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Pearl Jam — Unthought Known
Album: Backspacer
Avg rating:
7

Your rating:
Total ratings: 1769









Released: 2009
Length: 4:03
Plays (last 30 days): 2
All the thoughts you never see
You're always thinking
Brain is wired, brain is deep
Oh, are you sinking?

Feel the path of every day
Which road you taking?
Breathing hard, making hay
Yeah, this is living

Look for love and evidence
That you're worth keeping
Swallowed whole in negatives
It's so sad and sickening

Feel the air up above
A pool of blue sky
Fill the air up with love
Oh, black with starlight

Feel the sky blanket you
With gems and rhinestones
See the path cut by the moon
For you to walk on
For you to walk on

Nothing left, nothing left, nothing there, nothing left
Nothing left, nothing left, nothing there, nothing left
Nothing left, nothing left, nothing there, nothing left

See the path cut by the moon
For you to walk on
See the waves on distant shores
Awaiting your arrival

Dream the dreams of other men
You'll be no one's rival
Dream the dreams of others then
You will be no one's rival
You will be no one's rival

A distant time, a distant space
That's where we're living
A distant time, a distant place
So what you giving?
What you giving?
Comments (137)add comment
33 years on, their new collection, Dark Matter, has some exceptional tracks.  Waiting for Stevie, Won't Tell, title track, and Running are s-m-o-k-i-n-g hot. 
 
Hint, Bill.  
Big fees to the gatekeepers, or  just a programming choice?

Get some new PJ at RP! 
Ten came out in 1991, and What we do in the shadows season 5 episode 6 was aired in 2023 - so it took me no less then 32 years to get it, and then it made me literally role of the couch in a laughing fit. Go see, the comic timing as of 1min37 is stupendous. Ears peaked when you here this:  "Now, I estimate we have exactly two minutes before Nandor ....."

Good song by the way, have always liked it
 liveaudio608 wrote:

Good tune but only during the first thousand times one hears it...


LOL!  ... some how I still like it, but haven't hit burnout yet.   GREAT TUNE!!  
Good tune but only during the first thousand times one hears it...
 William wrote:


Nice. An old radio buddy of mine (Rob Bleetsteen) programs that channel, working closely with the band. He does an excellent job. 


I hear Rob on Sirius many times introducing PJ's recorded concerts.  I have heard multiple concert versions of PJ's classic songs (and the less played or more obscure cuts).  While I have some gripes about the qualities of recording or Eddie's vocal enunciation (might be nice to hear the lyrics in actual, you know, 'words'), I have no doubts that this band has no shortage of passion for the music or respect and admiration for the audience.  When PJ is really ON, no other band has topped them.  They bring the A game. Fucking awesome musicians and artistry.   
 joejennings wrote:



Too funny! I  hope it is true!    



Sadly, not true...though Vedder did have a grandma named Pearl. ApparentlyJeff Ament came up with Pearl and they added Jam after seeing Neil Young performing extended jams at a concert :)
This track still gives me goosebumps...so much emotion...
 deniseperry wrote:

This is excellent! 🙏




I Agree!!   Thanx RP!       
 itsme_bygolly wrote:


I believe the actual origin of the name Pearl Jam was after one of the band shared their aunt Pearl would make Psilocybin jams. Could be marketing bullshit. If so, it's good marketing.



Too funny! I  hope it is true!    
This is excellent! 🙏
 sfyi2001 wrote:
'TEN' was Great, like Seattle was at the time. 
Then almost overnight Vedder became a parody of himself .
Pearl Jam is slang for cum, that's all.



I believe the actual origin of the name Pearl Jam was after one of the band shared their aunt Pearl would make Psilocybin jams. Could be marketing bullshit. If so, it's good marketing.
 sfoster66 wrote:

oh shit...I just laughed at this...


ba-dump-dum. 
 sfoster66 wrote:

How is this not the equal of Bach or Ludwig von?  Is genius not in the art?  Modern masterpiece...




