Backspacer By Pearl Jam

If one band deserves a global high five for bringing out such an excellent record this year it’s Pearl Jam for “Backspacer.” It’s been three years since we heard from the grunge kings of the modern era, and they sound like they’re coming back with a renewed energy for heated rock and roll and fervent guitar riffs.

“Gonna See My Friend” sets the record alight immediately with a fast pace and loud, impassioned vocals from Eddie Vedder. This track is an example of the best of what Pearl Jam can do - it’s powerful rock and roll that unlike some of their older songs doesn’t leave your ears and your happiness in its wake as it drags gloomily along.

This energy segues into the next two tracks “Got Some” and “The Fixer.” “Got Some” features strong punk influences in the simple song setup, driven largely by Matt Cameron’s pounding drums. “The Fixer” is more modern rock than punk, but carries on a similar vibe.

The pace of the album changes completely on “Just Breathe, ”which is an intense ballad about losing loved ones but one that, in spite of its subject matter, has a soft, acoustic sound and is lovely to listen to over and over again.

Vedder also tones down the growl you hear at the beginning of the record for “Amongst The Waves,” a track that has a lilting rhythm carrying the music that suits the title of the song well. Luckily the electricity of the album lights up again on both “Supersonic” and “Force Of Nature” as we move towards the end of the record.

The biggest problem with “Backspacer” is that it’s all over in less than forty minutes. That means you’ll probably have to wait another three years for the band to complete an hour of rock music. So it’s a good thing that this record is so damn cool that it’ll carry you right the way through to that time.

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Danielle Panabaker's Top Pop Picks
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  "I'm really into the Avett Brothers as of late."
- Favorite Book: Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn
  
  "My girlfriends are I - we are very nerdy. We started a book club and the first book we read was Gone Girl."
- Favorite New Movie: Silver Linings Playbook
  
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Paul Van Dyk: Current Favorites
- School of the Seven Bells
  
  The New York-based band unites Benjamin Curtis of "Secret Machines" and Alejandra Deheza. Formed in 2007, the duo is named after a mythical South American pickpocket training academy of the same name.
- Linkin Park
  
  The Californian rock veterans have come a long way since 'Hybrid Theory.' Back now with their fifth studio album in over a decade, 'Living Things' is one of Paul Van Dyck's favorite albums this year.
- Jupiter Jones
  
  The German punk rock band formed in 2002, but has already released several LPs, including an eponymously-named album in 2011.
- Depeche Mode
  
  The legendary Essex electronic band from the 80s remains a classic for Van Dyk. It was also recently among 'Q' magazine's "50 Bands That Changed The World!".
Cody Simpson
- Favorite Movie
  I'm still really into the Ocean's series. I got into them recently. I was always too young to watch them.
- Favorite Book
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- Favorite Album
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Styx's Lawrence Gowan
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- Making Mirrors by Goyte
  
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- The Artist
  
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- Keane
  
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90210's Michael Steger: My Favorite Stuff
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  HBO's series starring Cirian Hinds
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  "Either that or The Gypsy Kings."
- Favorite Book: The Fountainhead
  
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- Favorite New Movie: Attack The Block
  
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