Comments on: Pearl Jam – Backspacer

By: ross meyerson

ross meyerson — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 06:24:19 +0000

also, read more reviews. you can answer that first question yourself. it’s kind of bogus to make sweeping generalities while admitting that you’ve only read one review by richard. and while it’s true i’ve not the talent to play music i wouldn’t say it is the primary reason i do this. the thing is, i love music. and i have opinions. also, i enjoy writing. did i mention i love music? seemed like a good fit.

By: ross meyerson

ross meyerson — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 06:17:33 +0000

one point, max, that i’d like to make is more of an honest question: if this review mirrored your opinion of the record would you still discount it for not being written by someone in a band? should only folks in bands buy music? and should they be the only ones to discuss their feelings on the matter? if you answer yes to all of these…cool. end of argument. but, if they sound as ridiculous to you as they do to me then perhaps you can be more constructive and tell us what you like about the record. i’ve said this before here: none of us claim to be the definitive opinion obviously. and we actually welcome input from readers. so have at it.

By: Josh Reed

Josh Reed — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 18:23:26 +0000

I remember feeling this way in film school about critics that bashed my favorite movies. Eventually I realized how immature it was to take something like that personally, or to think that because I made films my opinion was somehow more worthwhile. I’m not sure this really relates to you, but your response is so cliche I would be surprised if it didn’t.

By: Richard Giraldi

Richard Giraldi — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 18:17:53 +0000

Wow, the old – well why don’t you form a band and make music – response. Well played, Max Rossell. If you like the album, fine. But there are literally thousands of Backspacer reviews and not all of them are positive. Do you respond to them all like this? And by the comment I meant Pearl Jam never really strive for more on Backspacer and settle into former habits – while it works occasionally – this album just lacked the lacked freshness of their older material. And how irrelevant is it if it evokes this kind of criticism from a reader. Thanks for making my day with these witty comments and for stopping by the site!

By: Max Rossell

Max Rossell — Sun, 15 Nov 2009 01:06:40 +0000

Hey, this is the only review I’ve read by you, but I just have to ask, do you start off every review by looking down on the band from your high horse? “the primary problem with Backspacer is that the songs never strive to be anything more than Pearl Jam songs” – what else are they supposed to be? Typical reviewer platitude, and here’s another: Critics are just frustrated artists who never had the talent or balls to put down their own material. Do youself a favour: form a band, get out there and prove you can lay down anything even remotely approaching the quality of Backspacer, and then maybe we’ll be able to interpret your review as anything more than bitter piss in an irrelevant bucket.

Have a nice day.

By: Richard Giraldi

Richard Giraldi — Fri, 25 Sep 2009 21:08:52 +0000

Hey chris, thanks for the comments. Honestly Pearl Jam needs to forget the whole grunge and punk schtick and start writing some more earthy ballads and maybe even alt-country material. After Eddie’s solo album became such a succes, an all ballad, strings drenched record would probably do well and may put them back on the right track.

By: chris

chris — Thu, 24 Sep 2009 22:33:34 +0000

couldn’t agree more with the analysis of pj’s career. i was a fan of everything from “no code” through “binaural” – then “riot act” came out — weak songs, but still riding the notion of “we dont care what people like, we make what sorta music we want to!”. but when the self-titled came out, i realized the band couldn’t hide any longer that fact that they really enjoyed the spotlight. they’ve come full-circle in the “alienating-the-fans” game. when they made “no code,” they scared away the frat boys that played “even flow” on their sony cd players 12 times a day. then with the self-titled album, they parted ways with the DIY-minded fans that were given the holiday fan club singles on vinyl by immediately being available for bits on MTV, interviews on Rolling Stone, etc. the target-exclusive bs puts them right there with Dave Matthews Band, Stone Temple Pilots and all the other 90s groups still looking to bank off their own names.

By: el rapa

el rapa — Wed, 23 Sep 2009 01:55:33 +0000

video of jus breath!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UhORXmgYbS4

By: Richard Giraldi

Richard Giraldi — Wed, 23 Sep 2009 00:14:46 +0000

I recommend their 2000 album, Binaural, out of their entire catalogue. It’s a great album that finds the band making some really great ballads and almost lo-fi rockers. And it was the last album where Vedder’s voice doesn’t sound strained or sleepy.

By: ross meyerson

ross meyerson — Tue, 22 Sep 2009 18:44:02 +0000

9th album? i don’t know if it feels like it should be more or less. but i haven’t heard one since vs. so i don’t know how 9 feels. all i know is that the handful of songs i’ve heard along their travels all seem to fail to have hooks. i’m personally amazed that, to my ears, the most easily dated sounding band of the grunge era are still one of the biggest. mudhoney’s catalog still sounds fresh and downright rocking to me and i even heard nevermind at work the other day and, although i think the production is ridiculous and every song is pretty much the same formula, it still sounded ok. pearl jam’s old stuff has turned into a sort of guilty pleasure karaoke for me. i’d equate it with neil diamond but i respect his songwriting too much. it sucks when your favorite band can’t even rip itself off well.