Lightning Bolt: the official album thread

[harmless]

I've not heard these, my computer refuses to download them.

That said, I like what I'm hearing from you all. What evidence do we have that these are not on the album? Avocado-style production, Ed's voice sounding Riot Act-ish? Remember those are just the two albums prior to Backspacer, yes? It's not inconceivable BO'B could've mixed them that way.

[Blenheim Augustine]

Aw huh.



These are definitely not on the album - they sound light years away from the production, instrumentation, feel and vocal style from Backspacer and the stuff we have heard from LB.

[LetMeSleep]

I've not heard these, my computer refuses to download them.

That said, I like what I'm hearing from you all. What evidence do we have that these are not on the album? Avocado-style production, Ed's voice sounding Riot Act-ish? Remember those are just the two albums prior to Backspacer, yes? It's not inconceivable BO'B could've mixed them that way.

PM your email address.

[harmless]

Aw huh.



These are definitely not on the album - they sound light years away from the production, instrumentation, feel and vocal style from Backspacer and the stuff we have heard from LB.

We've only heard one studio recording from LB. And it doesn't sound like they sound lightyears away from anything; Avocado has been mentioned, yes?

[WtOB?]

Aw huh.



These are definitely not on the album - they sound light years away from the production, instrumentation, feel and vocal style from Backspacer and the stuff we have heard from LB.

We've only heard one studio recording from LB. And it doesn't sound like they sound lightyears away from anything; Avocado has been mentioned, yes?

Only because they are listed as Avocado outtakes on pearljamonline.it. They sound more Riot Act-y. The theory is they initially started a more logical extension of Riot Act but then decided to rawk out instead, seeing as these are apparently from the first 2004 Avocado session. Give em a listen and you'll probably see why no one thinks these are new recordings.

[harmless]

Aw huh.



These are definitely not on the album - they sound light years away from the production, instrumentation, feel and vocal style from Backspacer and the stuff we have heard from LB.

We've only heard one studio recording from LB. And it doesn't sound like they sound lightyears away from anything; Avocado has been mentioned, yes?

Only because they are listed as Avocado outtakes on pearljamonline.it. They sound more Riot Act-y. The theory is they initially started a more logical extension of Riot Act but then decided to rawk out instead, seeing as these are apparently from the first 2004 Avocado session. Give em a listen and you'll probably see why no one thinks these are new recordings.

OK. Jesus Christ what's so wrong with a logical extension to Riot Act? Didn't they stay they started writing tunes for LB a couple of years ago and scrapped them for a bunch of new ones? Surely they've got rid of everything awesome and kept the shit on there.

[Will]

Lost the plot of this thread. In case this info hasn't been posted...

According to guitarist Mike McCready, the band had completed seven songs two years ago - but had to put the project on hold until this year.

"We had to pull back," McCready told Music Radar. "We had to take some time to figure out what we wanted to do. About four months ago we started up again with a brand new batch of songs."

Fortunately, taking time away from the studio helped them revive the creative process. The end result, he says, has been worth the wait.

"I think getting away from them, and taking the time to do it, and discussing with Brendan [O'Brien, producer], having many meetings between ourselves about these things, yet keeping it fresh while we were recording it – I think it's helped.

"It's going to be a really cool record and I'm very excited about it. Every artist says that about their new thing, but I feel like we've been through a long journey to get there, and it was totally worth it."

[injuddstree]

Cold Confession has Mike guitar that is Otherside-esque, hence the Riot Act vibe

[sward]

Im hearing some Army Reserve'ish vocals in there on Cold Confession. I'm going with Avacado sessions. Maybe these will make their way live ala Sad!

[stip]

I hate to say it but cold confession, despite being a great song, may not have fit on s/t. It is a small, intimate song that would be out of place on a record full of big gestures

[Birds in Hell]

I hate to say it but cold confession, despite being a great song, may not have fit on s/t. It is a small, intimate song that would be out of place on a record full of big gestures

...and so ends the short-lived but memorable stip/spenno alliance.

[Strat]

I hate to say it but cold confession, despite being a great song, may not have fit on s/t. It is a small, intimate song that would be out of place on a record full of big gestures

...and so ends the short-lived but memorable stip/spenno alliance.

