Lightning Bolt: the official album thread

General Pearl Jam discussion.
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Rank Lightning Bolt

5 stars
1
1%
4 stars
4
5%
3 stars
29
37%
2 stars
30
38%
1 star
14
18%
 
Total votes: 78

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Strat
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Re: Lightning Bolt - October 15

Post by Strat »

theplatypus wrote:
Fuzzcharger wrote:
verb_to_trust wrote:
Fuzzcharger wrote:Sirens is the first time I couldn't be bothered listening to a new Pearl Jam single all the way through. I gave it a minute and a half and then thought to myself if I heard this song on the radio and had no idea who the band was I would have changed stations ages ago. It sounds like it should be in a Grey's Anatomy soundtrack or something similarly bland.
What season of Grey's?
The one where the short guy Doctor marries the big dark haired knee Doctor and then he dies.
Dude those ending montages in "Grey's Anatomy" have some good fucking songs.

You know the ones, where they show all the characters having simultaneous grand epiphanies while a voice-over narration neatly ties up the episode's themes and Bon Iver's "Blindsided" plays in the background.

I burst like a fucking baby when an episode of House ended with RE: Stacks...

Oh man
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evenslow
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Re: Lightning Bolt - October 15

Post by evenslow »

Strat wrote:
evenslow wrote:
Strat wrote:
stip wrote:I bet dct likes sirens

Dct will for sure. i think he will love this album and his love for it will be so fucking needed and lovely to share in....
But you already gave it the official RIP :peace: review.

Is this zombie strat?

No didnt! Did i?

I said its growing on me like an std and earlier today i was speechless cause i dont know what the fuck happened. Or who this band is anymore but...yea..i mean..im still kind of speechless but the melody is getting stuck in my head and vedder sounds wonderful.

Binaural PJ RIP :peace:

This pj? Im still trying to figure out.

Like an STD...
I'm way too good at Search:
Strat wrote:RIP PJ :peace:


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.
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Re: Lightning Bolt - October 15

Post by Strat »

evenslow wrote:
Strat wrote:
evenslow wrote:
Strat wrote:
stip wrote:I bet dct likes sirens

Dct will for sure. i think he will love this album and his love for it will be so fucking needed and lovely to share in....
But you already gave it the official RIP :peace: review.

Is this zombie strat?

No didnt! Did i?

I said its growing on me like an std and earlier today i was speechless cause i dont know what the fuck happened. Or who this band is anymore but...yea..i mean..im still kind of speechless but the melody is getting stuck in my head and vedder sounds wonderful.

Binaural PJ RIP :peace:

This pj? Im still trying to figure out.

Like an STD...
I'm way too good at Search:
Strat wrote:RIP PJ :peace:


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.

yea, i dont see much contradiction in there.

"Now, that doesnt mean I dont find some enjoyment in these new songs"
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harmless
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Re: Lightning Bolt - October 15

Post by harmless »

Strat wrote:
theplatypus wrote:
Fuzzcharger wrote:
verb_to_trust wrote:
Fuzzcharger wrote:Sirens is the first time I couldn't be bothered listening to a new Pearl Jam single all the way through. I gave it a minute and a half and then thought to myself if I heard this song on the radio and had no idea who the band was I would have changed stations ages ago. It sounds like it should be in a Grey's Anatomy soundtrack or something similarly bland.
What season of Grey's?
The one where the short guy Doctor marries the big dark haired knee Doctor and then he dies.
Dude those ending montages in "Grey's Anatomy" have some good fucking songs.

You know the ones, where they show all the characters having simultaneous grand epiphanies while a voice-over narration neatly ties up the episode's themes and Bon Iver's "Blindsided" plays in the background.

I burst like a fucking baby when an episode of House ended with RE: Stacks...

Oh man
RE: Stacks fucking breaks me.
RisingTides wrote:There is more kindness on the internet than we would care to admit to ourselves. Sometimes we are so afraid of falling victim to a ruse, we miss out on actual opportunities.
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Re: Lightning Bolt - October 15

Post by Strat »

oh, i may not love the album, but i will certainly share in the love that Dct will bring to the entire discussion! Love is positive, bro, and im all for it.

