A lot of us talk about how a Pearl Jam album "ages" better. Example: Most hated No Code and now there are a ton of people who think its one of their best works to date.

When Backspacer was released there were a ton of people who labeled it PJ's "pop" album. There was some bashing, there were a few that said they understood why PJ would make a poppy album this late in their careers.

Me you ask? (prolly not but I'll tell you anyways lol) I loved "Got Some" when I heard it on Conan or Leno. I was so pumped. I thought this would be the album that measured up to Binaural and Yield.


Boy was I wrong. I was bummed. Extremely. And to tell you the truth I didn't listen to it as much as I should have because I really thought it was a pop album that craved attention (see ESPN Sportscenter )

So 20 months after the release of Backspacer and where do I stand? Well, the songs I liked ( "Unthought KNown, Amongst The Waves, Johnny Guitar, Force Of Nature" ) I really do love. The rest of the album... forgettable.

But my hope for the next album is a return to an edgy sound. More risks. More creativitiy. And for godsakes more than 35 mins for an album.

Backspacer is one big steaming pile of "meh."

It basically sucks. A few good songs.

This.

I've never liked so few songs on a Pearl Jam record. Gonna See My Friend and Johnny Guitar are great but the remainder of the record just isn't the kind of music I'd ever listen to. Speed of Sound's a great song but the band really messed it up.

I liked it okay at first but it really took a severe nosedive after a few listens and never recovered (and honestly, I've tried).

Just not my bag.

If anything I like Backspacer less over time. I still think Got Some and The End are great though. Johnny Guitar is pretty good.

I like GSMF, Got Some, Unthought Known, Force of Nature, and The End, that's about it.

I don't like Force Of Nature or Unthought Known nearly as much as I used to.

I actually didnt like Force Of Nature when the album came out, but now it might be my favorite on the album.

The urgency of the songs and brightness of the sonics (best overall sound on a PJ record since Vitalogy) make up for some of the decent but not outstanding songwriting.

The band sounds energized and loose, like they're having fun. By far the most upbeat of any PJ Disc.

I find it to be a more enjoyable listen than Binaural, and it holds my attention far better than the lackluster Riot Act. It doesn't have the highs of S/T (Severed Hand, Life Wasted, Gone), but is a solid tie with the Avocado disc.

Backspacer is probably #5 or #6 on my PJ list, after my faves Ten, Yield, No Code, Vitalogy --- it resides in a close tie position with Vs. and Avocado in my "middle tier" of PJ discs.

It was my favorite for a while. Now it just sounds so underdeveloped to me. It's too Pearl Jam by the numbers, just like UK.

Johnny Guitar, Got Some, GSMF, Among the Waves (somewhat generic yet uplifting all the same, like the visuals the lyrics conjure up) The Fixer (poppy but a very fun song to crank in the car), Unthought Known are my faves.

If the developmental/structural process present on Binaural had merged with the urgency and the overall sense of joy that the band revealed on Backspacer, PJ's latest would've been dangerous.

Forgot to mention "Just Breathe"; although derivative of the Into the Wild soundtrack (a Godlike soundtrack in its own right), the lyrics and Ed's delivery are a beauty to behold.

So basically you just like Backspacer.

Yeah that's pretty much my take. I'm not moved into the state transcendence that Ten, Vitalogy, No Code, and Yield create.

That said, if Binaural had the bright sonics that Backspacer is blessed with, that would have been one magical trip.

The sonics on Binaural appear to wedge a thick sheet of foam between the music and the listener. At least Tchad Blake didn't dumb them down the way Bob Rock would though, so I'll give him credit for that.

That's most of the album there, Mick.

Nothing as it Seems sounds incredible with the Binaural sound that Tchad brought in .. but the greatness of "Light Years" and the rockers isn't revealed until the 2000 tour boots.

Perhaps a reason to release the boots? PJ realized that Binaural sounded muffled and subdued? the rockers didn't roar and the ballads didn't sear.

Jeff Ament once said that PJ had yet to release their "Tales from Topographic Oceans".

I for one would like a jam session with DuG Pinnick and Ty Tabor on the next record. Temple of the Dog Mach II would make me nut too.

Well, technically, that's only five songs--the album has eleven, so Mick's preferences still indicate a minority.

Just saying.

That's what I get for posting from my phone, I misread an extra song in there.