Lightning Bolt: the official album thread

[B]

It's not on the homepage yet, Stip? Is that why we got shut down?

No.

[BurtReynolds]

If PJ want to rub off the grunge facade and become a widely-appealing classic rock band, I don't mind them doing it this way. I don't mind it at all.

"Grunge," as I'm sure you would agree harmless, is just a media-concocted label that has nothing to do with music anyway.

To me, what happened in the early 90s, musically-speaking, was that hard rock and punk music ditched the excess, the strippers, the private jets and all the other bullshit and started being about the music again. I don't think *any* of the music was that groundbreaking other than reintroducing some music with heart to a younger generation.

The music I'm thinking of is difficult for me to put a label or time on (i'm sure others could describe it better). It trickled out over the 80s and 90s and maybe in the late 70s as well, but don't really match the stereotype of those decades (mostly because they were so forgettable). It has a lot of faces, but its mostly bland mid tempo guitar rock. MOR or adult contemporary I guess you would call it. Anyway its not what I'd call vital listening, and I don't get why they seem to be so into it now.

Well, most Pearl Jam fans ARE now in the target demographic age group for that schlock.

But I thought Grunge alternative was our schlock!

[harmless]

If PJ want to rub off the grunge facade and become a widely-appealing classic rock band, I don't mind them doing it this way. I don't mind it at all.

"Grunge," as I'm sure you would agree harmless, is just a media-concocted label that has nothing to do with music anyway.

To me, what happened in the early 90s, musically-speaking, was that hard rock and punk music ditched the excess, the strippers, the private jets and all the other bullshit and started being about the music again. I don't think *any* of the music was that groundbreaking other than reintroducing some music with heart to a younger generation.

The music I'm thinking of is difficult for me to put a label or time on (i'm sure others could describe it better). It trickled out over the 80s and 90s and maybe in the late 70s as well, but don't really match the stereotype of those decades (mostly because they were so forgettable). It has a lot of faces, but its mostly bland mid tempo guitar rock. MOR or adult contemporary I guess you would call it. Anyway its not what I'd call vital listening, and I don't get why they seem to be so into it now.

Well, most Pearl Jam fans ARE now in the target demographic age group for that schlock.

It's that insult directed at Pearl Jam or their fans?

[stip]

It's not on the homepage yet, Stip? Is that why we got shut down?

No.

If B doesn't post my stuff I shut the whole internet down

[B]

It's not on the homepage yet, Stip? Is that why we got shut down?

No.

If B doesn't post my stuff I shut the whole internet down

You've got the code. Go post.

[harmless]

If anybody's wondering where the snowballing towards this more AOR sound began, it began at the moment when we all started begging Pearl Jam to play more covers and for Mike McCready to play more wanky guitar solos. We indulged them.

[stupidmop]

Haven't heard them yet, but it's interesting that, according to Mike, don't all of these songs come from the second recording session they did? I seem to remember these songs (or at least most of them) being singled out on that interview he did.

Yeah all the interesting songs(allegedly/hopefully) came from the first session and then they pussied out for some reason.

I've seen them as classic rock, but with contemporary hard rock and experimental flourishes to make them a bit 'cooler'. But the 'cool' flourishes are going and they're courting a wider appeal is all I'm saying. I'm fine with that if I still like the song.

If I was feeling particularly melancholic and dramatic I'd say I feel like they're regressing and stripping away anything that made them interesitng in the first place. Probably because they care less about being cool, theyre not trying for it anymore, I guess.

[BobSacremento]

First off long time lurker, first time poster here (and yes I won't lie the leaks inspired me to start up here )

I am curious as to what people think of the quality of the songs compared to the previous 2 albums. I personally do find myself a fan more of the 90's era PJ but still love any and all albums they have put out. Is the stuff darker than Backspacer in any way?

[its_not_1974]

There's something about the sound of LB that I don't like. The song is pretty good, but idk.

Very glad that (save for Getaway) this had none of the songs I was most excited for. Having now heard half of the album, I feel like the cap on the quality will be a 7 or so. Still excited.

[McParadigm]

If PJ want to rub off the grunge facade and become a widely-appealing classic rock band, I don't mind them doing it this way. I don't mind it at all.

"Grunge," as I'm sure you would agree harmless, is just a media-concocted label that has nothing to do with music anyway.

To me, what happened in the early 90s, musically-speaking, was that hard rock and punk music ditched the excess, the strippers, the private jets and all the other bullshit and started being about the music again. I don't think *any* of the music was that groundbreaking other than reintroducing some music with heart to a younger generation.

The music I'm thinking of is difficult for me to put a label or time on (i'm sure others could describe it better). It trickled out over the 80s and 90s and maybe in the late 70s as well, but don't really match the stereotype of those decades (mostly because they were so forgettable). It has a lot of faces, but its mostly bland mid tempo guitar rock. MOR or adult contemporary I guess you would call it. Anyway its not what I'd call vital listening, and I don't get why they seem to be so into it now.

