Really?

Bingo. I like the idea of Backspacer, but I wish the execution had worked.

This album is simpler for me to locate the flaws than most of the other albums. It's simply the lowest ebb of their songwriting career. This is, bar none, their worst album lyrically. The arrangements of the songs are pretty drab, even in comparison to the problematic records that preceded and followed it. The entire record sounds lazy. I'm not saying that it was done in a lazy manner, but the record certainly makes it feel that way. There are two bright spots that actually pretty illustrate the dual poles of the album; you've got Johnny Guitar, which manages to be musically interesting and adds a bit of real levity into the listen, and The End, which is probably Ed's best example of folk songwriting thus far. That's not to say that there's nothing to laud in the rest of the album (though, honestly, there's not much), but this was their lowest moment on record up to now.

After Gone, we get Just Breathe and The End plus the band version of Speed of Sound. The biggest flaw is the band didn't tell Ed to fuck off and do a proper solo album with that shit.

Opinions are funny.

I really really really like Speed Of Sound.

Another leaked version of "Speed of Sound"

It's the only interesting song on the album.

Like S/T, the rest of the album ranges from passable to dismal.

That's an improvement over the full band studio version that made the album.

I really love the full band speed of sound. For real.

The flaws on backfacer are amongst the goddamns and unknownthought thing

Also, the timing of the album. What could have been a fun little detour turned into a 10 year grandstanding. The album isn't good enough/interesting enough for the band to sit on that one for so long. And the shows suffered.

I do love Johnny Guitar, Speed of Sound and Force of Nature.

that's a good point strat. Backspacer was a record that demanded a quick follow up

it's probably the most interesting song on the album but it still suffers from being apparently cut short at the end. i love that outro and they should have expanded on it.

Another great Cameron track yea? Man. I remember reading an article where matt mentions he had/wanted to do some super crazy drum fill near the end but then BOB stuck his mug in there and told him to calm it down.

Worst.

I meant the only one to see bammer being a retard.

Worst what?

I don't speak your language, whatever the fuck it is.

BoB'sdecision making and band input process = worst ever

I agree with that. I think.

Not a bad album. Middle of the row. Set out to make an easy listening/accessible short album and that's what they did.

Faults:
Speed of sound: why the recorded version didnt get the minimalistic cello/violin treatment that just breathe/the end received
Supersonic (b side)
The Fixer video
Target
Lightning bolt(song) makes unthought known seem a poorer song.
Needed a quick follow up


On the whole "The fixer" gets to much grief. "Got some" is awesome. "Just breathe" and "the End" are nice ballads "unthought known" "johnny guitar" "force of nature" and "gsmf" are good songs.
Amongst the waves I like sometimes.
It's not a bore to listen to. Skip song 8-9 worse case.

B+

I don't really care for this one. The only song I sorta like is GSMF and that was only after I saw that cute little animated video that guy did. For some reason it made me like the song more. I just don't get anything out of this group of songs.

It's only bad when you're actually listening to it. Otherwise, it's pretty good.