Backspacer
by Pearl Jam
User Score
8.8

Universal acclaim- based on 241 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 213 out of 241
  2. Mixed: 22 out of 241
  3. Negative: 6 out of 241

Review this album

  1. Your Score
    0 out of 10
    Rate this:
    • 10
    • 9
    • 8
    • 7
    • 6
    • 5
    • 4
    • 3
    • 2
    • 1
    • 0
    • 0
  1. Submit
  2. Check Spelling
view
per page
  1. ChrisT
    Oct 15, 2009
    10
    Great album. 20 years and still kicking out awesome rock and mid tempo songs.
  2. Rob
    Oct 2, 2009
    10
    A nice short collection of songs. One of the best albums that Pearl Jam has ever recorded. Rock on guys!!
  3. KevinM
    Sep 30, 2009
    10
    Favorite album since No Code...if you've ever liked Pearl Jam, you need to get this album.
  4. GustavoM
    Oct 13, 2009
    10
    Solid album, all songs are very good, this album doesn't have that experimental songs like red point, wasted reprise, wich is very good to me. All songs re radio candidates. Excellent Work.
  5. RubinS
    Oct 16, 2009
    10
    The best album of 2009 ...Backspacer..Awesome songs!!!
  6. AkmalS.
    Oct 1, 2009
    10
    Just when u thought that Pearl Jam's in their comfort zone, they change direction rightaway! So fast that you could only wonder how or why. But that's Pearl Jam, and that's what make them the greatest band in the world today!
  7. ClaudioD
    Oct 20, 2009
    10
    Pearl Jam do not lose their essence, that is to do music for the soul. Always maintaining a high musical and interpretative quality, like always the lyrics are intelligent and always something can be learned of them, they show us that can be successful without being sold to the system. The voice of eddie that has all the power of a bomb and at the same time, the sensibility of a flower. Pearl Jam do not lose their essence, that is to do music for the soul. Always maintaining a high musical and interpretative quality, like always the lyrics are intelligent and always something can be learned of them, they show us that can be successful without being sold to the system. The voice of eddie that has all the power of a bomb and at the same time, the sensibility of a flower. In short a great album. (Sorry for my poor English).… Expand
  8. BradJ
    Dec 5, 2009
    10
    Just brilliant.
  9. BillyB.
    Oct 6, 2009
    10
    My favorite album since..........well since their last one!! Songs that have you up moving or laying in bed with your headphones on wiping a tear from your eye!If you love pearl jam its simple,,,you love this album.
  10. GregB
    Oct 8, 2009
    10
    Great album. One of their best yet. On par with Vitalogy.
  11. HectorH
    Sep 21, 2009
    10
    Best Pearl Jam album since the holy trinity in the early 90's. There' s something here for EVERYONE. Got Some will kick your patooty!
  12. SashoK
    Sep 20, 2009
    10
    The most complete Pearl Jam rock record i'd say since "Versus"! Not a filler in here! Great melodies, great lyrics by Eddie Vedder, the rhythm section is amazing on this one, Jeff Ament and Matt Cameron shine throughtout the record and the production is un-fuckin-amazing! Probably the best sounding Pearl Jam record, ever! My faves after 5 spins of the album are: Gonna See My Friend, The most complete Pearl Jam rock record i'd say since "Versus"! Not a filler in here! Great melodies, great lyrics by Eddie Vedder, the rhythm section is amazing on this one, Jeff Ament and Matt Cameron shine throughtout the record and the production is un-fuckin-amazing! Probably the best sounding Pearl Jam record, ever! My faves after 5 spins of the album are: Gonna See My Friend, Got Some, AMONGST THE WAVES, Just Breathe and Force Of Nature! I wont be surprised if it ends up on top of the "the best rock album of the year" lists!!… Expand
  13. JamesH
    Sep 20, 2009
    10
    9 albums in and still releasing GREAT music.
  14. marks
    Sep 22, 2009
    10
    A short but amazingly well written, well performed and well produced album. Great songs that we'll hear for a long time to come. Unthought Known is classic rock!
  15. RyanL
    Sep 20, 2009
    10
    Pearl Jam's strongest effort in over a decade.
  16. Roger
    Sep 23, 2009
    10
    Great album!
  17. FrankG
    Sep 21, 2009
    10
    Some of the bands best work since the early 1990s.
  18. bill
    Sep 21, 2009
    10
    Pearl Jam doing what they do best! In your face rock music.
  19. ChrisW
    Sep 21, 2009
    10
    Arguably Pearl Jam's finest album in the last ten years. From the cracking pace, power and fun of the opening 4 songs to the beautifully uplifting centrepiece trio of Just Breath, Amongst The Waves and Unthought Known, and onwards, this is cohesive, uplifting and enjoyable piece of rock and roll gold.
  20. BrandonG
    Sep 21, 2009
    10
    Just an awesome CD. Pearl Jam's ninth studio release does not disappoint.
  21. rezal
    Sep 21, 2009
    10
    The new wave of pearl jam, i like this album just as much i like other pj album. but definitely they cross new border on tthis one...comparing to other music album available today, this one is simply the best by far...an album that you can spin all over without getting bored.
  22. Ian
    Sep 20, 2009
    10
    Another great album by PJ. What else do you expect!
  23. MikeP
    Sep 22, 2009
    10
    Pitchfork sucks. They'll push their lame indie rock, if-there's-not-46-different-instruments-playing-in-disharmony-it's-not-for-us agenda regardless of what the music really sounds like. Bunch of posers.
  24. LisaQuintilian
    Sep 22, 2009
    10
    This gets better with every play. I must have for any music fan.
  25. DamienM
    Sep 23, 2009
    10
    Truly excellent album.
  26. DaveS.
    Sep 23, 2009
    10
    This album is an instant classic.
  27. FrancesR
    Sep 24, 2009
    10
    This is a great album that you can put on and never feel the need to skip a track. In the past three Pearl Jam albums some of the songs feel like filler, however, in the new album this is not the case. One never feels like their time is being wasted. This album is short but perfect... thus far it may be the rock album of the year.
  28. BobG
    Sep 25, 2009
    10
    The band has moved on and what fun. This is not the record to make us forget 10 but it is the beginning of that process.
  29. CalD.
    Sep 27, 2009
    10
    A fantastic return to form. The perfect mix of slow songs (Unthought Known) and faster harder songs (Got Some). Awesome - Get it now!!
  30. Damiang
    Oct 21, 2009
    10
    Brought me back to the days of Ten, VS, even the excitement I felt after first listening to No Code. Brilliant!
prev
Page:

Awards & Rankings

11
#11 Most Discussed Album of 2009
57
#57 Most Shared Album of 2009

Critic Reviews

All reviews »
Metascore
79

Generally favorable reviews - based on 24 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 19 out of 24
  2. Mixed: 5 out of 24
  3. Negative: 0 out of 24
  1. Rolling Stone
    80
    Backspacer, Pearl Jam's ninth album, backspaces to that boyish spirit, with the shortest, tightest, punkiest tunes they've ever banged out.
    Read full review
  2. Spin
    80
    For the first time in years, Pearl Jam are seizing the moment rather than wallowing in it.
    Read full review
  3. Uncut
    80
    The commitment that Vedder brings to all this material, from the rowdiest thrashing to the schmaltziest ballad makes this feel like a unified and ultimately convincing project. [Oct 2009, p.90]
See all critic reviews »