Lightning Bolt: the official album thread

[Tuolumne]

I was curious to see if PJ had any other albums that had the chance to reach Platinum status but it doesn't look promising. If Binaural hasn't been able to break 800,000 after 13 years then I doubt any of the 2nd decade albums will reach the mark.

Vastly different music industry these days. In 2013, it is a much much smaller number of acts that reach platinum status. From 10 years ago, the record industry in terms of sales is probably like a half or even a third of the size it was. Total sales in the industry fall around 10-15% each year. It sucks for people selling music, but it's a good time in terms of there not being as many acts that are deliberate knock offs (like the creed and nickelback) and especially in rock you have to have something original to offer in order to be noticed.

[WaitingForBluey]

stuff like PJ album sales

I've got that.

As of 2012, except where noted:

Ten - 10,018,502
Vs. - 6,009,993
Vitalogy - 4,768,030
Merkinball - 431,619 (as of 2006)
No Code - 1,404,672 (as of 2009)
Yield - 1,596,624 (as of 2009)
Live on Two Legs - 919,171 (as of 2006)
Binaural - 747,809 (as of 2009)
Riot Act - 508,000
Lost Dogs - 365,182 (as of 2006)
Live at Benaroya Hall - 167,417 (as of 2006)
Rearviewmirror - 1,209,428
Pearl Jam - 706,000
Backspacer - 618,000

Weekly sales ranges per album (as of March 2006):

Ten: 1,100 - 1,500
Vs.: 350 - 450
Vitalogy: 160 - 200
No Code: 50 - 70
Yield: 90 - 130
Live on Two Legs: 80 - 95
Binaural: 60 - 80
Riot Act: 60 - 100
Live at Benaroya Hall: 170 - 220
Lost Dogs: 370 - 430
Rearviewmirror: 1,700 - 2,000

Some other numbers (all as 0f 2006):

Alive single: 86,676
Animal single: 39,613
Daughter single: 231,361
Dissident single: 209,528
Even Flow single: 81,243
Given to Fly single: 158,320
Go single: 84,146
Hail, Hail single: 5,835
I Am Mine single: 43,116
Immortality single: 46,735
Jeremy single: 604,047
Last Kiss single: 786,732
Live at the Garden DVD: 159,626
Light Years single: 38,239
Mansfield, 2003 bootleg: 57,699
MSG I, 2003 bootleg: 24,807
MSG II, 2003 bootleg: 22,230
MSG I&II, bootleg: 24,331
Not For You single: 79,876
Nothing As It Seems single: 69,171
Oceans single: 67,363
Perth, 2003 bootleg: 39,368
Save You single: 23,444
Single Video Theory DVD: 105,455
Spin the Black Circle single: 104,861
St. College, PA 2003 bootleg: 77,784
Tokyo, 2003 bootleg: 53,446
Touring Band 2000 DVD 185,614
Who You Are single: 118,309
Wishlist single: 94,735

Are these international numbers? Or just US?

US only (at least judging by the album sales figures)

[WaitingForBluey]

I was curious to see if PJ had any other albums that had the chance to reach Platinum status but it doesn't look promising. If Binaural hasn't been able to break 800,000 after 13 years then I doubt any of the 2nd decade albums will reach the mark.

Vastly different music industry these days. In 2013, it is a much much smaller number of acts that reach platinum status. From 10 years ago, the record industry in terms of sales is probably like a half or even a third of the size it was. Total sales in the industry fall around 10-15% each year. It sucks for people selling music, but it's a good time in terms of there not being as many acts that are deliberate knock offs (like the creed and nickelback) and especially in rock you have to have something original to offer in order to be noticed.

So what's an appropriate measure for success I wonder?
If Backspacer reached #1 on Billboard 200 (and S/T would've reached #1 as well if it weren't for that damn Tool album) then is that the mark set for LB to achieve since album sales are a pointless metric at this point?

[IlluminEddie]

Are they any hints on how they'll distribute the album?

I'm assuming Target dumped them?

[Thejambi]

Are they any hints on how they'll distribute the album?

I'm assuming Target dumped them?

