BACKSPACER...6 months In What Do We Think

CrookedTom wrote:

So Backspacer has been with us for 6 months or so…How does everyone feel about it?

I have a few problems with the production, seems the vocals are way higher than the music, and I don’t know, it’s a weird mix

Some amazing songs ( Got Some, Fixer, Unthought Known, The End, Johnny Guitar)

Some average stuff (Gonna See My Friend, Speed of Sound)

Some songs I loved at first, and now find them a little…blah (Amongst the Waves, Just Breathe)

What does everyone think?

That's almost exactly what I would have said.

At this point in the band's career, all I hope for with a new album is three or four songs I can't wait to hear live, and they definitely achieved that.

Got Some and Unthought Known were instant classics for me. Surprisingly, the song that continues to grow on me is The Fixer.

Johnny Guitar is still my favorite song on Backspacer. Love it.

I haven't spun the disc in about a month or two. I have a few songs on my playlist that still crop up, but overall, haven't given it much of a listen lately.

Used to be absolutely in love with it. That has tempered a bit.

Best song: Unthought Known, hands down. Still an absolute all-time top 10.

I can still get in to most of the songs on the disc: Gonna See My Friend, Supersonic, Got Some, etc.

Song I really loved at first and is"eh" now: Just Breathe

Song that was "eh" before and I really dig now: Amongst the Waves

Song that always sucked, then and now, more than the free demo version they gave out when you finished the album cover art puzzle game: Speed of Sound

I'm not all about it like I was a few months ago, but I still really really like it. Just like when it first came out, Unthought Known is fav and Amongst the Waves is at the bottom...though I do like Amongst the Waves. I'm also in the minority that likes this version of Speed of Sound more than the demo, it seems.

Songs I loved off the bat and still love:

Got Some, The Fixer, Just Breathe, Speed of Sound

Songs I liked off the bat and still like:

Untought Known, Gonna See My Friend, Johnny Guitar

Songs I didn't like off the bat that really grew on me:

Force of Nature, The End, Supersonic

Song that just doesn't do anything for me:

Amongst the Waves

Overall, I think it's their best record since Yield and in my top 3 PJ albums. I loved it when it came out and a couple songs grew on me, so I probably like it better now than ever.

Gonna See My Friend - Not heard a great live version yet but I like it on the album.
Got Some - Good but a little poppy for PJ.
The Fixer - Mixed opinions but I think it's becoming a classic.
Johnny Guitar - One of PJ's coolest songs yet!
Just Breathe - Simply gorgeous!
Amongst The Waves - Given To Fly 2! Brilliant and just awesome live.
Unthought Known - I want to have it's babies!
Supersonic - Who the fuck let Status Quo write a song for PJ? Get's skipped every time, sorry.
Speed Of Sound - Coldplay wrote a better song with this title and I hate Coldplay. Sorry again.
Force Of Nature - First listen didn't do it for me but it's grown on me like Sleight Of Hand did. Love it!
The End - Only OK for me, like a leftover from Into The Wild but only B-Side quality. Great live w/strings.

7/10 for the album and still my least favourite by PJ but a bad PJ album is still a PJ album.

Johnny Abruzzo wrote:

I think Force of Nature has become my favorite on the album. It's kind of buried at the end there, and it didn't hit me at first, but it's got a really cool sound to it. It's not trying too hard, unlike, say, Amongst the Waves. Some great lyrics too.

BINGO...what he said. And "Amongst the Waves", like I've said before, reminds me of a Winger or Nelson or Bon Jovi song...way too cheesy for me.

I love the first half of the album.

I just really dislike Force of Nature and Speed of Sound (heard the demo and can never go back). Unthought Known is definitely the current grower though.

I agree, although it’s better than Riot Act.

Yeah I think we have seen the pinnacle of Pearl Jam songs, which is fine. To have 5 or 6 classic albums, and probably a classic album’s worth of B-sides to your name is up there with the very best (Led Zep, Floyd, Queen, Stones, etc)

I’d like to see them push the boat out a little more next time, sonically. Kind of like the Binaural album..Seems they have played it pretty safe on Avocado & Backspacer

For me, Backspacer is more consistent than Riot Act overall, but I think the highs on RA are higher (and the lows are lower).

Totally agree about the overall body of work and would love to see them get more adventurous going forward. I know the mantra was to simplify on Backspacer and some of the interviews indicated that the band thought they had made some of the song structures too complex in the past, but I love those tempo changes, etc.