Lightning Bolt: the official album thread

[jdopj]

With MYM, Getaway and Sirens, this is the best 3 songs combo on an album since Binaural. Might be that freshly fucked feeling, but I think this will last.

[harmless]

So... i dug 4 of the 5 songs prior to Sirens, but sadly I have to say that musically it's one of their most generic songs in their catalog.

it also feels like it's 10 minutes long

All things you could say about Black if you wanted to

Black is generic musically? News to me.

It's not news to all the people who called it generic all this time. It's "news to you" because you like it.

There are people who dislike Black? News to me.

p.s. It's not even a favorite of mine, but why you brought up a song as strong as that in comparison to Sirens idk.

There are people who dislike Black, and the entirety of Pearl Jam's catalogue. If that's news to you I don't know what to say to you really.

Also I compared it because the conversation wasn't about the song's relative strength, but about how apparently less generic it is. It's undoubtedly a better song, but it is no way less generic and follows a fairly similar structure. Its major difference is that it's angrier and has louder guitars. That's just my opinion but happens to be fact as well.

[solace]

Clearly I was talking about Pearl Jam fans, not music fans in general, but whatever.



well, at least you admitted Sirens is generic

[McParadigm]

"Pearl Jam were always generic. It was always thus." etc.

[solace]

Also, it's not like I don't love mellower/acoustic/emotional music either... hell, Jason Isbell and Phosphorescent are two of my favorite albums this year. This song just does nothing for me sadly.

[harmless]

Clearly I was talking about Pearl Jam fans, not music fans in general, but whatever.



well, at least you admitted Sirens is generic

It's clearly generic enough to get comments from people saying it's generic. But that's no different to a vast number of other songs. It's not even arguable that PJ have never had accusations of being "generic" before; to say that this is the first time it's happened is laughable. PJ have done some pretty generic shit in the past. I can say that whilst also saying that it mostly touched me deeply, and mostly kept me hooked. The least "generic" period for PJ was the Binaural / Riot Act period, by far, and I love that, but most fans outside of RM don't feel that way. Why? They like the more generic stuff. We all do, even if we like the dark obscure stuff as well. I'm prepared to admit that 'Sirens' is uncomplex and arguably generic, because it's trying to be a radio-friendly pop song and they're all generic, including Black by Eddie and the Pearl Jams, or Last Kiss, or...

[melonhead4]

Somebody get Rick Parasher on the phone

Andy Wallace!!! or even get Kasper back..ST sucked but Riot Act was great as was ITW soundtrack

[digster]

I don't really get how Black is 'generic', unless we're calling every single slow simple song generic.

[LooseGroove927]

This song just does nothing for me sadly.

Sirens is definitely a grower. It did nothing for me the first 25 times or so I listened to it. Its so different than anything they've ever done that it was hard to wrap my head around it initially. It's not my favorite thing they've ever done, but it's not the worst either. Give it time.

[solace]

also, I should clarify, I don't DISLIKE this sing, it's just kinda there for me, evoking no real strong emotion either way. So in that regard, you're right, there's plenty of post '00 PJ songs that I feel that way about.

[harmless]

Some people just like "Black" a lot. So they don't think it's generic, even if it follows a generic blueprint. I like "Sirens", so I don't think it's generic, even if it follows... etc. etc. Know what I mean?

[harmless]

I don't really get how Black is 'generic', unless we're calling every single slow simple song generic.

Right. But I don't get why "Sirens" is either, except for a few radio production flourishes that I kind of wish weren't there but I can't get rid of.

[solace]

But liking something doesn't always mean it's not generic to you either...

I like the band Dawes a lot live, but will fully admit their music is fairly generic classic rock infused Americana.

[Mine]

Clearly I was talking about Pearl Jam fans, not music fans in general, but whatever.



well, at least you admitted Sirens is generic

It's clearly generic enough to get comments from people saying it's generic. But that's no different to a vast number of other songs. It's not even arguable that PJ have never had accusations of being "generic" before; to say that this is the first time it's happened is laughable. PJ have done some pretty generic shit in the past. I can say that whilst also saying that it mostly touched me deeply, and mostly kept me hooked. The least "generic" period for PJ was the Binaural / Riot Act period, by far, and I love that, but most fans outside of RM don't feel that way. Why? They like the more generic stuff. We all do, even if we like the dark obscure stuff as well. I'm prepared to admit that 'Sirens' is uncomplex and arguably generic, because it's trying to be a radio-friendly pop song and they're all generic, including Black by Eddie and the Pearl Jams, or Last Kiss, or...

I guess is all relative to what you compare it too/the music you're familiar with. Ten, Black included, does fit the definition of generic well enough. It definitely isn't particularly original. This isn't necessarily an insult btw.

[solace]

From all the songs we've heard so far, this album definitely seems like another mixed bag of sorts, but at least so far it has nothing I truly dislike on the level of a bunch of songs on Backspacer and Riot Act.

[harmless]

solace, Mine, I agree with those posts.

I am not using "generic" as an insult, but a lot of people seem to be and I'm like "meh". I listen to Jessie J sometimes; if it does it for me, "generic" is not a concern.

[stupidmop]

Ignoring the vocals, black has this laid back dreamy quality in the music during the verses that makes it pretty interesting to me. If you took eds voice away from sirens i dont think theres anything there that grabs me/stands out.

Neither are an excersize in mindblowing originality however.

[harmless]

Ignoring the vocals, black has this laid back dreamy quality in the music during the verses that makes it pretty interesting to me. If you took eds voice away from sirens i dont think theres anything there that grabs me/stands out.

Neither are an excersize in mindblowing originality however.

I find a lot of the same "dreamy" atmosphere in the music and performance of Sirens, but that's a purely subjective reaction.

[Mine]

Ignoring the vocals, black has this laid back dreamy quality in the music during the verses that makes it pretty interesting to me. If you took eds voice away from sirens i dont think theres anything there that grabs me/stands out.

Neither are an excersize in mindblowing originality however.

Yeah but there are a shitload of similar ballads from the late 80's. "E-Ballad" followed a clear pattern it's even named accordingly.

[nightmareblack0206]

Why Parasher? Ten is as washed in effects as this is, probably more. Or are you hoping the guitars would get louder?

How dare you ever ever, knock 10!