ITT: Your Fandom Before and After Lightning Bolt

[LetMeSleep]

This is such a difficult question as I'm in a second phase of love for PJ (2008-now). There was no real kickstart for it, just started listening to the studio albums again and fell in love with them again. I'd always bought the albums and stayed in touch but I didn't really obsess about any of it since No Code. It was probably due to me working shift work from 2007 and having lots of time while my wife was working to just listen to old stuff. They were def my main band from 92 onwards and I've always collected singles and boots. In fact when the boots came out in 2000 I then didn't feel the need to see them live. Those coupled with TB2k (which I found lacklustre) and the gigs in Australia being flogged by bogan radio, I didn't feel any need to see them. Gone were the days of queuing for 3 days for tickets.

So now I don't have a hell of a lot of time so I tend to gravitate towards known music, not seeking out new music. I can give time to artists I already like but rarely have I the patience to sit through unknowns. This was never the case. So PJ gets a fair bit of play and I guess it just feels comfortable. And it makes me feel young again too.

As for the music and their attitude, I wish they their comments didn't make the whole production a bit of a chore to them. It seems to be taken for granted and so long as they tend the fire occasionally it will continue to burn. They just have to show up and take the cheque (not that some effort isn't put in). I just want to be wow'd again. To feel the need to play a track to someone. I felt that with CC and LiR but not since Parachutes.

I voted 5 as I'm seeing them 2 times soon (which I can't afford), I listen to them almost daily due to this place. And even though I don't like the 3 new tracks I'm hopeful that there will be 8 awesome tracks on LB.

[Ledbetterdays]

Lightning Bolt will probably tip the scale one way or the other for me. I have been a fan since '94. This year will be my 20th show and it has really been a downhill slide since Binaural. I miss Pearl Jam the rock band. I miss riffs and solos and anthems and choruses. I have liked songs from all of the modern albums but few even crack my top 30. I love them live but as was said earlier weak albums dilute the live show and all you are there for is nostalgia. I want so much more for them than that but I am not sure they care enough to be anything more than that.

I think they think they are being more than that. To me their last great album was Riot Act, but I agree otherwise.

If they think they are contributing something interesting or unique to their legacy with pop and punk songs then that is an unfortunate outcome. I think Ed has completely run the band over and he is now happy to have BOB make the decisions. I think BOB thinks BS is a great album.

[harmless]

Lightning Bolt will probably tip the scale one way or the other for me. I have been a fan since '94. This year will be my 20th show and it has really been a downhill slide since Binaural. I miss Pearl Jam the rock band. I miss riffs and solos and anthems and choruses. I have liked songs from all of the modern albums but few even crack my top 30. I love them live but as was said earlier weak albums dilute the live show and all you are there for is nostalgia. I want so much more for them than that but I am not sure they care enough to be anything more than that.

I think they think they are being more than that. To me their last great album was Riot Act, but I agree otherwise.

If they think they are contributing something interesting or unique to their legacy with pop and punk songs then that is an unfortunate outcome. I think Ed has completely run the band over and he is now happy to have BOB make the decisions. I think BOB thinks BS is a great album.

It certainly looks that way. If BO'B can make something better out of Lightning Bolt, all is forgiven.

[LetMeSleep]

also, it's a 5 for my attention just like the early 90's. It's definitely not a 5 in returns. But every piece of music they've ever done is still there and it's a damn strong catalogue.

[Dr. Van Nostrand]

And though i seem to be one of the few that like it, FD is definitely not what i was hoping for on the new album, so that is already one small knock on the album

I think what I want the most is for the album to be interesting. There was very little on the last two albums that drew me in. This may not make a whole lot of sense, but I feel like there were enough interesting songs that captured my attention on most of their albums that it elevated my initial enjoyment of some of the more standard, less exciting songs.

Yeah, this is true. They always did plain old rock songs, but they were filler. Recently, it's a choice between good plain-old-rock-songs and mediocre ones. It doesn't feel like they're interested in challenging anyone.

Exactly. This thought actually occurred to me last night when I decided to put on Riot Act for the first time in a long time. Can't Keep, You Are, All or None, Help Help... there are enough of what I consider unique songs that I find myself liking the more standard songs more.

Help help is such an awesome song, and if Im not mistaken it is a Jeff song, this album could use a Jeff song or 2

[harmless]

And though i seem to be one of the few that like it, FD is definitely not what i was hoping for on the new album, so that is already one small knock on the album

I think what I want the most is for the album to be interesting. There was very little on the last two albums that drew me in. This may not make a whole lot of sense, but I feel like there were enough interesting songs that captured my attention on most of their albums that it elevated my initial enjoyment of some of the more standard, less exciting songs.

