Backspacer: Official Album Thread

[Matters]

On early listens it felt like this was their album that suffered most from Stones Syndrome. Still I enjoy it considerably more than S/T or LB.

Give me Supersonic over Let the Records Play, Never Destination or Running.

[igotworms]

Been listening to this album quite a bit recently. Definitely better than I give it credit for. I think it suffers from having Lightning Bolt following it in the band's canon, which had very similar production. Normally there's a notable shift in sound, songwriting and tones between albums but there was too much similarity. If Gigaton had followed BS it would be more positively viewed IMO - an interesting if flawed experiment. But it's an enjoyable listen, albeit with the odd toe curling moment and overly polished production.

[oftheearth]

On early listens it felt like this was their album that suffered most from Stones Syndrome. Still I enjoy it considerably more than S/T or LB.

Give me Supersonic over Let the Records Play, Never Destination or Running.

What is 'Stones Syndrome'? Can you elaborate on this?

[darth_vedder]

I've never heard of Stone Syndrome either.

BS definitely has some solid songs. There are also songs that just aren't my style, but that's pretty much the case on all their albums. I guess the highs for me do not quite outweigh the highs of the albums before it. The songs I go back to the most are: Gonna See My Friend, Got Some, Unthought Known, Supersonic, and Force Of Nature. Sometimes if the mood strikes right, maybe Johnny Guitar too.

[stip]

I agree that Backspacer's highs don't quite match the highs of their other albums, for the most part. But Backspacer is a very consistent listen to me from start to finish. It is always good, and it's in and out so quickly that there are few true legendary moments doesn't matter to me.

[darth_vedder]

it's definitely a fun album (mostly) and you're right, even if some songs are not your bag, the album is over in like 30 some odd minutes.

[darth_vedder]

I wish they would have made a close follow up to BS and had songs like Of The Earth all over it. That could have made BS stand out more as that fun side detour; instead it was like 4+ years till the next album.

[stip]

12 years between backspacer and gigaton with just one album (and not a beloved one) didnt help. with gig and dm under our belts it is easier to appreciate this little gem for what it is

[darth_vedder]

i do like having gig and dm under our belts

Spoiler: show

I'm sorry, that was disgusting and uncalled for

[epilogue]

12 years between backspacer and gigaton with just one album (and not a beloved one) didnt help. with gig and dm under our belts it is easier to appreciate this little gem for what it is

I totally get this perspective, but time has had the opposite effect on me. Backspacer is probably the first and only PJ album that has diminished as time has gone on. Every album they've released since has made Backspacer more obviously unnecessary and insufficient to me. Now, let's be clear, I still think it's a "fine" album. I don't hate it. I like all of PJ's work, but this one has become even more disposable and less interesting with time and further expansion of the catalogue.

[stip]

Interestingly, I have had a similar journey. But I also was a huge backspacer supporter, and while I still really enjoy it is a breezy album that has some interesting and semi-hidden thematic depth, it was ALSO an album I took really seriously on its merits, and future albums have engaged in similar themes and ideas with more sophistication. So I had invested Backscpacer with additional weight I've gradually been walking back, especially as gigaton and Dark Matter have easily moved ahead it in my rankings (it goes back and forth with L-Bolt)

[Matters]

What is 'Stones Syndrome'? Can you elaborate on this?

I’ve heard it used as a term to describe a band later in their career whose songs start to sound the same.

I remember listening to Just Breathe, Amongst the Waves, Unthought Known, Speed of Sound, and The End and thinking, really… another variation of the Man of the Hour vocal melody? This has mostly faded for me though, I don’t really notice it anymore.

[darth_vedder]

12 years between backspacer and gigaton with just one album (and not a beloved one) didnt help. with gig and dm under our belts it is easier to appreciate this little gem for what it is

I totally get this perspective, but time has had the opposite effect on me. Backspacer is probably the first and only PJ album that has diminished as time has gone on. Every album they've released since has made Backspacer more obviously unnecessary and insufficient to me. Now, let's be clear, I still think it's a "fine" album. I don't hate it. I like all of PJ's work, but this one has become even more disposable and less interesting with time and further expansion of the catalogue.

Interestingly, I have had a similar journey. But I also was a huge backspacer supporter, and while I still really enjoy it is a breezy album that has some interesting and semi-hidden thematic depth, it was ALSO an album I took really seriously on its merits, and future albums have engaged in similar themes and ideas with more sophistication. So I had invested Backscpacer with additional weight I've gradually been walking back, especially as gigaton and Dark Matter have easily moved ahead it in my rankings (it goes back and forth with L-Bolt)

I never really loved the album, so it's the opposite for me. I think I like it more now than I did back then. I think I like it better than Lightning Bolt too.