Lightning Bolt -- guess the tracks!

[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.

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.

Are there any other bands that do such a dramatic roll-out for their album releases?

I'm enjoying this one more than ones in the past, but, its just odd. The countdowns, the slow track & artwork reveals. Other than the cult following, there's no public anticipation for this album. I guess social media plays a part. Had the technology existed in the 90s, I wonder if the band would be doing this stuff. They seemed to have the attitude of, "we're done, here you go, take it for what it is."

[Mike]

I don't think I've ever witnessed another band doing a song title reveal. But I kinda like it combinded with the artwork. I wouldn't be this patient with other bands.

[evenslow]

Based on the Future Days art alone, it's obvious that the artist has heard the songs. If he was just given a title, "Future Days" art could have been any number of things, like cars flying in the sky or Biff Tannen placing bets.

[evenslow]

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.

Are there any other bands that do such a dramatic roll-out for their album releases?

I'm enjoying this one more than ones in the past, but, its just odd. The countdowns, the slow track & artwork reveals. Other than the cult following, there's no public anticipation for this album. I guess social media plays a part. Had the technology existed in the 90s, I wonder if the band would be doing this stuff. They seemed to have the attitude of, "we're done, here you go, take it for what it is."

The "cult following" is essentially why they're doing it, I would think.

[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.

Are there any other bands that do such a dramatic roll-out for their album releases?

I'm enjoying this one more than ones in the past, but, its just odd. The countdowns, the slow track & artwork reveals. Other than the cult following, there's no public anticipation for this album. I guess social media plays a part. Had the technology existed in the 90s, I wonder if the band would be doing this stuff. They seemed to have the attitude of, "we're done, here you go, take it for what it is."

This is their way of being internet-savvy in today's world, I suppose. Radiohead's way is to go "Here you are, an album" and just throw it out there. PJ's way is more strenuous. I think this is similar to the way NIN have been dropping tracks over time (even though they've done it less elaborately, without artwork etc). But to be honest, the gradual release of the tracklist is one of PJ's ideas that has meant that this three months was easier to cope with. It was a long time to wait, which would be an issue without these little quirks. And I honestly don't think they'd have done it if the artwork wasn't as great as it is. It's almost like they've given this artist some time to shine independently of everything else.

[harmless]

Based on the Future Days art alone, it's obvious that the artist has heard the songs. If he was just given a title, "Future Days" art could have been any number of things, like cars flying in the sky or Biff Tannen placing bets.

Yeah, when I said that I was just meaning maybe he'd read the lyrics or something. But they're sure to have played him the songs, I agree.

[Strat]

Based on the Future Days art alone, it's obvious that the artist has heard the songs. If he was just given a title, "Future Days" art could have been any number of things, like cars flying in the sky or Biff Tannen placing bets.

Yeah, when I said that I was just meaning maybe he'd read the lyrics or something. But they're sure to have played him the songs, I agree.

Im thinking full collaboration on the artwork. Sure, maybe Jeff didnt have pen to paper but I really think the band would be pretty damn involved with it all. Discussing interpretations, what they want to put forward etc...

[stupidmop]

I think they just thought it'd be a fun thing to do on the internet. Imagine no code out now, thered probably be some bizzare scavenger hunt thing.

'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.

So you think he's saying we could leave it up to god (will it to the sky) and we'll be fucked, or we could..uh...something else...i guess, not offering up any alternative? Cause i think hes saying or we could get up and actually do something ourselves as an alternative to leaving to a higher power. Which he realized after becoming 'self realized and metaphysically redeemed'. I dunno i dont really like that entire chorus. Damned catchy though.

[harmless]

I think they just thought it'd be a fun thing to do on the internet. Imagine no code out now, thered probably be some bizzare scavenger hunt thing.

'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.

So you think he's saying we could leave it up to god (will it to the sky) and we'll be fucked, or we could..uh...something else...i guess, not offering up any alternative? Cause i think hes saying or we could get up and actually do something ourselves as an alternative to leaving to a higher power. Which he realized after becoming 'self realized and metaphysically redeemed'. I dunno i dont really like that entire chorus. Damned catchy though.

I think the same as you, but the 'somethin' else' is ironic, because as you say, the rest of the song tells you what he'd do. Rage against it all and do something proactive. It's like he's saying "Or we could, like, DO WHAT I'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT FOR YEARS... Get with the programme."

