Lightning Bolt: the official album thread

[jforte20]

Does anyone like Sirens?

I do.

Me too. I just don't feel the need to compare every new song to another song. It's new and I like it.

[stip]

Gave Sirens the play loud in the car while driving test. It passed.

what a relief

i was afraid it was impervious to volume control

[bodysnatcher]

Sirens is a grower? Does that make it the boner of Lightning Bolt?

[harmless]

Pearl Jam don't use guitar reverb much, which is another reason this feels unfamiliar. Kings of Leon use it all the damn time.

[stip]

Every new song I hear from this album I so far love. The difference between them and the last two albums though is that I feel there is much more variety and a little more depth to the music/melodies/lyrics than we've gotten recently.

One of the big reasons I love this band is the variety of sounds and styles they've explored over the years, there really is so much to choose from depending on your mood and feeling at the time, more so than most other bands I've been into. This album really takes that another step, with the blues-boogies style of LTRP punk/metal of MYM and now 80's power ballad style of Sirens. I'm really excited to hear where they go with Pendulum and Yellow Moon, after hearing how 'odd' they are.

I understand people not getting or not liking Sirens for it not sounding like classic Pearl Jam, but if you see how they have explored different styles, it's not unexpected. We know Mike is a HUGE fan of classic and 80's rock, so I'm surprised we haven't gotten a song like this sooner. We should be happy that they're not afraid to try something out of the norm for them.

Most of us have gone through an 80's phase or maybe still appreciate the cheese-rock from that era, and I for one am happy they've tried, and succeeded with a song in that style.

Same here.

What I don't quite understand is when people acknowledge this is done well, but still can't accept it because it's not in one of their favourite previous Pearl Jam styles. I mean, we have 7 classic albums from this band, which for me is more than enough. The last two albums weren't anything special. I'm happy enough to just see where they go from here but still they're held to impossible standards. We can love the old stuff and still enjoy this in its own right.

But hey, this post has been written a thousand times.

I feel like Jorge is probably bleeding to death over a laptop in some motel after hearing this song.

Just a gut feeling, but maybe Jorge will pull a reverse double ultra hipster combo and love this song.

AL

[Heathen]

Every new song I hear from this album I so far love. The difference between them and the last two albums though is that I feel there is much more variety and a little more depth to the music/melodies/lyrics than we've gotten recently.

One of the big reasons I love this band is the variety of sounds and styles they've explored over the years, there really is so much to choose from depending on your mood and feeling at the time, more so than most other bands I've been into. This album really takes that another step, with the blues-boogies style of LTRP punk/metal of MYM and now 80's power ballad style of Sirens. I'm really excited to hear where they go with Pendulum and Yellow Moon, after hearing how 'odd' they are.

I understand people not getting or not liking Sirens for it not sounding like classic Pearl Jam, but if you see how they have explored different styles, it's not unexpected. We know Mike is a HUGE fan of classic and 80's rock, so I'm surprised we haven't gotten a song like this sooner. We should be happy that they're not afraid to try something out of the norm for them.

Most of us have gone through an 80's phase or maybe still appreciate the cheese-rock from that era, and I for one am happy they've tried, and succeeded with a song in that style.

Same here.

What I don't quite understand is when people acknowledge this is done well, but still can't accept it because it's not in one of their favourite previous Pearl Jam styles. I mean, we have 7 classic albums from this band, which for me is more than enough. The last two albums weren't anything special. I'm happy enough to just see where they go from here but still they're held to impossible standards. We can love the old stuff and still enjoy this in its own right.

But hey, this post has been written a thousand times.

I feel like Jorge is probably bleeding to death over a laptop in some motel after hearing this song.

Is there any music out there you just can't stand? If so, does it make it any better whether it's "done well" or not?

I, for the most part, can't stand country music. However, if it's 'done well', as in Johnny Cash, Willie Nelson or Waylon Jennings, then yes I can appreciate it.

Very well put, and I totally agree.

I will like any genre of music if I appreciate and enjoy what I'm hearing.

That's not what I meant at all. I mean take an album you can't stand and recognize it might be well done but you don't care because the music makes you wanna puke. Of course if you think only the music you like is done well the point is moot.

[harmless]

I hope they sandwich it right between State of Love and Trust and Blood in the setlist

I wouldn't be at all surprised if they did. They have some weird setlists.

