Backspacer: Official Album Thread

[PHATJ]

I've heard so many arguments and none of them hold water. There's nothing embarrassing about Amongst the Waves. There is no "failure" or reach for former glory or any of that nonsense. If that's why a listener doesn't like the song, then that's on the listener. That's the listeners own bullshit baggage that they're bringing to the experience.

Which is not to say that it's impossible to hate the song. I totally get why a person would hate it. There are legitimate reasons to dislike it. But "Reaching for and falling far short of a former brilliant place" just isn't one of them.

To be fair, sometimes its impossible not to put our own bullshit baggage to a song or a piece of art.

Very true. Good point.

I like Amongst the Waves a lot, but I think there is something to that broad critique as a style of critique. If you write a song or create any art that calls to mind similar works crafted in the past you do invite the audience to draw comparisons. It's probably impossible not to. And while it is absolutely its own song, Amongst the Wave does share a lineage with triumphant mid tempo anthems of pearl jam past. And then if you don't like the song as much as its peers it will influence how you think and talk about the song. I don't like this song, and I DO like songs on that part of the family tree, therefore there is something deficient in this particular performance.


I apply the same logic to a song like In Hiding or Faithful, rather than Amongst the Waves. Here is a mid tempo anthem in the classic pearl jam style (talky verses, soaring chorus, etc), but when I listened to them they didn't move me like Jeremy or Alive or Betterman or Given to Fly on the same album, and my enjoyment of faithful or in hiding suffered because I was reminded of other songs I like better. I'm not sure that I LIKE push me/pull me more than faithful, but I feel more warmly disposed towards it in part because it stands alone and I'm not comparing it to other songs I enjoy more.


I'm not saying this is a good or bad thing as much as it is just likely inevitable.

Amongst the Waves has always been my favorite song on Backspacer.

[PHATJ]

Five Star Songs:
N/A

Four Star Songs:
Amongst the Waves
Johnny Guitar

Three Star Songs:
Speed of Sound
Force of Nature
The Fixer

Two Star Songs:
Supersonic (the bridge on this song is the best musical moment on the album)
The End
Got Some

One Star Songs:
Unthought Known
Just Breathe
Gonna See My Friend

[Sgt. Crackpot]

In light of Backspacer's birthday, I've made stip a new avatar to celebrate:

Also,... Stip.

You only have like 30 hours left to make this your avatar or we ban you for life.

it's too big. How do I shrink it?!

Fixer-ed.

[knee tunes]

I've heard so many arguments and none of them hold water. There's nothing embarrassing about Amongst the Waves. There is no "failure" or reach for former glory or any of that nonsense. If that's why a listener doesn't like the song, then that's on the listener. That's the listeners own bullshit baggage that they're bringing to the experience.

Which is not to say that it's impossible to hate the song. I totally get why a person would hate it. There are legitimate reasons to dislike it. But "Reaching for and falling far short of a former brilliant place" just isn't one of them.

To be fair, sometimes its impossible not to put our own bullshit baggage to a song or a piece of art.

Very true. Good point.

I like Amongst the Waves a lot, but I think there is something to that broad critique as a style of critique. If you write a song or create any art that calls to mind similar works crafted in the past you do invite the audience to draw comparisons. It's probably impossible not to. And while it is absolutely its own song, Amongst the Wave does share a lineage with triumphant mid tempo anthems of pearl jam past. And then if you don't like the song as much as its peers it will influence how you think and talk about the song. I don't like this song, and I DO like songs on that part of the family tree, therefore there is something deficient in this particular performance.


I apply the same logic to a song like In Hiding or Faithful, rather than Amongst the Waves. Here is a mid tempo anthem in the classic pearl jam style (talky verses, soaring chorus, etc), but when I listened to them they didn't move me like Jeremy or Alive or Betterman or Given to Fly on the same album, and my enjoyment of faithful or in hiding suffered because I was reminded of other songs I like better. I'm not sure that I LIKE push me/pull me more than faithful, but I feel more warmly disposed towards it in part because it stands alone and I'm not comparing it to other songs I enjoy more.


I'm not saying this is a good or bad thing as much as it is just likely inevitable.

Amongst the Waves has always been my favorite song on Backspacer.

I like it alot

[Sgt. Crackpot]

In light of Backspacer's birthday, I've made stip a new avatar to celebrate:

Also,... Stip.

You only have like 30 hours left to make this your avatar or we ban you for life.

it's too big. How do I shrink it?!

Fixer-ed.

Fuck. It expired. I'll sort it tomorrow.

[Anders]

What is the biggest change on the new mix?

[epilogue]

What new mix?

[stip]

What is the biggest change on the new mix?

The songs sound quite a bit fuller and more muscular, and you pick up on a lot of new details. It's actually a bit louder in its way, unlike the S/T mix

[stip]

Not sure if this is still a live link

Backspacer - The New Mixes (mp3)

PEARL JAM
=========
Backspacer - The New Mixes
=======================

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

Mixes created with stems provided by potzorbie in Reddit:
https://www.reddit.com/r/SongStems/comm ... ackspacer/

https://mega.nz/#F!aFlFjZKa!cUugK7gCMHtwDXduiO88Gg

songs with the most notable changes are definitely Got Some and Unthought Known. But really every song feels different, and most are improved. GSMF may be the one exception.

[stip]

It's a fan remix, but quite good

[epilogue]

[bodysnatcher]

i can't even rank these songs

[Strat]

i can't even rank these songs

I chomped you on your FB. You might want to delete that in case someone gets offended. CHOMP

[bodysnatcher]

i can't even rank these songs

I chomped you on your FB. You might want to delete that in case someone gets offended. CHOMP

no way, it stays!

[Strat]

i can't even rank these songs

I chomped you on your FB. You might want to delete that in case someone gets offended. CHOMP

no way, it stays!

Good man.

[epilogue]

Ranking these songs is pretty easy for me, actually:

Just Breathe
Amongst the Waves
Speed of Sound

Got Some
The End
Johnny Guitar
The Fixer

Supersonic
Gonna See My Friend

Unthought Known
Force of Nature

[Monkey_Driven]

Ranking these songs is pretty easy for me, actually:

Just Breathe
Amongst the Waves
Speed of Sound

Got Some
The End
Johnny Guitar
The Fixer

Supersonic
Gonna See My Friend

Unthought Known
Force of Nature

Swap Force of Nature and Amongst the Waves and now we're talking.

[epilogue]

I hate Force of Nature so much. Habit is probably the only song they've recorded that I like less.

[Monkey_Driven]

I hate Force of Nature so much. Habit is probably the only song they've recorded that I like less.

This is where we part ways.

[stip]

perhaps the new mix wil change your tune