Lightning Bolt -- guess the tracks!

[Blenheim Augustine]

'Metaphysical' implies God, and that's not what he means.

No, it doesn't.

No?

it implies something beyond the physical. it doesnt have to be god although that is the easiest/obvious/relevant connection to makr

The video changed my view of that line - in the video it seems that he is pointing out the idiocy of people who engage in self-redemption and self-help i.e. attempt to fix their inside world (metaphysical), but do nothing about the outside world (physical). This changes the "Right around the corner could be bigger than ourselves" to being about this earth rather than the possibility of heaven. We could will it to happen and create a better world here (physical redemption) or we could something else - war, environmental collapse etc.

[McParadigm]

I am assuming that the fish in Swallowed Whole is Leviathan. Good cross reference with Hobbes.

if so that would be one of the most literate references to appear yet.

What you two are missing is that the happy couple in Future Days don't combine to equal to, but rather eleven.

Apollo 11 was, of course, the first manned spacecraft to land on the moon....note the moon up above the happy couple. We later see the moon up close, strongly resembling a snooty Pac-Man (its eye is closed, perhaps a representation of its indifference to our efforts) about to consume the chambers of a revolver. That revolver is empty except for one bullet, which is important. This clearly represents the fact that Apollo 11 was on the moon for six hours before Neil Armstrong stepped out and became the first man to walk on it. For five full hours the crew had remained safe inside their spaceship, and near the end of the sixth they took a very dangerous risk.

You will note that the gray-scaled fish in Swallowed Whole (a term for, among other things, obsession) also seems awfully similar to the actual surface of the moon. The fish imagery is probably a reference to the astronaut's landing on the Sea of Tranquility, while the flaming globe indicates the entire world's fixation on what was about to occur.

Lastly, Mind Your Manners as a title seems a call back (the video even acknowledges this) to the era in which the race to the moon occurred. As a song, Mind Your Manners laments the possibility that we may not find the answers to our greatest questions even as we lift ourselves up higher (the moon, natch).

Based almost entirely on this artwork that the band probably offered negligible input on, and which may have even been made by a person who had not actually heard the songs for which he was making pictures, I'd say you have to be an idiot not to assume that this is a concept album about Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin straight up boning in a teeny little ship while they wait for the video feed to start working better so they can open the door.

Although, of course, I can't comment on just how Lightning Bolt fits into this until we can confirm the rumor that the accompanying picture is going to be just a giant spurting phallus.

of course im too lazy to go get one, but for times like this we need a clapping emoticon, or a sarge gif

We could just use

[harmless]

I'm still a bit worried that this is just a very good art direction concept. A skilled artist has taken the songs and interpreted them for himself, possibly without even hearing them (although that bit's unlikely). It doesn't necessarily suggest any conscious concept-album design by the band. We could still get a bunch of randomly thrown-in songs about completely different things. If anything, I'm glad that this artwork frames them into the concept, and does it so well. I know that if I was asked to design covers for PJ, how I did it would depend entirely on the music. If I felt that the tracks didn't talk to one another at all and the album was an inconsistent mess, the first thing I would do would be to try and draw them together visually. It all helps them make sense as an album.

[Dr. Van Nostrand]

I am assuming that the fish in Swallowed Whole is Leviathan. Good cross reference with Hobbes.

if so that would be one of the most literate references to appear yet.

What you two are missing is that the happy couple in Future Days don't combine to equal to, but rather eleven.

Apollo 11 was, of course, the first manned spacecraft to land on the moon....note the moon up above the happy couple. We later see the moon up close, strongly resembling a snooty Pac-Man (its eye is closed, perhaps a representation of its indifference to our efforts) about to consume the chambers of a revolver. That revolver is empty except for one bullet, which is important. This clearly represents the fact that Apollo 11 was on the moon for six hours before Neil Armstrong stepped out and became the first man to walk on it. For five full hours the crew had remained safe inside their spaceship, and near the end of the sixth they took a very dangerous risk.

You will note that the gray-scaled fish in Swallowed Whole (a term for, among other things, obsession) also seems awfully similar to the actual surface of the moon. The fish imagery is probably a reference to the astronaut's landing on the Sea of Tranquility, while the flaming globe indicates the entire world's fixation on what was about to occur.

Lastly, Mind Your Manners as a title seems a call back (the video even acknowledges this) to the era in which the race to the moon occurred. As a song, Mind Your Manners laments the possibility that we may not find the answers to our greatest questions even as we lift ourselves up higher (the moon, natch).

Based almost entirely on this artwork that the band probably offered negligible input on, and which may have even been made by a person who had not actually heard the songs for which he was making pictures, I'd say you have to be an idiot not to assume that this is a concept album about Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin straight up boning in a teeny little ship while they wait for the video feed to start working better so they can open the door.

Although, of course, I can't comment on just how Lightning Bolt fits into this until we can confirm the rumor that the accompanying picture is going to be just a giant spurting phallus.

of course im too lazy to go get one, but for times like this we need a clapping emoticon, or a sarge gif

We could just use

that could definitely represent just about everything

[stupidmop]

My favourite mcparadigm post/theory is the one about ed championing running away from any and all problems.

[stip]

'Metaphysical' implies God, and that's not what he means.

No, it doesn't.

No?

it implies something beyond the physical. it doesnt have to be god although that is the easiest/obvious/relevant connection to makr

The video changed my view of that line - in the video it seems that he is pointing out the idiocy of people who engage in self-redemption and self-help i.e. attempt to fix their inside world (metaphysical), but do nothing about the outside world (physical). This changes the "Right around the corner could be bigger than ourselves" to being about this earth rather than the possibility of heaven. We could will it to happen and create a better world here (physical redemption) or we could something else - war, environmental collapse etc.