I agree completely!
How is this not the equal of Bach or Ludwig von?  Is genius not in the art?  Modern masterpiece...
 gregormiz wrote:

Agreed, a solid number 2. 
(giggle) 

oh shit...I just laughed at this...
Not a big Pearl Jam Fan......but this one is a keeper.
 sfyi2001 wrote:
'TEN' was Great, like Seattle was at the time. 
Then almost overnight Vedder became a parody of himself .
Pearl Jam is slang for cum, that's all.




If you don't like it, hit the SKIP BUTTON, zippy! ...and shut up! ...what slang term do they use for you?
Great tune!
 sfyi2001 wrote:
'TEN' was Great, like Seattle was at the time. 
Then almost overnight Vedder became a parody of himself .
Pearl Jam is slang for cum, that's all.



Just like a troll like yourself would remember, eh? Those who embraced it back then, do it now. Change is not a constant so don't get stuck in the middle 
 jelgator wrote: 
 blackjackshellac wrote:
Wow! This sucks.

 Like...This is Sick!...Good!


 

'TEN' was Great, like Seattle was at the time. 
Then almost overnight Vedder became a parody of himself .
Pearl Jam is slang for cum, that's all.

 blackjackshellac wrote:
Wow! This sucks.

 


Bumped to 9!
 rumblekg wrote:
keep the pearl jam coming...every day...it's all good. 

 Amen to that! 


So SO powerful!
 kurtster wrote:

So a great concert to see would be 10 CC  opening for Pearl Jam ?
 
Known as a pearl necklace too but can't wait to tell my 30YO son - mind you, he probably knows!
 kingart wrote:

What he said.
This is one of my fav PJ pieces. I was on a TV production 5 - 6 years ago, and the initial plan was for me to drive talent to/from the set in NJ for 3 nights. I was provided a Cadillac Escalade SUV with a truly spectacular music blaster. The Sirius station was tuned to the PJ station, it played live and bootleg and B cuts only, not the studio or FM standards. 
When talent decided to make other travel arrangements, I had an a-w-e-s-o-m-e boom box on luxury wheels all to myself.  I did not PSD that Sirius station once, so I caught me some long plays of PJ in concert.  They were one stupendous band.   
No sense in people complaining when the treasures are plain. 
 

Nice. An old radio buddy of mine (Rob Bleetsteen) programs that channel, working closely with the band. He does an excellent job. 
 gregormiz wrote:
 unclelonghair wrote:
Every now and then I have a fit of giggles over all of the people saying the name of this band, and all of the billboards it's been, um, pasted on, when they probably never stopped to think about what it means.
 
I have to admit...  I was 30-something when the band came on the scene, yet I didn't get the reference until I watched "Weeds".
Gross! 
 
So a great concert to see would be 10 CC  opening for Pearl Jam ?
Rate 8 
Just read the lyrics. Poetry... add the intensity of the performance and you got yourself some real music... 
"See the waves on distant shores awaiting you arrival"
 passsion8 wrote:
I really don't want to piss off the pearl jam fans, but I have to share my opinion…
 
Eddie's voice always sounded to me like a little boy who's Willy was cold.


 
I might have attributed that to someone else.  Because it's more than a little creepy.
 blackjackshellac wrote:
Wow! This sucks.

 
Amen.
 lemmoth wrote:


Just curious.  What doesn't suck in your universe?

I happen to think this is a marvelous piece of rock and roll artistry.

 
What he said.
This is one of my fav PJ pieces. I was on a TV production 5 - 6 years ago, and the initial plan was for me to drive talent to/from the set in NJ for 3 nights. I was provided a Cadillac Escalade SUV with a truly spectacular music blaster. The Sirius station was tuned to the PJ station, it played live and bootleg and B cuts only, not the studio or FM standards. 
When talent decided to make other travel arrangements, I had an a-w-e-s-o-m-e boom box on luxury wheels all to myself.  I did not PSD that Sirius station once, so I caught me some long plays of PJ in concert.  They were one stupendous band.   
No sense in people complaining when the treasures are plain. 
Again? So happy for not to be a PJ/EV hater! The DJ sure must be a fan.
Stop it please. Pearl Jam is over. The voice sucks! Always has. Stop the crying!
 passsion8 wrote:
I really don't want to piss off the pearl jam fans, but I have to share my opinion…
 
Eddie's voice always sounded to me like a little boy who's Willy was cold.


