Lightning Bolt: the official album thread

[Sgt. Crackpot]

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).

Yeah, I agree. Based on that, and the reviews so far, I'm fairly optimistic for this album.

[Lounge Lizard]

Here's mine. Hope it makes sense. (off to bed now cause it's 2 in the morning and I got a festival to go to tomorrow. )

Exclusive listening session, September 4th 2013, Melkweg, Amsterdam.

The listening session took place in a small cinema room with a large
screen and about 60 seats, with us taking the first row. This turned
out to be a good place to listen to the album because everybody kept
quiet when the album was played, like you would also do in a real
cinema. It started off with a 10 min video promo in which we were
shown bits and pieces of the songs and interviews with the band which
were done by 4 different persons, mainly Judd Apatow, Carrie
Brownstein, Mark Richards and Steve Gleason. These were just really
short cuts and I bet we will get to see the complete interviews later
on, perhaps as a part of the digital package.
Steve Gleason started with saying it's been 5 years since the last
record, what the fuck? Which made the band just sit there and laugh.
The record was described as a stormy dark imagery and Ed said that you
just needed to pay attention to the planet to find something to get
angry about pretty quick. Carrie asked about hearing loss because of
the loud songs in the past and Mike said he suffered from tinnitus
right at that very moment. He is really proud about Sirens and it was
said that Ed stayed up the night before in Los Angeles, writing the
lyrics, and hearing the sirens at night and writing about that.
Jeff said he was writing more the last 4 or 5 years. Ed compared the
record to a flophouse and that he was always glad to finish an album
so he could kick out the current tenants, meaning the songs, and he
hoped the new ones would behave better. The promo ended with Ed and
Danny Clinch sitting in a car getting ready to listen to the new album
and when it started, the volume was too loud and they couldn't turn it
down, which made Ed turn it up even more instead, to the point of
distortion.

Then it was time to listen to the album itself.

Getaway (+/- 3:00)
I brought a stopwatch to time the songs, but I was too excited so I
forgot to time Getaway but it's about 3 minutes long. The song itself
sounds hip and fresh and could easily been written by one of the
current rock bands. The song started with the lyric "Everyone's a
critic", which I guess will prove itself once the record is out.
Other lyrics included '"Find a lighthouse in dark stormy weather",
"it's ok,....make your getaway". The song had a start/stop feel to it
and ended with a guitar shredding outro.

Mind Your Manners (2:40)
The sound on this was much clearer than Getaway to me, but all the
songs were in a compressed format anyway so it was hard to tell
exactly what caused the difference.

My Father's Son (3:02)
This song begins with some spoken wordish lyrics a la 'Bushleaguer'
about insemination and getting a release. This song had a pleasant
rhythm (my notes read tadadadum), and halfway it descends it something
a bit slower and with more bass. The way the lyrics were sung here
reminded me of 'Johnny Guitar'.

Sirens (5:37)
It starts off with the line "Hear the Sirens" x 3 and something about
a circus profound. I liked the start of the song but later on it
becomes a bit more like a power ballad, but the "Hear the Sirens" line
might save it. Need to hear it more to make a better judgement. It
ends with a guitar solo that reminded me of something you would hear
on a Guns N' Roses song.

Lightning Bolt (4:35)
This song features a piano and a guitar fade out. It felt to me like
this song will work better live than on the album somehow.

Infallible (5:15)
This is the song that was played during the soundcheck in London,
Ontario this year, only it has a different intro than the way it
started live. Lyrics featured lines such as "Keep on locking your
doors", "Won't get you this time", "Ships coming in and sinking",
"Thinking we're infallible, we're tempting faith instead". It features
a guitar solo and ends with a fade out.

Pendulum (3:36)
This one starts with some drums and lyrics "We are here and then we're
gone", "My shadow left me long ago", "Understand what we don't know".
Later in this song the guitar sounds a bit like a slide guitar. It's
definitely a darker song, also because of the lyrics which further
include "Into the fire but still I'm cold", "Nothing works for me
anymore". Ed later on starts singing "ah-ah-ah-ah-ah" and singing over
this as well. I liked the different layers of this song. Could become
one of my favourites on this album.

