Backspacer and it's not even close. Don't get the hate for Backspacer. Tight, fun rockers with actual melodies...best since Yield. What's not to love?
best since Yield...except for Binaural, Riot Act, and S/T
I’ll take BS and Gigaton over those 3 albums, Gern.
Its a fun listen. Maybe because The Fixer is such a dividing tune that it set the stage for all of this. IMO The Fixer is one of Ed’s best choruses ever. “Fight to get it back again” defines PJ
Backspacer and it's not even close. Don't get the hate for Backspacer. Tight, fun rockers with actual melodies...best since Yield. What's not to love?
best since Yield...except for Binaural, Riot Act, and S/T
I’ll take BS and Gigaton over those 3 albums, Gern.
Its a fun listen. Maybe because The Fixer is such a dividing tune that it set the stage for all of this. IMO The Fixer is one of Ed’s best choruses ever. “Fight to get it back again” defines PJ
I'm glad that you see it that way...it is interesting how many of us prefer certain albums over others.
For me BS just doesn't have the same staying power as the others. It seemed quickly put together...and I believe at the time Brendan O'Brien even said something to the effect that he wished the band would play together more instead of doing side projects.
To me Gigaton is miles above BS and quite a way above LB....not above S/T though...and nowhere near Binaural or RA. Yield will likely always be my favorite PJ album. Maybe because of what was going on in my life at the time with kids, job, etc.
Remember the Thomas Nine !! (10/02/2018) The Golden Age is 2 months away. And guess what….. you’re gonna love it! (teskeinc 11.19.24)
1998: Noblesville; 2003: Noblesville; 2009: EV Nashville, Chicago, Chicago 2010: St Louis, Columbus, Noblesville; 2011: EV Chicago, East Troy, East Troy 2013: London ON, Wrigley; 2014: Cincy, St Louis, Moline (NO CODE) 2016: Lexington, Wrigley #1; 2018: Wrigley, Wrigley, Boston, Boston 2020: Oakland, Oakland:2021: EV Ohana, Ohana, Ohana, Ohana 2022: Oakland, Oakland, Nashville, Louisville; 2023: Chicago, Chicago, Noblesville 2024: Noblesville, Wrigley, Wrigley, Ohana, Ohana; 2025: Pitt1, Pitt2
A few years ago I made a playlist of my favorite tracks from both records and made an album that I play pretty often. Flows pretty well IMO. Sometimes I add Pendulumorphisis to open. Kinda neat intro to Pendulum IMO
Pendulum Getaway Got Some Just Breathe Infallible The Fixer Amongst the Waves Lightning Bolt Supersonic Yellow Moon Unthought Known Future Days
I’m surprised that LB has more support than BS. I always thought BS was ok until I came to this forum. First three tracks on BS are better than anything on LB except MYM.
When comparing albums as others have, the BS slow rockers of Just Breathe, Speed of Sound and The End (if you have ever known a person in this situation this song tears you up inside) are far superior IMO than LB’s Future Days, Sleeping By Myself and Yellow Moon. I really only want to hear Yellow Moon, has an Uncle Neil feel to me, Future Days is ok... and SBM (ugh).
This way of comparing albums doesn’t make much sense to me. What does it matter how both songs 3 compare? You like a song or you don’t and at the end of the album you know how many songs you like
It doesn’t have to make sense to you. To me it’s apples to apples.
I’m surprised that LB has more support than BS. I always thought BS was ok until I came to this forum. First three tracks on BS are better than anything on LB except MYM.
When comparing albums as others have, the BS slow rockers of Just Breathe, Speed of Sound and The End (if you have ever known a person in this situation this song tears you up inside) are far superior IMO than LB’s Future Days, Sleeping By Myself and Yellow Moon. I really only want to hear Yellow Moon, has an Uncle Neil feel to me, Future Days is ok... and SBM (ugh).
This way of comparing albums doesn’t make much sense to me. What does it matter how both songs 3 compare? You like a song or you don’t and at the end of the album you know how many songs you like
It doesn’t have to make sense to you. To me it’s apples to apples.
I’m surprised that LB has more support than BS. I always thought BS was ok until I came to this forum. First three tracks on BS are better than anything on LB except MYM.
