BACKSPACER...6 months In What Do We Think

245

Comments

  • FirstExit
    FirstExit Los Angeles Posts: 973
    Force of Nature...initially it was my least favorite on the album but now it's probably my favorite.

    Just Breathe has had A LOT of radio airplay around here, so that's one that I could go without listening to right now hahah.
  • Jennytree
    Jennytree Posts: 5,340
    My overall feeling is that it'll be down the bottom of the pile right on top of Avocado. There are some great songs there but I wouldn't hesitate to skip the album to listen to any of the first 6 or 7.
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  • CJMST3K
    CJMST3K Posts: 9,722
    edited February 2010
    GREAT - Top notch:
    Amongst the Waves
    Johnny Guitar
    The End

    VERY GOOD
    Unthought Known
    Just Breathe

    GOOD
    Got Some

    OK
    Force of Nature (song structure seems like an 80's hair band song that should be in a movie montage)
    The Fixer

    MEH
    Gonna See My Friend
    Supersonic (I skip it though, it's just kinda there)
    Speed of Sound (though the "demo" version of this is SO much better - no instruments forced into it)



    The question I have is, was Backspacer their "best album of the lot", as Matt Cameron suggested. My answer, very easily, no. Best album he's played on? Probably - but PJ's TEN and VS are beyond compare. There is not an "ok" song or a "meh" song on either of those two albums. Those two albums hit the ball out of the park, and into a satellite. This album scored a double or a triple.
    Post edited by CJMST3K on
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  • demetrios
    demetrios Posts: 98,322
    It's a good album but it doesn't blow me away like the other albums.
  • drsluggo
    drsluggo Posts: 4,742
    Gonna See My Friend - For me this was an instant winner and I still love hearing it anytime
    Got Some - This one I loved after Conan but after a while its slipped a little for me
    The Fixer - I really like this song - the middle is fantastic
    Johnny Guitar - This one grew on me a lot and I like it a lot more now than at first
    Just Breathe - This one seemed boring at first but has grown on me
    Amongst The Waves - I am in that minority that doesn't quite get this one, but its still a good song.
    Unthought Known - Grown on me a ton - top 3 of the album for me
    Supersonic - Liked this when I heard that first live version, but its gone downhill since
    Speed Of Sound - Demo, good. Backspacer version, bizarre.
    Force Of Nature - Favorite song off the album since day 1
    The End - This one I liked a bit when I first heard and it hasnt really gone up or down since.

    Overall I like the album - I'd say I only skip 2 songs (supersonic and speed of sound) so that's fairly impressive. Still wish it was a few songs longer, but we're all long past that :)
  • DH62179
    DH62179 Posts: 312
    I had a problem with it from the get go, couldn't put my finger on what it was but just couldn't get into it. I thought it was the way I had cheated and listened to everything before I actually bought it but not sure. At least now I can listen to it and enjoy all of it several times a week, even Johnny Guitar. GSMF has always been my favorite, I get chills every time i hear Ed scream near the end. ATW has never really done it for me after the first several listens, I've always thought Matt's drumming just didnt hit the mark, the early reviews compared it to Alive in the way it reaches this anthemic ending but the drums just don't rise up like the rest of the song. Overall I'm happy with it and am very glad its doing so well.
  • jets521
    jets521 Posts: 804
    im suprised Supersonic gets so much hate. I really dig the song and the breakdown in the middle is fantastic. oh well.

    Overall i think its a solid album..although i cringe when i hear The FIxer (although it is solid live song) and Just Breathe. Those two tracks just dont do it for me at all.

    il steal the Hoffs format

    GREAT
    Unthought Known
    Amongst The Waves

    VERY GOOD
    GOt Some
    Johnny Guitar
    GSMF

    GOOD
    The End
    Supersonic
    Force of Nature

    OK
    Speed Of Sound

    MEH
    Fixer
    Just Breathe
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  • CJMST3K
    CJMST3K Posts: 9,722
    DH62179 wrote:
    I had a problem with it from the get go, couldn't put my finger on what it was but just couldn't get into it. I thought it was the way I had cheated and listened to everything before I actually bought it but not sure. At least now I can listen to it and enjoy all of it several times a week, even Johnny Guitar. GSMF has always been my favorite, I get chills every time i hear Ed scream near the end. ATW has never really done it for me after the first several listens, I've always thought Matt's drumming just didnt hit the mark, the early reviews compared it to Alive in the way it reaches this anthemic ending but the drums just don't rise up like the rest of the song. Overall I'm happy with it and am very glad its doing so well.


