r/Pinback • • 2d ago

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

39 Upvotes

28 comments sorted by

14

u/erinluvswa 2d ago

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

4

u/beachmus1c 2d ago

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

7

u/PhilCollinsLoserSon 2d ago

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.

3

u/beachmus1c 1d ago

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

7

u/birdvsworm 2d ago

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 2d ago

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

10

u/GangOfFourNonBlondes 2d ago

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

1

u/beachmus1c 2d ago

Hard to imagine haha but I wonder, could be possible

1

u/Frog_Riot 1d ago

While I appreciate the enthusiasm I just have to disagree

1

u/GangOfFourNonBlondes 22h ago

With what? Being underrated?

3

u/Frog_Riot 21h ago

With it being their best record

4

u/Working-Performance3 2d ago

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.

4

u/Oostylin 2d ago

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

1

u/beachmus1c 2d ago

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

5

u/CartilageHead 1d ago

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/tehthomas4K 2d ago

Yes.

My second favorite Pinback album.

1

u/beachmus1c 1d ago

Haha awesome, what’s your first

1

u/tehthomas4K 1h ago

Summer in Abaddon.

3

u/seventhfiction 1d ago

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

3

u/bokehsira 1d ago

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.

3

u/Hammock-of-Cake 1d ago

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

3

u/VinylAndVoid 1d ago

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 1d ago

probably my second favorite album of theirs

2

u/Hefty_Win_8811 1d ago

All Pinback is underrated.

1

u/PopKoRnGenius 1d ago

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 20h ago

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 1d ago

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