Featuring lyrics written by vocalist Eddie Vedder and music co-written by drummer Matt Cameron and guitarists Mike McCready and Stone Gossard, "The Fixer" was released on August 24, 2009, as the first single from the band's ninth studio album, Backspacer (2009).

"The Fixer" features lyrics written by vocalist Eddie Vedder and music co-written by drummer Matt Cameron and guitarists Mike McCready and Stone Gossard.

[7]"The Fixer" is composed in the key of D major, and uses odd time signatures and switches between them regularly throughout the song.

[9]On July 14, 2009, a 30-second clip of "The Fixer" was featured on Fox's broadcast of the 2009 Major League Baseball All-Star Game.

[10] A 7" single for "The Fixer" was released commercially through the band's official website on August 24, 2009, accompanied by the B-side "Supersonic", also from the album.

Stephen M. Deusner of Pitchfork said in his review of the song that "neither the band nor Brendan O'Brien has a light touch for this sort of classic rock-oriented pop...Vedder, whose default is tortured defiance, can't help but add too much gravity to these lyrics, as if fixin' things was an obligation instead of a calling.

"[11] Jessica Letkemann of Billboard said in her review of the song that it is "shot through with optimism at a level not seen since Pearl Jam's 1998 Yield."

She added that "with Vedder mixed down among Stone Gossard and Mike McCready's warm guitars and the throat-ripping moments of his delivery somewhat muted, there's a sense of reserve that makes 'The Fixer' a tease for hearing PJ in its uninhibited natural setting: live.

"[12] Josh Modell of Spin said that "'The Fixer'...[exploits] Pearl Jam's leanest, punkest tendencies...when Eddie Vedder pulls out that indignant yet inclusive snarl and proclaims, 'When something's gone, I wanna fight to get it back again,' you can probably assume 'it' is his band's mojo.

"[14] In its review of Backspacer, The Guardian stated that "when Eddie Vedder yells of a 'fight to get it back again' on 'The Fixer', he is surely referring to the band rediscovering their mojo.

In September 2009, "The Fixer" was made available as downloadable content for the Rock Band series as a master track as part of the album Backspacer.

[4][19] "The Fixer" was first performed live at the band's August 8, 2009 concert in Calgary, Alberta, Canada at the Virgin Festival.