Poll--The Weakest Link: Backspacer Round 1

oftenreading said:

Thirty Bills Unpaid said:

The Fixer should not be going out first round.

People... c'mon, man. On any other album sure, but geez. Here? Worst song on this album? That's your vote?

Dear gawd.

Some other songs have the odd cheesy line, but The Fixer is pure cheese throughout.
When somethings broke, I wanna put a bit of fixin on it
When somethings bored, I wanna put a little exciting on it
If somethings low, I wanna put a little high on it...

I rest my case

We had some cheesy ass lyrics win self titled. Go figure. 
Let me run into the rain......
at least the fixer is fun live.
And yes we all got tired of just breathe but you must admit it really is a good song. If it was on one of the first three albums it would be on everyone s top  ten list. 

F Me In The Brain said:

ledvedderman said:

I'm sorry to hear that, man. I'd be lying if I said I were in a better place. I swear I played the Cat Stevens song "Father and Son" for like 45 minutes earlier.

 Fucking music, man. Knows the words and emotions when I don't and can't. 

Well said.  Why Backspacer has a special place forever in my heart.  My hero was dying and I couldnt get my head around it.  B/S came out as this was happening and just spoke to me -- The End (the most depressing song on the album and one of the most depressing songs from them, ever) in particular held an important place for me during those last days. 

I will take the blame
But just the same
This is not me
You see
Believe
I'm better than this

I get why others crap on Backspacer, but I love it.  Always.  Saved me from my own hardheartedness and showed me how to feel again.  Made it OK to let any disappointment, anger, hurt, frustration, despair, and loneliness from the previous decade plus out from the corner I shoved it all into and to move on from the eventual loss.

Right on, love to see the positivity.
It's my buddy's​ favorite PJ album.  It came out right when he was at the height of his "listening to PJ exclusively" phase and resonated with him.  He learned to play every song in about a month.
The End is an amazing guitar work, he always wants me to sing it for him and I always refuse because it's too beautiful to sing over.

Listened to this entire album again on the way to work and still really enjoy it. It's a quick easy listen. I don't dislike any song on this album. Johnny Guitar is one of those songs where you can pretty much imagine the scene as he's singing the lyrics. Easy storyboard song. Force of Nature is another one I can easily picture the narrative to in my head as he sings it. Just Breathe and The End are really good songs and the only slow ones. They only suffer from being Eddie heavy on a Pearl Jam album and the over play of Just Breathe live in the encore slot. There also seems to be a trend that we collectively dislike any song that has mass appeal or became mainstream. Just look at the list of winners. A non-PJ fan would be like, WTF?

Anyway, as some have already said, I understand why people don't like this album, but I think it's pretty good and especially light (rockers and content) considering how heavy Pearl Jam S/T was.

not surprised it is so far 'ahead' in the poll since it always seems to have negative comments associated with it on here, but johnny guitar is one of the better songs on backspacer, imo.

ledvedderman said:

I don't get the hate for The End. I think it's an amazing song and the strings on it are wonderfully composed. The actual music of the song is quite complex for a singer songwriter like Ed. His guitar playing just keeps getting better and better. Some tricky and quick changes all over this song. Lyrically it's great. It kicked my ass last night. It was the first time I've listened to it since a pretty serious brain diagnosis for me a couple of weeks ago. It's perfect. I know a lot of people connect to Just Breathe more and that's fine, but I will say hands down all the way to the grave that The End is the better song all around Ed solo type song on this record. 

It's the production and the way Ed sounds like he has a cold throughout the record for me. Not a fan of the strings on it, either. I enjoyed seeing it performed live though, it gave me an entirely new appreciation for the song. 

AndySlash said:

not surprised it is so far 'ahead' in the poll since it always seems to have negative comments associated with it on here, but johnny guitar is one of the better songs on backspacer, imo.

Agreed.  Never understood the hate for The Fixer, either.

mcgruff10 said:

ledvedderman said:

I don't get the hate for The End. I think it's an amazing song and the strings on it are wonderfully composed. The actual music of the song is quite complex for a singer songwriter like Ed. His guitar playing just keeps getting better and better. Some tricky and quick changes all over this song. Lyrically it's great. It kicked my ass last night. It was the first time I've listened to it since a pretty serious brain diagnosis for me a couple of weeks ago. It's perfect. I know a lot of people connect to Just Breathe more and that's fine, but I will say hands down all the way to the grave that The End is the better song all around Ed solo type song on this record. 

for me "the end" is just do damn depressing to enjoy.

On a side note, I hope you are getting better bud.

Same here. The album drifted toward darkness at the end and it kind of shocked me that they ended such an upbeat record with that song. Ed even joked about it before he played it. lol. Maybe live with strings, it's better. I haven't listened to a boot from that era in a while, though. I didn't really like how the shows were mixed during the '08-'10 era. Hope you feel better.

Spiritual_Chaos said:

I hate the

Im in a well. 

everything was swell

but now its hell

Well well, 

im in a well

C'mon now! He literally says well one time in the entire song. The only lyric I really cringe a little at is the "slide up next to me". It's a good depressing song, which is usually the type of Pearl Jam we like around here.

BSully said:

So sad to hear people talk about some of these songs as awful, terrible, or that they always skip them. Pretty much any PJ is better than most other music out there. Johnny Guitar is not my favorite song by any means, but I will take that all day compared to a lot of stuff!

I know it's everyone's opinion and I am fine with what ever anyone else thinks...it just makes me sad:(

Without a bit of exaggeration it would be quite boring. I think.

ledvedderman said:

I'm sorry to hear that, man. I'd be lying if I said I were in a better place. I swear I played the Cat Stevens song "Father and Son" for like 45 minutes earlier. Fucking music, man. Knows the words and emotions when I don't and can't. 

 I never know if I should listen to sad songs when i'm blue or happy songs. each can have the opposing effect, and I never know which one.