I've heard a reoccurring theme here in a number of threads about Backspacer's songs having too much of a uplifting theme. An example is Amongst the Waves, which according to some have lyrics that seem like they should be "coming out of a church".

To me this is really dumb. I love the fact that this band isn't depressing as shit anymore. I enjoy some uplifting music. If you don't like the song, because you think the lyrics are bad, the music is poor ect... fine. But to hate something because it's positive is just crazy in my opinion.

In conclusion, for all those who think Backspacer is too uplifting, go listen to music that makes you want to shoot yourself.... and please, enjoy it.

absolutely. how people dare say anything negative about whatever is beyond me.

Hey, it's a tough pill considering how dark a majority of the Pearl Jam catalog is. I find it refreshing for them to put the anger and depression aside.
Having said that i think they tap into the darker side much more successfully.
Backspacer is great IMO. I put it in my top 3 just for the fact that it is different and uplifting. I think it is a great compliment to the other albums they have done.

Why would disliking something just because it's not sad be less acceptable than liking something just because it's happy?

That doesn't make any sense. I'm fine with people criticizing something for the actual content not being good.

Bottom line:

There are really good uplifting songs. THere are really good downer songs.

To throw away a song because it's uplifting or a downer is stupid.

Read my previous response.

Then go listen to this...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LCJblaUkkfc&feature=fvst

and sit in a dark room and cry if that's what gets you going.

Okay.

Im sorry but this is a pretty narrow minded conclusion.

People listen to music for different reasons. They may relate and take things away from depressing/dark songs and find to connection to a uplifting/poppy song.

The mood does constitute as part of the actual content.

wow. someone's touchy.

It's actually not narrow minded at all. As I said, there are songs out there in the realm of songs that are good that are either uplifting or depressing.

To toss out a whole lot of either depressing or uplifting is narrowminded.

yes. and it's the complete opposite of telling people to shoot themselves based on whether they like a specific album or not.

Jesus. It was a f'ing joke dude. Let it simmer.

Then you didn't really get what i said.
What makes a good song? It is and answer that is different for everyone.
There are tons of technically garbage songs that i like because of the mood and storytelling they have. The lyrics may not be amazing but are something that i relate to and enjoy.

So is it a good or bad song?

Trying to dicate how someone appreciates music is futile and your argument so far has been very narrow-minded in taking into consideration others taste in aesthetics and experiences.

oh.

*chuckles*

i'd probably be lying a little bit if i said depressing music doesn't hit me harder. i think its easier to hit a nerve that way. of your top 20 songs of alltime, how many would qualify as positive?

but i said ATW sounds like praise music because the lyrics are bad and the music is too polished, not because its positive. I guess positivity can be difficult to write without it becoming sappy. i think they mostly succeed in UK, mostly.

i do think they have written a lot more positive songs in the past than they get credit for. my ex-girlfriend still calls them 'music to slit your wrist to'. crazy woman.

I think Alive is one of the greatest and most (accidentally) positive songs of all time. Thats powerful writing.

This post is a bit too happy for my taste.

i think it's a lot harder to write good uplifting music than good depressing music. I wonder why that is.

I guess as always it depends on what you call good. Most people will like anything that is danceable/upbeat/etc. just because it is.

In rock music i would agree.
I think it is just a sign of the times. 70's/80's rock was very upbeat and "happy". After grunge the rock music climate changed. On a listener level i think a person can look deeper into themselves and reflect more on a song that is depressing or dark rather than an uplifting and happy song.

I don't think its harder necessarily to write the song. I think its probably hard to not make it come off cheesy.

i mean lyrically complex/emotionally powerful


One of my favorite songs from the 80s is the Communards 'Don't Leave Me This Way'. It's just a wonderfully upbeat, joyous piece of peope music. But I'm reluctant to call it powerful in the way I mean here. Maybe I'm just a lyric snob