Lightning Bolt: the official album thread

[Rob]

Which Lightning Bolt songs improve the most live?

The title track has always been my favorite from this album, and with the extended solo at the end, that would be my pick for most improved. I think it is the best concert song from either BS or LB.

[reconstruction_ seeds]

Swallowed whole might or might not sound better slowed down a bit but it doesn't sound bad the way it is. The slow bridge is good and wouldn't work as well with the song having a slower tempo.

[reconstruction_ seeds]

Regarding sleeping by myself being on the album, it sounds good and that's all i care about.

[reconstruction_ seeds]

Its pretty clear ed wasn't trying to sound angry in MYM.

about as clear as a cloudy day

Consider the "throw them on a burning fire ah ah aye aye" and the chorus. In comparison, he actually sounded angry on stbc and that song is about playing records.

[RockPusher]

Lightning bolt's live solo doesn't cause the lightning bolt studio version to not be good. For example, the verses have a good melody.

Level of good is obviously a matter of opinion. However, what is an objective truth is that the live version expands on the song, providing a "whole" with which to compare the studio "incomplete" version. As a fan of songs where there is a buildup to a guitar solo, I can recognize Lightning Bolt is that type of song. The band clearly knows it's that type of song, because that is how they play it live.

[Ms Harmless]

Its pretty clear ed wasn't trying to sound angry in MYM.

about as clear as a cloudy day

Consider the "throw them on a burning fire ah ah aye aye" and the chorus. In comparison, he actually sounded angry on stbc and that song is about playing records.

not sure what point you're making here

[stip]

PhatJ was saying that Ed's 'anger' on MYM sounded inauthentic. R_S was then saying he wasn't trying to sound angry at all.

I certainly disagree with PhatJ. But what Eddie is going for there is complex. There are notes of anger, but also exacerbation, frustration, and an expectation we can do better. There is a bit of a parent trying to get through to a child who won't listen vibe to the song, and I think he generally nails it. It's not Comatose, which is an angry screed, and not trying to be.

[stip]

But I think MYM is often a misunderstood song.

[VinylGuy]

MYM is a great one. The studio version is still listenable, but live is way better.

[Leatherhead]

I still like MYM. But not as much as I used to. It's so tight, concise, and to the point though, I might like it more if it was looser. I wish it was clearer that Ed is mocking somebody saying "Mind your manners." "All along they're saying.... Mind your manners!" If you're not paying enough attention, you might think Ed is telling others to mind their manners. The mind your manners lyric sticks out so much that I think it's easy to lose any sense of.... I don't know....sarcasm? pointed judgement of hypocrisy? Ed sounds good on this song, but the more I think about it, the more I seem to think he's the biggest problem. The shouting of Mind Your Manners is definitely the weakest part of the song, and it's a big part.

[liebzz]

I still like MYM. But not as much as I used to. It's so tight, concise, and to the point though, I might like it more if it was looser. I wish it was clearer that Ed is mocking somebody saying "Mind your manners." "All along they're saying.... Mind your manners!" If you're not paying enough attention, you might think Ed is telling others to mind their manners. The mind your manners lyric sticks out so much that I think it's easy to lose any sense of.... I don't know....sarcasm? pointed judgement of hypocrisy? Ed sounds good on this song, but the more I think about it, the more I seem to think he's the biggest problem. The shouting of Mind Your Manners is definitely the weakest part of the song, and it's a big part.

It could be that...or it could something else!

[Leatherhead]

I wish MYM was recorded during the Gigaton sessions, probably would've been fuckin awesome.

[Leatherhead]

I'm coming to the realization that Eddie sounds weird on this album.

[Jorge]

I don't think a lot of people believe "Mind Your Manners" is a song about actually minding one's manners

[PHATJ]

If my “anger” coment about MYM was possibly interpreted, maybe “intensity” was a better word. MYm tries really hard to be better than average, but it really is wet noodle. Same can be said for My Father’s Son. What a schlock fest.

[PHATJ]

I’m listening through this record now. Just starting Sirens. I don’t think I’ll last to the end of the album. It just feels insurmountable.

[PHATJ]

I don’t know if I can get passed Infallible. I will probably survive, but after Pendulum I’m as good as dead. RIP PHATJ.

[PHATJ]

Bailed after SW. I couldn’t stomach it anymore.

[stip]

I mean do what you want, it is your life and time, but this string of posts (and the great sacrifices you had to endure to produce them) makes it hard to engage your thoughts on this album as anything other than tired posturing.

[stip]

But thank you for being willing to speak truth to power regarding the RM sacred cow that is Lightning Bolt