Which is why this fucking Sirens song is growing on me...

Fuck.
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harmless
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Re: Lightning Bolt - October 15

Post by harmless »

Strat wrote:
evenslow wrote:
Strat wrote:
evenslow wrote:
Strat wrote:
stip wrote:I bet dct likes sirens

Dct will for sure. i think he will love this album and his love for it will be so fucking needed and lovely to share in....
But you already gave it the official RIP :peace: review.

Is this zombie strat?

No didnt! Did i?

I said its growing on me like an std and earlier today i was speechless cause i dont know what the fuck happened. Or who this band is anymore but...yea..i mean..im still kind of speechless but the melody is getting stuck in my head and vedder sounds wonderful.

Binaural PJ RIP :peace:

This pj? Im still trying to figure out.

Like an STD...
I'm way too good at Search:
Strat wrote:RIP PJ :peace:


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.

yea, i dont see much contradiction in there.

"Now, that doesnt mean I dont find some enjoyment in these new songs"
Stop trying to pretend the lightning bolt isn't setting you free.
RisingTides wrote:There is more kindness on the internet than we would care to admit to ourselves. Sometimes we are so afraid of falling victim to a ruse, we miss out on actual opportunities.
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evenslow
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Re: Lightning Bolt - October 15

Post by evenslow »

Strat wrote:
evenslow wrote:
Strat wrote:
evenslow wrote:
Strat wrote:
stip wrote:I bet dct likes sirens

Dct will for sure. i think he will love this album and his love for it will be so fucking needed and lovely to share in....
But you already gave it the official RIP :peace: review.

Is this zombie strat?

No didnt! Did i?

I said its growing on me like an std and earlier today i was speechless cause i dont know what the fuck happened. Or who this band is anymore but...yea..i mean..im still kind of speechless but the melody is getting stuck in my head and vedder sounds wonderful.

Binaural PJ RIP :peace:

This pj? Im still trying to figure out.

Like an STD...
I'm way too good at Search:
Strat wrote:RIP PJ :peace:


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.

yea, i dont see much contradiction in there.

"Now, that doesnt mean I dont find some enjoyment in these new songs"
I guess I took "RIP" and "dead" and "spent" and "business as usual" and "stopped pushing themselves" as a bad thing. :peace:
Strat wrote:Alas, we are RM
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Re: Lightning Bolt - October 15

Post by evenslow »

harmless wrote:
Strat wrote:
evenslow wrote:
Strat wrote:
evenslow wrote:
Strat wrote:
stip wrote:I bet dct likes sirens

Dct will for sure. i think he will love this album and his love for it will be so fucking needed and lovely to share in....
But you already gave it the official RIP :peace: review.

Is this zombie strat?

No didnt! Did i?

I said its growing on me like an std and earlier today i was speechless cause i dont know what the fuck happened. Or who this band is anymore but...yea..i mean..im still kind of speechless but the melody is getting stuck in my head and vedder sounds wonderful.

Binaural PJ RIP :peace:

This pj? Im still trying to figure out.

Like an STD...
I'm way too good at Search:
Strat wrote:RIP PJ :peace:


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.

yea, i dont see much contradiction in there.

"Now, that doesnt mean I dont find some enjoyment in these new songs"
Stop trying to pretend the lightning bolt isn't setting you free.
We really need Strat to buck up and keep the light shining. Especially without dct around.
Strat wrote:Alas, we are RM
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harmless
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Re: Lightning Bolt - October 15

Post by harmless »

evenslow wrote:
Strat wrote:
evenslow wrote:
Strat wrote:
evenslow wrote:
Strat wrote:
stip wrote:I bet dct likes sirens

Dct will for sure. i think he will love this album and his love for it will be so fucking needed and lovely to share in....
But you already gave it the official RIP :peace: review.

