Lightning Bolt: the official album thread

[Thejambi]

I know it's the most current album but is Backspacer really being used as the model of what Pearl Jam is ? I mean RA and S/T are for the most part nothing like it. Same with LB and MYM. Sorry if I'm generalizing I'm still way too tired to be trying to communicate.

[harmless]

Well, that's what I'm really hoping, that Lightning Bolt is different. I hope it has a different tone, different aims, and even if it stems from Backspacer's accessibility to some extent, different production values. I guess if they do something else this time, we can call Backspacer what we want to call it... a pop experiment. I don't see why we should define PJ by Backspacer and I'm hoping that when all is said and done, PJ don't either. It's been 4 years (is that right?) so I guess that amount of time has meant that we've just overthought, and over-talked, the Backspacer sound all that time. So in our minds, it's 'what PJ has become'. But considering they used to release albums every one / two years, we never assumed they'd 'settled' on a sound and we always looked forward to where they'd go next, knowing it would be somewhere different. Maybe nothing's changed in that regard. I hope so.

[Dr. Van Nostrand]

LB will be different then Backspacer just because they are always at least a little different then the last album. i can hear similarities in all 3 songs we have heard so far, but they aren't exact backspacer clones, and there is still plenty of music left we haven't heard that will most likely push it farther from bs, just because they always evolve at least a little

[harmless]

Also, how many Backspacer songs could they have put on earlier albums, had they been produced differently? Several, I think. So we don't really know how different these songs are from Backspacer until we've heard all the studio versions. We only have one of those so far. LB could either sound like Unthought Known, or it could sound like something from Yield. FD could either sound like Just Breathe, or it could sound like Thumbing My Way or any other acoustic song. We just don't know.

[stupidmop]

Lightning Bolt sounds quite backspacery to me but yeah you're right.

[griffinxi]

I might be wrong, and we'll never really know cause it didn't happen. But I they would have reached the same status regardless of the content of the last two albums. Considering they get the most attention for thier fanbase and touring etc. As long as the albums didn't do anything to affect that, and they put themselves out in the public eye the same amount they did with S/t and backspacer, the results would have been the same. Though thinking about it just breathe and into the wild might have also helped. It kinda helped ed shake the miserable drunken asshole image.

In answer I find Backspacer to be in the generic Pearl Jam mould. It's not a stretch to imagine the band that played Dissident to be playing ATW or UK. That No Way, Sleight Of Hand or even Marker In The Sand happened along the way is frustrating because they have dipped their toes in other creative pools but seem to be more comfortable with their 'template'.

That's not to say that I don't enjoy Backspacer, I do. It's a good album and not their worst album. But I do want for more.

Lol they're using thier most generic song as/second worst song on vs a jumping off point.

I pretty much agree with this-- there's a legacy aspect to certain acts that eclipses their actual output at some point. Nobody's been terribly excited over U2's output in the last couple of attempts, but they're still rock and roll heavies based on an earlier legacy and pure longevity. Pearl Jam puts on an exciting live show and continues to be active...this is proving to be enough.

It would have been nice to have seen them follow through on the promise of their metamorphosis during the No Code period...it indicates vitality/hunger when a band evolves and stretches the definitions of its sound (this is opposed to settling into a comfortable template that doesn't require much invention). You noted some specific songs-- Sleight of Hand being one-- that really twist the knife, because you're right-- that's a song that indicates growth potential that just isn't being chased.

And through all this, I acknowledge my personal tastes have changed some, and perhaps my critiques are completely baseless. The music that really inspires/excites me these days sounds nothing like PJ in any of its forms.

[harmless]

You've probably all seen this, but I hadn't until recently. This site charts everything (I think) said about the new album, every interview quote from the band, since the start. It's a really useful timeline to get all of the hints about the sound in one place.

http://www.pearljamonline.it/naeng.htm

Particularly interesting to me was returning to this: "March 21 2013, 1057thepoint.com - Pearl Jam has recruited virtuoso violinist Ann Marie Calhoun, who happens to be the girlfriend of Incubus guitarist Mike Einziger, to lay down some tracks for the band's new album."

The reason being, I could have sworn I heard a violin in sections of that soundcheck song (Sirens?). I haven't mentioned it because it seems so bizarre that PJ would use a violin at this point, but if I was right and they did on this song, I'm even more excited for it.

[LetMeSleep]

You've probably all seen this, but I hadn't until recently. This site charts everything (I think) said about the new album, every interview quote from the band, since the start. It's a really useful timeline to get all of the hints about the sound in one place.

http://www.pearljamonline.it/naeng.htm

Particularly interesting to me was returning to this: "March 21 2013, 1057thepoint.com - Pearl Jam has recruited virtuoso violinist Ann Marie Calhoun, who happens to be the girlfriend of Incubus guitarist Mike Einziger, to lay down some tracks for the band's new album."

