Published: Wednesday, September 30th, 2009 @ 11:32 am
By: Peter Gregory   ( More Entries )
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Pearl Jam From Start to Finish...

What can I really say about this album?

That is exactly what I asked myself after listening to this album for the fourth time. Truthfully, I am pretty close to a loss of words. The music really speaks for itself and it is almost an injustice to write a review about Pearl Jam's ninth studio album. However, as it is my job I will attempt to do the justice it deserves by at least giving you an insight into what you can expect.

Before I get into this specific album I feel it necessary to explain the background and history of what Pearl Jam was, is and continues to be. The band currently consists of Eddie Vedder on vocals and occasionally on guitar, Jeff Ament on Bass, Mike McCready on lead guitar, Stone Gossard on rhythm guitar, and Matt Cameron on Drums (previously of Soundgarden.)

Pearl Jam formed shortly after the breakup of a previous band called Mother Love Bone of which Stone Gossard and Jeff Ament were members, but when lead singer Andrew Wood died of a heroin overdose they were forced to move on. After the death of Wood, Jeff Ament started working with Mike McCready who convinced Ament he needed to start working again with Gossard. At that point they ended up working with Jack Irons on drums (the original Red Hot Chili Peppers drummer) who introduced Eddie Vedder to the band and the rest they say is history. Of course, Jack Irons was replaced with Matt Cameron, but other than that the band has been fairly stable in terms of active members and many would argue even better since the addition of Cameron on drums.

Now for the current album, Backspacer. It is definitely Pearl Jam from start to finish. Not only is it solid all the way through you get the feeling that these guys are really having fun with their talents. It does not sound like some rehashed album of the past, they allow for a unique anthem like quality to many of the upbeat songs that I don;t remember ever hearing in a Pearl Jam song of the past. Starting off with "Gonna See My Friend" the album gets in a perfect rhythm and doesn't falter at any point throughout the whole album. One of the better qualities of Backspacer is that is a great album all the way through. There isn't just a single or two that are worth listening to that unfortunately you see more and more with bands today. At any rate that rockin', anthem quality I mentioned above is prevalent in their first single release "The Fixer"

Below is the official video for "The Fixer" the first single released from Backspacer. UPDATE: the official video now has embedding turned off at youtube so I have found another clip so you can at least hear the song:


This album also has some very nice slower melodic tunes that Pearl Jam have always mastered ever since the song "Black" on their first album Ten. Notably "Just Breathe" and "The End" are remarkable. "Just Breathe" has a similar sound to the song "Man of the Hour" which they penned specifically for the movie Big Fish at the request of director Tim Burton. "The End" is literally an exceptional way to end the album as it is the final song on this short but sweet release by these talented veterans. Unfortunately it leaves you wanting more after only 36 minutes, but as the old adage goes sometimes less is more.

Below is a live video with outstanding audio quality for "Man of the hour"


I don't pretend that I am the end all, be all in opinions, but I must say that any other reviewer who is downplaying this album or has anything negative to say is seriously disillusioned by their own pretentious thoughts on what a rock album should sound like. Especially with the wave of mediocre at best albums being released by newer bands of this era.