  Okay. . .


I really don't want to piss off the pearl jam fans, but I have to share my opinion…
 
Eddie's voice always sounded to me like a little boy who's Willy was cold.

So enjoyable
Thoughtful and very good, it builds until it is very good.  
Cannot be objective with Eddie...  rock n roll in its pure essence...
 misterbearbaby wrote:
This song is pathetic, but in an kind of endearing way- like watching my Uncle play the accordian.

 
I'd rather watch your Uncle than listen to this. 

Oh, and he's coming over to play your "pathetic but endearing" wake-up song at 5:00 am. For the rest of your life. {#Whipit} 
Brilliant powerful message Rock and Roll.
 Cynaera wrote:
The more I hear from this release, the more I want to buy it. Pearl Jam was a grunge-band, but they're breaking through that rigid stereotype with "Backspacer." In the past, I wouldn't have spent my hard-earned money on anything by them, but this one is changing my mind. It's more mature, less mainstream, and just more attractive to a dork like me. And - weirdness-factor - when I hear a song from this release, I want to WRITE. No, not letters, not journal entries, but actual writing. I have a bunch of unfinished stories, and for some strange reason, Pearl Jam's new stuff makes my fingers itch to write.

I've heard that it also makes some people want to rip off their own heads, but hey - to each his own.
 

miss you so much, Cynaera...

Eddie Vedder has such great vibrato...  and wow can he jump octaves...  love it...
 
This song is pathetic, but in an kind of endearing way- like watching my Uncle play the accordian.
 blackjackshellac wrote:
Wow! This sucks.
 

Just curious.  What doesn't suck in your universe?

I happen to think this is a marvelous piece of rock and roll artistry.
Does the vocalist get that sound by physically shaking his Adam's Apple?
Wow! This sucks.
 Fourdawg wrote:

So were you mentioning "Spoon" or "Some might say spoon", which could also be a cool band name :P

 

There is no spoon
 sirdroseph wrote:


Solidarity brother!{#Cheers}
 
Again - still waiting for your OPINION on a better purely American "rock and roll band", a "better live rock and roll band," or a "rock and roll band with a better cadre of songwriters" and another rock band that is not named the Rolling Stones or U2 could sell out NYC arenas for 3 nights YEARS PAST THEIR PEAK RECORD SELLING TIME.

There's a handful of very good bands currently in their prime record selling exposure who are selling out arenas for 1 or 2 nights.
 Sjaaks wrote:


Come on!! Lady Gaga's concerts keep getting sold out, no matter what arena, but that doesn't mean it's really good now does it?

Personally i can easily think of a couple of live bands still touring today, but that's offtopic...

All the things you mention are a matter of taste, i can understand why you feel that way, but don't put it down as if you're talking about facts here, because Pearl Jam doesn't rank high in my book... And i'm guessing there are quite a few with me here on RP...
 

Solidarity brother!{#Cheers}
 
I'm right behind you on that Lemmoth. Pearl Jam is the last true rock and roll band!


lemmoth wrote:

Thanks for ur thoughtful response. Always loved REM. Getting very into Wilco. Should explore more Lobos.
 


Great song. The only Pearl Jam song I've ever liked
Thisong would be really great if it was just Eddie and a ukelele. Deep in the Mariana Trench. 
 bbryan wrote:

For your consideration:

Los Lobos
REM
Wilco (songwriting criteria is a bit weak on this one)
Some might say Spoon


 
lemmoth wrote:



So - name a better purely American rock and roll band .

Name a group with five strong songwriters.

Name a better live band still touring today

What other rock band that is not named the Rolling Stones or U2 could sell out NYC arenas for 3 nights years past their peak record selling time.
 


