General Pearl Jam Bitching

[Thejambi]

Backspacers biggest failure is the disconnect of musical tone and underlying themes. I find Backspacer to be full of apprehension , appreciation for what you have now and a foreshadowing of the inevitable loss of those things. The poppy style works well in terms of the happiness/fun aspect but it fails to augment the deeper levels of the songs.

[stip]

If Just Breathe was dialed down a bit and Speed of Sound was less cacophonous it would have helped.

[stip]

that foreshadowing element is important. I am entirely speculating, but I am predicting that Lightning Bolt is going to continue this narrative--preserving what you are afraid of losing in a world that seems to be falling apart around you. And lashing out at the assholes you think are responsible.

[harmless]

that foreshadowing element is important. I am entirely speculating, but I am predicting that Lightning Bolt is going to continue this narrative--preserving what you are afraid of losing in a world that seems to be falling apart around you. And lashing out at the assholes you think are responsible.

An aspect I think was missing from Backspacer.

[stip]

I think it probably would have been out of place there. But it's time.

[Thejambi]

I agree about JB and SoS. I also think The End needed to be a bigger song to anchor the album.

[stip]

it sounds really big though. I think it works. certainly more than the other two.

[digster]

I think Backspacer was trying very hard to be a 'fun' album, or at least fun in contrast to the rest of PJ's catalog. Lyrically, it feels very self-conscious about going in a different direction in comparison to the previous records they'd been writing, and the music fits that shift.

[stip]

I think Backspacer was trying very hard to be a 'fun' album, or at least fun in contrast to the rest of PJ's catalog.

that's a pretty low bar.

[Thejambi]

it sounds really big though. I think it works. certainly more than the other two.

I do love it as is. I think a more parting ways style would help it. Maybe I don't like it at the end. It gets a little too lost for me for how heavy and important I think it is.

[digster]

I think Backspacer was trying very hard to be a 'fun' album, or at least fun in contrast to the rest of PJ's catalog.

that's a pretty low bar.

The ironic part of it is that to me it sounds far less fun and far more labored for doing so. I never heard 'care free' or lightness in Backspacer, the way others seem to.

[taffer]

Not sure where to post,

got a couple of questions - who's playing intro of album version of lukin, i'm assuming it is not eddie,

and 2nd - heyfoxymop - its just eddie/jeff/jack - no mike/stone? amirite?

[digster]

I think Lukin is Eddie, with someone else (Mike or Stone) hitting some harmonics, possibly. I know he plays the chords live.

[Strat]

Its eddie with stone playing that high note.

[taffer]

Its eddie with stone playing that high note.

It's very strange as album intro of lukin differs from any live version, there's just no that dirty guitar sound

I like this vid


and live

[Jorge]

Wow, the comparison between the drumming by Jack in the intro of the album version vs. Matt's awkward plod in that live video is just depressing.

[bodysnatcher]

what the heck happened to this Eddie Vedder?

[harmless]

Its eddie with stone playing that high note.

It's very strange as album intro of lukin differs from any live version, there's just no that dirty guitar sound

I like this vid


and live

Yeah, and nothing will change between live and studio versions! PJ play their live songs very accurately! Right guys?

[Jorge]

That's actually pretty accurate. They didn't rework the song.

[Strat]

The best version of Lukin:



Tight and that bass line in the chorus is fucking great.