Lightning Bolt: the official album thread

[harmless]

This album flat out is INCREDIBLE

And that's not "New PJ syndrome talking"

Good to know

Problem with this statement is there's no real way to know until 6 months to 1 year from now.

I'm so looking forward to seeing where this album is for me two years from now...

[AllNiteThing]

Personally, apart from certain ticks, instrumental habits and flourishes, I've never felt they had a signature sound. The only consistent thing was that it was always underpinned by "grunge / alternative rock" and "classic rock". But classic rock was the long-term first love for the band, so that's what they'll fall upon when the "grunge / hard rock / angst" has all but gone. I think their "image", if they have one now, is that they're a classic rock band in a contemporary era. But classic rock is a mammoth of a genre, so they are naturally all over the place, pilfering styles and influences as they always did but feeling no pressure towards anyone to make what people like. Their live show has displayed this variety for a long, long time now. Possibly forever.

Good post.

[igotworms]

At this point, I think it would be fair to say that PJ no longer have a trademark 'sound'. What is a typical PJ song these days?

S/T had a fairly consistent guitar sound, and there were lots of aggressive hard rock tracks on it, albeit accompanied by some slower tunes as well.

Backspacer was a real assortment, and from what we've heard of LB, it's going to be similarly diverse. No two songs really sound alike, covering a whole range of different genres and sounds.

I mean, what is the most 'pearl jam' song of the last five years? Difficult to say exactly what their sound is anymore.

I feel pretty good about that, but would be interested to hear if people would prefer they had more of a consistent sound on albums, with two or three curveballs per record.

Personally, apart from certain ticks, instrumental habits and flourishes, I've never felt they had a signature sound. The only consistent thing was that it was always underpinned by "grunge / alternative rock" and "classic rock". But classic rock was the long-term first love for the band, so that's what they'll fall upon when the "grunge / hard rock / angst" has all but gone. I think their "image", if they have one now, is that they're a classic rock band in a contemporary era. But classic rock is a mammoth of a genre, so they are naturally all over the place, pilfering styles and influences as they always did but feeling no pressure towards anyone to make what people like. Their live show has displayed this variety for a long, long time now. Possibly forever.

True true. But I always felt that their albums each had a strong musical identity - but this is less evident these days.

I remember an old interview with Eddie from the very early 90s and he criticised Paul Simon for being a 'musical tourist'. I wonder if he'd take those words back now...

I think he was being a hypocrite even then if he ever said it

Each PJ album has had an identity of its own. I haven't always felt those identities were fully-reliased, but they certainly weren't consistent with a band identity other than the fact they played what could be described as rock music. Ten doesn't sound much like Vs, Vs doesn't sound like Vitalogy, Vitalogy doesn't sound like No Code... etc. And they stole from styles and influences all the time. This time they're doing the same, but playing with a more commercial pop sound. That's this album's identity, and with Backspacer even more imo. To me there's no contest as to which is the better rock album: this one. But that's all my opinion.

Aha, found the quote. Eddie didn't say it, the journalist did. Buuuuut, EV did say: "...I hate that idea of records where it's like, "OK, here's the song with strings. This is the ballad. This is the reggae song..."

Errrrrrrrrr......

Link is here: http://www.freewebs.com/pearljamstudy/saidbyed.htm

[EJ]

This album flat out is INCREDIBLE

And that's not "New PJ syndrome talking"

Good to know

Problem with this statement is there's no real way to know until 6 months to 1 year from now.

I'm so looking forward to seeing where this album is for me two years from now...

Once you've heard the demos, I'm sure you'll find your answer.

[Oh, Jimmy]

I've been thinking about this a bit, because aside from Ed's voice, I've always felt Pearl Jam had a fairly distinct guitar sound. I'm not a musician, and that might seem like an obvious statement, but this has fallen a way a bit (or a lot). It was still present throughout Riot Act, to my ears at least. But I think Big Wave is the only S/T song where I get that feeling, and Johnny Guitar might be the only Backspacer song where I still feel it strongly.

I think it's there in Getaway, and I feel like it's there in the soundchecked version of Infallible. I also think Of the Earth has it, but it does seem to me like there's been a shift away from their distinctive guitar "tone," for lack of being able to describe it more technically.

The more Stone is missing/indifferent/unwilling to contribute for whatever reason the more PJ lacks for a distinctive guitar sound. Mike and Ed's playing/writing have both been enhanced quite a bit by what Stone brings to the table.

[harmless]

At this point, I think it would be fair to say that PJ no longer have a trademark 'sound'. What is a typical PJ song these days?

