Supersonic
Summary
Supersonic is Backspacer’s most Ramones-influenced track—a sub-three-minute blast of punk-rock energy that Eddie Vedder has described as being “about the love for music.” Stone Gossard wrote the music, reworking an older riff into something that felt, as he put it, “very New York.”
Gossard explained the song’s development:
“‘Supersonic’ was old; the chorus was old and the bridge section, but I reworked the whole verse and re-imagined the whole thing.”
— Stone Gossard Billboard
When he heard Vedder start singing, something clicked:
“When I first heard Ed start singing it, I thought it had this Ramones or Springsteen thing going on. It feels very New York.”
— Stone Gossard Billboard
Vedder added lyrics about living life at full volume—an appropriate message for a song that moves at punk-rock velocity.
Key Details
| Attribute | Details |
|---|---|
| Album | Backspacer (2009) |
| Track Number | 8 |
| Release Date | August 24, 2009 (B-side to “The Fixer”) |
| Duration | 2:38 |
| Writers | Eddie Vedder (lyrics), Stone Gossard (music) |
| Producer | Brendan O’Brien |
| Label | Monkeywrench/Universal |
| Live Debut | August 18, 2009, The O2 Arena, London |
| Live Performances | 19 (per setlist.fm) |
Background & Inspiration
Early Instrumentals
The riff for “Supersonic” was among the first batch of instrumentals created for Backspacer, alongside “Got Some” and “Force of Nature” (then called “Distant Planet”) Songfacts . These early sketches established the album’s sonic direction before lyrics arrived.
Reworked Material
Gossard’s description reveals that the chorus and bridge predated Backspacer sessions—the song built on older material rather than emerging entirely new. The verse rework and reimagining gave it new life.
Love for Music
Vedder told the Toronto Globe and Mail that the song is “about the love for music”—a theme fitting its Ramones energy Consequence . The album’s lyrics often center on Vedder’s love for music itself. On “Supersonic,” he pledges to always live “life with the volume full.”
New York Feel
Gossard’s “very New York” description captures the song’s character—quick, aggressive, no-nonsense. The Ramones and Springsteen references point to East Coast punk and rock traditions.
Lyrics & Interpretation
Volume Full
The lyrics match the music’s velocity—quick impressions and urgent declarations. The central image: living life with “the volume full.” At supersonic speed, there’s no time for half-measures.
Energy as Drug
Vedder explained the song’s energy:
“There’s something about this infusion of energy. It’s a tangible thing that gives you as much energy as a drug.”
— Eddie Vedder Consequence
Music as stimulant—the song enacts what it describes. The punk velocity creates the feeling Vedder’s lyrics celebrate.
Key Themes
- Love of music: Pure joy in sound and performance
- Speed: Moving faster than resistance can catch
- Liberation: Breaking barriers physical and metaphorical
- Punk spirit: Directness and energy over complexity
Composition & Arrangement
Ramones Velocity
“Supersonic” lives up to its title with urgent tempo and relentless forward motion.
Musical specifications:
- Key: E major
- Tempo: Fast (~180 BPM)
- Time Signature: 4/4
- Duration: 2:38
Critics’ Descriptions
Critics described the song as having “punky propulsion” with harmony vocals adding melodic sweetness to the attack. One reviewer called it “a two minute shot of three chord adrenaline” Fraudster's Almanac .
Fan descriptions note it “sounds like R.E.M. and the Ramones had a baby”—combining melodic sensibility with punk energy Pearl Jam Community .
Brevity as Statement
At 2:38, “Supersonic” is among Pearl Jam’s shortest songs. The brevity is deliberate—punk’s rejection of rock excess. The song makes its point and exits before overstaying.
Dueling Solo
The brief breakdown includes a dueling guitar solo between Gossard and McCready that adds texture without slowing the pace. Even the solo moment maintains forward momentum.
Production & Recording
Henson and Southern Tracks
Studios: Henson Recording Studios (Los Angeles), Southern Tracks Recording (Atlanta) Recording Period: February–April 2009 Producer: Brendan O’Brien Engineers: Nick Didia, Brendan O’Brien
O’Brien’s production keeps everything tight without sacrificing raw energy. The mix is punchy and present, with the guitars biting but not overwhelming the vocals. The harmony vocals add hooks without softening the attack.
