Backspacer: Official Album Thread

[stip]

"The End" is a great, incredibly sad song; lovely

the brass section and all the orchestration in this song is so very tasteful I'm AMAZED they make so many bad production decisions

it's such a weirdly down ending to a bright album but I like it a lot

After a whole record that largely celebrates hard won victories and finally feeling like you've arrived where you want to be it's this sudden panic of realizing you'll someday lose it. It's like the pivot moment into middle aged themes that are all over Lightning Bolt and Gigaton. But it is jarring

[stip]

The End
Speed of Sound
Amongst the Waves
Unthought Known
Force of Nature
The Fixer
Just Breathe
GSMF
Got Some (Ballot Papers if you Need Them)
Johnny Guitar
Supersonic

Backspacer is a strong list of good songs. It's a fast, consistent listen, and I think it helps that there aren't any other breezy records in the catalog. even something like Yield, which is the closest thing to it, is still a demanding listen in its way. Pearl Jam is many things, but rarely light. That's one of the things that I really like about it. If there were several albums with the same feel as backspacer it would diminish it.

But I do think it's a fair critique that while there are lots of good songs, there are few truly great songs. None of these are 5 stars for me. The Fixer and Force of Nature come closest. Today I'd go

The Fixer
Force of Nature
Got Some
GSMF
Amongst the Waves
Johnny Guitar
Speed of Sound
Unthought Known
The End
Just Breathe
Supersonic


Maybe? This is a hard record for me to rank. After Force of Nature I like the next six songs pretty equally.

[VinylGuy]

For me its

The Fixer
Got Some
Speed Of Sound
Johnny Guitar
Force Of Nature
Gonna See My Friend
Amongst The Waves
Just Breathe
Unthought Known
The End
Supersonic

[stip]

not a bad list

[VinylGuy]

I agree with this album having good songs, but not great ones. But its a joy to listen for sure, its short, and it does grab you for a sing or a quick listen.

Im super worn off Just Breathe, kinda hated it. Also it doesnt help that every girl thinks she knows pearl jam because of that song. Hell, they even had the name of the song tattoed.

UK is also a tricky one. Its a PJ song i dont want to listen to. Maybe im tired, maybe i never liked it...i just cant listen to this one.

[epilogue]

Amongst the Waves
Just Breathe
Speed of Sound
Got Some
The End
The Fixer
Johnny Guitar
Gonna See My Friend
Unthought Known
Supersonic
Force of Nature

[PHATJ]

I think I only like Amongst the Waves.

Amongst the Waves - only song on the album I genuinely like. Still ranks well outside my top 50 PJ songs, maybe even top 100
—————————-
This group is all below average PJ songs, they aren’t awful, but they aren’t good either. I literally never seek out any of these for a listen.
Johnny Guitar
Speed of Sound
Force of Nature
——————————-
Supersonic - the bridge is the best and coolest piece of music on the album, but the song is trash
——————————-
These songs are utter crap.
Got Some
The Fixer
The End
Unthought Known
Just Breathe
Gonna See My Friend

[RockPusher]

Force of Nature is definitely the closest thing here to a 5 for me, though I agree with many that there are no 5's.

Force of Nature
Amongst the Waves
Just Breathe
The Fixer
Unthought Known
Got Some
Speed of Sound
The End
Gonna See My Friend
Supersonic
Johnny Guitar

[Leatherhead]

I've decided Unthought Known is my most disliked Pearl Jam song.

[Ms Harmless]

crazy talk!

[PHATJ]

I've decided Unthought Known is my most disliked Pearl Jam song.

More disliked than Can’t Deny Me?

[Leatherhead]

I've decided Unthought Known is my most disliked Pearl Jam song.

More disliked than Can’t Deny Me?

Forgot about that one, I'll report back.

[PHATJ]

I've decided Unthought Known is my most disliked Pearl Jam song.

More disliked than Can’t Deny Me?

Forgot about that one, I'll report back.

[Leatherhead]

I've decided Unthought Known is my most disliked Pearl Jam song.

More disliked than Can’t Deny Me?

Yes, at least CDM has some amusing sounds throughout. Eddie sounds like he's trying to do a Trent Reznor thing in some parts and it's kinda fun to hear. With less awful lyrics and a better chorus, I think I'd like it.

[PHATJ]

Oh my god

[epilogue]

I've decided Unthought Known is my most disliked Pearl Jam song.

More disliked than Can’t Deny Me?

Can't Deny Me is absolutely better than Unthought Known

[Leatherhead]

I've decided Unthought Known is my most disliked Pearl Jam song.

More disliked than Can’t Deny Me?

Can't Deny Me is absolutely better than Unthought Known

[Strat]

Man, i just had a lot of fun listening to this album.

Especially GSMF and Supersonic.

[Ms Harmless]

I've been hoping to get out of bed
two cups of coffee and a kick in the head yeah!

[Leatherhead]

GSMF is underrated.