Swallowed Whole (3:49)
I pictured this song to be more somber but it actually is quite a lot
more happy sounding. It begins with some nice strumming guitar sound
and the lyrics seemed to be more darker than the song itself. It
features some rhyme repeating words like drown, drown, drown and loud,
loud, loud, the currents pull me down, the songs are like wind,
breathing forgiveness. Thinking back on it, it could have the same
meaning as 'In Hiding' and it definitely features typically Ed ocean
imagery. Enjoyed this song as well, also because of the way it was
sung. Ends with a guitar solo.

Let The Records Play (3:42)
The most blues rock song on the album but with a fun feel to it and
therefore it stands out from the others, like someone in a party mood
suddenly enters a room where others are having a serious discussion.
Typically a goofy Stone song. Lines include "When the kingdom comes,
he puts the records on", "Shaking but waking, wisdom in his bones".
Features a Stone solo and handclaps (according to my fellow companions
but I did not notice them myself) and ends with a fade out. This song
could go any which way after a few listens. Difficult to say if it
stays with you or not.

Sleeping By Myself (2:59)
Considering the reactions this song got from the rest of the company I
was in, most people are going to shit all over this song. Brendan
O'Brien even said they had a hard time making this song sound less
commercial, which makes you wonder you even more about what the other
versions of this song sounded like.
This is definitely the Speed of Sound of this album. I actually still
kind of liked it. It's as if they made a happier sounding version of
this song, like it is actually quite swell to be sleeping by oneself.
I wrote down that this version reminded me of 'Soon Forget'. It still
features a uke as well. Looking forward to people's reaction to this
once the album is officially out.

Yellow Moon (3:47)
Here we arrive at my personal favourite song on the album. I was even
singing along halfway into the song, which prompted Mirella to shush
me. Not really sure what made me like the song so much but it was just
like seeing a great jacket in a shop and when you try it on it fits
like a glove. It could have been the words as well, which went
something like "Here far away, feel the earth vibrate, the moon
chasing shape", "Round we go, where we stop no one knows", "As the sky
grows dark, we're falling stars". The chorus goes "Yellow moon on the
rise" with the rise part being sung as riiiiiiiise. Looking forward to
hearing this song again soon.

Future Days (4:20)
The album version opens with a piano, at least to me it sounded like a
real piano and not a keyboard. A lot of different instruments can be
heard on this song. A mandolin, a violin. I asked Brendan about it and
he said that only the violin was played by someone outside the band
and the rest was all played by the band itself and Brendan. The
beginning is just a single guitar with Ed singing. The song itself has
a Springsteen feel to it. It ends with the piano as well and
eventually fades out. Lots of fades on this record. There were two
songs which sort of seemed to blend into each other but I cannot
remember which ones these were.

So that is my take on these songs. It seems I enjoyed the second hakf
of the album more, and it looks like I will be in the minority on this
one, judging from other people reviews so far. Let me just say that I
found it very difficult to describe what I was hearing. The album is
not easily digestible in one go, which usually is a good sign. Time
will tell how all these tracks will hold up and how they will stand
when played live. I think we are in for an interesting ride to say the
least.

Now THAT'S a review



Great job!

[Lounge Lizard]

The first time I heard IMT and GTF was the same: ooh, that's a kinda nice and edgy approach to a U2 epic.

really? everyone compares GTF to zeppelin. i'm more talkin about at their point in their career. i remember thinking it sounds like a soundtrack to getting abducted by aliens. kinda scary and intriguing at the same time. nothing i never really heard from them. i was also like 13 when the album came out so.

I wasn't familiar enough with Led Zep to know about that, and even now I'm not sure what GTF is supposed to have copied from them. I just haven't bothered to find out. I obviously think those songs are totally awesome now, but that's partly thanks to the benefit of many years of reflection and time spent with them.