The reason being, I could have sworn I heard a violin in sections of that soundcheck song (Sirens?). I haven't mentioned it because it seems so bizarre that PJ would use a violin at this point, but if I was right and they did on this song, I'm even more excited for it.

I mentioned at the time that I could hear a violin/strings part in my head working over the outro but I don't believe that they soundchecked that. I couldn't imagine PJ playing to a backing track (did they play to drum loops in You Are?) and if there was a violin player present at soundcheck it would have been performed live.

Edit: unless it was a recording being played through the PA which they were considering playing but didn't.

[stip]

I know it's the most current album but is Backspacer really being used as the model of what Pearl Jam is ? I mean RA and S/T are for the most part nothing like it. Same with LB and MYM. Sorry if I'm generalizing I'm still way too tired to be trying to communicate.

we've always used the most recent album as the model of what pearl jam is, I think. That's why it is sometimes hard to get a sense on an album until it is no longer the most recent (or, as a friend of mine said, two out, since backspacer will now be the album that LB is evaluated in light of).

[LetMeSleep]

I love this.

At tonight’s Pearl Jam show in Dublin (06/22/2010), the boys debuted a new song that Eddie called “so new it might not even be a song. We’ll see.” Originally written and recorded during the "Pearl Jam" (2006) studio sessions, "Of The Earth" was recently re-recorded during the "Backspacer" sessions.

So it's new but you've recorded it at least twice over maybe 5 years.

[harmless]

You've probably all seen this, but I hadn't until recently. This site charts everything (I think) said about the new album, every interview quote from the band, since the start. It's a really useful timeline to get all of the hints about the sound in one place.

http://www.pearljamonline.it/naeng.htm

Particularly interesting to me was returning to this: "March 21 2013, 1057thepoint.com - Pearl Jam has recruited virtuoso violinist Ann Marie Calhoun, who happens to be the girlfriend of Incubus guitarist Mike Einziger, to lay down some tracks for the band's new album."

The reason being, I could have sworn I heard a violin in sections of that soundcheck song (Sirens?). I haven't mentioned it because it seems so bizarre that PJ would use a violin at this point, but if I was right and they did on this song, I'm even more excited for it.

I mentioned at the time that I could hear a violin/strings part in my head working over the outro but I don't believe that they soundchecked that. I couldn't imagine PJ playing to a backing track (did they play to drum loops in You Are?) and if there was a violin player present at soundcheck it would have been performed live.

Edit: unless it was a recording being played through the PA which they were considering playing but didn't.

I'm starting to wonder whether this is true. Whatever it was, it sounded very well-played. It could easily have been a studio version played over big reverby speakers.

[LetMeSleep]

You've probably all seen this, but I hadn't until recently. This site charts everything (I think) said about the new album, every interview quote from the band, since the start. It's a really useful timeline to get all of the hints about the sound in one place.

http://www.pearljamonline.it/naeng.htm

Particularly interesting to me was returning to this: "March 21 2013, 1057thepoint.com - Pearl Jam has recruited virtuoso violinist Ann Marie Calhoun, who happens to be the girlfriend of Incubus guitarist Mike Einziger, to lay down some tracks for the band's new album."

The reason being, I could have sworn I heard a violin in sections of that soundcheck song (Sirens?). I haven't mentioned it because it seems so bizarre that PJ would use a violin at this point, but if I was right and they did on this song, I'm even more excited for it.

I mentioned at the time that I could hear a violin/strings part in my head working over the outro but I don't believe that they soundchecked that. I couldn't imagine PJ playing to a backing track (did they play to drum loops in You Are?) and if there was a violin player present at soundcheck it would have been performed live.

Edit: unless it was a recording being played through the PA which they were considering playing but didn't.

I'm starting to wonder whether this is true. Whatever it was, it sounded very well-played. It could easily have been a studio version played over big reverby speakers.

Empty arena.

[harmless]

It's kind of worrying that the Matt song apparently 'sounds like U2', but I like Matt songs so I'm sure I'll still like it enough.

[LetMeSleep]

Fuck yeah!

A couple of days ago, Pearl Jam guitarist Mike McCready was interviewed by 91.9 WFPK Radio Louisville and revealed that Pearl Jam have fifteen ideas ready for the new record, two or three of them being "Backspacer" outtakes. According to Mike, the band's tenth studio album is due out in 2013.

[stupidmop]

I love this.

At tonight’s Pearl Jam show in Dublin (06/22/2010), the boys debuted a new song that Eddie called “so new it might not even be a song. We’ll see.” Originally written and recorded during the "Pearl Jam" (2006) studio sessions, "Of The Earth" was recently re-recorded during the "Backspacer" sessions.

So it's new but you've recorded it at least twice over maybe 5 years.

I wonder how creeped out the band would be to know we have song names and shit from recording sessions they've forgotton about or presume we kow nothing about.

Eddie: New song!

Us: I think you'll find, eddie, that you first recorded this song june 19th 2006, then again a year later. Stop lying.

