Backspacer: Official Album Thread

[dad]

[Ms Harmless]

I've just heard "Got Some" again for the first time in years and I enjoyed its energy, and it gets almost exciting as it jams to an end; but I'd forgotten about lyrics like "have you heard of diplomatic resolve?" - ouch, that seems pretty lacking in emotional authenticity and a weird thing to get excited about

[binauralsounds]

Anyone else got that target exclusive Backspaced t-shirt tho?

[dad]

Anyone else got that target exclusive Backspaced t-shirt tho?

[Strat]

I think Backspacer is really solid through Just Breathe but takes a major major fucking nosedive with Amongst the waves and unthought known. I do love the rest of the record though
Those two songs are just god awful

[VinylGuy]

Anyone else got that target exclusive Backspaced t-shirt tho?

I have a Backspacer tshirt. Its pretty awesome.

[Hatfield]

I think Backspacer is really solid through Just Breathe but takes a major major fucking nosedive with Amongst the waves and unthought known. I do love the rest of the record though
Those two songs are just god awful

I didn't know it at the time, but Backspacer was the first real miss and our team never missed. I liken it to Jordan. 6 championship series, 6 rings. Every time Pearl Jam went on TV, up until Got Some, it was the best you could have hoped for. Better! It's the same with songs like Amongst the Waves and Unthought Known. Those should have been great, but they just aren't. I was able to look past the production and really enjoy Speed of Sound. I had a personal experience, a solo "trip" on the beach, which attached perfectly to this song.

The End is AMAZING, although more of a solo effort and if Ed didn't have a cold when recording, Just Breath would have been perfect. GSMF has some awesome parts but Ed sounds like he's imitating an imitator (Weiland). But to the all the haters, Johnny Guitar is the most genuinely good song on the record!

[Ms Harmless]

I still like Amongst the Waves and Unthought Known enough; they're not the train wreck that Supersonic is

I think ATW has always been a bit unfairly maligned for what it doesn't bring (epic anthemic soaring RAWK a la "Alive") instead of what it does bring (a lazy, lilting, swaying groove in the choruses that is the danciest thing Matt had played at the time since Riot Act; I always argued that it's not supposed to "soar", only the end section flirts with that old style, to keep the old jocks happy)

as for stuff I don't like about Unthought Known: Ed's loudness and weird enunciation in places, and Bo'B's plink plonk piano - but I can more or less live with those now

[Ms Harmless]

I'm listening to "Force of Nature" right now and enjoying it, you bitches

[EJ]

I still don’t believe anyone else plays on The End.

[EJ]

Speed of Sound demo was far superior. Also, it bothered me that they had this as a song title.

[Hatfield]

I'm listening to "Force of Nature" right now and enjoying it, you bitches

I wish I could hear what you hear. That is one I've really tried to convince myself is good, but haven't succeeded. It's got the right parts, but just doesn't get all the way there.

[tragabigzanda]

pearl jam sucks now

[dad]

Speed of Sound demo was far superior.

Accurate.

[ridleybradout]

Anyone else got that target exclusive Backspaced t-shirt tho?

I have a Backspacer tshirt. Its pretty awesome.

The organic cotton one with the astronaut drummer? I still wear mine

I listened to Backspacer the other day for the first time in years and really enjoyed the first five songs, mostly because it was refreshing to hear them in their proper key after becoming more used to the drop-tuned live versions. Then Unthought Known came on and it felt like it was in slow motion . It was all downhill from there. Force of Nature was not as enjoyable as I remembered it, but Speed of Sound was better.

[evenslow]

I don't know, studio Speed of Sound has a certain charm to it and really doesn't sound like anything else in their catalogue. Nice n' easy listening.

I get why people wouldn't like it but it's enjoyable and fits the Backspacer mission statement.

[Birds in Hell]

I love Speed of Sound.

I remember flipping out for the early audience recordings of Ed playing it solo before it was a Pearl Jam song, I still think it’s probably his best song in the last however many years.

[tragabigzanda]

pearl jam sucks now

[Strat]

Im a huge fan of Speed of Sound. Definitely upper echelon pearl jam for me both ed solo version and studio version. The melody, it swings, its different for them, and the lyrics are fantastic.

[daft twat]

Amongst the Waves is great. It’s like the Dissident of Backspacer. Way underappreciated.

Backspacer is a fun record. If anything, it’s hurt by the lazy “logical extension” that followed. If it was their pop record sandwiched between Avocado and something with teeth, it would get more respect.