Think of what would be most accepted
Think of what would make the most sense
Then take the idea that works in your head
Then know the opposite will commence

[IlluminEddie]

Got this tracklist from a friend. He says he hacked iTunes and got it:

Pearl Jam
Lightning Bolt

1. Cross to Crescent
2. Gold Tongue
3. Mind Your Manners
4. Splintered
5. The Cyclops Approach
6. Data Mouth
7. Radio Waves
8. Lightning Bolt
9. Hypnotized
10. Revolution Spark
11. Annihilation Song
12. Future Days

[Tuolumne]

I was curious to see if PJ had any other albums that had the chance to reach Platinum status but it doesn't look promising. If Binaural hasn't been able to break 800,000 after 13 years then I doubt any of the 2nd decade albums will reach the mark.

Vastly different music industry these days. In 2013, it is a much much smaller number of acts that reach platinum status. From 10 years ago, the record industry in terms of sales is probably like a half or even a third of the size it was. Total sales in the industry fall around 10-15% each year. It sucks for people selling music, but it's a good time in terms of there not being as many acts that are deliberate knock offs (like the creed and nickelback) and especially in rock you have to have something original to offer in order to be noticed.

So what's an appropriate measure for success I wonder?
If Backspacer reached #1 on Billboard 200 (and S/T would've reached #1 as well if it weren't for that damn Tool album) then is that the mark set for LB to achieve since album sales are a pointless metric at this point?

Interesting question. I'm not sure. I think it's something else in this confusing era. It's more qualitative than quantitative. It's if it gains traction with a fanbase, if the fans come to the live shows, if they enjoy the music, etc. My guess is LB will sell in the half mill range, give or take, which is a moderate success these days. In some ways casue they've been around a long time, PJ is somewhat immune from having a complete career killing flop, and the only way to go anywhere beyond the half million mark to a bigger audience is to ignore the old "sell out or not" arguments (which are obsolete) and just really push hard to get the album noticed.

The Black Keys are basically the biggest selling proper "rock" band (Mumford are something else, more like a DMB) and they sold 1.1 mill or something. That's basically the ceiling of what a rock band consisting of a few white males can sell these days. In some ways, PJ have already lucked out. They play to big audiences regardless of whether an album is out or not. Overall, the audience is already fairly receptive to the material. No one gets the mass breakthrough anymore simply because there are no centralized gatekeepers like there were in the 80 or 90s. There's almost no chance of a "Ten" happening again, and that's not such a bad thing.

I suggest reading this really interesting article from Grantland on the Black Keys. Beyond the group itslef, it goes into where rock music is right now.

http://www.grantland.com/story/_/id/895 ... black-keys

My feeling is that rock is in a contracting phase. Alot of people around here don't care for such things, but I personally want today's 14-16 year olds to experience proper rock music. The issue, as well articulated in the article, is a lack of "gateway" bands anymore. The indie rock community is happy in it's own little ghetto. But the result of that is today's 15 year olds will never experience the gateway and will miss out on alot of cool music as a result. It's worth a read, and the writer has a whole series on where rock music is right now. I think PJ's audience should read it. I'ts good stuff.

[Lament]

6. Data Mouth

[Thejambi]

6. Data Mouth

[epilogue]

Got this tracklist from a friend. He says he hacked iTunes and got it:

Pearl Jam
Lightning Bolt

1. Cross to Crescent
2. Gold Tongue
3. Mind Your Manners
4. Splintered
5. The Cyclops Approach
6. Data Mouth
7. Radio Waves
8. Lightning Bolt
9. Hypnotized
10. Revolution Spark
11. Annihilation Song
12. Future Days

Welp, either you or your friend is a goddamn liar.

[E.H. Ruddock]

Got this tracklist from a friend. He says he hacked iTunes and got it:

Pearl Jam
Lightning Bolt

1. Cross to Crescent
2. Gold Tongue
3. Mind Your Manners
4. Splintered
5. The Cyclops Approach
6. Data Mouth
7. Radio Waves
8. Lightning Bolt
9. Hypnotized
10. Revolution Spark
11. Annihilation Song
12. Future Days

Welp, either you or your friend is a goddamn liar.