S/T had a fairly consistent guitar sound, and there were lots of aggressive hard rock tracks on it, albeit accompanied by some slower tunes as well.

Backspacer was a real assortment, and from what we've heard of LB, it's going to be similarly diverse. No two songs really sound alike, covering a whole range of different genres and sounds.

I mean, what is the most 'pearl jam' song of the last five years? Difficult to say exactly what their sound is anymore.

I feel pretty good about that, but would be interested to hear if people would prefer they had more of a consistent sound on albums, with two or three curveballs per record.

Personally, apart from certain ticks, instrumental habits and flourishes, I've never felt they had a signature sound. The only consistent thing was that it was always underpinned by "grunge / alternative rock" and "classic rock". But classic rock was the long-term first love for the band, so that's what they'll fall upon when the "grunge / hard rock / angst" has all but gone. I think their "image", if they have one now, is that they're a classic rock band in a contemporary era. But classic rock is a mammoth of a genre, so they are naturally all over the place, pilfering styles and influences as they always did but feeling no pressure towards anyone to make what people like. Their live show has displayed this variety for a long, long time now. Possibly forever.

True true. But I always felt that their albums each had a strong musical identity - but this is less evident these days.

I remember an old interview with Eddie from the very early 90s and he criticised Paul Simon for being a 'musical tourist'. I wonder if he'd take those words back now...

I think he was being a hypocrite even then if he ever said it

Each PJ album has had an identity of its own. I haven't always felt those identities were fully-reliased, but they certainly weren't consistent with a band identity other than the fact they played what could be described as rock music. Ten doesn't sound much like Vs, Vs doesn't sound like Vitalogy, Vitalogy doesn't sound like No Code... etc. And they stole from styles and influences all the time. This time they're doing the same, but playing with a more commercial pop sound. That's this album's identity, and with Backspacer even more imo. To me there's no contest as to which is the better rock album: this one. But that's all my opinion.

Aha, found the quote. Eddie didn't say it, the journalist did. Buuuuut, EV did say: "...I hate that idea of records where it's like, "OK, here's the song with strings. This is the ballad. This is the reggae song..."

Errrrrrrrrr......

Link is here: http://www.freewebs.com/pearljamstudy/saidbyed.htm

Well that's just a clear case of him changing his mind. Eventually you figure out it's perfectly OK to be able to categorise stuff

[nyquillyn]

At this point, I wish Ed just sung all the Moonlander tracks and they slapped a PJ label on it.

[igotworms]

At this point, I think it would be fair to say that PJ no longer have a trademark 'sound'. What is a typical PJ song these days?

S/T had a fairly consistent guitar sound, and there were lots of aggressive hard rock tracks on it, albeit accompanied by some slower tunes as well.

Backspacer was a real assortment, and from what we've heard of LB, it's going to be similarly diverse. No two songs really sound alike, covering a whole range of different genres and sounds.

I mean, what is the most 'pearl jam' song of the last five years? Difficult to say exactly what their sound is anymore.

I feel pretty good about that, but would be interested to hear if people would prefer they had more of a consistent sound on albums, with two or three curveballs per record.

Personally, apart from certain ticks, instrumental habits and flourishes, I've never felt they had a signature sound. The only consistent thing was that it was always underpinned by "grunge / alternative rock" and "classic rock". But classic rock was the long-term first love for the band, so that's what they'll fall upon when the "grunge / hard rock / angst" has all but gone. I think their "image", if they have one now, is that they're a classic rock band in a contemporary era. But classic rock is a mammoth of a genre, so they are naturally all over the place, pilfering styles and influences as they always did but feeling no pressure towards anyone to make what people like. Their live show has displayed this variety for a long, long time now. Possibly forever.

True true. But I always felt that their albums each had a strong musical identity - but this is less evident these days.

I remember an old interview with Eddie from the very early 90s and he criticised Paul Simon for being a 'musical tourist'. I wonder if he'd take those words back now...

I think he was being a hypocrite even then if he ever said it

Each PJ album has had an identity of its own. I haven't always felt those identities were fully-reliased, but they certainly weren't consistent with a band identity other than the fact they played what could be described as rock music. Ten doesn't sound much like Vs, Vs doesn't sound like Vitalogy, Vitalogy doesn't sound like No Code... etc. And they stole from styles and influences all the time. This time they're doing the same, but playing with a more commercial pop sound. That's this album's identity, and with Backspacer even more imo. To me there's no contest as to which is the better rock album: this one. But that's all my opinion.

