Backspacer Songs Ranked
Backspacer is the ninth studio album by the American rock band Pearl Jam, released on September 20, 2009. The band members started writing instrumental and demo tracks in 2007, and got together the following year to work on an album. It was recorded from February through April 2009 with producer Brendan O’Brien, who had worked on every Pearl Jam album except their 1991 debut Ten and 2006’s self-titled record—although this was his first production credit since 1998’s Yield. Material was recorded at Henson Recording Studios in Los Angeles, California, and O’Brien’s own Southern Tracks Recording in Atlanta, Georgia. The album—the shortest of the band’s career—features lyrics with a more optimistic look than the politically infused predecessors Riot Act and Pearl Jam, something frontman Eddie Vedder attributed to the election of Barack Obama. Here are all of Backspacer’s songs ranked.
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11. Johnny Guitar
“A bunch of people find this the least impressive track on the album but it was the first one that stood out for me. It’s much more distinctive than the first three tracks, especially Eddie’s vocal melody. Supposedly he got the idea from looking at J. “G” Watson’s album cover for WHAT THE HELL IS THIS? which is full of girls. Who doesn’t like songs about girls?”
10. Speed of Sound
“It is different from any other Pearl Jam song I can think of. “It’s hard to remember anything/ Moving at the speed of sound.” Some interesting sound textures, a rockin beat that’s kinda laid back, mandolin, piano . . . this is a sophisticated, well constructed song.”
9. Got Some
“I love the sustained drum rolls at the intro. This is a driving song that finds Vedder still in punk mode, squealing some of his words like Johnny Rotten. Got some (rock n’ roll?) if you need it”
See more: Pearl Jam Albums Ranked
8. Supersonic
“I wanna live my life with the volume full” – this is probably the most hyper-kinetic, pumped-up song on the album. At the “middle 8,” the tempo slows down for some killer guitar riffage before blasting off again for the finale. Like “Unthought Unknown,” this one also mentions dreams.”
7. Gonna See My Friend
“Opening Gonna see my friend is a violent start that immediately puts them on top. There is a cadence in the album progression from loud rock to soft ballads and back to floor-trembling tunes, something their last record evidently lacked. The fixer might be the lead single but it does not resume properly the intentions nor the sound of Backspacer.”
See more: Pearl Jam Songs Ranked
6. Force of Nature
“The very beginning sounds like a typical cheesy rock song before a minor guitar chord is hit and it becomes a really cool cut with an engaging rhythm. The song is full of sea and siren metaphors (sirens being the mythical female creatures who lure sailors to their death with their singing). It’s a great song about a particular woman with an extremely strong personality.
5. The End
“Those who’ve complained about Vedder’s voice need to hear this track again. The acoustic guitar and orchestral accompaniment is beautiful. It’s a song about death, but a really sweet one.”
4. The Fixer
“The bass carries the melody on the third hard rocker in a row. A cool song, it’s basically about taking the initiative to make your life better and having a positive attitude.”
3. Unthought Known
“A cool song if a bit tired sounding, it’s an earnest song that slowly builds. Love the Stooges-style piano (one repeating note). This one seems to explore the subconscious realm in our minds, the blueprint that guides our lives.”
2. Amongst the Waves
“This one’s majestic with a killer rhythm at the chorus. Finally, a guitar cuts loose with a solo! And it keeps building in a beautiful way . . . uplifting. Another song less popular than the others, possibly because it’s neither an all-out rocker nor a ballad.”
1. Just Breathe
“About this song, Vedder said, “As close to a love song as we’ve ever gotten.” No need to shout over a wall of noise on this one, Vedder sings in a low register over some sweet acoustic guitar picking, soon accompanied by swelling strings and gentle keyboards. It’s not as good as a song like “Black,” (what is?) but it’s up there. “Hold me til I die/ Meet you on the other side.””
