Lightning Bolt: the official album thread

[onemanarmy]

I think I'm associating the 80's elements of it more with Springsteen than the hair metal power ballad kind of stuff........

maybe not though.....I'm so confused

[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.

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

I've been depressed and ill, with various things, on and off for years now. I'm just beginning to get out of that and I'm finally seeing the wood from the trees in life. I was heading towards a minor breakdown only a couple of months ago. I'm at the right time to receive these songs, and I'm pretty thrilled that it's Pearl Jam delivering them.

[harmless]

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

You like Rage Against the Machine?

[Lounge Lizard]

Call me a cheeseball... But i don't want to listen to other songs for a while. Sirens is so different it doesnt fit. Need to hear more of it all by itself.

[dimejinky99]

Well fuck me

No wonder I loved it.

The whole prechorus bit is falling slowly ramped up a notch

Those fucks

(Still love it deeply)

[harmless]

Call me a cheeseball... But i don't want to listen to other songs for a while. Sirens is so different it doesnt fit. Need to hear more of it all by itself.

It's kind of a heavy meal, isn't it?

[blueviper]

Sirens...

I think this is a pretty awesome song.

I guess I'm old and like adult contemporary as well.

[Juvenal]

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.

I've been depressed and ill, with various things, on and off for years now. I'm just beginning to get out of that and I'm finally seeing the wood from the trees in life. I was heading towards a minor breakdown only a couple of months ago. I'm at the right time to receive these songs, and I'm pretty thrilled that it's Pearl Jam delivering them.

That's great to hear

[harmless]

All these people saying this sounds like "Adult Contemporary" need to give me a recommended list, please.

[Django Butterworth]

All these people saying this sounds like "Adult Contemporary" need to give me a recommended list, please.

I would like to request this also.

[unLEASHed]

Well fuck me

No wonder I loved it.

The whole prechorus bit is falling slowly ramped up a notch

Those fucks

(Still love it deeply)

I predicted the falling slowly influence before i heard it...

[Lounge Lizard]

Call me a cheeseball... But i don't want to listen to other songs for a while. Sirens is so different it doesnt fit. Need to hear more of it all by itself.

It's kind of a heavy meal, isn't it?

i can picture radio djs salivating over it for a while with a sort of a 'Ladies... Hold tight to your panties' kind of introduction.

[dimejinky99]

Well fuck me

No wonder I loved it.

The whole prechorus bit is falling slowly ramped up a notch

Those fucks

(Still love it deeply)

I predicted the falling slowly influence before i heard it...

He changes in maybe two notes but the whole progression is falling slowly other than that.

Knew they'd impacted each other. This makes it even better

[BurtReynolds]

All these people saying this sounds like "Adult Contemporary" need to give me a recommended list, please.

look no further than the immortal music of Loverboy.

[Dugg]

This song would have been perfect for Andy Wood.

[Iowaska_Experience]

I just think the lyrics, music, and vocals all fit together nicely and make it a beautiful, touching, haunting kind of song.

I'm not sure how it's ever going to work live, unless they want of crowd full of blubbering and/or bewildered idiots, but I'm happy to weep gently to it in the quiet of my home/office.

[unLEASHed]

Well fuck me

No wonder I loved it.

The whole prechorus bit is falling slowly ramped up a notch

Those fucks

(Still love it deeply)

I predicted the falling slowly influence before i heard it...

He changes in maybe two notes but the whole progression is falling slowly other than that.

Knew they'd impacted each other. This makes it even better

Do you think the cinematic feel of the song (like falling slowly) may make it be part of the out of the furnace soundtrack we already now Ed's involved in???

[Waverider]

The discussions on this song are very amusing.....actually makes me think back to when I was 15. At that time, all I listened to was Judas Priest, Ozzy, AC/DC, Iron Maiden, Van Halen, Black Sabbath etc etc. Inside though......I loved all types of music, but my friends and other peers would only tolerate the music I mentioned. One day.....I discovered Chicago's 17 album, and dammit....I loved it. One day, some of those people found out what I had been listening to, and no shit...I was pushed from behind...ridiculed.....and at one point, thought I might even get raped (well maybe that's a stretch). What was worse was the fact that one of my friends at the time joined in on this. About 4 months later, that friend got his driver's license, and as he pulled up to school with one of the other guys that embarrassed me....I could hear that same DAMN ALBUM playing in his car as they both appeared "grooving" to it.

My point is........I think some people are afraid to admit they might actually like this......it is kinda like the Nickleback thing.........ask anybody.....and I mean anybody, and they'll tell you they HATE Nickleback.....yet these guys continue to sell a gagillion records.

[dimejinky99]

Well fuck me

No wonder I loved it.

The whole prechorus bit is falling slowly ramped up a notch

Those fucks

(Still love it deeply)

I predicted the falling slowly influence before i heard it...

He changes in maybe two notes but the whole progression is falling slowly other than that.

Knew they'd impacted each other. This makes it even better

Do you think the cinematic feel of the song (like falling slowly) may make it be part of the out of the furnace soundtrack we already now Ed's involved in???

No idea? I'd forgotten that was even happening to be honest

[Vindicator]

I just heard Sirens followed by Lightning Bolt. I gotta say, the songs go REALLY well together. After the love sappiness of Sirens, Lightning Bolt picks you right the fuck up.And I'm not too crazy about the song, but it just WORKS very well after Sirens.