Aha, found the quote. Eddie didn't say it, the journalist did. Buuuuut, EV did say: "...I hate that idea of records where it's like, "OK, here's the song with strings. This is the ballad. This is the reggae song..."

Errrrrrrrrr......

Link is here: http://www.freewebs.com/pearljamstudy/saidbyed.htm

Well that's just a clear case of him changing his mind. Eventually you figure out it's perfectly OK to be able to categorise stuff

[Dr. Van Nostrand]

This album flat out is INCREDIBLE

And that's not "New PJ syndrome talking"

Good to know

Problem with this statement is there's no real way to know until 6 months to 1 year from now.

i know i wont be able to be objective about it until at least a few months after ive been listening to it, i love everything they do at the beginning

[lecherouslittlestump]

I think it was a wise choice releasing Mind Your Manners as the first single, then Sirens as the second. MYM is the fast paced aggressive rocker that'll be suited to rock radio (although it hasn't done as well as I thought it would) and Sirens is the potential cross-over hit.

I can imagine the fury if Sirens was the first single, and the first we heard of Lightning Bolt. Luckily, MYM (and even the four song leak) will nullify that.

I haven't felt this excited about PJ in a long time. The four songs are superb, and Sirens is beautiful. Is it hokey, slick and adult contemporary? I suppose - but I don't care when it's executed this well. It's the perfect song for a walk at night.

I wonder if it will do well on the charts. Just Breathe only reached the 70s of the Hot 100, but that's actually really good for a second single. Plus, the charts don't tell the whole story. Looking at various websites (Spotify, Youtube, Lastfm), Just Breathe is consistently one of the most popular PJ tracks, and it's been covered by everyone from Twin Atlantic to Willie Nelson. Maybe Sirens can repeat this feat - or do better.

[Tuolumne]

The question is, which charts? There's not much currency for the old Billboard sales these days. You can also factor in Spotify plays, Youtube, Lastfm to the previous point. People looking at Billboard charts is wrong, far from the whole story.......

[lecherouslittlestump]

Also - Swallowed Whole has really grown on me. It could have been a plodding semi-acoustic mid tempo rocker, but they suddenly go into overdrive in the second half, and that chorus ("I can feel...drown drown drown" etc) is just so full of drama and tension.

And call me a sucker, but I love those "YYYYYEAH YEAH" shouts in the chorus. Some of the best moments in rock and roll come from "YEAH" shouts. Chris Cornell's "YYYYYYEAAAAAAAAAAAAAH" in Like Suicide comes to mind. Or Isley Brothers - Shout.

[stip]

Do we know that the Sirens leak isn't a Radio Edit?

It's 5 minutes 40 or whatever it is, so yeah I think we're sure.

I wonder if a radio edit makes the song better?

[Dr. Van Nostrand]

if the countdown clock is right for me, its counting down to monday october 14th instead of tuesday the 15th

[jforte20]

Do we know that the Sirens leak isn't a Radio Edit?

It's 5 minutes 40 or whatever it is, so yeah I think we're sure.

I wonder if a radio edit makes the song better?

That's kinda what I was thinking too

[harmless]

I support these lecherouslittlestump posts, aside from the chart talk because I haven't the first clue about that.

[Dr. Van Nostrand]

Do we know that the Sirens leak isn't a Radio Edit?

It's 5 minutes 40 or whatever it is, so yeah I think we're sure.

I wonder if a radio edit makes the song better?

That's kinda what I was thinking too

i dont know if anyone answered it earlier, but do we know if they are playing a radio edit today or the full version?

[stip]

listening to mike's interview and hearing him talk about how it's great that eddie likes to hear other people's ideas.

I wonder if it's just because Eddie is lazy and it's one less song he has to write.

[harmless]

Do we know that the Sirens leak isn't a Radio Edit?

It's 5 minutes 40 or whatever it is, so yeah I think we're sure.

I wonder if a radio edit makes the song better?

That's kinda what I was thinking too

It'll make it even more palatable. Is that better? Depends who you are. But there's got to be some solo in there, even if it's a radio edit, so what do you lose? I wouldn't lose a thing personally.

[Thejambi]

Do we know that the Sirens leak isn't a Radio Edit?

It's 5 minutes 40 or whatever it is, so yeah I think we're sure.

I wonder if a radio edit makes the song better?

That's kinda what I was thinking too

i dont know if anyone answered it earlier, but do we know if they are playing a radio edit today or the full version?

I'm not so sure the whole radio edit comment was legitimate or not.