4. Backspacer
Backspacer sometimes gets a bad rap among casual fans, because of all their albums, this is the one that sounds the most "off." Something is very different, not just on the surface, but in its pulse. There's a lack of indignation in the vocals, and a dearth of aggression in the rhythm section. In fact, it's downright...upbeat. At its core, this is a classic rock party album. Not in the mold of Def Leppard or Van Halen, necessarily (they're never going to be that band), but more like Boston's self-titled album or The Who when they weren't busy designing rock operas. Backspacer is also notable for featuring the best non-solo (but very much solo) Eddie Vedder track, the endlessly endearing "Just Breathe," which incorporates the style he used on the excellent Into the Wild soundtrack. It's also one of their brisker affairs, clocking in at a paltry 36 minutes. Really, the whole thing was a shake-up for the band, who'd been stuck in a simmering rage for just a bit too long. And boy is it nice to hear them have fun for a change. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kj-sFIHQWLY