 


Thanks for ur thoughtful response. Always loved REM. Getting very into Wilco. Should explore more Lobos.
 bbryan wrote:

For your consideration:

Los Lobos
REM
Wilco (songwriting criteria is a bit weak on this one)
Some might say Spoon

 
So were you mentioning "Spoon" or "Some might say spoon", which could also be a cool band name :P

For your consideration:

Los Lobos
REM
Wilco (songwriting criteria is a bit weak on this one)
Some might say Spoon


 
lemmoth wrote:



So - name a better purely American rock and roll band .

Name a group with five strong songwriters.

Name a better live band still touring today

What other rock band that is not named the Rolling Stones or U2 could sell out NYC arenas for 3 nights years past their peak record selling time.
 


terribly uninspired & boring song
In response to the previous comment - Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers.  Nothing against Pearl Jam, I think they're great too.
  lemmoth wrote:

So - name a better purely American rock and roll band .

Name a group with five strong songwriters.

Name a better live band still touring today

What other rock band that is not named the Rolling Stones or U2 could sell out NYC arenas for 3 nights years past their peak record selling time.
Sjaaks wrote:


Come on!! Lady Gaga's concerts keep getting sold out, no matter what arena, but that doesn't mean it's really good now does it?

Personally i can easily think of a couple of live bands still touring today, but that's offtopic...

All the things you mention are a matter of taste, i can understand why you feel that way, but don't put it down as if you're talking about facts here, because Pearl Jam doesn't rank high in my book... And i'm guessing there are quite a few with me here on RP...
 
So -still waiting for your opinions - other than an opinion on Lady Gaga - who -SOB is right is very talented.

What I am saying is there is a reason for the fanatacial loyalty of us PJ fans, and at the heart of our relationship is the music.

Brilliant tune, great structure, powerful parformance.
 djholechek wrote:
Dir dir dirr, dir dirrr oh YWA
  again:

NO dir dirr!


Dir dir dirr, dir dirrr oh YWA
Great song plus they're not being too angsty.
 LongGoneDaddy wrote:


i agree as well, although even that is too generous.
 
Heh...  My number 2s are often generous, though rarely solid.
But about the song... 
 Johnny_Wave wrote:
A solid 2!
 
Agreed, a solid number 2. 
(giggle) 
 unclelonghair wrote:
Every now and then I have a fit of giggles over all of the people saying the name of this band, and all of the billboards it's been, um, pasted on, when they probably never stopped to think about what it means.
 
I have to admit...  I was 30-something when the band came on the scene, yet I didn't get the reference until I watched "Weeds".
Gross! 
A solid 2!
Every now and then I have a fit of giggles over all of the people saying the name of this band, and all of the billboards it's been, um, pasted on, when they probably never stopped to think about what it means.
I like this song, but I'm getting a bit sick of hearing it so often.

SAAAAAAAAAAADDDDDD SHHHHHHHIIIIIITTTTTT !  AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!
 Sjaaks wrote:


Come on!! Lady Gaga's concerts keep getting sold out, no matter what arena, but that doesn't mean it's really good now does it?

 

Ms. Gaga is a very intelligent woman. And she is very talented. As is PJ. Good music both.
 johnjconn wrote:
Best song on this cd.   

 

I'm with you but that whole sheep into the fan thing...hehehe
 sirdroseph wrote:
just sung by a sheep into a fan.
 

HAHAHAHA {#Roflol}
You know the sad part is that this is actually a good song with a good melody...................just sung by a sheep into a fan.
i can't believe i'm going to say this.

i kind of like it. 
 I'm completely OVER hearing Eddie sing every five minutes.  New stuff, old stuff, stuff from "Into the Wild"...  good lord, will it never end?
 DeemerDave wrote:


Foo Fighters are better than these guys. It has taken ten years for them to write their first ballad. Pearl Jam are often good, but are mostly one dimensional.
 
no way!! I love foo fighters, don't get me wrong. But their lyrics are often very repetitive. {#Beat}  They don't hold a candle to PJ.

 lemmoth wrote:


So - name a better purely American rock and roll band .

