Lightning Bolt: the official album thread

[harmless]

RIP PJ


The PJ I once knew is dead. Creative spark seems spent and these guys are way too comfortable doing "business as usual"

Now, that doesnt mean I dont find some enjoyment in these new songs. And yes, sure, maybe, the rest of the record is more up my alley and may show what PJ are still capable of. However, these 4 songs (plus MYM and FD) are PJ Lite. once you realize this is the new pearl jam, the songs can be enjoyed for what they are. Pearl Jam used to be more than that but they seem to have stopped pushing themsleves and i suppose that is only natural when you dont get together and create as a band or allow that growth to happen. It seems as though the band writing full fledged songs, bringing them into the group 2x over a 4 year period, does not promote the edge and creativty they once had.

Getaway has a great groove and I love the phrasing. THis song is most interesting to me.

Lightning bolt? Better version of Unthought Known but "been there done that". Not sure how this got through quality control. "umm, ed, really? this sounds identical to Unthought Known".

Swallowed whole - I cant remember it. Ed, stop bringing in your solo songs cause they are becoming less and less interesting (grievance anyone?) Lots of people love it so I haven't given up on it but as of now it was pretty forgettable. Lots of REM references from the board so maybe thats why im missing it....

LTRP - Man, could have been great but that chorus is so bland. Great guitar work and I like the swampy stagger of the rest of the song but i picture a mid 40's dude, chaperoning the high school prom, bopping his head to the chorus off to the side whilst drinking punch.

Ill obviously withhold final judgement till soaking in the entire album and I agree that context could play a huge role in the enjoyment of these songs. However, I think back to better records and try and imagine how I would feel if I heard "Breakerfall" "Gods Dice" and "Thin Air" prior to the entire album....

Basically, I shouldnt have to convince myself the songs are great and i find myself doing that.

RIP Strat

'Breakerfall'? That's really not a good song on its own, imo.

if the first three songs from binaural that I heard were god's dice, breakerfall, and thin air I'd probably have landed in therapy

Yeah, there are definitely more exciting songs on there. On my first listen, the one song I liked on the album was Light Years. Everything else sounded like horrible retreads of older stuff. Sounds so familiar.

[bada]

earned

[Strat]

Lightning bolt? Better version of Unthought Known but "been there done that". Not sure how this got through quality control. "umm, ed, really? this sounds identical to Unthought Known".

the same way MYM evolved from Ole, I suspect. I'm glad to see them try again and get it right in both cases.

Strat, out of curiosity, based on the early listening party reviews were any of these the songs you were really excited for/expecting to love?

The only thing MYM and Ole have in common is that its "punk rock" and the call and response thing...

I was looking forward to swallowed whole because I love Into The Wild.

But yea, these songs were not high on my excitement list to begin with. And as stated, hearing the other half of the record may change my opinion on everything. But, these 4 songs, even for "Standard issue PJ", which, i admit is a pretty broad spectrum, these songs don't hold up to similar songs on other albums

[Juvenal]

If you diss Breakerfall I'm going to fist you.

[Heathen]

RIP PJ


The PJ I once knew is dead. Creative spark seems spent and these guys are way too comfortable doing "business as usual"

Now, that doesnt mean I dont find some enjoyment in these new songs. And yes, sure, maybe, the rest of the record is more up my alley and may show what PJ are still capable of. However, these 4 songs (plus MYM and FD) are PJ Lite. once you realize this is the new pearl jam, the songs can be enjoyed for what they are. Pearl Jam used to be more than that but they seem to have stopped pushing themsleves and i suppose that is only natural when you dont get together and create as a band or allow that growth to happen. It seems as though the band writing full fledged songs, bringing them into the group 2x over a 4 year period, does not promote the edge and creativty they once had.

Getaway has a great groove and I love the phrasing. THis song is most interesting to me.

Lightning bolt? Better version of Unthought Known but "been there done that". Not sure how this got through quality control. "umm, ed, really? this sounds identical to Unthought Known".

Swallowed whole - I cant remember it. Ed, stop bringing in your solo songs cause they are becoming less and less interesting (grievance anyone?) Lots of people love it so I haven't given up on it but as of now it was pretty forgettable. Lots of REM references from the board so maybe thats why im missing it....

LTRP - Man, could have been great but that chorus is so bland. Great guitar work and I like the swampy stagger of the rest of the song but i picture a mid 40's dude, chaperoning the high school prom, bopping his head to the chorus off to the side whilst drinking punch.

Ill obviously withhold final judgement till soaking in the entire album and I agree that context could play a huge role in the enjoyment of these songs. However, I think back to better records and try and imagine how I would feel if I heard "Breakerfall" "Gods Dice" and "Thin Air" prior to the entire album....

Basically, I shouldnt have to convince myself the songs are great and i find myself doing that.

RIP Strat

'Breakerfall'? That's really not a good song on its own, imo.

if the first three songs from binaural that I heard were god's dice, breakerfall, and thin air I'd probably have landed in therapy

Yeah, there are definitely more exciting songs on there. On my first listen, the one song I liked on the album was Light Years. Everything else sounded like horrible retreads of older stuff. Sounds so familiar.

Wait... Songs like Of the Girl, Sleight of Hand or Rival were retreads of what?

[HardTI]

I seriously don't hear any Unthought Known in Lightning Bolt. I mean, literally nothing. They are maybe the same tempo? Sorry guys. I'm just not understanding that comparison.

[verb_to_trust]

Strat not reverting back to full on fanboi Strat combines nicely with the KD review in reinforcing my complete and utter lack of any expectations for this record.

