Lightning Bolt: the official album thread

General Pearl Jam discussion.
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Rank Lightning Bolt

5 stars
1
1%
4 stars
4
5%
3 stars
29
37%
2 stars
30
38%
1 star
14
18%
 
Total votes: 78

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Jorge
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Re: Lightning Bolt - October 15

Post by Jorge »

Someone please correct me if I'm wrong, but it strikes me that pretty much nobody who has heard the album has given it rave reviews. There's a lot of "it was nice" and "I loved some of the songs", but nobody seems to be super hyped up and excited about it.
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harmless
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Re: Lightning Bolt - October 15

Post by harmless »

We've already had one or two fair to middling reviews of SBM. One review implied that it was fine if you're into the style. They also mentioned a Mumford & Sons comparison. That makes me pretty happy, but I'm aware that a lot of people here think they're awful, so they're probably predisposed to hate it.
Last edited by harmless on Wed September 04, 2013 7:22 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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Re: Lightning Bolt - October 15

Post by EJ »

Revelator wrote:What are the chances of all three listening parties giving negative reactions to Sleeping By Myself causing them to replace it last minute on the track list???? It genuinely sounds like the biggest WtF part of the album from the reviews I've read, and rightfully so, I mean serious what the fuck man?
Come on, its not a focus group. The album's done.
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Re: Lightning Bolt - October 15

Post by Revelator »

bodysnatcher wrote:
Revelator wrote:What are the chances of all three listening parties giving negative reactions to Sleeping By Myself causing them to replace it last minute on the track list???? It genuinely sounds like the biggest WtF part of the album from the reviews I've read, and rightfully so, I mean serious what the fuck man?
It's better than a reworked version of Ole
:lol: It's ridiculous to me. But hey the rest of the album sounds pretty interesting (sans Future Days), so I'm definitely still pumped for this.
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Re: Lightning Bolt - October 15

Post by evenslow »

theplatypus wrote:Someone please correct me if I'm wrong, but it strikes me that pretty much nobody who has heard the album has given it rave reviews. There's a lot of "it was nice" and "I loved some of the songs", but nobody seems to be super hyped up and excited about it.
what's your point?
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Re: Lightning Bolt - October 15

Post by Revelator »

EJ wrote:
Revelator wrote:What are the chances of all three listening parties giving negative reactions to Sleeping By Myself causing them to replace it last minute on the track list???? It genuinely sounds like the biggest WtF part of the album from the reviews I've read, and rightfully so, I mean serious what the fuck man?
Come on, its not a focus group. The album's done.
I know dude, just joking/bitching to everyone
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Re: Lightning Bolt - October 15

Post by bodysnatcher »

theplatypus wrote:Someone please correct me if I'm wrong, but it strikes me that pretty much nobody who has heard the album has given it rave reviews. There's a lot of "it was nice" and "I loved some of the songs", but nobody seems to be super hyped up and excited about it.
BO'B FAIL.

I'd take an album that has divided fan opinions rather than one that was universally loved
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Re: Lightning Bolt - October 15

Post by Thurman Murman »

theplatypus wrote:Someone please correct me if I'm wrong, but it strikes me that pretty much nobody who has heard the album has given it rave reviews. There's a lot of "it was nice" and "I loved some of the songs", but nobody seems to be super hyped up and excited about it.
Given the conditions, i'm not sure that i'd trust anyone that was flat out raving about it after that one listen.
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Re: Lightning Bolt - October 15

Post by BoltofLightning »

theplatypus wrote:Someone please correct me if I'm wrong, but it strikes me that pretty much nobody who has heard the album has given it rave reviews. There's a lot of "it was nice" and "I loved some of the songs", but nobody seems to be super hyped up and excited about it.
I think that is a good thing. I prefer slow-burners.
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harmless
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Re: Lightning Bolt - October 15

Post by harmless »

theplatypus wrote:Someone please correct me if I'm wrong, but it strikes me that pretty much nobody who has heard the album has given it rave reviews. There's a lot of "it was nice" and "I loved some of the songs", but nobody seems to be super hyped up and excited about it.
I'm OK with that, potentially. A lot of people were really hyped up about Backspacer on first listen. It's instantly likeable but has little shelf-life. One or two of these reviews have said that this album could fit into the grower category, and all of my favourite PJ albums have been that. If this is a slow-burner, it might not be fully graspable, played once in a noisy pub.
Last edited by harmless on Wed September 04, 2013 7:25 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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Re: Lightning Bolt - October 15