Is this zombie strat?

No didnt! Did i?

I said its growing on me like an std and earlier today i was speechless cause i dont know what the fuck happened. Or who this band is anymore but...yea..i mean..im still kind of speechless but the melody is getting stuck in my head and vedder sounds wonderful.

Binaural PJ RIP :peace:

This pj? Im still trying to figure out.

Like an STD...
I'm way too good at Search:
Strat wrote:RIP PJ :peace:


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.

yea, i dont see much contradiction in there.

"Now, that doesnt mean I dont find some enjoyment in these new songs"
I guess I took "RIP" and "dead" and "spent" and "business as usual" and "stopped pushing themselves" as a bad thing. :peace:
It's 3:30am and everyone's asleep but I just laughed out loud at this.
RisingTides wrote:There is more kindness on the internet than we would care to admit to ourselves. Sometimes we are so afraid of falling victim to a ruse, we miss out on actual opportunities.
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Re: Lightning Bolt - October 15

Post by stip »

evenslow wrote:
harmless wrote:
Strat wrote:
evenslow wrote:
Strat wrote:
evenslow wrote:
Strat wrote:
stip wrote:I bet dct likes sirens

Dct will for sure. i think he will love this album and his love for it will be so fucking needed and lovely to share in....
But you already gave it the official RIP :peace: review.

Is this zombie strat?

No didnt! Did i?

I said its growing on me like an std and earlier today i was speechless cause i dont know what the fuck happened. Or who this band is anymore but...yea..i mean..im still kind of speechless but the melody is getting stuck in my head and vedder sounds wonderful.

Binaural PJ RIP :peace:

This pj? Im still trying to figure out.

Like an STD...
I'm way too good at Search:
Strat wrote:RIP PJ :peace:


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.

yea, i dont see much contradiction in there.

"Now, that doesnt mean I dont find some enjoyment in these new songs"
Stop trying to pretend the lightning bolt isn't setting you free.
We really need Strat to buck up and keep the light shining. Especially without dct around.
once songs started leaking we can't count on Doc anymore.
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Re: Lightning Bolt - October 15

Post by blueviper »

AllNiteThing wrote:
harmless wrote:
EJ wrote:
harmless wrote:I'm very confused.

On the one hand, there isn't a single Lightning Bolt song I haven't liked, or even loved. But on the other, the only person I've heard talk at any length about it is Brendan O'Brien. I would be fine with that if the actual music wasn't also covered in expansive washes of Brendan O'Brien fondue. I still just need the band to fucking talk about this.
They did: in 2010, 2011, and 2012. I wonder if that was the same album.
Yeah I don't know, and the wondering is very uncomfortable. As far as I'm concerned if the band talks about the album a year before it's out and then never again, they didn't talk about the album at all. I mean, they also talked about a Matt song that never even made it to the record.
Do you think theyre embarassed or uncomfortable talking about it because BO'B
butchered their songs (in their eyes) with keyboard and overproduction? It does almost feel like BO'B is pushing it like his album.
I highly doubt they would let this be the finished product if they weren't entirely happy with it. They hired him as producer, not a record label. They call the shots.
St. Louis (1998, 2000, 2003, 2004, 2010, 2022)
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Re: Lightning Bolt - October 15

Post by Jorge »

I received more PMs of people giving me streaming links to "Sirens" than any time Skitch claimed I had a new leak, so thanks to everybody who sent me the link. I have now listened to the song and, while it's not exactly great (missing most of everything I like about Pearl Jam), it's nowhere near as offensive as I thought it would be. There are several moments I really like, and they're all in the verses and pre-chorus. As with a few other LB songs we've heard, the band drops the ball on the chorus, the vocal melody of which feels kind of rudimentary and flat. A lot of what I do like about this song sounds like it would probably be lost in a live setting, so I'm curious to hear how they pull it off in concert.
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Re: Lightning Bolt - October 15

Post by Fuzzcharger »

theplatypus wrote:
Fuzzcharger wrote:
verb_to_trust wrote:
Fuzzcharger wrote:Sirens is the first time I couldn't be bothered listening to a new Pearl Jam single all the way through. I gave it a minute and a half and then thought to myself if I heard this song on the radio and had no idea who the band was I would have changed stations ages ago. It sounds like it should be in a Grey's Anatomy soundtrack or something similarly bland.
What season of Grey's?
The one where the short guy Doctor marries the big dark haired knee Doctor and then he dies.
Dude those ending montages in "Grey's Anatomy" have some good fucking songs.