When comparing albums as others have, the BS slow rockers of Just Breathe, Speed of Sound and The End (if you have ever known a person in this situation this song tears you up inside) are far superior IMO than LB’s Future Days, Sleeping By Myself and Yellow Moon. I really only want to hear Yellow Moon, has an Uncle Neil feel to me, Future Days is ok... and SBM (ugh).
This way of comparing albums doesn’t make much sense to me. What does it matter how both songs 3 compare? You like a song or you don’t and at the end of the album you know how many songs you like
Exactly , some may like the more songs on BS and others LB , either way some will like one album over the other.
surprised how many chose Backspacer. I think most of it are throw away rockers. i think there are only 3 keepers on Backspacer; Unthought Known, Just Breathe and Amongst the Waves. I like Force of Nature as well but pretty the rest is pretty blah to me. I think on Lightning Bolt the first 8 songs are really good to solid. If you cut out Let the Records Play and Sleeping by Myself that would be a really solid 10 song album. I think the few extra fluff on Lightning Bolt hurts it in some people's eyes.
I’m surprised that LB has more support than BS. I always thought BS was ok until I came to this forum. First three tracks on BS are better than anything on LB except MYM.
When comparing albums as others have, the BS slow rockers of Just Breathe, Speed of Sound and The End (if you have ever known a person in this situation this song tears you up inside) are far superior IMO than LB’s Future Days, Sleeping By Myself and Yellow Moon. I really only want to hear Yellow Moon, has an Uncle Neil feel to me, Future Days is ok... and SBM (ugh).
This way of comparing albums doesn’t make much sense to me. What does it matter how both songs 3 compare? You like a song or you don’t and at the end of the album you know how many songs you like
It doesn’t have to make sense to you. To me it’s apples to apples.
That’s exactly what I said, „to me“
Of all the posts comparing the two albums (which is what this whole thread is) mine is the only way that doesn’t make sense to you 😂. Its been compared nine ways til Tuesday and comparing songs that are actually the same tempo makes no sense.
I’m surprised that LB has more support than BS. I always thought BS was ok until I came to this forum. First three tracks on BS are better than anything on LB except MYM.
When comparing albums as others have, the BS slow rockers of Just Breathe, Speed of Sound and The End (if you have ever known a person in this situation this song tears you up inside) are far superior IMO than LB’s Future Days, Sleeping By Myself and Yellow Moon. I really only want to hear Yellow Moon, has an Uncle Neil feel to me, Future Days is ok... and SBM (ugh).
This way of comparing albums doesn’t make much sense to me. What does it matter how both songs 3 compare? You like a song or you don’t and at the end of the album you know how many songs you like
👍
ALPINE VALLEY MUSIC THEATRE 1992 SUMMERFEST MILWAUKEE 1995 ALPINE VALLEY MUSIC THEATRE 1998 UNITED CENTER CHICAGO1998 THOMPSON-BOLING ARENA KNOXVILLE 1998 ALPINE VALLEY MUSIC THEATRE 2000 ALLSTATE ARENA ROSEMONT 2000 ALPINE VALLEY MUSIC THEATRE 2003 HERSHEYPARK STADIUM 2003 TOLEDO SPORTS ARENA 2004 AIR CANADA CENTRE TORONTO 2005 UNITED CENTER CHICAGO 2006 UNITED CENTER CHICAGO 2006 VERIZON CENTER DC 2008 UNITED CENTER CHICAGO 2009 NATIONWIDE ARENA COLUMBUS 2010 PJ20 NIGHT 1 Alpine Valley Music Theatre 2011 PJ20 NIGHT 2 Alpine Valley Music Theatre 2011 1ST MARINER ARENA BALTIMORE 2013 IWIRELESS CENTER MOLINE 2014 XCEL ENERGY CENTER ST. PAUL 2014 CHICAGO 1 Wrigley Field 2016 CHICAGO 2 Wrigley Field 2016 CHICAGO 1 Wrigley Field 2018 CHICAGO 2 Wrigley Field 2018 BOSTON 2 Fenway Park 2018 ENTERPRISE CENTER SAINT LOUIS 2022 Eddie Vedder Auditorium Theatre CHICAGO 2008
Listened to Backspacer recently for the first time in years. Upon it's initial release I thought it was pretty good, but after my recent listening experience I think it’s their weakest album.