Oh good, no OTE

[epilogue]

Got this tracklist from a friend. He says he hacked iTunes and got it:

Pearl Jam
Lightning Bolt

1. Cross to Crescent
2. Gold Tongue
3. Mind Your Manners
4. Splintered
5. The Cyclops Approach
6. Data Mouth
7. Radio Waves
8. Lightning Bolt
9. Hypnotized
10. Revolution Spark
11. Annihilation Song
12. Future Days

Welp, either you or your friend is a goddamn liar.

Oh good, no OTE

Hidden track, prolly

[LetMeSleep]

Got this tracklist from a friend. He says he hacked iTunes and got it:

Pearl Jam
Lightning Bolt

1. Cross to Crescent
2. Gold Tongue
3. Mind Your Manners
4. Splintered
5. The Cyclops Approach
6. Data Mouth
7. Radio Waves
8. Lightning Bolt
9. Hypnotized
10. Revolution Spark
11. Annihilation Song
12. Future Days

Welp, either you or your friend is a goddamn liar.

Oh good, no OTE

Hidden track, prolly

Isn't that Betterman (acoustic live alt version)?

[epilogue]

Got this tracklist from a friend. He says he hacked iTunes and got it:

Pearl Jam
Lightning Bolt

1. Cross to Crescent
2. Gold Tongue
3. Mind Your Manners
4. Splintered
5. The Cyclops Approach
6. Data Mouth
7. Radio Waves
8. Lightning Bolt
9. Hypnotized
10. Revolution Spark
11. Annihilation Song
12. Future Days

Welp, either you or your friend is a goddamn liar.

Oh good, no OTE

Hidden track, prolly

Isn't that Betterman (acoustic live alt version)?

Well, there are five Betterman BONUS tracks. Is that what you're thinking of?

[Dr. Van Nostrand]

Got this tracklist from a friend. He says he hacked iTunes and got it:

Pearl Jam
Lightning Bolt

1. Cross to Crescent
2. Gold Tongue
3. Mind Your Manners
4. Splintered
5. The Cyclops Approach
6. Data Mouth
7. Radio Waves
8. Lightning Bolt
9. Hypnotized
10. Revolution Spark
11. Annihilation Song
12. Future Days

I thought mym was #2 ?

[LetMeSleep]

Got this tracklist from a friend. He says he hacked iTunes and got it:

Pearl Jam
Lightning Bolt

1. Cross to Crescent
2. Gold Tongue
3. Mind Your Manners
4. Splintered
5. The Cyclops Approach
6. Data Mouth
7. Radio Waves
8. Lightning Bolt
9. Hypnotized
10. Revolution Spark
11. Annihilation Song
12. Future Days

Welp, either you or your friend is a goddamn liar.

Oh good, no OTE

Hidden track, prolly

Isn't that Betterman (acoustic live alt version)?

Well, there are five Betterman BONUS tracks. Is that what you're thinking of?

Just do a bonus disc Betterman mega mix. Kill me now.

[BurtReynolds]

Got this tracklist from a friend. He says he hacked iTunes and got it:

Pearl Jam
Lightning Bolt

1. Cross to Crescent
2. Gold Tongue
3. Mind Your Manners
4. Splintered
5. The Cyclops Approach
6. Data Mouth
7. Radio Waves
8. Lightning Bolt
9. Hypnotized
10. Revolution Spark
11. Annihilation Song
12. Future Days

Welp, either you or your friend is a goddamn liar.

Oh good, no OTE

Hidden track, prolly

Isn't that Betterman (acoustic live alt version)?

Well, there are five Betterman BONUS tracks. Is that what you're thinking of?

Just do a bonus disc Betterman mega mix. Kill me now.

one leaked:

[Jorge]

Hey, that's that Australian lady from the A-to-Zs of Sex!

[LetMeSleep]

one leaked:

That sounds awful but I could watch for hours.

[LetMeSleep]

Hey, that's that Australian lady from the A-to-Zs of Sex!

???