You know the ones, where they show all the characters having simultaneous grand epiphanies while a voice-over narration neatly ties up the episode's themes and Bon Iver's "Blindsided" plays in the background.
I do enjoy a slow motion character realisation of some epic life changing catastrophy put to appropriate music. I'll need evidence of these 'good fucking songs' though. It always seemed like contemporary MOR ballads to me from bands like Snow Patrol or Matchbox 20 or The Fray y'know.
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Strat
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Re: Lightning Bolt - October 15

Post by Strat »

Its more like -

once I realize the PJ I once knew (remember that song?) is dead, then I can move forward with this. Its not the same band and thats fine cause here we are.

Im working through this all. Working through it with you guys too. Contradictions may be found but ultimately im here for the ride.
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Re: Lightning Bolt - October 15

Post by mastaflatch »

harmless wrote:
It's 3:30am
no, it's not.
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Re: Lightning Bolt - October 15

Post by Fuzzcharger »

theplatypus wrote:I received more PMs of people giving me streaming links to "Sirens" than any time Skitch claimed I had a new leak, so thanks to everybody who sent me the link. I have now listened to the song and, while it's not exactly great (missing most of everything I like about Pearl Jam), it's nowhere near as offensive as I thought it would be. There are several moments I really like, and they're all in the verses and pre-chorus. As with a few other LB songs we've heard, the band drops the ball on the chorus, the vocal melody of which feels kind of rudimentary and flat. A lot of what I do like about this song sounds like it would probably be lost in a live setting, so I'm curious to hear how they pull it off in concert.
I'd suggest it begins with Stone reaching around Eddie.
Lament wrote: Like I always say, "Anyone who thinks getting kicked in the nuts by one person sucks has never gotten kicked in the nuts by two people at the same time."
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Re: Lightning Bolt - October 15

Post by harmless »

That's a review I have utmost respect for, Jorge. While I don't entirely agree that these choruses have been lacking, I completely understand the criticism that they are. "Lightning Bolt" never had a good chorus, but it's been saved for me by the performance and musicianship. And yes, the chorus of "Sirens" is quite a bit more predictable than the verses and that beautiful pre-chorus.
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Re: Lightning Bolt - October 15

Post by harmless »

mastaflatch wrote:
harmless wrote:
It's 3:30am
no, it's not.
OK, it's 3:40am.
RisingTides wrote:There is more kindness on the internet than we would care to admit to ourselves. Sometimes we are so afraid of falling victim to a ruse, we miss out on actual opportunities.
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Re: Lightning Bolt - October 15

Post by Strat »

harmless wrote:
mastaflatch wrote:
harmless wrote:
It's 3:30am
no, it's not.
OK, it's 3:40am.

Do you sleep? ever?
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Re: Lightning Bolt - October 15

Post by blueviper »

harmless wrote:
verb_to_trust wrote:
harmless wrote:I adore this album already, I just hope the band does as well.
What difference would it make if the band loved it?
Only that I'd know this was deliberate, rather than obligatory. It might sound utterly strange but it would sour me on it to know that they let Brendan O'Brien do whatever he wanted to it, even though it's so uncharacteristic of Pearl Jam. I know it sounds weird, but it feels weird too.
I wouldn't worry. Don't 4/5ths of the band have wives/kids? I'm sure they are at a point in their lives where they are fine with making this kind of music.

And I'm happy that they are. This is great stuff.
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