Audio Addiction: Pearl Jam’s Backspacer

I fail at blogging.  I wrote this post like three weeks ago and thought I published it.  Apparently not.  Here it is anyway.

The biggest difference between this and previous PJ records is that its…happy?  My first reaction when I started listening was, “huh? what happened to the dark and brooding PJ I know and love?”  After I got past how different it was from their previous albums, I quickly realized how good of a straightforward rock album it is.  It easily takes its place as one of my favorite PJ albums.

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Shuffle Friday

I’m totally stealing this idea from TJ (I hope he doesn’t mind), but I finally had a good shuffle that wasn’t interrupted by a law lecture or encore break from one of the PJ concerts I have on CD so I wanted to throw it out there.

Basically, on a “Shuffle Friday” he takes his iPod, hits the shuffle songs option and lists the first five that come up, sometimes with a few comments on the song or artist.  Often his regular readers will do likewise and share their shuffles in the comments.  I always thought it was an interesting way to see what other people listen to and chance to discover artists you may have never heard before.

So without further ado, here’s my shuffle.

1. World Wide Suicide – Pearl Jam (Pearl Jam): One of the singles off their most recent album.  Social commentary on the war in Iraq with some great lyrics.

2. Forgive Me – Missy Higgins (On a Clear Night): Great singer/songwriter from Australia.  Puts on a good show too.

3. Comatose – Pearl Jam (Verizon Center Concert):  Another one off of the self-titled album.  This is their performance from their show here in DC in 2005.

4. Goodnight My Friend – Vertical Horizon (Running on Ice): From the earlier mellow days of VH.  This isn’t one of my favorite songs of theirs, but I could have done worse.

5. Soma – Smashing Pumpkins (Siamese Dream):  Some of that 90′s rock that I love so much.  One of the lesser known tracks from Siamese Dream, which I “rediscovered” not too long ago and have been really enjoying again.

So that’s it.  If you have the urge, shuffle your iPod and tell me what you come up with.

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Audio Addiction: Pearl Jam’s Hard to Imagine

I’m completely hooked on this song right now.  This one comes off of the second disc of the Lost Dogs and Rarities album.  For context, Lost Dogs is a compilation of B-sides from singles they released and songs that were recorded during sessions for previously released albums that didn’t make it on the list.  For what its worth, I think some of PJ’s best songs can be found on Lost Dogs, this being one of them.

I can’t really explain why I like it so much.  Just a really cool, quiet vibe to the song.  I will say that the opening guitar riff is perfect wake up to on my iHome.

Paint a picture visions only grey
Light your pillow. Lay back. Watch the flames.
I’ll tell a story but no one would listen that long.

It’s hard to imagine. It’s hard to imagine.
Ohh [x4]

Tear into yourself count days on your arm.
Ah the beating ticking like a bomb.
After having seen all that they saw.

It’s hard to imagine. It’s hard to imagine.
Ohh [x4]

Things were different then. All is different now.
I tried to explain. Somehow.
Things were different then. All is different now.
I tried to explain. Somehow.
Ohh [x4]

Things were different then. All is different now.
I tried to explain. I hope this works somehow.
Things were different then. All is different now.
I tried to explain. Oh, somehow.
Ohh [x4]

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