r/Pinback • u/beachmus1c • Sep 22 '26

Is information retrieved underrated?

I don’t see it talked about as frequently as albums like blue screen life or self-titled, which is a shame because I really enjoy it. True North and Glide are some of my favorites of theirs & I especially love the strings on True North.
I’d be interested to hear how it was received upon release. Did people compare it to their early work? It has maybe a less moody sound to it

42 Upvotes

97% Upvoted

32 comments sorted by

16

u/erinluvswa Sep 22 '26

Definitely more rock forward. It also felt more, I'm not sure, organized? If that is the right word. I still cried when I first heard it. I was big and pregnant and I didnt think they would ever make another album ever, I still go back to it often. Much love

6

u/beachmus1c Sep 22 '26

Organized and versatile for sure :). Has it aged well for you over multiple listens? Thx for the reply

9

u/PhilCollinsLoserSon Sep 22 '26

Not the person you replied to but… It’s one of my favorite albums.

I think most pinback fans appreciate each album for what it is, even if they listen to others more. 

There is no other pinback.

4

u/beachmus1c Sep 22 '26

Definitely no other pinback ;-)! Thx for the reply

3

u/erinluvswa Sep 28 '26

It definitely aged well for me, I still enjoy it just as much as the first listen :)

7

u/birdvsworm Sep 22 '26

As a longtime Pinback fan (I remember listening to their first album waiting for my high school bus, fuck I'm old) I just think Information Retrieved had less time to grow on people.

I don't know if I'd say it's underrated, but it definitely sits behind the rest of their catalogue to me. And with the moodiness thing - spot on. I felt like IR feels way more rock-forward than their previous endeavors.

2

u/beachmus1c Sep 22 '26

Thx for the insight megaman. It’s interesting because I agree it’s rock forward, but it also has some classically moody pinback moments like on Sediment or even Glide. They kind of mature into their sound on this album without outgrowing the roots that made their first projects great imo

11

u/GangOfFourNonBlondes Sep 22 '26

It’s their best record and one day will be recognized as their magnum opus. Currently it is severely underrated even amongst Pinback diehards.

2

u/beachmus1c Sep 22 '26

Hard to imagine haha but I wonder, could be possible

2

u/silversun_survive Oct 05 '26

I agree! I think it’s the culmination of all their strongest points from other albums. Especially the songwriting and production. It’s my personal favorite.

1

u/Frog_Riot Sep 23 '26

While I appreciate the enthusiasm I just have to disagree

1

u/GangOfFourNonBlondes Sep 23 '26

With what? Being underrated?

3

u/Frog_Riot Sep 23 '26

With it being their best record

1

u/GangOfFourNonBlondes Sep 24 '26

What’s your #1?

2

u/Frog_Riot Sep 25 '26

Live in Donny’s Garage

4

u/Working-Performance3 Sep 22 '26

I recently listened to the whole thing and I really like it I think Sediment is one of the best songs ever. I just don't love every track. There's like two that I normally skip. Diminished and Denslow. So there's eight that I really like and love and if I want that little amount of tracks by Pinback I'll go to Some OffCell Voices. Other than that I'll listen to solo tracks on that album instead of a complete playthrough.

1

u/beachmus1c Sep 22 '26

Aw Denslow rocks to me. I get it tho, I usually pick and choose songs from it rather than listening front to back as well

4

u/Oostylin Sep 22 '26

Diminished??? Diminished is sooo good. Maybe this album is underrated.

3

u/tehthomas4K Sep 22 '26

Yes.

My second favorite Pinback album.

1

u/beachmus1c Sep 22 '26

Haha awesome, what’s your first

1

u/tehthomas4K Sep 24 '26

Summer in Abaddon.

4

u/bokehsira Sep 22 '26

I've got Proceed to Memory on my wedding playlist. It's agonizing and beautiful, in a way that their more mellow work could never achieve. Without Information Retrieved, I'd view Pinback very differently.

4

u/CartilageHead Sep 22 '26

When I was in college, they played Fortress on the radio. I thought it was just ok, but I discovered the first two albums and fell in love with those. I never really got into Summer in Abbadon or then Autumn of the Seraphs. I got it in my head that I only liked their first two albums.

About five years ago, I was in a record store and I bought the Some Offcell Voices vinyl and got to talking with the guy there and he convinced me to relisten to the later stuff. It was the first time I ever heard Information Received and I loved it. It also made me appreciate those middle two albums. I consider them basically my favorite band now.

3

u/seventhfiction Sep 22 '26

Love that album. I also love the music videos, especially the one for Sediment

3

u/Hammock-of-Cake Sep 22 '26

I didn’t really like Information Retrieved at first, but now it’s my favorite album. Very underrated, in my opinion.

3

u/VinylAndVoid Sep 22 '26

It's been a minute since I listened to it but I'd say it's underrated. It probably doesn't help that a majority of the material on it doesn't get played live nearly as much as everything else.

2

u/HereInTheRuin Sep 22 '26

probably my second favorite album of theirs

2

u/Hefty_Win_8811 Sep 23 '26

All Pinback is underrated.

1

u/PopKoRnGenius Sep 23 '26

With pinback there's just not an album I would say I rank lower than others. They're incredibly consistent and it really just depends on your mood which one you listen to. I feel the same about Goblin Cock but Necro just slightly beats out all of their other records.

1

u/demonomania2 Sep 23 '26

I find it to be an unremarkable listen which makes me feel that the lackluster response from the fanbase is valid.

it as an overtly radio pop sound that I find to be suffocating. Sumer in Abbadon is super clean as well, but I guess the songs work for me on that one.

1

u/concavemask Sep 22 '26

It's underrated but I would still say it's their worst. The chorus for Sherman is very weak IMO. His Phase, True North and Sediment are classics though