Obviously I hope it will be a great record. I hope it sounds fresh in people's ears. Interesting. Different. These are intangible qualities: you know you have them captured only after you did."

I'm assuming this album will be out by the end of the year, if all goes well. That's the plan. There's no news about what it sounds like yet, but it's going to be a good Pearl Jam record. There's no question about it. It sounds really good to my ears right now"

Stone being positive

[harmless]

You've probably all seen this, but I hadn't until recently. This site charts everything (I think) said about the new album, every interview quote from the band, since the start. It's a really useful timeline to get all of the hints about the sound in one place.

http://www.pearljamonline.it/naeng.htm

Particularly interesting to me was returning to this: "March 21 2013, 1057thepoint.com - Pearl Jam has recruited virtuoso violinist Ann Marie Calhoun, who happens to be the girlfriend of Incubus guitarist Mike Einziger, to lay down some tracks for the band's new album."

The reason being, I could have sworn I heard a violin in sections of that soundcheck song (Sirens?). I haven't mentioned it because it seems so bizarre that PJ would use a violin at this point, but if I was right and they did on this song, I'm even more excited for it.

I mentioned at the time that I could hear a violin/strings part in my head working over the outro but I don't believe that they soundchecked that. I couldn't imagine PJ playing to a backing track (did they play to drum loops in You Are?) and if there was a violin player present at soundcheck it would have been performed live.

Edit: unless it was a recording being played through the PA which they were considering playing but didn't.

I'm starting to wonder whether this is true. Whatever it was, it sounded very well-played. It could easily have been a studio version played over big reverby speakers.

Empty arena.

Well yeah. That's what I meant, I don't think big reverby speakers are a thing. Big speakers maybe contributed.

[Dr. Van Nostrand]

I love this.

At tonight’s Pearl Jam show in Dublin (06/22/2010), the boys debuted a new song that Eddie called “so new it might not even be a song. We’ll see.” Originally written and recorded during the "Pearl Jam" (2006) studio sessions, "Of The Earth" was recently re-recorded during the "Backspacer" sessions.

So it's new but you've recorded it at least twice over maybe 5 years.

but no one was supposed to have ever heard of it
and really, id bet 99% of the people in the arena that night had no idea there was a song floating around called of the earth

[harmless]

I love this.

At tonight’s Pearl Jam show in Dublin (06/22/2010), the boys debuted a new song that Eddie called “so new it might not even be a song. We’ll see.” Originally written and recorded during the "Pearl Jam" (2006) studio sessions, "Of The Earth" was recently re-recorded during the "Backspacer" sessions.

So it's new but you've recorded it at least twice over maybe 5 years.

I wonder how creeped out the band would be to know we have song names and shit from recording sessions they've forgotton about or presume we kow nothing about.

Eddie: New song!

Us: I think you'll find, eddie, that you first recorded this song june 19th 2006, then again a year later. Stop lying.

Obviously I hope it will be a great record. I hope it sounds fresh in people's ears. Interesting. Different. These are intangible qualities: you know you have them captured only after you did."

I'm assuming this album will be out by the end of the year, if all goes well. That's the plan. There's no news about what it sounds like yet, but it's going to be a good Pearl Jam record. There's no question about it. It sounds really good to my ears right now"

Stone being positive

Not that positive, considering things said more recently. "It sounds like Pearl Jam. You're going to hear some hard ones, some soft ones, some in between." Or something like that, I'm paraphrasing.

[stip]

I love this.

At tonight’s Pearl Jam show in Dublin (06/22/2010), the boys debuted a new song that Eddie called “so new it might not even be a song. We’ll see.” Originally written and recorded during the "Pearl Jam" (2006) studio sessions, "Of The Earth" was recently re-recorded during the "Backspacer" sessions.

So it's new but you've recorded it at least twice over maybe 5 years.

I wonder how creeped out the band would be to know we have song names and shit from recording sessions they've forgotton about or presume we kow nothing about.

Eddie: New song!

Us: I think you'll find, eddie, that you first recorded this song june 19th 2006, then again a year later. Stop lying.

Obviously I hope it will be a great record. I hope it sounds fresh in people's ears. Interesting. Different. These are intangible qualities: you know you have them captured only after you did."

I'm assuming this album will be out by the end of the year, if all goes well. That's the plan. There's no news about what it sounds like yet, but it's going to be a good Pearl Jam record. There's no question about it. It sounds really good to my ears right now"

Stone being positive

Not that positive, considering things said more recently. "It sounds like Pearl Jam. You're going to hear some hard ones, some soft ones, some in between." Or something like that, I'm paraphrasing.

He basically said in that same quote that he doesn't want to\cant talk about the album yet

[stupidmop]

Lol its really not all that positive but according to this, 'it sounds like pearl jam' is from April 30th, and 'it's a good pearl jam record, no doubt about it' is from may 8th.

I'll take what i can get dammit.