 | Tracklist:
1. Gonna See My Friend
2. Got Some
3. The Fixer
4. Johnny Guitar
5. Just Breathe
6. Amongst the Waves
7. Unthought Known
8. Supersonic
9. Speed of Sound
10. Force of Nature
11. The End
Release Date: 09/20/2009 | |
| | other reviews | AliW1993 (4)
Pearl Jam lighten up, resulting in their best album since Ten.... | Mike Allen (4)
Best Pearl Jam record in recent memory... | 6o6 (4)
Pearl Jam are finally back... |
On 18 Lists
|
| Summary: Pearl Jam return with their most focused album in a long, long time. |
It wouldn't be much of a stretch to say that Pearl Jam's best years are behind them. After more or less peaking with Ten in 1991, the Seattle group released a string of excellent records during the 90s before dipping into mediocrity with the Binaural and Riot Act. Pearl Jam was a step in the right direction, though at its worst moments (essentially their heavier rock songs) they still sounded like a parody of themselves.
While Backspacer isn't necessarily different from Pearl Jam in composition, the record is far more focused than anything the band has released in a long time. Even hard rocking tracks like "Gonna See My Friend" or "Supersonic" are a lot less awkward sounding then those of the last three albums, though guitarist Mike McCready is still prone to laying down questionable guitar leads, particularly in the former. More interesting by far are "Got Some" and "The Fixer", both of which drop the edgy rock guise in favour of melodic rock. It's a move that pays immediate dividends; not only does Pearl Jam sound a lot more comfortable in this role, but it's also the most fun the band has been since they released Yield in 1998.
With that in mind, Pearl Jam's best post-Ten songs have always been their more relaxed material, and Backspacer does little to change this. The acoustic "Just Breathe" more closely resembles the build of the material Eddie Vedder penned for the Into the Wild soundtrack, but the song's nostalgic tone is vintage Pearl Jam. It's a simple track, utilizing soft acoustic strumming and a soothing string make for one of Pearl Jam's most delicate songs, perhaps matched only by "The End", which closes off Backspacer. "Unthought Known" and "Amongst the Waves" are more typical, drawing on rhythmic, mid-paced instrumentation, while maintaining a sunny disposition. For much of the album, Vedder is the focal point, and while he has probably seen better days, he can still belt it out with the best of them. Vedder's soaring vocals compliment Backspacer's upbeat atmosphere perfectly and often give offer the record's most memorable moments, most notably the climax of "Unthought Known" and the massive chorus featured in "Force of Nature".
Backspacer doesn't tread down a new path for Pearl Jam stylistically, but it does differ from past works in some ways. This isn't the same brooding Pearl Jam we heard on "Black"; hell, they aren't even as vulnerable as we heard on "Wishlist". Rather, Pearl Jam's ninth album sounds a lot more optimistic and positive than the band ever has. More importantly, Backspacer sees Pearl Jam finally escape the slump they fell into with Binaural nine years ago. Really, even though it's the kind album we all knew the band was still capable of recording, considering Pearl Jam's recent past it's quite the accomplishment. And I couldn't be happier with it.
|
| Recent reviews by this author | | | |
Album Rating: 3.5 | Sound Off
With that in mind, Pearl Jam's best post-Ten songs have always been their more relaxed material, and Backspacer does little to change this.
Somehow, I find the band a bit more boring when they're 'heavy'. good review man
Digging: mewithoutYou - Brother, Sister | | |
Great review, man. I'll give it a try. "The Fixer" is awesome.
Digging: Dinosaur Jr. - Bug
| | |
Pearl Jam are a very weird band for me. I like Ten a lot, but i pretty much can't stand anything else they've done.
Digging: Drudkh - Microcosmos
| | | Album Rating: 4 | Sound Off
Great, concise review. Album's pretty good
Digging: Alice in Chains - Black Gives Way to Blue | | | Album Rating: 4 | Sound Off
good review. It seems like the 3 of us that have done the reviews for this album pretty much have the same views on it.
Digging: Porcupine Tree - Stupid Dream | | | Album Rating: 4
Good review,
though IMO Binaural was a good album, as good as Ten, and certainly more diverse.
Digging: Soul Asylum - Let Your Dim Light Shine | | | Album Rating: 3.5
Somehow, I find the band a bit more boring when they're 'heavy'. good review man After Ten they really aren't as good. "Once" is still my favourite song from them though.
Digging: Tegan and Sara - Sainthood | | |
Excellent review. Never really cared for this band.
Digging: Slayer - World Painted Blood
| | | Album Rating: 3
nice review, this is surprisingly good.
Digging: Empire! Empire! (I Was A Lonely Estate) - What It Takes To Move Forward | | |
I refuse to listen to this until there is album art.
Digging: Brand New - Daisy
| | |
So help me god if the user who eventually fixes the artwork does not use a bad "imma put a fixer on it" joke...
Digging: Dethklok - The Dethalbum II
| | | Album Rating: 3.5 | Sound Off
Fantastic review, man.
Seeing PJ in November, I'm really excited.
Digging: Owl City - Ocean Eyes | | | Album Rating: 4.5
The artwork for this record is cool
| | | Album Rating: 3.5 | Sound Off
The artwork for this record should finally show up.
Digging: Dave Matthews Band - Crash | | | Album Rating: 3.5
the good lord knows i've tried
| | | Album Rating: 3.5 | Sound Off
IT'S THERE!
| | | Album Rating: 4.5
3.5? Really?
Digging: Red Sparowes - At The Soundless Dawn | | | Album Rating: 3.5 | Sound Off
Ehhhh yeah. Really, there's little to be excited for. It's very predictable. Way too predictable. I like Pearl Jam but I can only listen to them make the same stuff for so long.
| | | Album Rating: 4.5
I'm thinking of downgrading this to a 4, but I just think that it's just too good for a 3.5.
| | | Album Rating: 3.5 | Sound Off
No way this is 4.5. You should make it a 4.
| | | |
|
|
Stumble
Digg
Twitter
Del.icio.us