Efficient Sessions
Producer Brendan O’Brien noted that “90% of the record was cut in the first nine days” Sound & Vision . “Supersonic” captures that first-take energy—the efficiency matches the song’s aesthetic.
O’Brien’s Return
Backspacer marked O’Brien’s first production credit with Pearl Jam since 1998’s Yield. “Supersonic” demonstrates how the partnership benefited from time apart—fresh ears applied to familiar energy.
Critical Reception & Legacy
Ramones Comparison
Critics praised the Ramones influence, noting it as a rare moment when Pearl Jam directly channeled their punk heroes. Some called it “possibly the only time Pearl Jam ever resembled their heroes, The Ramones” Fraudster's Almanac .
Should Have Been Single
Some fans argued it “easily could’ve been the first single instead of a B-side to The Fixer” Pearl Jam Community —testament to the song’s commercial potential despite its punk velocity.
Legacy:
- Demonstrated Pearl Jam’s punk roots
- Showed the band could still deliver pure energy tracks
- Provided contrast to the album’s more polished singles
- Became fan favorite for its immediacy
- Among first instrumentals for Backspacer
Live Performances
Statistics
| Metric | Data |
|---|---|
| Live Debut | August 18, 2009, The O2 Arena, London |
| Total Performances | 19 (per setlist.fm) |
| Most Recent | November 17, 2015, Estádio Mané Garrincha, Brasília, Brazil |
| Typical Placement | Early set or mid-set energy boost |
SuperSonics Tribute
At the September 22, 2009 KeyArena show in Seattle, the song was performed with modified lyrics as “SuperSonics”—a tribute to the departed Seattle SuperSonics basketball team Setlist.fm . The wordplay honored the city’s lost NBA franchise.
Pace Changer
“Supersonic” worked well as a setlist pace-changer—a quick hit of adrenaline between longer songs. The brevity made it easy to insert without disrupting flow.
Dormant Since 2015
The song hasn’t been performed since 2015, making it one of Backspacer’s rarer live selections. Its punk energy could warrant revival.
Personnel & Credits
Pearl Jam
| Member | Role |
|---|---|
| Eddie Vedder | Vocals |
| Stone Gossard | Guitar (songwriter) |
| Mike McCready | Guitar |
| Jeff Ament | Bass |
| Matt Cameron | Drums |
Production Team
| Role | Personnel |
|---|---|
| Producer | Brendan O’Brien |
| Engineers | Nick Didia, Brendan O’Brien |
| Mastering | Bob Ludwig |
Fan Theories & Trivia
Early Batch Origin
The riff originated in the first batch of instrumentals for Backspacer, alongside “Got Some” and what became “Force of Nature.” These three tracks established the album’s punchy direction.
Ramones + R.E.M.
The fan description—“R.E.M. and the Ramones had a baby”—captures the song’s hybrid character: punk velocity with melodic sensibility.
Trivia
- Released as B-side to “The Fixer” single
- Vedder describes it as “about the love for music”
- At 2:38, among the shortest songs in Pearl Jam’s catalog
- Gossard: “It feels very New York”
- Available on 7” white vinyl single
- Performed as “SuperSonics” at Seattle KeyArena show
- Among first instrumentals created for album
Fan Discussions
Active topics on r/pearljam and Pearl Jam Community forums include:
- Whether it should have been a single instead of B-side
- The Ramones and R.E.M. influences in the sound
- How the dueling guitar solo adds to the breakdown
- The song’s place in Pearl Jam’s punk-influenced work
- Why it’s rarely performed
Comparative Analysis
Within Pearl Jam’s Catalog
“Supersonic” represents Pearl Jam at their most explicitly punk-influenced.
- “Spin the Black Circle” (Vitalogy): Similar punk energy and brevity
- “Lukin” (No Code): Another short, aggressive track
- “Brain of J” (Yield): Comparable punk propulsion
- “Mind Your Manners” (Lightning Bolt): Future punk track
- “Gonna See My Friend” (same album): Similar Backspacer energy
Punk Influence
Pearl Jam’s members grew up on punk rock—Jeff Ament’s pre-Pearl Jam band Green River was foundational to grunge. “Supersonic” is one of the few moments where that influence becomes explicit rather than underlying.
Album Context
On Backspacer’s tight eleven-song set, “Supersonic” provides pure energy after the more contemplative “Unthought Known.” The sequencing uses the song’s velocity to reignite momentum before “Speed of Sound” slows things again.