Best Song on Backspacer?

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Comments

  • Big Bank Hank
    Big Bank Hank Seattle, WA Posts: 8,639
    Amongst the Waves
    if Pearl Jam were making a children's album, I am sure UK would be on it, and there's nothing wrong with that, I, myself am a big fan of the Sesame Street theme
  • vaggar99
    vaggar99 San Diego USA Posts: 3,431
    Force of Nature
    Big Bank Hank said:

    if you listen to Vs or Yield or No Code, then listen to Unthought Known, not in that league and really not a great song, I don't think it is an unfair criticism, just because they force feed me it on nearly every bootleg doesn't mean I am going to all of a sudden say "damn what a great ####ing song!", sorry but overall, Backspacer is weak sauce, the guitar work on it is the least interesting out of any of the albums and what we are suppose to pretend it is something it's not? Just because Pearl Jam is my favorite band, doesn't mean that I can't be real. Be honest with yourself and is Unthought Known unique? or is territory the band has covered before, and on a higher level? I can't listen to Given To Fly and then Unthought Known and honestly think UK is in the same league as GTF, really not, and I could make a long list, a couple cheesy lyrics doesn't make a song great, and Eddie has written much greater, deeper and more meaningful stuff than that, just saying

    I've never been in love with Unthought Known. I think its a good song but not great. For an EV composition its pretty average.
    What I like about Backspacer though, is sort the sort revival of EV's songwriting chops (Speed of Sound, The End, Just Breathe). I felt like his song writing on the previous 3 albums was pretty boring. For me this came to a head with the song 'Gone'. Imo, the worst EV song to date.
  • PJForceofNature
    PJForceofNature Posts: 3,087
    Force of Nature
    I know I am in the minority here, but Backspacer is among my favorite PJ albums. I never tire of listening to it!
    "A beacon on dry land"
  • rollings
    rollings unknown Posts: 7,127
    Unthought Known
    Speed of Sound in second
  • northerndragon
    northerndragon Posts: 9,851
    Force of Nature
    Force of Nature wins by a small margin over Johnny Guitar(I know everyone pretty much hates it but for me it's just a good ole rock 'n' roll tune which I enjoy, no deep meaning just fun to listen to) and The End.
    Anything you lose from being honest
    You never really had to begin with.


    Sometimes it's not the song that makes you emotional it's the people and things that come to your mind when you hear it.
  • iwasatpj20
    iwasatpj20 Rockford, IL Posts: 3,470
    Force of Nature
    Force of Nature, always enjoyed that song
    2000 - Chicago, IL
    2003 - Champaign, IL
    2006 - Chicago, IL 1 & 2
    2007 - Chicago, IL Lollapalooza
    2009 - Chicago, IL 1 & 2
    2010 - St. Louis, MO
    2011 - East Troy, WI 1 & 2 (PJ20 Destination Weekend)
    2012 - Atlanta, GA, Missoula, MT
    2013 - Chicago, IL (Wrigley Field), Dallas, TX, Oklahoma City, OK
    2014 - St. Louis, MO, Tulsa, OK, Moline, IL (No Code, IL), Saint Paul, MN, Milwaukee, WI (Yield, WI)
    2016 - Greenville, SC (Vs, SC), Raleigh, NC, Columbia, SC, Boston, MA (Fenway Park 1), Chicago, IL (Wrigley Field 1 & 2)
    2018 - Seattle, WA (Safeco Field 2), Chicago, IL (Wrigley Field 1 & 2), Boston, MA (Fenway Park 2)
    2020 - Nashville, TN, St. Louis, MO, Oklahoma City, OK, Phoenix, AZ, ??
    2022 - Nashville, TN, St. Louis, MO, Oklahoma City, OK, Phoenix, AZ, Las Vegas, NV
    2023 - St. Paul, MN 2, Fort Worth, TX 2, Austin, TX 1, and Austin, TX 2
    2024 - Portland, OR and Chicago, IL (Wrigley Field 1 & 2)
    2025 - Pittsburgh, PA1 & Pittsburgh PA2


    2012 - Temple of the Dog East Troy, WI (PJ20 Destination Weekend)
    2014 - Soundgarden Tinley Park, IL (with Nine Inch Nails)
    2014 - Alice in Chains Davenport, IA
    2016 - Chris Cornell Solo Madison, WI and Peoria, IL (official hometown show)
    2016 - Temple of the Dog San Francisco, CA (both shows)
    2017 - Soundgarden Dallas (cancelled) RIP Chris Cornell
    2018 - Smashing Pumpkins Chicago, IL (first show)
    2019 - Alice in Chains Milwaukee, WI
    2022 - Jerry Cantrell Chicago, IL
    2023 - Jerry Cantrell Milwaukee, WI

    RIP Andrew Wood, Kurt Cobain, Layne Staley, and Chris Cornell

    RIP Mom (may your star shine the brightest in the sky, our family loves and misses you very much, we'll meet again)