[broken iris]

Cause i think hes saying or we could get up and actually do something ourselves as an alternative to leaving to a higher power. Which he realized after becoming 'self realized and metaphysically redeemed'.

I agree. He is speaking about challenges in the rejection of religious predetermination safety net and the act of embracing self-reliance.

[harmless]

It's not the best chorus ever, that's clear. But I don't think it totally misses the mark, and something like Big Wave does imo, at least lyrically. And the dropped word is far more annoying there. I keep trying to rationalise it to myself by saying that "crustacean" can be an adjective.

[stip]

I think they just thought it'd be a fun thing to do on the internet. Imagine no code out now, thered probably be some bizzare scavenger hunt thing.

'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.

So you think he's saying we could leave it up to god (will it to the sky) and we'll be fucked, or we could..uh...something else...i guess, not offering up any alternative? Cause i think hes saying or we could get up and actually do something ourselves as an alternative to leaving to a higher power. Which he realized after becoming 'self realized and metaphysically redeemed'. I dunno i dont really like that entire chorus. Damned catchy though.

I don't think you guys are disagreeing.

[stip]

It's not the best chorus ever, that's clear. But I don't think it totally misses the mark, and something like Big Wave does imo, at least lyrically. And the dropped word is far more annoying there. I keep trying to rationalise it to myself by saying that "crustacean" can be an adjective.

I love that chorus. It's one of my favorite parts of the song, and an unusually well written chorus for a band that tends to leave their choruses pretty simple. The chorus in a pj song tends to be a simple declarative statement or something that reinforces what we already know. It is not usually the critical moment in the song

[harmless]

I think they just thought it'd be a fun thing to do on the internet. Imagine no code out now, thered probably be some bizzare scavenger hunt thing.

'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.

So you think he's saying we could leave it up to god (will it to the sky) and we'll be fucked, or we could..uh...something else...i guess, not offering up any alternative? Cause i think hes saying or we could get up and actually do something ourselves as an alternative to leaving to a higher power. Which he realized after becoming 'self realized and metaphysically redeemed'. I dunno i dont really like that entire chorus. Damned catchy though.

I don't think you guys are disagreeing.

No, we're agreeing for sure. I just like it more I think (or maybe just tolerate it more).

[harmless]

It's not the best chorus ever, that's clear. But I don't think it totally misses the mark, and something like Big Wave does imo, at least lyrically. And the dropped word is far more annoying there. I keep trying to rationalise it to myself by saying that "crustacean" can be an adjective.

I love that chorus. It's one of my favorite parts of the song, and an unusually well written chorus for a band that tends to leave their choruses pretty simple. The chorus in a pj song tends to be a simple declarative statement or something that reinforces what we already know. It is not usually the critical moment in the song

I agree with that; it marks the song out as unusual for PJ, definitely. It's a great effort at that type of song, just not a perfect effort.

[stupidmop]

I dont mind it in big wave because its mostly a silly song and if you try to sing it 'a' crustacean it fucks up the whole line. But he's trying to send some sort of message in MYM so the random dropped word seems unessecary and the fact thats its the big uplifting end of the chorus draws more attention to it. And you can in fact sing ' or we could do/ something eelllllsssseeee' and have it fit.

But eh whatever. Ask i'm an ear and all that.

No, we're agreeing for sure. I just like it more I think (or maybe just tolerate it more).

yes

[Lounge Lizard]

This is getting close

[WtOB?]

they're just words

[harmless]

I dont mind it in big wave because its mostly a silly song and if you try to sing it 'a' crustacean it fucks up the whole line. But he's trying to send some sort of message in MYM so the random dropped word seems unessecary and the fact thats its the big uplifting end of the chorus draws more attention to it. And you can in fact sing ' or we could do/ something eelllllsssseeee' and have it fit.

But eh whatever. Ask i'm an ear and all that.

No, we're agreeing for sure. I just like it more I think (or maybe just tolerate it more).

yes

I think "...or we could do something else" sounds three times as serious, so three times as silly. I think in conversation, it would be delivered in a very lazy way: "or, well, we could... somethin' else." As if the speaker can't really think of the rest of the words, or is saying "...anything but this."

[harmless]

I can imagine Ed just stuck 'something else' there as a placeholder while he wrote the lyrics, he just couldn't think of a better line so left it.