Red Mosquito

supersonic may be their dumbest song, but when I dont pay close attention, it actually is pretty catchy. And the bluesy bridge is good. just doesn’t belong here


it is kind of like mankind. a song I can like when I let my guard down. unlike similar songs like U and leatherman, which I just actively dislike

speed of sound is sloppy mess but Ive always found it engaging. I wonder how a tighter version would have worked on lightning bolt.

the word that always comes to mind when i hear speed of sound is cacophony, but in a good way. I do like this song - more than the demo. it always reminded me a bit of a spiritual follow up to off he goes (though I like this much better)

the main riff in force of nature is schlock, but I dont care. the song is bad for its first 20 seconds, okay for the next 25, and amazing for the rest. if this was recorded during gigaton they would have gone back and fixed the beginning (see also - lightning bolt)

tragabigzanda wrote:

stip wrote:god I love so much about the fixer. the lyrics, the melody, the optimism in the playing (a breath of fresh air after the three prior albums), the slightly off kilter pop sensibilities in the music.

it isnt perfect. again, too much S/T in the vocals, and moments are slightly more processed than they should be. but wonderful all the same

it is perfect though!

those are total nitpicks. The Fixer is a gift

mike’s outro on FoN is maybe my favorite moment on backspacer

i literally (and I am not using literally figuratively) cannot understand how Joey doesnt love this song

tragabigzanda wrote:

stip wrote:the main riff in force of nature is schlock, but I dont care. the song is bad for its first 20 seconds, okay for the next 25, and amazing for the rest. if this was recorded during gigaton they would have gone back and fixed the beginning (see also - lightning bolt)

nah, the bass tone and the pop-crunchy guitars saves the beginning.

People seem to crap on the BS/LB production equally, but I don't think that's even a little fair. Backspacer is very much mixed like a pop-rock record, but it's full of punch and sparkle and slick bite where it needs to be. And then LB just sounds like horseshit.

agreed - and parts of the FoN intro do work for me - the parts you mentioned

the end isnt an everyday song. but it is a moving performance when you come back to it after a hiatus

yeah I am pretty comfortable ranking backspacer number 5. no higher. no lower

I am not making excuses for the album, but I do think backspacer’s reputation is hurt at least a little by people treating it as a ‘standard’ pearl jam album, rather than the palate cleanser it is. the catalog doesnt need 11 backspacers, but it absolutely needs one

i am weird for a superfan in that I think pearl jam only has 3 albums that are outstanding from start to finish, and another 3 I at least like just about every part of. So I am forgiving of backspacer’s slightly saggy middle

you post enough every now and then something lands

stip wrote:mike’s outro on FoN is maybe my favorite moment on backspacer

I might agree with this. It's cute but in a Better Man kind of way.

saggy BS

The Fixer is good.