Released: 2009

Genres: Alternative Rock

The Musiquarium’s Backspacer Review Score: 3/5

After the politically-inclined releases of Riot Act and Pearl Jam, Backspacer finds vocalist Eddie Vedder shifting to more personal lyrics this time around, with some of the band’s gentlest and most pop-friendly songs yet.

On Backspacer, there’s a solid mix of Pearl Jam’s two sides, with some classic Pearl Jam rockers like Gonna See My Friend, Got Some and The Fixer, as well as songs that verge into soft rock territory, like Amongst the Waves, Unthought Known and the tender ballad, Just Breathe.

Backspacer is another decent Pearl Jam record, but it’s just a little too safe for me to really sink my teeth into, missing that spark that really drove the band’s earlier material.

For credit breakdowns and historic release details, view Pearl Jam on Discogs.

Back to the 2009 Album Guide or the Pearl Jam Reviews page.

Written by Brett Nippard