[bodysnatcher]

i thought it was cool in a hipster sorta way to like cheesy 80s ballads? or is that over already?

[Dr. Van Nostrand]

FYI

i will delete requests for leaks

[stip]

Well, there is no obvious chorus to sing along to. Which is one of the things I like about it. Only PJ would do a full on 80s power ballad without a chorus. This could also be a grower which is not usually the case for for these types of songs.

This. So much this. This is an 80s power ballad without the one thing that made 80s power ballads so cheesy. A singy-songy chorus. The vocal melody here is probably the most complex of all the songs we've heard from LB so far. That is ironic considering the song is packaged most like a pop song. The lack of an easy to sing chorus/bridge makes this song more of a grower than any of those that came before.

Ed sounds absolutely spotless here. Those of you who think that he sounds bad singing any part of this, well, I just want some of what you're smokin'. This is as peerless a vocal performance (considering the requirements of the song) as he has given in the last 20 years. I'm not speaking of difficulty necessarily, but just execution and doing what the song needs. He is fabulous here. Honestly, I couldn't get into the song until I listened to it loud with headphones one. Now, I am hooked.

I agree with this. This song is classic Pearl Jam, perhaps only in the sense that it doesn't push the balladry so far as to have a horrible chorus. It's a little pared back and more humble than that, as PJ always were.

I still haven't heard this yet, but this description reminds me of Parachutes. Please please please tell me this is even half as good as Parachutes?

this really is nothing at all like parachutes, for better or worse. This is every 80s acoustic power ballad that has its chorus surgically removed, is thrown into a blender, and then given to Eddie to sing well over

[Heathen]

i thought it was cool in a hipster sorta way to like cheesy 80s ballads? or is that over already?

Well, RM is full of hipsters and look at the poll...

[VinylGuy]

i thought it was cool in a hipster sorta way to like cheesy 80s ballads? or is that over already?

im pretty sure you can like it...i mean...lcd soundsystem ...RIGHT?

[nightmareblack0206]

(sigh)

[bodysnatcher]

i thought it was cool in a hipster sorta way to like cheesy 80s ballads? or is that over already?

im pretty sure you can like it...i mean...lcd soundsystem ...RIGHT?

guys, the 80s are back. like it or not. PJ is ahead of the game.

[harmless]

Every new song I hear from this album I so far love. The difference between them and the last two albums though is that I feel there is much more variety and a little more depth to the music/melodies/lyrics than we've gotten recently.

One of the big reasons I love this band is the variety of sounds and styles they've explored over the years, there really is so much to choose from depending on your mood and feeling at the time, more so than most other bands I've been into. This album really takes that another step, with the blues-boogies style of LTRP punk/metal of MYM and now 80's power ballad style of Sirens. I'm really excited to hear where they go with Pendulum and Yellow Moon, after hearing how 'odd' they are.

I understand people not getting or not liking Sirens for it not sounding like classic Pearl Jam, but if you see how they have explored different styles, it's not unexpected. We know Mike is a HUGE fan of classic and 80's rock, so I'm surprised we haven't gotten a song like this sooner. We should be happy that they're not afraid to try something out of the norm for them.

Most of us have gone through an 80's phase or maybe still appreciate the cheese-rock from that era, and I for one am happy they've tried, and succeeded with a song in that style.

Same here.

What I don't quite understand is when people acknowledge this is done well, but still can't accept it because it's not in one of their favourite previous Pearl Jam styles. I mean, we have 7 classic albums from this band, which for me is more than enough. The last two albums weren't anything special. I'm happy enough to just see where they go from here but still they're held to impossible standards. We can love the old stuff and still enjoy this in its own right.

But hey, this post has been written a thousand times.

I feel like Jorge is probably bleeding to death over a laptop in some motel after hearing this song.

Is there any music out there you just can't stand? If so, does it make it any better whether it's "done well" or not?

I, for the most part, can't stand country music. However, if it's 'done well', as in Johnny Cash, Willie Nelson or Waylon Jennings, then yes I can appreciate it.

Very well put, and I totally agree.

I will like any genre of music if I appreciate and enjoy what I'm hearing.

That's not what I meant at all. I mean take an album you can't stand and recognize it might be well done but you don't care because the music makes you wanna puke. Of course if you think only the music you like is done well the point is moot.