Going to California, maaaan

[harmless]

that would be nice to have in one place

Perhaps we need a new New Album thread?

Sounds exhausting.

How about just a 'Listening Party Reviews" thread? Post all of the reviews in the first post(s). We can still discuss LB here, but that thread can be a place to find, and add more, reviews?

How about we come up with a list of options, and then rank them?

[Lounge Lizard]

According to listeners votes on Last.fm, MYM is placed at #8 all time :

Even Flow
Alive
Jeremy
Black
Just Breathe
Yellow Ledbetter
Better Man
Mind Your Manners
Last Kiss
Daughter
Once
Do the Evolution
The Fixer
Porch
Oceans

[darthvedder81]

According to listeners votes on Last.fm, MYM is placed at #8 all time :

Even Flow
Alive
Jeremy
Black
Just Breathe
Yellow Ledbetter
Better Man
Mind Your Manners
Last Kiss
Daughter
Once
Do the Evolution
The Fixer
Porch
Oceans

And there's nothing from No Code on there and only one thing from Yield so "listeners" don't know shit.

[Lament]

And there's nothing from No Code on there and only one thing from Yield so "listeners" don't know shit.

No way man. The five best Pearl Jam songs are totally the four hits from Ten and Just Breathe.

[Walker Bait]

According to listeners votes on Last.fm, MYM is placed at #8 all time :

Even Flow
Alive
Jeremy
Black
Just Breathe
Yellow Ledbetter
Better Man
Mind Your Manners
Last Kiss
Daughter
Once
Do the Evolution
The Fixer
Porch
Oceans

And there's nothing from No Code on there and only one thing from Yield so "listeners" don't know shit.

And damn! Corduroy didn't even make the list....

"The waiting drove me mad....corduroy didn't make the list. ..this fucking poll is wack!! Can't let it roam inside my head..."

[Heathen]

"Yellow moon on the rise"

[harmless]

OMG, PJ has ripped off Neil Young

[Mine]

According to listeners votes on Last.fm, MYM is placed at #8 all time :

Even Flow
Alive
Jeremy
Black
Just Breathe
Yellow Ledbetter
Better Man
Mind Your Manners
Last Kiss
Daughter
Once
Do the Evolution
The Fixer
Porch
Oceans

This only proves that for most of the general public Pearl Jam post 10 is largely unknown.

[enimmi]

enimmi, you're the king.

Well done. Nice write up that generates excitement.

BTW was the album played from start to finish or track by track with Bo'B discussing each one? I'm guessing the former as that's usually how it's done. and no one has mentioned otherwise

Thanks for the kind words, all. I honestly did not think I was able to write anything at all after hearing the album.

The album was played from start to finish. I noticed that BO'B joined us halfway through the album.

I also forgot to mention that the song you hear at the start of the North American Tour promo is belonging to Pendulum, only it is more in the background but you can definitely hear it, so this might give you a feel of this song, although the song changes somewhat later on.

[enimmi]

Enimmi finally some proper impressions! Great job.

Did Yellow moon have any guitar solos?

Not distinct ones as far as I can remember. It wasn't really a guitar solo song anyway.

[stip]

Enimmi, what was your overall impression of Ed's vocals, since that is often what makes or breaks a record

[stip]

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.

Nice to hear someone say that LB and fd clearly sound better on the record. Sam is apparently 0 for 6

[stip]

And while I am thinking about it which song was the vine clip music

[WtOB?]

And while I am thinking about it which song was the vine clip music

sounds like it might've been future days.

[harmless]

"Mixed feelings on what could have been." Sounds like PJ all over

I find this review encouraging as well though. If it's two sessions, light and dark, Backspacer II and something else (I've been hoping it would be since I put the possibility of a 'return to form' to bed), maybe (assuming it's good, which I don't know) this was the right 10th album to make with Brendan.

[harmless]

I'm also glad to hear once again that SBM is basically still a folk song, not a space robot funk jam with keyboards. I might still like it.

[stip]

And while I am thinking about it which song was the vine clip music

It does