Post by Jorge »

evenslow wrote:
theplatypus wrote:Someone please correct me if I'm wrong, but it strikes me that pretty much nobody who has heard the album has given it rave reviews. There's a lot of "it was nice" and "I loved some of the songs", but nobody seems to be super hyped up and excited about it.
what's your point?
Just an observation.
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Re: Lightning Bolt - October 15

Post by digster »

evenslow wrote:
theplatypus wrote:Someone please correct me if I'm wrong, but it strikes me that pretty much nobody who has heard the album has given it rave reviews. There's a lot of "it was nice" and "I loved some of the songs", but nobody seems to be super hyped up and excited about it.
what's your point?
That's a little surprising to me; these kinds of listening parties seem tailor-made for you to come out of it being really positive about the experience (and, by extension, the record).
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Re: Lightning Bolt - October 15

Post by McParadigm »

BoltofLightning wrote:
theplatypus wrote:Someone please correct me if I'm wrong, but it strikes me that pretty much nobody who has heard the album has given it rave reviews. There's a lot of "it was nice" and "I loved some of the songs", but nobody seems to be super hyped up and excited about it.
I think that is a good thing. I prefer slow-burners.
You really don't pick up on any underlying assumptions when you say that, do you?
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Re: Lightning Bolt - October 15

Post by Iowaska_Experience »

There is a disconnect somewhere here on SBMGate. I think a lot of folks are marrying two BoB statements together that maybe shouldn't be - (1) he begged to get SBM on album and (2) the album is intended to bring in new fans. I don't think SBM is intended to bring in new fans. If so, why bury it in the back 1/4 of the album where it will never see the light of day for 99% of non-PJ fans. Unless they plan to release it as a single [shudders].

It doesn't get you any new fans, but it sure does piss off the ones you have. . . . . .
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Heathen
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Re: Lightning Bolt - October 15

Post by Heathen »

theplatypus wrote:Someone please correct me if I'm wrong, but it strikes me that pretty much nobody who has heard the album has given it rave reviews. There's a lot of "it was nice" and "I loved some of the songs", but nobody seems to be super hyped up and excited about it.
And yet, no Matt songs
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Re: Lightning Bolt - October 15

Post by harmless »

digster wrote:
evenslow wrote:
theplatypus wrote:Someone please correct me if I'm wrong, but it strikes me that pretty much nobody who has heard the album has given it rave reviews. There's a lot of "it was nice" and "I loved some of the songs", but nobody seems to be super hyped up and excited about it.
what's your point?
That's a little surprising to me; these kinds of listening parties seem tailor-made for you to come out of it being really positive about the experience (and, by extension, the record).
It doesn't sound as if they even hired a quiet room for it. Which is weird.
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Re: Lightning Bolt - October 15

Post by evenslow »

theplatypus wrote:
evenslow wrote:
theplatypus wrote:Someone please correct me if I'm wrong, but it strikes me that pretty much nobody who has heard the album has given it rave reviews. There's a lot of "it was nice" and "I loved some of the songs", but nobody seems to be super hyped up and excited about it.
what's your point?
Just an observation.
Most of my favorite albums of all time have taken me at least 3-5 listens to completely wrap my head around. Tusk is a good example.

But maybe I'm an idiot.

Disclaimer: Lightning Bolt will not be as good as Tusk.
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Re: Lightning Bolt - October 15

Post by Lounge Lizard »

harmless wrote:We've already had one or two fair to middling reviews of SBM. One review implied that it was fine if you're into the style. They also mentioned a Mumford & Sons comparison. That makes me pretty happy, but I'm aware that a lot of people here think they're awful, so they're probably predisposed to hate it.
Did they say which Mumford & Sons song they were reminded of?
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Re: Lightning Bolt - October 15

Post by McParadigm »

harmless wrote:
digster wrote:
evenslow wrote:
theplatypus wrote:Someone please correct me if I'm wrong, but it strikes me that pretty much nobody who has heard the album has given it rave reviews. There's a lot of "it was nice" and "I loved some of the songs", but nobody seems to be super hyped up and excited about it.
what's your point?
That's a little surprising to me; these kinds of listening parties seem tailor-made for you to come out of it being really positive about the experience (and, by extension, the record).
It doesn't sound as if they even hired a quiet room for it. Which is weird.
Quiet listening parties are very rare. Intense initial bursts of excitement are not.
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Re: Lightning Bolt - October 15

Post by EJ »

Lounge Lizard wrote:
harmless wrote:We've already had one or two fair to middling reviews of SBM. One review implied that it was fine if you're into the style. They also mentioned a Mumford & Sons comparison. That makes me pretty happy, but I'm aware that a lot of people here think they're awful, so they're probably predisposed to hate it.
Did they say which Mumford & Sons song they were reminded of?
the one with all the banjos
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