I think I get more open-minded as I get older. I'm at a time in my life where I want music to make me feel something but I don't need to analyse it to death to enjoy it. If that means I end up loving something 'embarrassing', then so be it. So I guess I'll listen to anything and see what happens, there's nothing I'll immediately reject. But that doesn't mean there's not stuff I puke at. My hatred for the last Incubus album is pretty deep and I was a fan before. But I don't need to give you a list of music I hate because I don't even like everything by Pearl Jam. The reaction you're having to this is the reaction I have to Supersonic, regardless of whether it 'rocks out' or not.

[VinylGuy]

Every new song I hear from this album I so far love. The difference between them and the last two albums though is that I feel there is much more variety and a little more depth to the music/melodies/lyrics than we've gotten recently.

One of the big reasons I love this band is the variety of sounds and styles they've explored over the years, there really is so much to choose from depending on your mood and feeling at the time, more so than most other bands I've been into. This album really takes that another step, with the blues-boogies style of LTRP punk/metal of MYM and now 80's power ballad style of Sirens. I'm really excited to hear where they go with Pendulum and Yellow Moon, after hearing how 'odd' they are.

I understand people not getting or not liking Sirens for it not sounding like classic Pearl Jam, but if you see how they have explored different styles, it's not unexpected. We know Mike is a HUGE fan of classic and 80's rock, so I'm surprised we haven't gotten a song like this sooner. We should be happy that they're not afraid to try something out of the norm for them.

Most of us have gone through an 80's phase or maybe still appreciate the cheese-rock from that era, and I for one am happy they've tried, and succeeded with a song in that style.

Same here.

What I don't quite understand is when people acknowledge this is done well, but still can't accept it because it's not in one of their favourite previous Pearl Jam styles. I mean, we have 7 classic albums from this band, which for me is more than enough. The last two albums weren't anything special. I'm happy enough to just see where they go from here but still they're held to impossible standards. We can love the old stuff and still enjoy this in its own right.

But hey, this post has been written a thousand times.

I feel like Jorge is probably bleeding to death over a laptop in some motel after hearing this song.

Is there any music out there you just can't stand? If so, does it make it any better whether it's "done well" or not?

I, for the most part, can't stand country music. However, if it's 'done well', as in Johnny Cash, Willie Nelson or Waylon Jennings, then yes I can appreciate it.

Very well put, and I totally agree.

I will like any genre of music if I appreciate and enjoy what I'm hearing.

That's not what I meant at all. I mean take an album you can't stand and recognize it might be well done but you don't care because the music makes you wanna puke. Of course if you think only the music you like is done well the point is moot.

I think I get more open-minded as I get older. I'm at a time in my life where I want music to make me feel something but I don't need to analyse it to death to enjoy it. If that means I end up loving something 'embarrassing', then so be it. So I guess I'll listen to anything and see what happens, there's nothing I'll immediately reject. But that doesn't mean there's not stuff I puke at. My hatred for the last Incubus album is pretty deep and I was a fan before. But I don't need to give you a list of music I hate because I don't even like everything by Pearl Jam. The reaction you're having to this is the reaction I have to Supersonic, regardless of whether it 'rocks out' or not.

Great post.

[Thejambi]

Every new song I hear from this album I so far love. The difference between them and the last two albums though is that I feel there is much more variety and a little more depth to the music/melodies/lyrics than we've gotten recently.

One of the big reasons I love this band is the variety of sounds and styles they've explored over the years, there really is so much to choose from depending on your mood and feeling at the time, more so than most other bands I've been into. This album really takes that another step, with the blues-boogies style of LTRP punk/metal of MYM and now 80's power ballad style of Sirens. I'm really excited to hear where they go with Pendulum and Yellow Moon, after hearing how 'odd' they are.

I understand people not getting or not liking Sirens for it not sounding like classic Pearl Jam, but if you see how they have explored different styles, it's not unexpected. We know Mike is a HUGE fan of classic and 80's rock, so I'm surprised we haven't gotten a song like this sooner. We should be happy that they're not afraid to try something out of the norm for them.

Most of us have gone through an 80's phase or maybe still appreciate the cheese-rock from that era, and I for one am happy they've tried, and succeeded with a song in that style.

Same here.

What I don't quite understand is when people acknowledge this is done well, but still can't accept it because it's not in one of their favourite previous Pearl Jam styles. I mean, we have 7 classic albums from this band, which for me is more than enough. The last two albums weren't anything special. I'm happy enough to just see where they go from here but still they're held to impossible standards. We can love the old stuff and still enjoy this in its own right.

