Lightning Bolt: the official album thread

[epilogue]

I hate Alternative Nation so much.

Me too, friend.

[epilogue]

Im still not upset about sleeping by myself, i think it will be just fine

Goddamn, I love you doctor. How come we didn't hang out more on the old board?

I disappeared for a while, and had things come up that kept me from visiting regularly for quite a while, so when i did stop by it was difficult to get involved in many threads, i was mostly just involved in tourneys and tour fantasy stuff

Well, I post way too fucking much. I should probably scale it back. But I'm glad you're around and posting more, friend.

Dont you ever stop being you.

I love you so hard.

[WaitingForBluey]

I have a strong feeling that AN's track by track review is basically going to be a rehash of whatever they read on here...

And also, what the hell is up with the Pit. There are 2 fan reviews posted there from the Netherlands listening party and that thread is still stuck on page 1. Wtf?

Really, i figured they would have to have more pages on this stuff then us, are they talking about it in a different thread or something?

No, they're definitely not talking about it anywhere else. In fact, someone started a thread in the middle of the day today for all of the reviews from the Netherlands party (whenever they started to get posted), and that thread has basically slipped away and disappeared into the page 2 stratosphere.

And, their "official" Lightning Bolt thread has 15 pages... 15 freakin' pages!

Probably because everyone and their brother begins a new thread on there anytime they want to say anything, whether relevant to PJ or not.

[Strat]

I have a strong feeling that AN's track by track review is basically going to be a rehash of whatever they read on here...

And also, what the hell is up with the Pit. There are 2 fan reviews posted there from the Netherlands listening party and that thread is still stuck on page 1. Wtf?

Really, i figured they would have to have more pages on this stuff then us, are they talking about it in a different thread or something?

No, they're definitely not talking about it anywhere else. In fact, someone started a thread in the middle of the day today for all of the reviews from the Netherlands party (whenever they started to get posted), and that thread has basically slipped away and disappeared into the page 2 stratosphere.

And, their "official" Lightning Bolt thread has 15 pages... 15 freakin' pages!

Probably because everyone and their brother begins a new thread on there anytime they want to say anything, whether relevant to PJ or not.

They certainly are amateurs when it comes to speculative internetting. no doubt.

[Dr. Van Nostrand]

I have a strong feeling that AN's track by track review is basically going to be a rehash of whatever they read on here...

And also, what the hell is up with the Pit. There are 2 fan reviews posted there from the Netherlands listening party and that thread is still stuck on page 1. Wtf?

Really, i figured they would have to have more pages on this stuff then us, are they talking about it in a different thread or something?

No, they're definitely not talking about it anywhere else. In fact, someone started a thread in the middle of the day today for all of the reviews from the Netherlands party (whenever they started to get posted), and that thread has basically slipped away and disappeared into the page 2 stratosphere.

And, their "official" Lightning Bolt thread has 15 pages... 15 freakin' pages!

Probably because everyone and their brother begins a new thread on there anytime they want to say anything, whether relevant to PJ or not.

They certainly are amateurs when it comes to speculative internetting. no doubt.

What a bunch of losers they are

[Sgt. Crackpot]

I have a strong feeling that AN's track by track review is basically going to be a rehash of whatever they read on here...

And also, what the hell is up with the Pit. There are 2 fan reviews posted there from the Netherlands listening party and that thread is still stuck on page 1. Wtf?

Really, i figured they would have to have more pages on this stuff then us, are they talking about it in a different thread or something?

No, they're definitely not talking about it anywhere else. In fact, someone started a thread in the middle of the day today for all of the reviews from the Netherlands party (whenever they started to get posted), and that thread has basically slipped away and disappeared into the page 2 stratosphere.

And, their "official" Lightning Bolt thread has 15 pages... 15 freakin' pages!

Probably because everyone and their brother begins a new thread on there anytime they want to say anything, whether relevant to PJ or not.

They certainly are amateurs when it comes to speculative internetting. no doubt.

What a bunch of losers they are

They need to go out and get a life, instead of spending all day on the internet chatting on a forum about Pearl J-...


Oh.

[Tj]

Wonder how they managed that? Unless they're just ripping from someone's fine work here.

Big thanks to emmini!! A big fuck you to BoB for SBM!

I am not excited about Sleeping By Myself at all, but it wouldn't ruin Yeild or any other record post Vitology. Lightning Bolt could have been 11 songs now it is twelve so what. He is just the producer give the man a break. It is funny, I am sure had it not made the album, but leaked in five years we would be hearing where did this come from this is great they should have cut yellow moon this is great this is great omfg play Sleeping By Myself in Phili.