I don't know -- it's really close between Backspacer and Lightning Bolt. If I had to rank the Pearl Jam studio albums, my list would be: (1) Ten -- easily the best (my favorite album of all time) (2) Yield -- whole thing is great (3) Riot Act -- Save You is one of my five favorite Pearl Jam songs (4) No Code -- Too young to completely appreciate it in 1996 but love it now (5) Versus -- great second album (6) Vitalogy -- some bizarre stuff (Bugs) but some excellent stuff too (7) Gigaton -- best Pearl Jam album in 18 years (since Riot Act) (8) Pearl Jam (Avocado) -- really solid from beginning to end (9) Binaural -- good but not great by Pearl Jam standards (10) Backspacer -- just a bit better than Lightning Bolt (11) Lightning Bolt -- good but doesn't measure up to the rest on this list P.S. - If Lost Dogs was a studio album, it'd be number three on this list!
I’m surprised that LB has more support than BS. I always thought BS was ok until I came to this forum. First three tracks on BS are better than anything on LB except MYM.
When comparing albums as others have, the BS slow rockers of Just Breathe, Speed of Sound and The End (if you have ever known a person in this situation this song tears you up inside) are far superior IMO than LB’s Future Days, Sleeping By Myself and Yellow Moon. I really only want to hear Yellow Moon, has an Uncle Neil feel to me, Future Days is ok... and SBM (ugh).
This way of comparing albums doesn’t make much sense to me. What does it matter how both songs 3 compare? You like a song or you don’t and at the end of the album you know how many songs you like
It doesn’t have to make sense to you. To me it’s apples to apples.
That’s exactly what I said, „to me“
Of all the posts comparing the two albums (which is what this whole thread is) mine is the only way that doesn’t make sense to you 😂. Its been compared nine ways til Tuesday and comparing songs that are actually the same tempo makes no sense.
Paradoxical.
Each to their own of course PJNB put it well though... even if I put Unthought Known slightly above Pendulum, it totally discards a song that I personally think is better than the entire rest of Backspacer. No matter the tempo. Just because it had the bad fortune of being in 7th spot as well. It’s no big deal though. Again, each to their own
I did a track-by-track listenability comparison. In my opinion:
1. Gonna See My Friend > Getaway 2. Got Some == Mind Your Manners 3. The Fixer > My Father's Son 4. Johnny Guitar < Sirens 5. Just Breathe > LIghtning Bolt 6. Amongst the Waves > Infallible 7. Unkthought Known > Pendulum 8. Supersonic == Swallowed Whole 9. Speed of Sound > Let The Records Play 10. Force of Nature == Sleeping By Myself 11. The End == Yellow Moon and/or Future Days
Backspacer 6 Lightning Bolt 1 Toss-up 4
Whoa, hold on. Force of Nature is LEAPS AND BOUNDS better than Sleeping By Myself.
Here's my track by track: 1. Gonna see Friend= Getaway 2. Got Some >Mind Your Manners 3. The Fixer> Father son 4. Johnny Guitar< Sirens 5. Just Breathe< LB 6. Amongst Waves> Infallible 7. Unthought Known> Pendulum 8. Supersonic< Swallowed Whole 9. Speed of Sound> Records Play 10. Force of Nature> Sleeping by Myself 11. The End<<Yellow Moon and Future Days
Interesting for me because my gut reaction is I like LB slightly better but track by track its Backspacer 6 LB 4 and 2 tossup. A little off because I prefer Yellow Moon and Future Days could both get a nod since I like them better then the last three tracks on Backspacer. And I love Pendulum and Infallible but track by track they lose to two of my PJ favorites. Oh well, enjoy them both quite a bit.
Comments
For me BS just doesn't have the same staying power as the others. It seemed quickly put together...and I believe at the time Brendan O'Brien even said something to the effect that he wished the band would play together more instead of doing side projects.
To me Gigaton is miles above BS and quite a way above LB....not above S/T though...and nowhere near Binaural or RA. Yield will likely always be my favorite PJ album. Maybe because of what was going on in my life at the time with kids, job, etc.