Name a group with five strong songwriters.

Name a better live band still touring today

What other rock band that is not named the Rolling Stones or U2 could sell out NYC arenas for 3 nights years past their peak record selling time.
 

Come on!! Lady Gaga's concerts keep getting sold out, no matter what arena, but that doesn't mean it's really good now does it?

Personally i can easily think of a couple of live bands still touring today, but that's offtopic...

All the things you mention are a matter of taste, i can understand why you feel that way, but don't put it down as if you're talking about facts here, because Pearl Jam doesn't rank high in my book... And i'm guessing there are quite a few with me here on RP...
 lemmoth wrote:

Love the Foos. Dave is a brilliant songwriter, musician, drummer and a good frontman.
Full body of work can't stack up to PJ.

If you didn't think Black (1991) was a "power ballad" than I'm not sure of your definition.

Just check out their hits collection - their rock side versus their mid-tempo/ballad side - and the odds and ends collection "Lost Dogs" for variety.

 
totally agree with the pearl jam part, there is no freakin comparison (in fact the foos only have a few tunes that i do like) {#Yes}


NYT Review of 5-22-10 MSG

His barrel-chested baritone still radiates masculine sincerity, along with the traces of self-doubt or indignation that his songs often require.
 DeemerDave wrote:


Foo Fighters are better than these guys. It has taken ten years for them to write their first ballad. Pearl Jam are often good, but are mostly one dimensional.
 
Love the Foos. Dave is a brilliant songwriter, musician, drummer and a good frontman.
Full body of work can't stack up to PJ.

If you didn't think Black (1991) was a "power ballad" than I'm not sure of your definition.

Just check out their hits collection - their rock side versus their mid-tempo/ballad side - and the odds and ends collection "Lost Dogs" for variety.

 Sjaaks wrote:


HAHAHA! {#Lol}

Rrrrrrrrriiiiiiiiiiiiiiggggggghhhhhhht...{#Rolleyes}

Sorry, doesn't rank higher than a 6 for me...
 

So - name a better purely American rock and roll band .

Name a group with five strong songwriters.

Name a better live band still touring today

What other rock band that is not named the Rolling Stones or U2 could sell out NYC arenas for 3 nights years past their peak record selling time.
 lemmoth wrote:
Best American band bar none.  Best live band bar none.
Best set of five songwriters in a band ever.

This is rock and roll delivered by adults who have absorded myriad influences, and synthesize it all.

Three sold out arena nights in NYC.  Nobody in rock does that anymore.

Pearl Jam.
 

Foo Fighters are better than these guys. It has taken ten years for them to write their first ballad. Pearl Jam are often good, but are mostly one dimensional.
 lemmoth wrote:
Best American band bar none. 
Really?

Best live band bar none.
Really?

Best set of five songwriters in a band ever.
Really?

This is rock and roll delivered by adults who have absorded myriad influences, and synthesize it all.
Perhaps...

Three sold out arena nights in NYC.  Nobody in rock does that anymore.
Really?
 

HAHAHA! {#Lol}

Rrrrrrrrriiiiiiiiiiiiiiggggggghhhhhhht...{#Rolleyes}

Sorry, doesn't rank higher than a 6 for me...
love
Never really liked Pearl Jam much, but THIS — well, I don't like it either.  Like Coldplay without the laughability. 
Angsty screams get old quick.
 lemmoth wrote:
Best American band bar none.  Best live band bar none.
Best set of five songwriters in a band ever.{#Clap}

This is rock and roll delivered by adults who have absorded myriad influences, and synthesize it all.

Three sold out arena nights in NYC.  Nobody in rock does that anymore.

Pearl Jam.
 
{#Clap}   {#Clap}{#Clap}


Great song - just saw them do this live in France, amazing.
Best American band bar none.  Best live band bar none.
Best set of five songwriters in a band ever.