[Dr. Van Nostrand]

I have a strong feeling that AN's track by track review is basically going to be a rehash of whatever they read on here...

And also, what the hell is up with the Pit. There are 2 fan reviews posted there from the Netherlands listening party and that thread is still stuck on page 1. Wtf?

Really, i figured they would have to have more pages on this stuff then us, are they talking about it in a different thread or something?

No, they're definitely not talking about it anywhere else. In fact, someone started a thread in the middle of the day today for all of the reviews from the Netherlands party (whenever they started to get posted), and that thread has basically slipped away and disappeared into the page 2 stratosphere.

And, their "official" Lightning Bolt thread has 15 pages... 15 freakin' pages!

Probably because everyone and their brother begins a new thread on there anytime they want to say anything, whether relevant to PJ or not.

They certainly are amateurs when it comes to speculative internetting. no doubt.

What a bunch of losers they are

They need to go out and get a life, instead of spending all day on the internet chatting on a forum about Pearl J-...


Oh.

[VinylGuy]

Sirens = cock rock.

WORST PJ ALBUM EVA

RIP PJ.

[Dr. Van Nostrand]

Sirens = cock rock.

WORST PJ ALBUM EVA

RIP PJ.

[Strat]

What is it...like 7 hours ahead in France? Harmless should be up shortly, I should stay awake to make sure he is okay!

[evenslow]

I have a strong feeling that AN's track by track review is basically going to be a rehash of whatever they read on here...

And also, what the hell is up with the Pit. There are 2 fan reviews posted there from the Netherlands listening party and that thread is still stuck on page 1. Wtf?

Really, i figured they would have to have more pages on this stuff then us, are they talking about it in a different thread or something?

No, they're definitely not talking about it anywhere else. In fact, someone started a thread in the middle of the day today for all of the reviews from the Netherlands party (whenever they started to get posted), and that thread has basically slipped away and disappeared into the page 2 stratosphere.

And, their "official" Lightning Bolt thread has 15 pages... 15 freakin' pages!

Probably because everyone and their brother begins a new thread on there anytime they want to say anything, whether relevant to PJ or not.

They certainly are amateurs when it comes to speculative internetting. no doubt.

What a bunch of losers they are

They need to go out and get a life, instead of spending all day on the internet chatting on a forum about Pearl J-...


Oh.

So tired of losers. I would never be that way.*










*

[verb_to_trust]

I still maintain Yellow Moon is going to be 'the ipod' track for me from this album. The reviews have only reinforced my feeling. I also think Jeff is going to have 1 or 2 good songs on this thing, he seems to have taken charge with the artwork and did some bitching about being the only one feeling the fire....

Breaking things down by writing credits already doesn't look good for Ed. SBM and FD....maybe Lightning Bolt? Maybe i'm too hopeful on this other stuff but it seems like Ed is going to have the real estate at the bottom of the barrel all staked out. He should be able to transition nicely into a Springsteen wannabe if this is their last album though.

[evenslow]

I still maintain Yellow Moon is going to be 'the ipod' track for me from this album. The reviews have only reinforced my feeling. I also think Jeff is going to have 1 or 2 good songs on this thing, he seems to have taken charge with the artwork and did some bitching about being the only one feeling the fire....

Breaking things down by writing credits already doesn't look good for Ed. SBM and FD....maybe Lightning Bolt? Maybe i'm too hopeful on this other stuff but it seems like Ed is going to have the real estate at the bottom of the barrel all staked out. He should be able to transition nicely into a Springsteen wannabe if this is their last album though.

Well, that was a little more detailed than "this album is going to suck."

[scrub12]

If Sirens is close to 6 minutes long, I doubt it would be the next single. Probably LB.

[evenslow]

