Lightning Bolt: the official album thread

[Sgt. Crackpot]

We have cowbell!!!!

[Strat]

Good, solid, honest review....

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

Sounds like binaural via backspacer to me.

Yea, which sounds like a massive fucking cock tease.

From just that interview, my gut wants to scream "get some balls" and "this band needs to take a MAJOR left turn"


or some shit...

[Iowaska_Experience]

Good, solid, honest review....

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

Sounds like binaural via backspacer to me.

Sounds like Jeff needs to find a vocalist on par with Ed and start his own band.

[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.

Yea, which sounds like a massive fucking cock tease.

From just that interview, my gut wants to scream "get some balls" and "this band needs to take a MAJOR left turn"


or some shit...

I'm with ya.

Side note- binaural was a puss out as well. Could have been more experimental. Lets keep that in mind when comparing.

This could be a really interesting mix of styles or a mezzo mezzo affair. Can't wait to find out.

[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.

Sounds like Jeff needs to find a vocalist on par with Ed and start his own band.

Guys like that aren't really a dime a dozen.

[Iowaska_Experience]

Good, solid, honest review....

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

Sounds like binaural via backspacer to me.

Sounds like Jeff needs to find a vocalist on par with Ed and start his own band.

Guys like that aren't really a dime a dozen.

Pre-2002 Ed, I would agree.

[Cleverman]

Good, solid, honest review....

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

Sounds like binaural via backspacer to me.

Sounds like Jeff needs to find a vocalist on par with Ed and start his own band.

Guys like that aren't really a dime a dozen.

(Placeholder for Ed lion pic)

[Vindicator]

Sounds like My Father's Son could actually be good. Nobody seemed to know wtf they were hearing, but this guy got it.

[verb_to_trust]

If I hear someone say 'logical extension of Backspacer' one more time...

[verb_to_trust]

Maybe Sirens is an old Shadow track that never was?

[Ledbetterdays]

This is not a new review but gallery of notes. Kinda cool to look at and do add a little more detail.

https://plus.google.com/photos/11200150 ... 2572838481

[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.

Sounds like Jeff needs to find a vocalist on par with Ed and start his own band.

Guys like that aren't really a dime a dozen.

Pre-2002 Ed, I would agree.

Well I'd agree that version of Ed ain't coming back but he can bring some versatility and warmth and power in his wheelhouse. Not a lot of rock singers could sing this one better IMO:

[gems and rhinestones]

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.

They couldn't make that record because one of Ed's daughters farted and he had to get home to smell it. I have loved every album they have released but I know they could be making historic albums but they no longer try very hard. Like this reviewer said, Ed can write half these songs in his sleep. Songs I love but man I want to be blown away and amazed, I doubt that's gonna happen because they just don't seem to spend much time on it.

[Lament]

They couldn't make that record because one of Ed's daughters farted and he had to get home to smell it.

I fucking hated myself so much for bothering to read through like twenty fucking pages of new posts, but to end on this note...this made it all worthwhile. And for that I thank you.

[LetMeSleep]

That review makes me even more excited. It seems that I will get half the album I want and the rest may not be too bad. Happy times. Now leak.

[Sgt. Crackpot]

That review makes me even more excited. It seems that I will get half the album I want and the rest may not be too bad. Happy times. Now leak.

Half of an incredible album, is so much better than a consistent so-so album.

Still no real feedback on the mixing/mastering/'extent of bricking' though.

[Iowaska_Experience]

Good, solid, honest review....

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

Sounds like binaural via backspacer to me.

Sounds like Jeff needs to find a vocalist on par with Ed and start his own band.

Guys like that aren't really a dime a dozen.

Pre-2002 Ed, I would agree.

Well I'd agree that version of Ed ain't coming back but he can bring some versatility and warmth and power in his wheelhouse. Not a lot of rock singers could sing this one better IMO:

True dat, which is why I'd love to see Ed embark on a true solo career, Stone do the Brad and solo thing, Jeff and Mike do their things, and Matt stick with SG full time.

There should be no fear in Parting Ways . . . . .

[evenslow]

That review makes me even more excited. It seems that I will get half the album I want and the rest may not be too bad. Happy times. Now leak.

Half of an incredible album, is so much better than a consistent so-so album.

Reach exceeding grasp is fine by me.

[LetMeSleep]

That review makes me even more excited. It seems that I will get half the album I want and the rest may not be too bad. Happy times. Now leak.

Half of an incredible album, is so much better than a consistent so-so album.

Still no real feedback on the mixing/mastering/'extent of bricking' though.

[Birds in Hell]

Still no real feedback on the mixing/mastering/'extent of bricking' though.

Mind Your Manners sounds significantly better in that regard than anything on either of the previous two records so I'm relatively unworried about that aspect.

Thanks for the reviews all, particularly emmini (I'm sure I mispelled that).