Three years after the eponymous album, Pearl Jam releases "Backspacer," an album that represents a band that has no intention of getting old.
Ninth album from the Seattle band, which retains that Grunge/Rock flavor that has characterized them for years. It represents the musical and discographic maturity of the band. Direct songs, concise and with a musical "lightness" that leads you to listen and absorb the album in its entire 37 minutes.
Gonna See My Friend is fast, with riffs that work; energetic and dynamic; Got Some, The Fixer represent the sound of the album, fast tracks that ARE the classic pieces of Pearl Jam, perfect for an outstanding concert. Just Breathe is a gem for this album, with strings playing, combined with Eddie's voice, making this album get into your bloodstream, followed by a song like The End which never becomes predictable, words full of hope and love reflecting an Eddie straight out of the "INTO THE WILD" soundtrack. Towards the end, the album loses a bit of sound, the aggression, and the anger of the initial tracks, making room for a more reflective band. It's an album that certainly won't be accepted by everyone, but it will thrill the longtime fans. Logically, it lacks something compared to works like "TEN" (1991) and "VS" (1993), leading this album to be classified as banal and predictable. This is wrong; it's definitely simpler but represents a band that, having passed forty, still wants to prove something (and if only there were more bands like them!). They wish to carry forward the name of Grunge/Rock.
It's true the '90s, represented by torn jeans, dirty shirts, and worn-out all-stars, are now a memory: Pearl Jam has changed in clothing, in age but are STILL ANGRY!! This album, which always takes a look at the Seattle Grunge panorama, may be less young and fresh, but THEY are the epitome of the music scene and still have a lot to say. Then again, GRUNGE has been dead for a while, and not just because of Kurt Cobain!
An album definitely to have in your Collection!!
Tracklist Lyrics and Samples
03 The Fixer (02:57)
Yeah, hey, hey
When somethings dark, let me shed a little light on it
When somethings cold, let me put a little fire on it
If somethings old, I wanna put a bit of shine on it
When somethings gone, I wanna fight to get it back again
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, fight to get it back again
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah
When somethings broke, I wanna put a bit of fixin on it
When somethings bored, I wanna put a little exciting on it
If somethings low, I wanna put a little high on it
When somethings lost, I wanna fight to get it back again
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, fight to get it back again
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah
When signals cross, I wanna put a little straight on it
If there's no love, I wanna try to love again
I’ll say your prayers, I’ll take your side
I'll find us a way to make light
I'll dig your grave, we'll dance and sing
What's saved could be one last lifetime
Hey, hey, hey
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, fight to get it back again
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah
Fight to get it back again, yeah, yeah, yeah
Fight to get it back again, yeah, yeah, yeah
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah
Loading comments slowly
Other reviews
By Domenico_Lotti
Pearl Jam releasing inferior albums, come on, that’s otherworldly stuff.
A great performance by Vedder and his companions, and particularly by Matt Cameron, who is truly outstanding behind the drums.
By Black Creep
Backspacer is a well-made album and songs like "Got Some," "The Fixer," and "Force of Nature" will surely go on my mp3.
Beautiful, but no longer exciting... it’s as if PJ decided to always play it safe, offering tracks that don’t move an inch.
By TurboHawk
"The 36 minutes of the album flow quickly and pleasantly, among successful songs and somewhat anonymous tracks, without provoking symptoms of boredom."
"Backspacer is not bad at all... but one cannot fail to notice that it lacks a bit of freshness... either they are settling, or they are afraid to take risks!"
By umb
This is a sincere and unfiltered album, recorded directly, demonstrating that the passion and honesty of this band only increase with the passing of the years.
The gem of Backspacer is undoubtedly Force Of Nature, where the delicate hand of guitarist Mike McCready lays a sonic carpet for Eddie Vedder’s inspired voice.