  • njnancy
    njnancy Posts: 5,096
    Just Breathe
    Just Breathe gets me because it is an uncomplicated, soothing, folk song. This is just one of those songs that I don't have to consider the instrumental complexity or lyrical integrity. I hear the beginning notes and I close my eyes, lie back and, literally, 'just breathe'.
  • PJForceofNature
    PJForceofNature Posts: 3,087
    Force of Nature
    njnancy I have to agree with you. I find "Just Breathe" to be a very uncomplicated soothing folk song too. I always feel very relaxed when I hear it live or on record. If I heard "Just Breathe" at every future PJ concert I attend, I will be very happy! :)
    "A beacon on dry land"
  • RideTheWave93
    RideTheWave93 UK Posts: 211
    The End
    The End but Unthought known and Amongst the waves are close behind...
  • shetellsherself
    shetellsherself New Jersey Posts: 8,835
    edited October 2015
    The End
    Still love this one best
    5/3/92 Omaha, NE
    6/19/95 Red Rocks
    9/11/98 MSG
    11/19/12 EV solo Tulsa
    7/19/13 Wrigley 10/19/13 Brooklyn 2 10/21/13 Philly 1 10/22/13 Philly 2 10/25/13 Hartford
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    4/16/16 Greenville 4/28/16 Philly 1 4/29/16 Philly 2 5/1/16 MSG 1 5/2/16 MSG 2 8/7/16 Fenway 2 8/20/16 Wrigley 1
    4/7/17 RRHOF New York City
    9/2/18 Fenway 1 9/4/2018 Fenway 2
    9/18/21 Asbury Park
    2/4/22 EV Earthlings NYC 2/6/22 EV Earthlings Newark 9/11/22 MSG 9/14/22 Camden
    9/3/24 MSG 1 9/4/24 MSG 2 9/7/24 Philly 1 9/9/24 Philly 2
  • Attaway77
    Attaway77 Posts: 3,807
    PJForceofNature said:

    I know I am in the minority here, but Backspacer is among my favorite PJ albums. I never tire of listening to it!

    Yep.. Definitely doesn't deserve to get pissed on as much as it does. Damn good album.
    1998 Dallas (7/5) 2006 San Fran (7/15,7/16) 2009 San Fran (8/28) 2010 Bristow (5/13) NY (5/21) 2011 Alpine Valley (9/3,9/4)
    2012 Missoula (9/30) 2013 Chicago (7/19) Pittsburgh (10/11) Buffalo (10/12) Baltimore (10/27) Dallas (11/15)
    2014 Austin (10/12) Memphis (10/14) St. Paul (10/19) Milwaukee (10/20) Denver (10/22)
    2016 Ft. Lauderdale (4/8) Miami (4/9) Hampton (4/18) Philly (4/28,4/29) NY (5/1,5/2) 2018 Seattle (8/10) Missoula (8/13) 2022 Nashville (9/16)
    E.V. - 2008 Berkeley (4/8) 2012 Austin (11/9,11/12)
    Temple of the Dog - 2016 Upper Darby


  • on2legs
    on2legs Posts: 16,006
    Unthought Known
    Unthought Known. Reconfirmed in Central Park last week :smiley:
    1996: Randall's Island 2  1998: East Rutherford | MSG 1 & 2  2000: Cincinnati | Columbus | Jones Beach 1, 2, & 3 | Boston 1 | Camden 1 & 2 2003: Philadelphia | Uniondale | MSG 1 & 2 | Holmdel  2005: Atlantic City 1  2006: Camden 1 | East Rutherford 1 & 2 2008: Camden 1 & 2 | MSG 1 & 2 (#25) | Newark (EV)  2009: Philadelphia 1, 2 & 4  2010: Newark | MSG 1 & 2  2011: Toronto 1  2013: Wrigley Field | Brooklyn 2 | Philadelphia 1 & 2 | Baltimore  2015: Central Park  2016: Philadelphia 1 & 2 | MSG 1 & 2 | Fenway Park 2 | MSG (TOTD)  2017: Brooklyn (RnR HOF)  2020: MSG | Asbury Park  2021: Asbury Park  2022: MSG | Camden | Nashville  2024: MSG 1 & 2 (#50) | Philadelphia 1 & 2 | Baltimore  2025: Raleigh


  • samjam
    samjam New York Posts: 9,283
    Unthought Known
    samjam said:

    Unthought is a modern classic by me!

    Still believe this, but really digging Force of Nature right now, and would go with that if I could vote again.
    "Sometimes you find yourself having to put all your faith in no faith."
    ~not a dude~
    2010: MSGx2
    2012: Made In America
    2013: Pittsburgh, Brooklynx2, Hartford, Baltimore
    2014: Leeds, Milton Keynes, Detroit
    2015: Global Citizen Festival
    2016: Phillyx2, MSGx2, Fenwayx2
    2018: Barcelona, Wrigleyx2

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