Inside Nokia Music

Part 8:

Pearl Jam – Backspacer

Hmmm!… What can I say about Backspacer, As the last of my sub-category top 3 most anticipated albums of 2009 that in an earlier post I likened to a series of buses arriving at the same time, Backspacer is the bus I hopped on first only to jump off at the next stop and switch to another as it announced an unfamiliar diversion.

With critical acclaim and early reports hailing it as the new Ten, it’s no surprise to me that on first impression I was a little disappointed… but that’s okay, because I know that Pearl Jam albums are always different and as someone that favours the No Code and Yield years I realize that fans of the albums I’m lesser-prone to, deserve their day in the Pearl Jam sun too… and if Backspacer is the beginning of a new cycle starting back at Ten, then the next 4 albums are going to blow my mind!

Stand out moments on the album:

It’s an unusual one for me but it’s the singles The Fixer and Just Breathe that reign supreme, otherwise Supersonic wins me over and reminds me of No Code tune Mankind.

Seen them live this year:

Shepherds Bush Empire 11 August… I’d have sold generations of family into slavery for a ticket to that intimate London gig… thankfully I was lucky enough to get a ticket without reducing myself to such drastic measures… and bought one of the limited-to-3000 print tour posters to add to my growing collection (pleased with one’s self).

Backspacer and a comprehensive Pearl Jam back-catalogue including several tour bootlegs are available to download from the Nokia Music Store and are completely free to ‘Comes With Music’subscribers.