Backspacer: Official Album Thread

[PHATJ]

Unthought known is my favorite PJ song.

[VinylGuy]

I was listening to the last ep of the PJ podcast...havent finished yet, but when the guy talks about Backspacer being one of his favorites from the last decade i had the urge of listening to it...

guys, im loving this...

its not just,¨yeah its ok¨ im really diggin this one....the only song i cant listen to is UK, maybe because LB (the song) is a better version....but man, Amongst The Waves is kicking my ass right now...that groove!!

Im in love with Got Some, The Fixer, JG, ATW, Speed Of Sound and FON.

[TremorJam]

I like Backspacer. It's Pearl Jam's most upbeat record. GSMF is a killer opener. The one song I never really cared for, The End, I came around to after I saw it performed live. 3 stars. I thought about a 4 star rating, but I do prefer their albums a little longer. The rockers on this are solid, though.

[knee tunes]

I like backspacer too .
I love unthought known and speed of sound
i love the opening of speed of sound-- the opening chorus, not the words, but just the way it goes...

[PHATJ]

I like Amongst the Waves and Johnny Guitar, but I rarely listen to either. Speed of Sound (I was going to mention another song here, but I literally can't think of it) is decent, but I never seek it out. The bridge in Supersonic is probably the coolest thing on the album but the song sucks so hard that I never actually listen to it. The rest of the album is boring garbage. It's just the worst.

I still love Pearl Jam, and I always will. I just think they are past the point of writing new music that is nearly as good as their first seven albums. And that's okay. Pink Floyd hasn't released anything meaningful since 1994 (that's a little longer than PJ ) and I still adore the band.

[VinylGuy]

Speed Of Sounds has turned into a favorite for me...the weird intro, Ed´s worn out vocals, the guitars...and i really like the lyrics. Its such a good song.

[stip]

i still listen to this more regularly than any other album. Light without being weightless, effortless without being empty.

[evenslow]

Ok, you guys finally did it. You wore me down.

I think I really like Force of Nature now.

For years it was difficult to get over the opening but when the verse settles in and then moves into the chorus the band sounds really good. And I'm not a big lyrics guy but these catch my ear and add a lot to the song. All praise to Ed (and Allah), as it would have sounded too generic without him.

[darth_vedder]

I partially listened to this a few weeks back... Meh, still don't like it that much, but there are a few tracks I like / tolerate. Those include: Gonna See My Friend, Got Some, Unthought Known, Force of Nature and Speed Of Sound.

I still can't get into Amongst the Waves. It may be the biggest dud the band has ever released. It tries so hard, yet falls completely flat.

I know RM loves Johnny Guitar, but I have a hard time getting past the vocals. The music is cool, but that "Johnny be having" stuff is terrible.

FON is ok. There is a lot of cheesiness to it, but it's also a pretty nicely layered song and a bit different for the band.

[evenslow]

I know RM loves Johnny Guitar, but I have a hard time getting past the vocals. The music is cool, but that "Johnny be having" stuff is terrible.

Well look at this stick in the mud right here.

[darth_vedder]

I know RM loves Johnny Guitar, but I have a hard time getting past the vocals. The music is cool, but that "Johnny be having" stuff is terrible.

Well look at this stick in the mud right here.

get off my lawn!

[stip]

Ok, you guys finally did it. You wore me down.

I think I really like Force of Nature now.

For years it was difficult to get over the opening but when the verse settles in and then moves into the chorus the band sounds really good. And I'm not a big lyrics guy but these catch my ear and add a lot to the song. All praise to Ed (and Allah), as it would have sounded too generic without him.

what should my next project be? thoughts on mind your manners?

[darth_vedder]

Oh, I forgot to mention, I've kinda warmed up to The Fixer. I mean I still don't like it that much, but I flat out hated it a few years ago. I can tolerate it now.

[darth_vedder]

The ending of JG is pretty tight. Nice work there by the band.

[darth_vedder]

Listening to ATW now. It's as if PJ is copying Creed copying PJ.

[Tuolumne]

I was listening to the last ep of the PJ podcast...havent finished yet, but when the guy talks about Backspacer being one of his favorites from the last decade i had the urge of listening to it...

guys, im loving this...

its not just,¨yeah its ok¨ im really diggin this one....the only song i cant listen to is UK, maybe because LB (the song) is a better version....but man, Amongst The Waves is kicking my ass right now...that groove!!

Im in love with Got Some, The Fixer, JG, ATW, Speed Of Sound and FON.

Maybe some of the angst towards Backspacer in these parts is that it's in between 3-4 year gaps and the hole those gaps left. It's possible in the long run when looking back on it and spinning this one casually, it'll stick with more people here. Or not, but I and many others totally dig this album. To me, the "later years" is more about tightening up their songwriting, rather than expanding and exploring different textures. Here, they tightening it up into this slick, well-oiled machine where every second counts and each section of a song gives momentum for what follows. What a fun barnburner, no letup anywhere here and it races to the finish line, their catalogue wouldn't be the same without it.

[evenslow]

Ok, you guys finally did it. You wore me down.

I think I really like Force of Nature now.

For years it was difficult to get over the opening but when the verse settles in and then moves into the chorus the band sounds really good. And I'm not a big lyrics guy but these catch my ear and add a lot to the song. All praise to Ed (and Allah), as it would have sounded too generic without him.

what should my next project be? thoughts on mind your manners?

I like MYM just not the production.

And you have to like one Beatles song before you convince me of anything else.

[stip]

I love parachutes

[chewm]

Ok, you guys finally did it. You wore me down.

I think I really like Force of Nature now.

For years it was difficult to get over the opening but when the verse settles in and then moves into the chorus the band sounds really good. And I'm not a big lyrics guy but these catch my ear and add a lot to the song. All praise to Ed (and Allah), as it would have sounded too generic without him.

I always enjoyed it, but Force of Nature has been growing on a lot of me lately. I love the way the verse moves into the chorus (which has a completely cliched chord progression but i love it) and Ed's lyrics and delivery are outstanding.

[chewm]

Honestly I've been really digging Backspacer lately. Got Some, Johnny Guitar, Speed of Sound and Force of Nature are quite great for me.
Its still one of the weakest records but I dont think its as bad as the consensus here seems to indicate. Lightning Bolt either, but theres something about eds voice and the overall sound of that record that bugs me.