![]() When I named Pearl Jam the best album of 2006, I noted that the theme of that album was “I have tasted a life wasted, I’m never going back again.” The band seems to have jumped on that sentiment and taken it to hyperbole with this album. There’s not much music-wise to talk about in this song, besides the catchy and well-sung choruses, so I’ll elaborate on my theories behind the band’s optimism. “Amongst the Waves” - Another case of optimism for the band, particularly Vedder. The optimism oozes through the speakers and carries over to the remaining songs on the album.Ħ. It’s a combination of Vedder’s “Tuolumne” and Peter Gabriel’s “Solsbury Hill.” Looking past that 300 pound gorilla in my mind, the song is a nice little ballad that illustrates the band’s changing attitude: it’s an upbeat ballad as opposed to the band’s gloomy, depressing songs in the past (“Nothingman,” “Better Man,” “Off He Goes”). “Just Breathe” - Clearly inspired by and possibly leftover from Vedder’s Into the Wild soundtrack, I can’t get past the guitar track of this song. Vedder’s phrasing is much quicker than it normally is, and he almost branches out into sing-speak during a couple of verses.ĥ. When I first heard it, my reaction was “It’s like Pearl Jam recorded a Hold Steady song,” and I still stand by that. It’s scatterbrained and not arranged tightly, but there’s something about it that I just dig. “Johnny Guitar” - This will surely go down as the most controversial song on the album among Pearl Jam fans. And yet I can’t stop humming it all day after hearing it.Ĥ. The main riff of the song, the chorus, and the bridge are all very strong, but the verses and breakdown are among the weakest efforts ever recorded by the band. It is, however, a TERRIBLE mix by the usually spotless Brendan O’Brien. Couple that with the live versions that I’ve heard of it, and I’ve come to the conclusion that it’s not a bad song. The more I’ve heard it, the undeniable catchiness has finally caught up to me. “The Fixer” - And now it comes to it: I have to put my final words down on the lead single for the album. But that complaint notwithstanding, this is the band’s strongest effort on the album, and will be a staple of their concerts for years to come.ģ. Essentially, he’s got some if you need it, if that wasn’t clear to you in the first verse. The phrasing Eddie Vedder chooses fits very well with the song, but he isn’t exactly saying much. The lyrics leave much to be desired, which is a recurring theme on Backspacer. “Got Some” - By far the most Pearl Jammy song on the album, “Got Some” is a fast paced, guitar driven song that reminds me a lot of “Save You” off 2002’s Riot Act. A solid rocker to start things off strong.Ģ. The closest corollary to this song within the band’s catalog is “Life Wasted,” the opener to the band’s 2006 self-titled release. The song, like several on this album, is schizophrenic, changing phases quickly and abruptly. “Gonna See My Friend” - A striking opener that kicks off with power chords and a bent-up guitar riff from Mike McCready. Note: Thanks to Pearl Jam’s drastically different approach on this album, this will be a surprisingly short review.ġ. I say to hell with that, I’ve got 37 minutes to spare, so I’m just going to do a Random Entirely Programmed Notes review of Pearl Jam’s latest album Backspacer song by song, writing for only the duration of each tune. Some people, such as our esteemed editor Nick Tavares, enjoy looking at an album a whole, picking apart nuances, themes, and such. ![]() Backspacer isn't a revelation, but all things considered, it's solid
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