I basically agree. Slightly different interpretation of that last lyric ( we can put our faith in god-will it to the sky- which will do nothing but ensure collapse, or we could get to work

[stupidmop]

'Metaphysical' implies God, and that's not what he means.

No, it doesn't.

No?

it implies something beyond the physical. it doesnt have to be god although that is the easiest/obvious/relevant connection to makr

The video changed my view of that line - in the video it seems that he is pointing out the idiocy of people who engage in self-redemption and self-help i.e. attempt to fix their inside world (metaphysical), but do nothing about the outside world (physical). This changes the "Right around the corner could be bigger than ourselves" to being about this earth rather than the possibility of heaven. We could will it to happen and create a better world here (physical redemption) or we could something else - war, environmental collapse etc.

I basically agree. Slightly different interpretation of that last lyric ( we can put our faith in god-will it to the sky- which will do nothing but ensure collapse, or we could get to work

This is my interpretation, but I hate the line 'or we could something else' . It worked when I assumed it was sarcastic and tossed off. But I don't think that's what he was going for anymore. Idk why he didn't put the word 'do' in there, it could have fit.

[McParadigm]

My favourite mcparadigm post/theory is the one about ed championing running away from any and all problems.

That was a fun conversation.

...isn't this song basically an empathetic nod toward a person who tries to do something they feel is right, becomes overwhelmed by it, and then subsequently runs away from their problems? And isn't this dissident who is the embodiment of that problem, by hiding in this otherwise innocent person's home, also running away from their problems?

It's DOUBLE RUNNING!

[stupidmop]

I love it because if you want it to, it makes complete sense. This is why he never talked to Dave A after firing him

[McParadigm]

"I WANNA FIGHT TO GET IT BACK AGAIN" (takes three years off)

[stupidmop]

Yup thought about fighting, ended up......flight...ing...to his friends house, cause he's sick of everything.

I await LBs lyrics with baited breath to see if the pattern continues.

[Jaeti]

Guys, this is all very exciting but I'm trying to think temper my expectations because I have a hunch this artist might be more clever than the band in his interpretations. Just compare the FD artwork with the song. That disparity could happen with any of these.

Yeah, that's been my concern the past couple of days.

[stupidmop]

I say we revel in the optimistic glow while it lasts, before they release a song we all hate and ruin it all.

[WtOB?]

"I WANNA FIGHT TO GET IT BACK AGAIN" (takes three years off)

this is one of my favourite things.

[Strat]

I still think Jeff and possibly Ed have a hand in overseeing the artwork. No chance they would just completely leave it out of their hands and up to someone else's interpretations.

[stip]

I still think Jeff and possibly Ed have a hand in overseeing the artwork. No chance they would just completely leave it out of their hands and up to someone else's interpretations.

The MYM video lines up fairly well, and the artist would have presumably heard the songs. Beyond that this is the first time ever (I believe) where concrete artwork is being matched up to specific song titles. There might be some reasonable interpretive differences but I assume the pictures will broadly be encapsulating the songs.

The songs still have to be good (they are 2/3 for me so far. I've been listening to the live lightning bolt and starting to really get into it), but there's no reason to doubt McParadigm's interpretation just because we haven't heard most of the songs yet.

[EJ]

I'm enjoying the window dressing approach in the track reveals. The artwork's pretty interesting and gives us fuel for more speculating. But, if it turns out to just be lipstick on a pig, well, that will be a huge letdown.

[Dr. Van Nostrand]

I'm enjoying the window dressing approach in the track reveals. The artwork's pretty interesting and gives us fuel for more speculating. But, if it turns out to just be lipstick on a pig, well, that will be a huge letdown.

i cant hear that line with out thinking of sarah pailin

[harmless]

I'm enjoying the window dressing approach in the track reveals. The artwork's pretty interesting and gives us fuel for more speculating. But, if it turns out to just be lipstick on a pig, well, that will be a huge letdown.

I'm waiting for that. If it happens, I'll just enjoy the artwork for what it is. It stands up on its own, which I'll enjoy; graphics inspired by PJ.

[harmless]

'Metaphysical' implies God, and that's not what he means.

No, it doesn't.

No?

it implies something beyond the physical. it doesnt have to be god although that is the easiest/obvious/relevant connection to makr

The video changed my view of that line - in the video it seems that he is pointing out the idiocy of people who engage in self-redemption and self-help i.e. attempt to fix their inside world (metaphysical), but do nothing about the outside world (physical). This changes the "Right around the corner could be bigger than ourselves" to being about this earth rather than the possibility of heaven. We could will it to happen and create a better world here (physical redemption) or we could something else - war, environmental collapse etc.

I basically agree. Slightly different interpretation of that last lyric ( we can put our faith in god-will it to the sky- which will do nothing but ensure collapse, or we could get to work

This is my interpretation, but I hate the line 'or we could something else' . It worked when I assumed it was sarcastic and tossed off. But I don't think that's what he was going for anymore. Idk why he didn't put the word 'do' in there, it could have fit.

There's no other explanation than sarcasm. He just doesn't deliver it sarcastically, which, I don't know, might be a case of double irony. That's how I've come to appreciate it; it's a dashed-off, resigned "or we could...", but he sings it with sincerity. Irony on top of irony.

As for dropping the word 'do', well, Ed drops words all the time; he's been doing that since he used to be crustacean.