The Golden Age is 2 months away. And guess what….. you’re gonna love it! (teskeinc 11.19.24)
1998: Noblesville; 2003: Noblesville; 2009: EV Nashville, Chicago, Chicago
2010: St Louis, Columbus, Noblesville; 2011: EV Chicago, East Troy, East Troy
2013: London ON, Wrigley; 2014: Cincy, St Louis, Moline (NO CODE)
2016: Lexington, Wrigley #1; 2018: Wrigley, Wrigley, Boston, Boston
2020: Oakland, Oakland: 2021: EV Ohana, Ohana, Ohana, Ohana
2022: Oakland, Oakland, Nashville, Louisville; 2023: Chicago, Chicago, Noblesville
2024: Noblesville, Wrigley, Wrigley, Ohana, Ohana; 2025: Pitt1, Pitt2
Pendulum
Getaway
Got Some
Just Breathe
Infallible
The Fixer
Amongst the Waves
Lightning Bolt
Supersonic
Yellow Moon
Unthought Known
Future Days
Exactly , some may like the more songs on BS and others LB , either way some will like one album over the other.
Its been compared nine ways til Tuesday and comparing songs that are actually the same tempo makes no sense.
SUMMERFEST MILWAUKEE 1995
ALPINE VALLEY MUSIC THEATRE 1998
UNITED CENTER CHICAGO1998
THOMPSON-BOLING ARENA KNOXVILLE 1998
ALPINE VALLEY MUSIC THEATRE 2000
ALLSTATE ARENA ROSEMONT 2000
ALPINE VALLEY MUSIC THEATRE 2003
HERSHEYPARK STADIUM 2003
TOLEDO SPORTS ARENA 2004
AIR CANADA CENTRE TORONTO 2005
UNITED CENTER CHICAGO 2006
UNITED CENTER CHICAGO 2006
VERIZON CENTER DC 2008
UNITED CENTER CHICAGO 2009
NATIONWIDE ARENA COLUMBUS 2010
PJ20 NIGHT 1 Alpine Valley Music Theatre 2011
PJ20 NIGHT 2 Alpine Valley Music Theatre 2011
1ST MARINER ARENA BALTIMORE 2013
IWIRELESS CENTER MOLINE 2014
XCEL ENERGY CENTER ST. PAUL 2014
CHICAGO 1 Wrigley Field 2016
CHICAGO 2 Wrigley Field 2016
CHICAGO 1 Wrigley Field 2018
CHICAGO 2 Wrigley Field 2018
BOSTON 2 Fenway Park 2018
ENTERPRISE CENTER SAINT LOUIS 2022
Eddie Vedder Auditorium Theatre CHICAGO 2008
(1) Ten -- easily the best (my favorite album of all time)
(2) Yield -- whole thing is great
(3) Riot Act -- Save You is one of my five favorite Pearl Jam songs
(4) No Code -- Too young to completely appreciate it in 1996 but love it now
(5) Versus -- great second album
(6) Vitalogy -- some bizarre stuff (Bugs) but some excellent stuff too
(7) Gigaton -- best Pearl Jam album in 18 years (since Riot Act)
(8) Pearl Jam (Avocado) -- really solid from beginning to end
(9) Binaural -- good but not great by Pearl Jam standards
(10) Backspacer -- just a bit better than Lightning Bolt
(11) Lightning Bolt -- good but doesn't measure up to the rest on this list
P.S. - If Lost Dogs was a studio album, it'd be number three on this list!
It’s no big deal though. Again, each to their own
Vs (my intro to PJ when I was in fifth grade)
Vitalogy
No Code
Yield
Binaural
Ten (too young to appreciate it when it came out so I missed the boat on this one)
Riot Act
Gigaton
Pearl Jam
Backspacer
Lightning Bolt
There are no kings inside the gates of eden
Melbourne #2 '03
Melbourne #3 '03
Melbourne #1 '06
Melbourne #3 '06
Melbourne '09
Melbourne '14
1. Gonna see Friend= Getaway
2. Got Some >Mind Your Manners
3. The Fixer> Father son
4. Johnny Guitar< Sirens
5. Just Breathe< LB
6. Amongst Waves> Infallible
7. Unthought Known> Pendulum
8. Supersonic< Swallowed Whole
9. Speed of Sound> Records Play
10. Force of Nature> Sleeping by Myself
11. The End<<Yellow Moon and Future Days
Interesting for me because my gut reaction is I like LB slightly better but track by track its Backspacer 6 LB 4 and 2 tossup. A little off because I prefer Yellow Moon and Future Days could both get a nod since I like them better then the last three tracks on Backspacer. And I love Pendulum and Infallible but track by track they lose to two of my PJ favorites. Oh well, enjoy them both quite a bit.