This is rock and roll delivered by adults who have absorded myriad influences, and synthesize it all.

Three sold out arena nights in NYC.  Nobody in rock does that anymore.

Pearl Jam.
 More_Cowbell wrote:
Sounds like he is singing this while sitting on a spinning dryer.
 
Here's how he does it:

https://www.break.com/index/cat-machine-gun.html



Overwhelmingly good.
overplayed.
Pearl jam plays well in South Dakota on a beautiful Friday afternoon 
Cool. Pearl Jam's gonna turn into a good band, yet!
I like this cuz you don't hear it that often. Nice Pearl Jam tune...Eddie Vedder doesn't go too quivery in this one. 
Bumpy road during recording?
The more I hear from this release, the more I want to buy it. Pearl Jam was a grunge-band, but they're breaking through that rigid stereotype with "Backspacer." In the past, I wouldn't have spent my hard-earned money on anything by them, but this one is changing my mind. It's more mature, less mainstream, and just more attractive to a dork like me. And - weirdness-factor - when I hear a song from this release, I want to WRITE. No, not letters, not journal entries, but actual writing. I have a bunch of unfinished stories, and for some strange reason, Pearl Jam's new stuff makes my fingers itch to write.

I've heard that it also makes some people want to rip off their own heads, but hey - to each his own.
Yelling, not singing.  Besides the guy can't sing, it hurts the ears.  I'm sure the people who bash Dylan actually think this is good.  Well, that's what makes the world go round I guess.
Awesome song, awesome album, awesome band!
do people have different opnions
HATERS GONNA HATE

split kooks!!
 More_Cowbell wrote:
Sounds like he is singing this while sitting on a spinning dryer.
 
ahahaha- that is EXACTLY what it sounds like!

After hearing this - I wonder what a collaboration between Vedder and Stevie Nicks would sound like? 
Sounds like he is singing this while sitting on a spinning dryer.
 Felix_The_Cat wrote:


Hey, and I love PJ too!!

 
now THAT"S FUNNY



 malvey254 wrote:
Sounds like Wishlist and Love Boat Captain drank too much red wine one night and this song showed up 9 months later.
 

Love it. LOL

For the uninitiated and those who think PJ "stopped making good music after Vs" these are two prime examples of great songs from Yield and Riot Act respectively.
keep the pearl jam coming...every day...it's all good. 
This record rocks. And this song is no exception.

{#Sunny}
 johnjconn wrote:

For those who love to whine about PJ's new recordings, I say "feel free to move to the present day"
Their last three CD's are as good as their first three. Get out of the 90's and learn to enjoy today



 
Hey man, a suck ass song  is a suck ass song regardless if it is 1930, 1990 or 2010!!! {#Puke} Time ain't got nothin to do with it!{#No}


 Felix_The_Cat wrote:


Hey, and I love PJ too!!

 

OMFG!!!!! It is the best comparison as any I have seen for Eddie Vedders voice!!{#Clap}
Sounds like Wishlist and Love Boat Captain drank too much red wine one night and this song showed up 9 months later.
There are some strong parallels between this song and another one from the solo album of Vedder for Into the Wild...
Love Pearl Jam.... all their stuff is great and I really like how they have "evolved" as the years go bye.... this is prob the best song on this VERY strong album
 EssexTex wrote:
Great band great song....nothing wrong with Vedders voice at all.
 
Agree... but I have to admit I laughed out loud, when another listener, rating another Pearl Jam song, referred to Eddie Vedder as Goatboy. And I see Felix the Cat, below, sortof agrees!  {#Lol}

This album's a change from their earlier work and thus is taking a bit of time to grow on me.  Great cover, by the way.




Hey, and I love PJ too!!

 EssexTex wrote:
Great band great song....nothing wrong with Vedders voice at all.
 

Tex - Totally with you on this. Huge PJ fan - long time 10 club member.  Yourself?
While i still have some trouble with Eddie's voice, this song is actually pretty good!! And i'm a totally non-Pearl Jam kind of guy...

8