Well, most Pearl Jam fans ARE now in the target demographic age group for that schlock.

It's that insult directed at Pearl Jam or their fans?

It's not an insult The MOR genre (safe rock, soft rock, "music for you, former rocker soccer mom," etc.) is rock/pop styled music that is aimed at middle aged people and casual listening. It's just a reality (and an inevitable one, at that) that the Pearl Jam fanbase has become that demographic.

[harmless]

Haven't heard them yet, but it's interesting that, according to Mike, don't all of these songs come from the second recording session they did? I seem to remember these songs (or at least most of them) being singled out on that interview he did.

Yeah all the interesting songs(allegedly/hopefully) came from the first session and then they pussied out for some reason.

I've seen them as classic rock, but with contemporary hard rock and experimental flourishes to make them a bit 'cooler'. But the 'cool' flourishes are going and they're courting a wider appeal is all I'm saying. I'm fine with that if I still like the song.

If I was feeling particularly melancholic and dramatic I'd say I feel like they're regressing and stripping away anything that made them interesitng in the first place. Probably because they care less about being cool, theyre not trying for it anymore, I guess.

I guess I don't need my 'interesting' to be 'cool'. They can be mutually exclusive for me. But granted, this music is hardly the deepest in the world. When were PJ deep, though. They were like a tree, where the huge trunk is basically unsurprising classic rock, and the experiment, the weirdness and the 'coolness' was the branches emanating out from it. Every album except Backspacer pays a visit, and gives a nod to, the more weird and interesting stuff, and so will this one (I hope). But apart from some glitz in the production, this is pretty authentic Pearl Jam imo. The production can't be attributed to AOR but to Brendan O'Brien.

[BurtReynolds]

I like Getaway a lot, though.

[dprival78]

brendan should've left his piano home for LB. it adds nothing, and it takes away space that could've easily been filled with guitars.

[harmless]

If PJ want to rub off the grunge facade and become a widely-appealing classic rock band, I don't mind them doing it this way. I don't mind it at all.

"Grunge," as I'm sure you would agree harmless, is just a media-concocted label that has nothing to do with music anyway.

To me, what happened in the early 90s, musically-speaking, was that hard rock and punk music ditched the excess, the strippers, the private jets and all the other bullshit and started being about the music again. I don't think *any* of the music was that groundbreaking other than reintroducing some music with heart to a younger generation.

The music I'm thinking of is difficult for me to put a label or time on (i'm sure others could describe it better). It trickled out over the 80s and 90s and maybe in the late 70s as well, but don't really match the stereotype of those decades (mostly because they were so forgettable). It has a lot of faces, but its mostly bland mid tempo guitar rock. MOR or adult contemporary I guess you would call it. Anyway its not what I'd call vital listening, and I don't get why they seem to be so into it now.

Well, most Pearl Jam fans ARE now in the target demographic age group for that schlock.

It's that insult directed at Pearl Jam or their fans?

It's not an insult The MOR genre (safe rock, soft rock, "music for you, former rocker soccer mom," etc.) is rock/pop styled music that is aimed at middle aged people and casual listening. It's just a reality (and an inevitable one, at that) that the Pearl Jam fanbase has become that demographic.

Well, obviously if you liked the songs you'd feel they were a step up from that.

[McParadigm]

I like Getaway a lot, though.

I like the last half of that song a lot...after all the "get as many syllables as I can in" schtick ends. I like everything that makes Lightning Bolt Townshendesque, as well, and Mind Your Manners is alright. I really like the first verse/chorus of Swallowed Whole, but it loses me when it tries to go "big" (what a stupid fucking decision THAT was)

Well, obviously if you liked the songs you'd feel they were a step up from that.

See above.

[stip]

requests for leaks will be deleted to the best of our ability. We are attempting to honor 10c's wishes to the best of our ability.

Talking about them is obviously fine

[harmless]

I like Getaway a lot, though.

I like the last half of that song a lot...after all the "get as many syllables as I can in" schtick ends. I like everything that makes Lightning Bolt Townshendesque, as well, and Mind Your Manners is alright. I really like the first verse/chorus of Swallowed Whole, but it loses me when it tries to go "big" (what a stupid fucking decision THAT was)

Well, obviously if you liked the songs you'd feel they were a step up from that.

See above.

[stip]

brendan should've left his piano home for LB. it adds nothing, and it takes away space that could've easily been filled with guitars.

i love what the pianos add in lightning bolt

[Hypnos]

brendan should've left his piano home for LB. it adds nothing, and it takes away space that could've easily been filled with guitars.

I´m still pissed and frustrated about this, more specifically the outro solo. Maybe this is an edit? One of the reviews reported that the song was 4:35, this is 4:14.

[bada]

I really like Getaway, Lightning Bolt and Swallowed Whole. Mind Your Manners too. 4 out of 6 ain't bad...