AlternativeNation.net representative Joost Konersmann attended the listening party in Amsterdam for Pearl Jam’s new album Lightning Bolt and has shared the following track by track first impression review of the album:
Getaway:
Ed sings about ‘Dark stormy weather’ over an pounding bass driven riff. It sounded ‘contemporary’, heavy and light at the same time. Dark lyrics but incredibly catchy melodies. Two blistering Mike solo and really strong vocals by Ed. A rocking pop tune like: The Fixer or Breakerfall (not that they have much in common) but less classic rock. More contemporary (like the Arctic Monkeys and The Killers had a lovechild..).
Mind Your Manners:
A good hard punch after a “Getaway”. Good combo to start this record.
My Father’s Son:
When they tried ‘new wave’ type songs on Backspacer they only succeeded on “Got Some”. They also succeed here. Tight playing, bass heavy and a weird bridge (a ‘typical’ Matt bridge). There’s a lot going on in this bridge. It was not an experimental song but I already want to hear this song again. Another dark heavy pop tune.
Sirens:
The song that some already say is the best the band has ever written. Well…it could very well be a grower and the one I will like the most in about a year or so. But on first listen it didn’t do much to me. Pearl Jam never came this close to an ‘eighties’ power ballad. Mike has written this song and is very proud of it he said on the EPK (which featured interviews done by: Judd Apatow, Carrie Brownstein and more….). Not impressed with this one on first listen.
Lightning Bolt:
After being slightly disappointed by “Sirens” this felt as a celebration. We all have heard the live version, I wasn’t too keen on it. But it does sound much better on album. Reached higher than “Unthought Known”. Still a song that Eddie could write in his sleep but it’s not a nightmare.
Infallible:
My first notes say: YES, YES, YES!!! This is exactly what I wanted from a new Pearl Jam record. They cover new ground here. Another bass heavy track (probably written by Jeff who owns this record). Excellent use of keyboards and weird effects. Lots of harmonies in vocals and instruments. Did I hear a cowbell (not sure on that…)?? It was the song I liked the most and their most experimental one in a decade. Hard to describe. But if you have heard Jeff’s latest solo record While My Heart Beats you can kind of get a feeling of what to expect here. Incubus goes Achtung Baby, for the lack of a better description…sorry
Pendulum:
Remember that tour announcement video Pearl Jam posted some time ago with a mystery new song clip? If you liked the weird sounds you were hearing, than you will love this song! because it’s “Pendulum”. Some nice piano played for the intro. Another atmospheric and experimental track (it was at this point where I started to believe that Pearl Jam really made that record I ‘wanted’ from them). What’s that high sound? High Pitch vocals? Wow! It’s Ed! He has never sounded like this before. The harmonies again sound great. Lots and lots of dubbed vocals. Tight compressed drums. Another excellent track!
Swallowed Whole:
Another Ed track, nice counterpart to ‘Lightning Bolt’. This is actually a great pop song, some jangle jingle REM like guitars with some Who-like chords under it. Another song that Ed could write in his sleep but on first listen I liked this one more that LB.
Let The Records Play:
Ladies and Gentlemen…it’s time to kick out the jams and twist and shout. Roll over Beethoven, Jack White and Dan Auerbach…This is Pearl Jam’s take on a blues rock featuring hand claps and tube-screaming solos. A light and fun song, much better than “Supersonic”. Not the best track on the record but I had a huge smile on my face. Nothing original but new for Pearl Jam. Will be fun live.
Sleeping By Myself:
Why? Why Ed? Why Brendan? Why is this on the record….it doesn’t belong here. Basically it’s the same as the ukelele song only with some arrangements. The arrangements are nice but they don’t add much. I liked the ukelele version much much better, that was its home. Feels out of place here. Uninspiring moment for the band. But who knows, it could very well be the next single and become a hit. But “Of The Earth” or “Cold Confession” would be fit here much better, fuck even “Olé” would have been better.
Yellow Moon:
Another dark and atmospheric song. This will definitely be a grower, it has weird time signatures. Some great vocals and a really nice solo by Mike. Another song that I already want to hear again.
Future Days:
Much better than the live version. It still has that Springsteen sound. Nice touches with the violin and no drums. The cheesy piano outro actually works here..it fades out. Not the best track on the record but a good way to end this record.

So, it’s impossible for me to go beyond my first impressions. But I think it will be better than Backspacer. It’s a darker and more atmospheric record with some great gems. It’s half of the record I really wanted from them (Getaway, My Father’s Son, Infallible, Pendulum, Let The Records Play, Yellow Moon) and half of what you have heard from this band before (Mind Your Manners, Sirens, Lightning Bolt, Sleeping By Myself, Swallowed Whole, Future Days). That latter half would be the logical extension from Backspacer. But that first half is 50% of an incredible record, the record they didn’t make. They could have gone Achtung Baby or Yankee Foxtrot Hotel on us but didn’t. This will be a great record but I already have mixed feelings over what could have been.

[Rangi Guy]

We have cowbell!!!!

[Iowaska_Experience]

Tits!

[more cowbell please]

[Strat]

Good, solid, honest review....

PJ trying to get balls but just not being able to go deep....

[evenslow]

Good, solid, honest review....

PJ trying to get balls but just not being able to go deep....

Sounds like binaural via backspacer to me.