    Interesting. I'm probably the most vocal critic of MC's drumming (and supporter when he plays well) and I thought he played amazingly well on this album - probably the best playing he's done with them.
    ADD 5,200 to the post count you see, thank you. :)
    *NYC 9/28/96 *NYC 9/29/96 *NJ 9/8/98 (front row "may i play drums with you")
    *MSG 9/10/98 (backstage) *MSG 9/11/98 (backstage)
    *Jones Beach 8/23/00 *Jones Beach 8/24/00 *Jones Beach 8/25/00
    *Mansfield 8/29/00 *Mansfield 8/30/00 *Nassau 4/30/03 *Nissan VA 7/1/03
    *Borgata 10/1/05 *Camden 5/27/06 *Camden 5/28/06 *DC 5/30/06
    *VA Beach 6/17/08 *DC 6/22/08 *MSG 6/24/08 (backstage) *MSG 6/25/08
    *EV DC 8/17/08 *EV Baltimore 6/15/09 *Philly 10/31/09
    *Bristow VA 5/13/10 *MSG 5/20/10 *MSG 5/21/10
  • U R A Crazy Breed
    U R A Crazy Breed Posts: 8,370
    i've hit the point as a fan where i have stopped trying to categorize their music by "good and bad"...first of all...they don't make bad music...and secondly...frame of mind has sooooo much to do with music...like, there are certain songs i don't want to hear when i am pissed off and there are those i love to crank when i'm angry...there are those you listen to when feeling mellow...etc etc

    Backspacer is a "lite" album to me...i took it for what it was...even if it's not my preferred style of music i figured it was ground that they never covered and that is what keeps this band going/together, so how can that be bad?....do i think they will make a return to the deeper darker music? fuck yeah! I am def not one of the people around here who thinks this is all we will get from them from now on and that their best stuff is behind them...i think that's bullshit...how anyone who has been a fan of this band for at least the past 10 years can think that is beyond me!

    ........and i don't care what any of you say...........Riot Act is fucking brilliant!!!!!!!
  • pdalowsky
    pdalowsky Doncaster,UK Posts: 15,272
    fucking brilliant record still.....

    and Just breathe is still an awesome track, as is got some, amoungst the waves, supersonic, force of nature, and unthought known

    the only tracks now to have grown on me at all are johnny guitar and speed of sound - the latter just doesnt fit on the record well......still 9/11 tracks - id take that all day long.
  • DH62179
    DH62179 Posts: 312
    CJMST3K wrote:
    Interesting. I'm probably the most vocal critic of MC's drumming (and supporter when he plays well) and I thought he played amazingly well on this album - probably the best playing he's done with them.

    Don't get me wrong I think he did great on the album, I just wish he would have let go on ATW, it seemed like he just played the same thoughout the whole song, that is my ONLY criticism though.
  • pdalowsky
    pdalowsky Doncaster,UK Posts: 15,272
    shame its been promoted as if it was a floating turd,

    whoever had the job of promoting this record has in my view done a piss poor job. It deserves so much more
  • Flagg
    Flagg Posts: 5,856
    edited February 2010
    I still think it is their best since YIELD and in my overall top 3. I just love the overall mood and how upbeat it is. Many people complained about how political PJ had become over the years and I like the fact that this record is almost a 180 from that standpoint. I like the maturity and the general celebration of life, like Eddie realized things aren't so bad after all maybe. It sounds great, not muddy like Avocado or lifeless like Riot Act.

    Short, sweet and to the point, I think Backspacer is a masterpiece. And for once in a long while, there aren't any songs I skip.

    Unthought Known is the best thing they have done in years and years.
    Post edited by Flagg on
    DAL-7/5/98,10/17/00,6/9/03,11/15/13
    BOS-9/28/04,9/29/04,6/28/08,6/30/08, 9/5/16, 9/7/16, 9/2/18
    MTL-9/15/05, OTT-9/16/05
    PHL-5/27/06,5/28/06,10/30/09,10/31/09
    CHI-8/2/07,8/5/07,8/23/09,8/24/09
    HTFD-6/27/08
    ATX-10/4/09, 10/12/14
    KC-5/3/2010,STL-5/4/2010
    Bridge School-10/23/2010,10/24/2010
    PJ20-9/3/2011,9/4/2011
    OKC-11/16/13
    SEA-12/6/13
    TUL-10/8/14
  • Flagg
    Flagg Posts: 5,856
    pdalowsky wrote:
    shame its been promoted as if it was a floating turd,

    whoever had the job of promoting this record has in my view done a piss poor job. It deserves so much more

    Thumbs WAY up. Not to mention the fact that the band really didn't feel like touring much to support their best album in years. I still do not get that.
    DAL-7/5/98,10/17/00,6/9/03,11/15/13
    BOS-9/28/04,9/29/04,6/28/08,6/30/08, 9/5/16, 9/7/16, 9/2/18
    MTL-9/15/05, OTT-9/16/05
    PHL-5/27/06,5/28/06,10/30/09,10/31/09
    CHI-8/2/07,8/5/07,8/23/09,8/24/09
    HTFD-6/27/08
    ATX-10/4/09, 10/12/14
    KC-5/3/2010,STL-5/4/2010
    Bridge School-10/23/2010,10/24/2010
    PJ20-9/3/2011,9/4/2011
    OKC-11/16/13
    SEA-12/6/13
    TUL-10/8/14
  • U R A Crazy Breed
    U R A Crazy Breed Posts: 8,370
    Flagg wrote:
    Many people complained about political PJ had become over the years and I like the fact that this record is almost a 180 from that standpoint.