But hey, this post has been written a thousand times.

I feel like Jorge is probably bleeding to death over a laptop in some motel after hearing this song.

Is there any music out there you just can't stand? If so, does it make it any better whether it's "done well" or not?

I, for the most part, can't stand country music. However, if it's 'done well', as in Johnny Cash, Willie Nelson or Waylon Jennings, then yes I can appreciate it.

Very well put, and I totally agree.

I will like any genre of music if I appreciate and enjoy what I'm hearing.

That's not what I meant at all. I mean take an album you can't stand and recognize it might be well done but you don't care because the music makes you wanna puke. Of course if you think only the music you like is done well the point is moot.

I think I get more open-minded as I get older. I'm at a time in my life where I want music to make me feel something but I don't need to analyse it to death to enjoy it. If that means I end up loving something 'embarrassing', then so be it. So I guess I'll listen to anything and see what happens, there's nothing I'll immediately reject. But that doesn't mean there's not stuff I puke at. My hatred for the last Incubus album is pretty deep and I was a fan before. But I don't need to give you a list of music I hate because I don't even like everything by Pearl Jam. The reaction you're having to this is the reaction I have to Supersonic, regardless of whether it 'rocks out' or not.

Brilliant and I'm pretty much the same way.
I jam to Kelly Clarkson all the time.

[stip]

all right, I'm going to try to write something about this song before class.

I still kinda feel WTF about it.

[Heathen]

Every new song I hear from this album I so far love. The difference between them and the last two albums though is that I feel there is much more variety and a little more depth to the music/melodies/lyrics than we've gotten recently.

One of the big reasons I love this band is the variety of sounds and styles they've explored over the years, there really is so much to choose from depending on your mood and feeling at the time, more so than most other bands I've been into. This album really takes that another step, with the blues-boogies style of LTRP punk/metal of MYM and now 80's power ballad style of Sirens. I'm really excited to hear where they go with Pendulum and Yellow Moon, after hearing how 'odd' they are.

I understand people not getting or not liking Sirens for it not sounding like classic Pearl Jam, but if you see how they have explored different styles, it's not unexpected. We know Mike is a HUGE fan of classic and 80's rock, so I'm surprised we haven't gotten a song like this sooner. We should be happy that they're not afraid to try something out of the norm for them.

Most of us have gone through an 80's phase or maybe still appreciate the cheese-rock from that era, and I for one am happy they've tried, and succeeded with a song in that style.

Same here.

What I don't quite understand is when people acknowledge this is done well, but still can't accept it because it's not in one of their favourite previous Pearl Jam styles. I mean, we have 7 classic albums from this band, which for me is more than enough. The last two albums weren't anything special. I'm happy enough to just see where they go from here but still they're held to impossible standards. We can love the old stuff and still enjoy this in its own right.

But hey, this post has been written a thousand times.

I feel like Jorge is probably bleeding to death over a laptop in some motel after hearing this song.

Is there any music out there you just can't stand? If so, does it make it any better whether it's "done well" or not?

I, for the most part, can't stand country music. However, if it's 'done well', as in Johnny Cash, Willie Nelson or Waylon Jennings, then yes I can appreciate it.

Very well put, and I totally agree.

I will like any genre of music if I appreciate and enjoy what I'm hearing.

That's not what I meant at all. I mean take an album you can't stand and recognize it might be well done but you don't care because the music makes you wanna puke. Of course if you think only the music you like is done well the point is moot.

I think I get more open-minded as I get older. I'm at a time in my life where I want music to make me feel something but I don't need to analyse it to death to enjoy it. If that means I end up loving something 'embarrassing', then so be it. So I guess I'll listen to anything and see what happens, there's nothing I'll immediately reject. But that doesn't mean there's not stuff I puke at. My hatred for the last Incubus album is pretty deep and I was a fan before. But I don't need to give you a list of music I hate because I don't even like everything by Pearl Jam. The reaction you're having to this is the reaction I have to Supersonic, regardless of whether it 'rocks out' or not.

I don't have a strong reaction to this song, I think it's very bad but in a way that millions of songs in this style are, it's more bland and corny and boring than actually 'OMG WTF'.

[BurtReynolds]

I like rapmetal when it's done well, said no one ever.