Pearl Jam – Backspacer (Monkeywrench)

Pearl Jam have always been an album band more than anything else. While every record that they have put out has had a few memorable singles, the albums as a whole package are much more memorable. This distinction has also been shared by bands like The Who, the Clash, The Replacements, Black Flag, The Stooges, Sonic Youth, and Husker Du. In fact it could almost certainly be assumed that if one was to be given access to the collective record collections of the members of Pearl Jam they would be littered with titles like "Quadrophenia," "London Calling," "Tim," "Damaged," "Raw Power,"  "Daydream Nation," and "Zen Arcade." It seems to be no accident that Pearl Jam are carrying on this tradition, or that a listener's favorite record by the band can speak volumes about their musical tastes in general. Those who are into heavier music may be into "Ten" where as those who like music to be strange and unpredictable might be into "Vitalogy" or "No Code," where as "VS" would most likely appeal to a person who likes fast and energetic songs.

"Backspacer" adds its own unique chapter to Pearl Jam's legacy, channeling some of the energy from "VS" but with a more subtle approach and an emphasis on hooks which accent the band's sometimes not-so-obvious pop sensibilities. If there is anger in songs on "Backspacer" one would have to dig to find it, which is a far cry from the material on Pearl Jam's early material. This record, like its most recent predecessor- 2006's "Pearl Jam," shows the band also moving beyond some of the more out there stuff that appeared on albums like "Yield" and "Binaural." In this sense both "Backspacer" and "Pearl Jam" could be regarded as a musical return to form.

The album opens with "Gonna See My Friend," which is definitely of a faster pace as far as Pearl Jam goes. It has a raw and punky edge to it and reflects the band's more simplistic side. The lyrics follow the familiar theme of escape and depending on the listeners perspective it could be interpreted as either a song about getting a drug fix or falling back on friends for support. The fast pace continues for songs like "Got Some," "The Fixer," and "Supersonic" which is driven by a Ramones/early Damned type guitar approach.

While the momentum of "Backspacer" is maintained by the faster songs, it's the mellower songs that help to keep the record balanced. "Just Breathe," which is an Eddie Vedder composition, would have fit well with Vedder's solo songs that appear on the "Into the Wild" soundtrack. In a way the acoustic songs, which are almost all composed by Vedder, are the most intense songs on the album in their naked display of emotions. This is particularly noted in "The End," which appropriately concludes the album and tells the story of two lovers growing apart. Vedder's vocal performance peaks where his voice cracks with emotion when he sings "I will take the blame/But just the same/This is not me/You see/Believe/I am better than this."

While Eddie Vedder's compositions stick out for their often melancholy approach, every other member of the band receives some song writing credits and everyone gets their moment in the sun. "Amongst the Waves" is notable for its guitar rock vibe delivered by Stone Gossard with shredding solos. "Force of Nature" gets Mike McCready's signature while "Got Some" showcases Jeff Ament's knack for unique time signatures and Matt Cameron collaborates on "The Fixer" and "Johnny Guitar." Overall this record gives the guys in Pearl Jam a chance to show off their collective and individual chops.

The one thing that is missed on "Backspacer" are some of the more political lyrics that Eddie Vedder has become famous for. While the appeal to stick to more personal subject matter is understandable, the fire from songs like "The Whipping" and "Garden," "and "Do the Evolution" always helped to give Pearl Jam their identity. With those minor criticisms put aside, "Backspacer" is a welcome addition to the Pearl Jam catalog and will undoubtedly stand out as one of the band's more memorable albums.
 

-Ditch-
Big Wheel Online Magazine

 

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