    LOL...that would be my only reason for not liking it as much as past albums!



    Flagg wrote:
    lifeless like Riot Act.

    :evil: :evil: :evil: :evil: :evil: :evil: :evil: :evil: :evil: :evil:
    :wtf: :wtf: :wtf: :wtf: :wtf: :wtf: :wtf: :wtf: :wtf: :wtf:
  • Ivn1322
    Ivn1322 Posts: 68
    GREAT
    Johnny Guitar - I've always loved this song since the first listen
    The Fixer - Ditto
    Unthought Known - Just amazing

    VERY GOOD
    Got Some - Not to crazy about the background vocals, still prefer the Conan version a lot more (just the way he sings it at the end, it's full on punch you in the face...I love it)
    Gonna See My Friend - It's a great song to listen to full blast in your car

    GOOD
    Just Breathe - I still like listening to it time to time.
    The End - I think these songs go hand in hand

    OK
    Force of Nature - This song has grown on me.
    Supersonic - It has it's moments

    MEH
    Speed of Sound - I skip this song a lot, I can listen to it but it's just boring. Great song to sing on Rock Band though, go figure.
    Amongst the Waves - Meh!

    Can't wait to see what's next...
  • Flagg
    Flagg Posts: 5,856
    U R A Crazy Breed wrote:
    Flagg wrote:
    Many people complained about political PJ had become over the years and I like the fact that this record is almost a 180 from that standpoint.

    LOL...that would be my only reason for not liking it as much as past albums!



    Flagg wrote:
    lifeless like Riot Act.

    :evil: :evil: :evil: :evil: :evil: :evil: :evil: :evil: :evil: :evil:
    :wtf: :wtf: :wtf: :wtf: :wtf: :wtf: :wtf: :wtf: :wtf: :wtf:

    Oh, I don't mind the political topics at all. Just nice to take a break from them.
    DAL-7/5/98,10/17/00,6/9/03,11/15/13
    BOS-9/28/04,9/29/04,6/28/08,6/30/08, 9/5/16, 9/7/16, 9/2/18
    MTL-9/15/05, OTT-9/16/05
    PHL-5/27/06,5/28/06,10/30/09,10/31/09
    CHI-8/2/07,8/5/07,8/23/09,8/24/09
    HTFD-6/27/08
    ATX-10/4/09, 10/12/14
    KC-5/3/2010,STL-5/4/2010
    Bridge School-10/23/2010,10/24/2010
    PJ20-9/3/2011,9/4/2011
    OKC-11/16/13
    SEA-12/6/13
    TUL-10/8/14
  • The Rock
    The Rock Posts: 1,439
    It's been 6 months and I'm still in love with it. I can't just listen to one or two tracks, I have to listen from start to finish.

    There are a couple of songs that I don't love as much as others, but on the whole I think it's a stellar record. There is something about it that just clicks with me. The music, lyrics, Ed's voice all combine to create what I think is easily their strongest record. I'd break it down like this:

    Absolute classics:
    Just Breathe
    Amongst The Waves
    Unthought Known
    Speed Of Sound
    Force Of Nature
    The End

    Brilliant songs:
    Got Some
    Johnny Guitar
    Supersonic

    Good songs:
    Gonna See My Friend
    The Fixer

    Overall, I adore this record. I loved it instantly and it hasn't eased off. Well done guys!
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  • Indifference71
    Indifference71 Chicago Posts: 14,926
    Love the album. Unthought Known has easily become one of my favorite PJ songs. The only songs I'm not crazy about are Speed of Sound (the demo version is so much better), Supersonic (sounds too much like 'Mankind') and Gonna See My Friend (just one of those blah songs). Other than that, 8 great songs out of 11 is pretty damn good!
  • jets521
    jets521 Posts: 804
    The Rock wrote:

    Absolute classics:
    Just Breathe
    Amongst The Waves
    Unthought Known
    Speed Of Sound
    Force Of Nature
    The End

    Brilliant songs:
    Got Some
    Johnny Guitar
    Supersonic

    Good songs:
    Gonna See My Friend
    The Fixer

    Overall, I adore this record. I loved it instantly and it hasn't eased off. Well done guys!

    "absolute classics" and "brilliant" ?

    :lol: i love the enthusiasm but come on...its only been six months and your calling songs classics!?
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