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Rating: And here we have "Backspacer," the new album by Pearl Jam! But...
But... I don't know why, but before listening to it, I somehow already knew what it would be like... The usual start with 4/5 full-throttle songs... 2/3 voice-guitar ballads... and the rest with nice songs that just can't leave an indelible mark. Probably because this habit very much recalls "Pearl Jam," "Binaural," and partly "Riot Act"... I mean maybe Pearl Jam is becoming a bit repetitive from my point of view, offering us good albums anyway, but that don't go beyond "Okay, it’s not bad."
Don't get me wrong, "Backspacer" is a well-made album and songs like "Got Some", "The Fixer", and "Force of Nature" will surely go on my mp3... yet the feeling of "already heard" or "nothing new" keeps lingering in my head. It's as if PJ decided to always play it safe, offering tracks that don't move an inch... few risks, but some even consider it a lack of true inspiration!
Even regarding the ballads, a great trademark of the group, the feeling doesn't change: both "Just Breathe" and the closing "The End" are two excellent songs, but both too similar to the acoustic work for the beautiful movie "Into the Wild"!
In short... beautiful, but no longer exciting...
Don't start commenting with the usual "But PJ has changed paths," yet the first albums were better not so much for the quality (that has always been there!) but for the desire to renew and experiment with new sounds! Perhaps once Eddie Vedder & Co achieved consecration, they began to rest (not sleep...) on their laurels, trying to do the bare minimum to stay there...
Okay, maybe it's me expecting too much or not knowing how to be satisfied, but from a band that held its own against Nirvana, I can only expect much more than the usual 6+ job...
Tracklist Lyrics and Videos
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
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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 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.
By verorock
It’s an album that certainly won’t be accepted by everyone, but it will thrill the longtime fans.
Pearl Jam has changed in clothing, in age but are STILL ANGRY!!
