it?" test.

GRADE: C-

BinFrog

Disagree.

jwagner

After my first listen I was underwhelmed for some reason.

After two listens it sounded completely amazing to me...

After five or so listens, I couldn't stop playing it and still have to force myself to limit my listens (to avoid burnout)

After nine months, I think it's a total masterpiece. I'll step up to defend it always.

jwagner

After my first listen I was underwhelmed for some reason.

After two listens it sounded completely amazing to me...

After five or so listens, I couldn't stop playing it and still have to force myself to limit my listens (to avoid burnout)

After nine months, I think it's a total masterpiece. I'll step up to defend it always.

zootown

+1. Perhaps its due to the fragmented way in which it was written---Eddie was absent for most of the "grind work" and came in later adding his songs and the lyrics/vocals. I personally would rank it behind Avocado. The thing that is kinda surprising is that the band, and particularly Stone, seemed especially proud of this record. I have always liked Eddie & Stone songs the best-sorry Jeff, Mike and Matt, but your contributions were admirable, but not quite up to snuff. The only keepers on the album for me are Johnny Guitar (best track), GSMF, Unthought Known and maybe Amongst the Waves (although it's getting overplayed on local radio and its starting to get old). I am hoping for a more aggressive, straight ahead rock album next time, and less poppy-radio friendly songs.[/quote]

You have a station locally which plays "Amongst the Waves"? Consider yourself lucky. Around here, they don't even play "The Fixer" anymore. We do have a station that plays all the Ten singles, plus the Vs. singles, and Betterman and Corduroy. That's about it.[/quote]

I live in Missoula, where JA lives, so we get a healthy dose of PJ on the radio.

Pry To

I believe that Backspacer will be remembered as a classic PJ album. It's great; I love it! Plenty of classic material on here: The Fixer, Got Some (sooooooooo underrated), Just Breathe, Unthought Known, Amongst the Waves (this song blew me away live). Johnny Guitar is really good, too. Not crazy about every single song, but those five songs alone make it a classic to me. I can't think of many current albums by anyone where I think five songs are Stone-cold classics. Backspacer will be remembered very fondly a few years from now.

veddertown

I do like Backspacer but it has a slight disjointedness to it I can't put my finger on. I have never been that excited about Supersonic and I really don't like Speed Of Sound but the other songs are damn good which makes it a good album as opposed to a classic for me. 8/10 I guess. I still can't wait to hear the songs live this month and can't wait to see what they do next time!

LikeAnOpeningBandForTheSun

veddertown wrote:

I do like Backspacer but it has a slight disjointedness to it I can't put my finger on.

to me its the fact that they lean so heavily on their influences on this album. They've never been one to shy away from their influences, but Backspacer is just ridiculous. pretty much every song is a direct ripoff/homage (depending on you point of view) of some other band.

to me the album just sounds like they were fooling around in the studio and not very interested in making anything important or memorable. just playing their favorite 80s band music, which isnt necessarily bad. for better or worse, they succeeded.

veddertown

MrSmith wrote:

veddertown wrote:

I do like Backspacer but it has a slight disjointedness to it I can't put my finger on.

to me its the fact that they lean so heavily on their influences on this album. They've never been one to shy away from their influences, but Backspacer is just ridiculous. pretty much every song is a direct ripoff/homage (depending on you point of view) of some other band.

to me the album just sounds like they were fooling around in the studio and not very interested in making anything important or memorable. just playing their favorite 80s band music, which isnt necessarily bad. for better or worse, they succeeded.

Listening to Vitalogy, No Code, Binaural and Riot Act for me are very ritualistic. I achieve a frame of mind from them that lasts from start to finish and I don't like that to be interrupted while I am. I feel like I'm on a journey with them so the headphones go in. With Vs, Yield, Ten and Avocado I'll still listen straight through but I don't mind background noise or the kids around me but with Backspacer it's like having the radio on and I can switch off anytime without feeling like I'm missing something. They stole from their own musical catalogue with Avocado but I can't hear where Backspacer came from? And despite how you read any of this I still like every album.

cincybearcat

jwagner wrote:

After my first listen I was underwhelmed for some reason.

After two listens it sounded completely amazing to me...

After five or so listens, I couldn't stop playing it and still have to force myself to limit my listens (to avoid burnout)

After nine months, I think it's a total masterpiece. I'll step up to defend it always.

I was underwhelmed with your first post.

But after your second post, you've convinced me.

jwagner

cincybearcat wrote:

jwagner wrote:

After my first listen I was underwhelmed for some reason.

After two listens it sounded completely amazing to me...

After five or so listens, I couldn't stop playing it and still have to force myself to limit my listens (to avoid burnout)

After nine months, I think it's a total masterpiece. I'll step up to defend it always.

I was underwhelmed with your first post.

But after your second post, you've convinced me.

Aw, the site just froze on me when hitting Submit...and I can't find a way to delete that repeated post. Sorry! (But I will repeat my love for 'Backspacer' a zillion times!)

morgie2

S/T and Backspacer brought me back to this band. They are awesome.