[Strat]

I seriously don't hear any Unthought Known in Lightning Bolt. I mean, literally nothing. They are maybe the same tempo? Sorry guys. I'm just not understanding that comparison.

You can practically sing the fucking pre chorus build up...

[Strat]

Strat not reverting back to full on fanboi Strat combines nicely with the KD review in reinforcing my complete and utter lack of any expectations for this record.

Where is KD's review?

[dimejinky99]

Strat not reverting back to full on fanboi Strat combines nicely with the KD review in reinforcing my complete and utter lack of any expectations for this record.

Reads as
I didn't like it and needed the naysayers to back me up so therefore I'm happy.

[stip]

If you diss Breakerfall I'm going to fist you.

isn't that an incentive to do it?

[Lounge Lizard]

If the first thing I heard off Binaural were Soon Forget, we'd never meet.

[verb_to_trust]

Strat not reverting back to full on fanboi Strat combines nicely with the KD review in reinforcing my complete and utter lack of any expectations for this record.

Reads as
I didn't like it and needed the naysayers to back me up so therefore I'm happy.

I haven't listened to the "leak", dimebag

[stip]

I seriously don't hear any Unthought Known in Lightning Bolt. I mean, literally nothing. They are maybe the same tempo? Sorry guys. I'm just not understanding that comparison.

the similar sound at the starting guitars and the rapid build (and the prominent piano in both). There are a lot more dynamics in Lighting Bolt

[epilogue]

I seriously don't hear any Unthought Known in Lightning Bolt. I mean, literally nothing. They are maybe the same tempo? Sorry guys. I'm just not understanding that comparison.

I've only heard the Wrigley version. And I only heard that once as it was happening. But I totally hear it. My first thought was that it was Unthought Known 2.

[harmless]

RIP PJ


The PJ I once knew is dead. Creative spark seems spent and these guys are way too comfortable doing "business as usual"

Now, that doesnt mean I dont find some enjoyment in these new songs. And yes, sure, maybe, the rest of the record is more up my alley and may show what PJ are still capable of. However, these 4 songs (plus MYM and FD) are PJ Lite. once you realize this is the new pearl jam, the songs can be enjoyed for what they are. Pearl Jam used to be more than that but they seem to have stopped pushing themsleves and i suppose that is only natural when you dont get together and create as a band or allow that growth to happen. It seems as though the band writing full fledged songs, bringing them into the group 2x over a 4 year period, does not promote the edge and creativty they once had. I was done, bored.

Getaway has a great groove and I love the phrasing. THis song is most interesting to me.

Lightning bolt? Better version of Unthought Known but "been there done that". Not sure how this got through quality control. "umm, ed, really? this sounds identical to Unthought Known".

Swallowed whole - I cant remember it. Ed, stop bringing in your solo songs cause they are becoming less and less interesting (grievance anyone?) Lots of people love it so I haven't given up on it but as of now it was pretty forgettable. Lots of REM references from the board so maybe thats why im missing it....

LTRP - Man, could have been great but that chorus is so bland. Great guitar work and I like the swampy stagger of the rest of the song but i picture a mid 40's dude, chaperoning the high school prom, bopping his head to the chorus off to the side whilst drinking punch.

Ill obviously withhold final judgement till soaking in the entire album and I agree that context could play a huge role in the enjoyment of these songs. However, I think back to better records and try and imagine how I would feel if I heard "Breakerfall" "Gods Dice" and "Thin Air" prior to the entire album....

Basically, I shouldnt have to convince myself the songs are great and i find myself doing that.

RIP Strat

'Breakerfall'? That's really not a good song on its own, imo.

if the first three songs from binaural that I heard were god's dice, breakerfall, and thin air I'd probably have landed in therapy

Yeah, there are definitely more exciting songs on there. On my first listen, the one song I liked on the album was Light Years. Everything else sounded like horrible retreads of older stuff. Sounds so familiar.

Wait... Songs like Of the Girl, Sleight of Hand or Rival were retreads of what?

'Of the Girl' was (not *is*, was) a boring country song. Sleight of Hand was too drawn-out, dreary and plodding. It had no energy, in spite of its atmosphere (I felt it was atmosphere covering up an average song, in the same way this is BO'B making mediocre songs more shiny... sometimes you can do this with street cred). And Rival, well, that's a straight-up dirty bluesy stomper. It's good but it's not original. It was new territory for PJ, in the same way some of these songs are. I don't feel any of this now, but that's because I had years to digest it. Binaural put me off PJ for a long time.

[dimejinky99]

There's a lyric that comes to mind about this whole thing and people with their enjoyment and disappointment.

Are we bound out of obligation? Is that all we've got?

[stip]

Strat not reverting back to full on fanboi Strat combines nicely with the KD review in reinforcing my complete and utter lack of any expectations for this record.

Where is KD's review?

it's a few pages back

to sum up

based on one listen
some parts he liked in each song
overall didn't feel inspired. Not bad songs, but not compelling songs

[Juvenal]

Strat not reverting back to full on fanboi Strat combines nicely with the KD review in reinforcing my complete and utter lack of any expectations for this record.

Reads as
I didn't like it and needed the naysayers to back me up so therefore I'm happy.

I haven't listened to the "leak", dimebag

Silly you, dime, for imagining he had listened to the songs before forming an opinion!

[harmless]

I seriously don't hear any Unthought Known in Lightning Bolt. I mean, literally nothing. They are maybe the same tempo? Sorry guys. I'm just not understanding that comparison.

I've only heard the Wrigley version. And I only heard that once as it was happening. But I totally hear it. My first thought was that it was Unthought Known 2.

Me too, but it's a far more tightly structured one.