2009 release from Eddie Vedder and the boys, their ninth album overall. For Backspacer, the lasting Grunge rockers decided to do it big. They left label J Records and decided to release to album themselves, since the certainly have enough money to do that. They also hooked up with '90s Alternative Rock producer du jour Brendan O'Brien (Korn, Bruce Springsteen), the first time that the band has worked with O'Brien since 1998's Yield. The music on the record features a sound influenced by Pop and New Wave.
J**A
Great Album
One of their best. Very clear recording. I picked this up on an impulse and am glad that I did so. Exceptional artwork. 'Fixer' and 'Got Some' are great numbers.
F**Y
Matured well - like a fine wine and all the other clichés
A lot of folk have grown up with Pearl Jam over the years - and if you are one of these people I would suspect that you would like this album a lot. And if you are a relativer newcomer to Pearl Jam - well I'm not sure but can't see any reason why ANYBODY with a passing interest in good rock music wouldn't like this collection of songs.What sets it apart from, say, "Avocado" the last release - isn't so much an injection of new ideas - the band just feel somehow more "together" - the melodies and simple fills from each instrument just work really well, and Eddie's mesmerising, breaking, enticing voice is fantastic. I personally think he sounds better than he has done in years. It's maybe subtle - but there's a certain spark, a certain life about the music that has been missing on half of the last few albums. Brendan O'Brien's mix is also very articulate amongst the subtly different atmospheres of the tracks.I normally can't be bothered breaking down tracks but: 1. Gonna See My Friend kicks off with a funky rock lick that keeps driving through the song - a solid opening with some degre of energy. 2. Got Some starts with some booming drum rolls from Matt Cameron and steams off with vigour. More tremendous chord changes and another number that benefots from Matt's great drumming. 3. The Fixer is blessed with some poppy college rock style choruses and is nice and compact. 4. Johnny Guitar keeps the driving pace of the first few songs going and Jeff's bass is nice and bold in the mix (throughout the album actually). 5. Just Breather relaxes the tempo and adds in some acoustic and strings - but it's terrific and bumps along with a really nice foot tapping groove. 6. Amongst The Waves is the slow burner of the album - building up through Eddie's tremendous vocal and Matt's crashing drums - it complements the more straight ahead rockers nicely. 7. Unthought Unknown again builds up gradually in (dare I say it) a good Coldplay sort of way and has the type of chord/vocal hook that will have you nodding sagely is the song unfolds. But it's still PJ. Even with what sounds like a piano line nicked from Hopes and Fears!!! 8. Supersonic - could have walked off of Superunknown (Matt) or VS. The fast bits work quite well but the song falls apart in the middle without needing to. 9. Speed of Sound is a kind of ambling song which feels longer than it is. 10. Force of Nature - another good rock track - it's the small detail that keeps this one going - lots of changes - little riffs and effects behind the main rhythm. And a conventional solo from Stone to finish it off. Nice. 11. The End - acoustic and strings and it's all Eddie. Vintage Eddie. A kind of slow song to finish on, but still a track deserving to be on the album.So? No really incredible inventive tracks. But no lemons, and no experimental rubbish either. Consistently good without disappointing.Like I mentioned at the top - maybe I have matured along with the band - this album is certainly a bit more mature (and I mean the music is obviously coming easy to the band members) withour losing a certain edge. And Eddie still sounds great - again maybe subtly more so than he's done in a long time.Finally - the gatefold album at this price is a steal - it's certainly a mini work of art from Tom Morrow (reminded of the GTA game covers when I first saw it but with a sinsiter sci-fi edge)So there you are - if in doubt - buy it - it may not make your hairs stand on end but you WILL enjoy Backspacer.
T**S
Talented lot
I am always a little apprehensive on hearing a new PJ album. Avocado didn't cut the mustard for me at all. However, I can honestly say that this is a very listenable, well written and arranged album. The highlights have to be The Fixer and Amongst the Waves, but there is a lot of variety and I don't think there is a weak track on there (although I'm not too keen on Pearl Jam's pop punk side). Above all, PJ sound like they they mean it still. A very solid album from an embarassingly talented lot.
S**Y
Great Album
What an awesome album probably one of the best albums Pearl Jam have done I would say it’s up there with TenAlbum cover is coolThis particular copy came all the way from ItalyAmazing
S**R
Amazing
Absolutely amazing album from Pearl Jam, have been a fan for some time started learning guitar so I could play their songs, the songs contain so much feeling and emotion, wish I had found the guys sooner,(have Vs,Vitalogy ,Ten, Yield, and Eddies Into The Wild), every track draws you in, makes you think.Awesome.
M**H
One of the best Pearl Jam Albums!!
This is definitely my favorite later Pearl Jam album, I play it on a regular basis, its a great hard rock album aswell having some great softer songs on their aswell, It really is their best album since "Ten"