Yeah, this is true. They always did plain old rock songs, but they were filler. Recently, it's a choice between good plain-old-rock-songs and mediocre ones. It doesn't feel like they're interested in challenging anyone.

Exactly. This thought actually occurred to me last night when I decided to put on Riot Act for the first time in a long time. Can't Keep, You Are, All or None, Help Help... there are enough of what I consider unique songs that I find myself liking the more standard songs more.

Help help is such an awesome song, and if Im not mistaken it is a Jeff song, this album could use a Jeff song or 2

[LetMeSleep]

I'd take 2 each from SG, JA, MM and MC then 4 Ed's. Not that I want more Ed's, just that he gets his share in first it seems.

[epilogue]

I'd LOVE to see another Pearl Jam album composed of mostly Jeff and Stone tunes. Let Ed to all the lyrics or whatever. But I would LOVE to see Jeff and Stone hash out like eight songs and let that provide the foundation for the next record.

[harmless]

There was a lot of Ed in the last album. Maybe that'll happen this time? *shrug*

[harmless]

I mean, we got that interview where Jeff sounded frustrated because he wanted to get back to recording. Maybe he wrote a bunch of songs in that time?

[verb_to_trust]

I voted Gone.

I guess the reason I voted 'gone' was because their last two albums have been bad and they have been sloppy live since 2006. Not to mention their general approach to being a band seems to have changed with no b sides and a slew of other cheesy moves you all know so I won't list.

I still hold 93-03 in pretty high regard though.

[epilogue]

I mean, we got that interview where Jeff sounded frustrated because he wanted to get back to recording. Maybe he wrote a bunch of songs in that time?

I hope so. I really dig that guys aesthetic. He's a really wonderful songwriter. He just doesn't have a voice as good as his writing. But really he and Stone have been what's kept me coming back to Pearl Jam.

Obviously, Ed is wonderful too. We wouldn't be here without him.

[epilogue]

I voted for #4. But only because they aren't my #1 go-to anymore. Really, I'd vote 4.5 were it an option. I'm still pretty into these dudes.

[harmless]

I mean, we got that interview where Jeff sounded frustrated because he wanted to get back to recording. Maybe he wrote a bunch of songs in that time?

I hope so. I really dig that guys aesthetic. He's a really wonderful songwriter. He just doesn't have a voice as good as his writing. But really he and Stone have been what's kept me coming back to Pearl Jam.

Obviously, Ed is wonderful too. We wouldn't be here without him.

You're such a cheeseball. If you love Ed that much you should marry him!

[epilogue]

I mean, we got that interview where Jeff sounded frustrated because he wanted to get back to recording. Maybe he wrote a bunch of songs in that time?

I hope so. I really dig that guys aesthetic. He's a really wonderful songwriter. He just doesn't have a voice as good as his writing. But really he and Stone have been what's kept me coming back to Pearl Jam.

Obviously, Ed is wonderful too. We wouldn't be here without him.

You're such a cheeseball. If you love Ed that much you should marry him!

[LetMeSleep]

They are the only band/artist that I will buy a CD now regardless of liking it or not. I like to have a physical copy of a PJ release.

[epilogue]

Seriously, though. I'd love to see an album with 4 Jeff songs, 4 Stone songs, 2 Matt songs, 2 Mike tunes and 1 Ed tune. Even if Ed does all the lyrics, I'd be cool with a break-down like that.

[epilogue]

They are the only band/artist that I will buy a CD now regardless of liking it or not. I like to have a physical copy of a PJ release.

I have at least 2 copies of every album (just on CD, not counting vinyl) of every one of their albums except Backspacer. I only own 1 CD copy and 1 vinyl copy of that guy.

And I still haven't ordered the CD copy of LB, only the vinyl. Maybe I should put a little fixin' on that.

[LetMeSleep]

Seriously, though. I'd love to see an album with 4 Jeff songs, 4 Stone songs, 2 Matt songs, 2 Mike tunes and 1 Ed tune. Even if Ed does all the lyrics, I'd be cool with a break-down like that.

Absolutely. But that won't happen as Ed loves his songs and he works hard on them. The others have to inspire him. Same argument blah blah blah.....

[verb_to_trust]

I'd LOVE to see another Pearl Jam album composed of mostly Jeff and Stone tunes. Let Ed to all the lyrics or whatever. But I would LOVE to see Jeff and Stone hash out like eight songs and let that provide the foundation for the next record.

This has about a zero percent chance of happening.