Backspacer turns 15 years old

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  • Spiritual_Chaos
    Spiritual_Chaos Posts: 31,465
    It sounds like a collection of B-sides to me. But I do enjoy listening to it from time to time.
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  • False_Belief
    False_Belief Cardiff Posts: 763

    Not my favourite album of theirs by any stretch but I do have some great memories associated with it (the Shepherds Bush Empire show being top of the list) along with this thing (which I rarely get the chance to show off, so please indulge me....)

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  • pearldavidson
    pearldavidson Posts: 1,696
    Better album than Lightning Bolt IMO.
  • igotid88
    igotid88 Posts: 28,629
    $16.99 vinyl https://amzn.to/3b6LWyt
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  • vito
    vito Chicago Posts: 2,029
    Some good songs but, this album defines the meaning of average. LB on the other hand is simply not good.
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  • igotid88
    igotid88 Posts: 28,629
    vito said:
    Some good songs but, this album defines the meaning of average. LB on the other hand is simply not good.
    What? Getaway, MYM, My Father's Son, Sirens, lightning bolt, Pendulum, Swallowed Whole, Let the records play, future days all gems
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  • TJ25487
    TJ25487 Posts: 1,501
    igotid88 said:
    vito said:
    Some good songs but, this album defines the meaning of average. LB on the other hand is simply not good.
    What? Getaway, MYM, My Father's Son, Sirens, lightning bolt, Pendulum, Swallowed Whole, Let the records play, future days all gems
    I'd add Yellow Moon in the gem category! Great record! Just like Backspacer. 
  • igotid88
    igotid88 Posts: 28,629
    TJ25487 said:
    igotid88 said:
    vito said:
    Some good songs but, this album defines the meaning of average. LB on the other hand is simply not good.
    What? Getaway, MYM, My Father's Son, Sirens, lightning bolt, Pendulum, Swallowed Whole, Let the records play, future days all gems
    I'd add Yellow Moon in the gem category! Great record! Just like Backspacer. 
    Yea.
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  • El
    El Posts: 139
    edited May 2020
    Backspacer is up there with LB and Vitalogy amongst my least liked PJ albums. 

    Though it does have it gems like, Amongst the waves, Unthought Known, Supersonic or The End.  

    I still do not understand how Force of Nature is getting so much love though?
    Music is what feelings sound like.
  • THEBIBLEISTEN
    THEBIBLEISTEN Posts: 2,002
    El said:
    Backspacer is up there with LB and Vitalogy amongst my least liked PJ albums. 

    Though it does have it gems like, Amongst the waves, Unthought Known, Supersonic or The End.  

    I still do not understand how Force of Nature is getting so much love though?
    Because just like your opinion, some people like it. Everyone has different taste. For example Vitalogy is incredible, not sure how anyone could not like it: betterman, nothingman, curdoroy, stbc, last exit, immortality, not sure how any pj fan couldn’t like this.
  • El
    El Posts: 139
    I should have been clearer. What I meant is, what is the thing which makes Force of Nature so likable? Is it the overall melody? Lyrics? Certain riffs? Just curious, because I seem to remember the song was getting mostly praise so would like to understand what I may be missing or on what tp focus to maybe get it. 

    As for Vitalogy, yes, it has some great songs, like the ones you listed, but because of things like Bugs, or Hey..., Pry to it just feels disconnected to me (but thats for another thread I think). 
    Music is what feelings sound like.
  • Hankj25
    Hankj25 Posts: 388
    When I got the full album on ITunes I was rocking a 16gb phone.  Had to trim it quite a bit.  Only songs that made the cut were Just Breathe, Amongst The Waves, Got Some, Force of Nature and The End. 

    People like to rag on JB and The End but I find them to be some of my favorites.  I love music that brings out all the emotions and those two have lyrics that hit home.  

    The album itself has songs that I don’t really enjoy, but I find myself appreciating the songs that I originally liked even more over time. 
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  • on2legs
    on2legs Posts: 15,955
    There’s a lot to like about Backspacer.  Some really great songs.  

    I’m not a fan of the album art.  Too cartoonish.  I feel like it subliminally affects people’s opinion of the album.  
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  • CantKeepmedown
    CantKeepmedown Portland, Maine Posts: 3,119
    I'd break it down as 2 great songs - Unthought Known and Amongst the Waves
    3 good songs - Just Breathe, Got Some and Force of Nature
    1 if I'm in the mood, I enjoy listening to songs - The End
    The rest I could do without
  • igotid88
    igotid88 Posts: 28,629
    El said:
    I should have been clearer. What I meant is, what is the thing which makes Force of Nature so likable? Is it the overall melody? Lyrics? Certain riffs? Just curious, because I seem to remember the song was getting mostly praise so would like to understand what I may be missing or on what tp focus to maybe get it. 

    As for Vitalogy, yes, it has some great songs, like the ones you listed, but because of things like Bugs, or Hey..., Pry to it just feels disconnected to me (but thats for another thread I think). 
    All of those things about Force of Nature are what makes it great.
    I don't understand people not liking Vitalogy. Especially from people who only like Ten. Pry to and Bugs did not affect my enjoyment of the album. Although I do like Pry to and Bugs and aye and Hey Foxy
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  • Whywhyzed
    Whywhyzed Posts: 270
    Love love love Unthought and Force of Nature.
  • pledgeagrievance
    pledgeagrievance Posts: 2,874
    I find myself listening to Backspacer a lot more than LB. Very easy listen and production feels cohesive. I actually listen to BS more than Binaural and Riot Act. Though I rank BS at the bottom just above LB, it is stronger now over 10 years ago than when it came out: 

    GSMF underrated rocker. 
    Got Some is solid, likely the best traditional PJ song on the album. 
    Just Breathe is one of the best post 00’s songs there are, along with Unthought Known. 
    The Fixer and the End wouldnt/doesn’t really bring the album down but can’t say I love either. 
    Problem is Johnny Guitar, Supersonic, Force of Nature are B-sides. 
    Amongst the Waves tries to be an anthem but never quite gets there. Always a just miss for me. 

  • TJ25487
    TJ25487 Posts: 1,501
    Solid album from start to finish with a couple of clunkers (Johnny Guitar, Supersonic) in there but so what. I take it for a quick, fun upbeat album with cool artwork. Come on who doesn't like an astronaut drummer in space? Haha! Seriously, it's one of my favorite stickers! 
  • pearljammr78
    pearljammr78 Posts: 1,613
    edited May 2020
    That’s 10 years too many. Lost dogs is better than that album. Everything about that album sucks except a couple songs. The art work is complete shit. Poppy and Happy Pearl Jam is not what I signed up for. 

    Great Songs
    Speed of Sound
    The End


    Ok Songs 
    Just Breathe
    Amongst the Waves
    Force of Nature
    Unthought Known (except for the Rhinestone lyric, that goes in dog shit)

    Dog Shit Songs
    Gonna See My Friend
    The Fixer
    Got Some
    Johnny Guitar
    Supersonic 

    The Dog Shit songs are no where as bad as Mankind  or the Whale Song but close. 

    Not everyone bats a thousand. Hopefully we never see Backspacer part deux 

    Peace,Love and Pearl Jam.
  • PSUS2H
    PSUS2H USA Posts: 2,388
    I really enjoy backspacer, I dont get the hate, but we all have varying tastes. 
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