My relationship with stip is not unlike my relationship with pearl jam. Sometimes he knocks it out of the park, other times I think he has downs syndrome.

[WtOB?]

I hate to say it but cold confession, despite being a great song, may not have fit on s/t. It is a small, intimate song that would be out of place on a record full of big gestures

The record is only full of "big gestures" because they're the songs they chose to include. By the looks of it it could have been a completely different album had they included songs like these and probably a few others that missed out too.

[Thejambi]

I hate to say it but cold confession, despite being a great song, may not have fit on s/t. It is a small, intimate song that would be out of place on a record full of big gestures

The record is only full of "big gestures" because they're the songs they chose to include. By the looks of it it could have been a completely different album had they included songs like these and probably a few others that missed out too.

Very true.

[harmless]

So, having heard the two new b-sides, here are my thoughts on the new album.

I don't feel now as if I need to temper my expectations. They just need to be different. The songs we have are good enough songs in their own right, they are just not exactly what I'd like to be hearing from Pearl Jam. In that respect, while they're fine, they're not going to be 'what I wanted'. The most I can hope for is that I can appreciate them for whatever they are.

I take some weird ironic comfort from the fact they can still play. They just choose not to, preferring to use all of the stuff where Ed sounds like a kids' camp worship leader and Matt sounds stiff as a board.

[Strat]

RIP Lightning Bolt


DOA

DBA?

[harmless]

I hate to say it but cold confession, despite being a great song, may not have fit on s/t. It is a small, intimate song that would be out of place on a record full of big gestures

The record is only full of "big gestures" because they're the songs they chose to include. By the looks of it it could have been a completely different album had they included songs like these and probably a few others that missed out too.

Very true.

This band is full of nothing but what they perceive as "big gestures" now, fearing anything with any nuance. Was 'Hummus' a big gesture? Was it fuck.

[stip]

I hate to say it but cold confession, despite being a great song, may not have fit on s/t. It is a small, intimate song that would be out of place on a record full of big gestures

The record is only full of "big gestures" because they're the songs they chose to include. By the looks of it it could have been a completely different album had they included songs like these and probably a few others that missed out too.

oh that's true. Throw down and undone and possibly songs we don't know on Riot Act and, depending on what you take out, you suddenly have a very different record. But I think both of those albums WANTED to make the point they made and sound like they do, and I don't think Cold Concession would have fit that.

Let me be clear. I think CC is a better song than at least half of S/T. It is not a quality issue. That's an excellent song. But I think it would have been out of place in terms of the overall feel of the album, which may be why it wasn't included.

[stip]

I hate to say it but cold confession, despite being a great song, may not have fit on s/t. It is a small, intimate song that would be out of place on a record full of big gestures

The record is only full of "big gestures" because they're the songs they chose to include. By the looks of it it could have been a completely different album had they included songs like these and probably a few others that missed out too.

Very true.

This band is full of nothing but what they perceive as "big gestures" now, fearing anything with any nuance. Was 'Hummus' a big gesture? Was it fuck.

we've heard 3 songs from Lightning Bolt. Only one is a big gesture song. future days seems to be the exact opposite, and mind your manners is too much of a straight line to grandstand.

[harmless]

I hate to say it but cold confession, despite being a great song, may not have fit on s/t. It is a small, intimate song that would be out of place on a record full of big gestures

The record is only full of "big gestures" because they're the songs they chose to include. By the looks of it it could have been a completely different album had they included songs like these and probably a few others that missed out too.

oh that's true. Throw down and undone and possibly songs we don't know on Riot Act and, depending on what you take out, you suddenly have a very different record. But I think both of those albums WANTED to make the point they made and sound like they do, and I don't think Cold Concession would have fit that.

Let me be clear. I think CC is a better song than at least half of S/T. It is not a quality issue. That's an excellent song. But I think it would have been out of place in terms of the overall feel of the album, which may be why it wasn't included.

I'm not sure if the albums wanted anything. They're just inanimate objects that 'want' whatever people read back on them in retrospect. We got what Ed and O'Brien wanted.