Lightning Bolt: the official album thread

[jforte20]

I find it funny how everyone assumes some member got fleeced on the decisions on this album. Maybe they all agreed on what should be on the album, and they are all happy with the final result. And maybe, after 23 years in the biz, they are not so naive as to blindly follow the producers every recommendation.

Ladies and gentlemen, no matter how you feel about these songs, this is Pearl Jam.

I don't think they're blindly following anything, but I do think they're not interested in defying his decisions and ideas at the moment because they're not that interested in being a recording band.

Then why record anything at all? I don't think they would've gone into the studio if they didn't feel like it. They're never in a rush to get into the studio. They would've waited had they wanted to.

[warehouse]

I find it funny how everyone assumes some member got fleeced on the decisions on this album. Maybe they all agreed on what should be on the album, and they are all happy with the final result. And maybe, after 23 years in the biz, they are not so naive as to blindly follow the producers every recommendation.

Ladies and gentlemen, no matter how you feel about these songs, this is Pearl Jam.

didnt bob say they were more open to suggestions earlier in their career?

[sward]

I find it funny how everyone assumes some member got fleeced on the decisions on this album. Maybe they all agreed on what should be on the album, and they are all happy with the final result. And maybe, after 23 years in the biz, they are not so naive as to blindly follow the producers every recommendation.

Ladies and gentlemen, no matter how you feel about these songs, this is Pearl Jam.

I don't think they're blindly following anything, but I do think they're not interested in defying his decisions and ideas at the moment because they're not that interested in being a recording band.

Personally, I think that any and all effort to try to guess what they are thinking is fruitless. We can't know. For all anyone knows, it's Stone's wife running the show.

There is zero to gain from trying to presume anything.

[WaitingForBluey]

I do think they're not interested in defying his decisions and ideas at the moment because they're not that interested in being a recording band.

I have no idea how anyone could possibly make a statement without absolutely one single shred of evidence. It just doesn't make sense. Dude, PJ is writing, recording and playing the music that they want to be writing, recording and playing at this stage in their career*. End of story. I don't understand why people have to make stuff up.





*Note: However, Stone's opinion on the above statement may still be in question.

[digster]

I find it funny how everyone assumes some member got fleeced on the decisions on this album. Maybe they all agreed on what should be on the album, and they are all happy with the final result. And maybe, after 23 years in the biz, they are not so naive as to blindly follow the producers every recommendation.

Ladies and gentlemen, no matter how you feel about these songs, this is Pearl Jam.

I agree with this...investment in a band doesn't begin and end with the songwriting you put into it. With Stone as an example, Moonlander shows he continues to write. Perhaps he just doesn't write as many things anymore that fit PJ, or that the rest of the band gravitate towards. That doesn't mean you can't still be interested in the band as a creative endeavor.

[harmless]

I find it funny how everyone assumes some member got fleeced on the decisions on this album. Maybe they all agreed on what should be on the album, and they are all happy with the final result. And maybe, after 23 years in the biz, they are not so naive as to blindly follow the producers every recommendation.

Ladies and gentlemen, no matter how you feel about these songs, this is Pearl Jam.

I don't think they're blindly following anything, but I do think they're not interested in defying his decisions and ideas at the moment because they're not that interested in being a recording band.

Then why record anything at all?

Bread and butter, fan and media expectations, fun.

[PJMosquito]

I think we're underestimating the band a little bit. Sure, they're getting older, have families, other projects, etc., but we're all assuming that these things add up to them caring less about PJ. I think they all love touring and making music together, and although their recording process has changed a little bit (less jamming --> song vs more creation -->collaboration to improve-->song), I don't think that equates to a lesser product. Different, maybe. But, like others have noted, PJ's sound has evolved so much over the last ~24 years that it would be hard to define their "sound."

I said in an earlier post that music is hard to describe, so it comes down to making analogies...in this case that means describing their new songs by comparison to other music already out there. That doesn't mean it's derivative. How do wine tasters describe wines? By comparing them to other flavors/tastes, even if those ingredients aren't in the wine itself.

[harmless]

I find it funny how everyone assumes some member got fleeced on the decisions on this album. Maybe they all agreed on what should be on the album, and they are all happy with the final result. And maybe, after 23 years in the biz, they are not so naive as to blindly follow the producers every recommendation.

Ladies and gentlemen, no matter how you feel about these songs, this is Pearl Jam.

didnt bob say they were more open to suggestions earlier in their career?

Nope, that would contradict everything Ed has said.

[WaitingForBluey]

I find it funny how everyone assumes some member got fleeced on the decisions on this album. Maybe they all agreed on what should be on the album, and they are all happy with the final result. And maybe, after 23 years in the biz, they are not so naive as to blindly follow the producers every recommendation.

Ladies and gentlemen, no matter how you feel about these songs, this is Pearl Jam.

I don't think they're blindly following anything, but I do think they're not interested in defying his decisions and ideas at the moment because they're not that interested in being a recording band.

Then why record anything at all?

Bread and butter, fan and media expectations, fun.

Harmless, you might actually be more jaded than chud and platypus combined

[stupidmop]

I find it funny how everyone assumes some member got fleeced on the decisions on this album. Maybe they all agreed on what should be on the album, and they are all happy with the final result. And maybe, after 23 years in the biz, they are not so naive as to blindly follow the producers every recommendation.

Ladies and gentlemen, no matter how you feel about these songs, this is Pearl Jam.

I don't think they're blindly following anything, but I do think they're not interested in defying his decisions and ideas at the moment because they're not that interested in being a recording band.

Personally, I think that any and all effort to try to guess what they are thinking is fruitless. We can't know. For all anyone knows, it's Stone's wife running the show.

There is zero to gain from trying to presume anything.

Not entirely true, I think we killed a good hour here.

[harmless]

I find it funny how everyone assumes some member got fleeced on the decisions on this album. Maybe they all agreed on what should be on the album, and they are all happy with the final result. And maybe, after 23 years in the biz, they are not so naive as to blindly follow the producers every recommendation.

Ladies and gentlemen, no matter how you feel about these songs, this is Pearl Jam.

I don't think they're blindly following anything, but I do think they're not interested in defying his decisions and ideas at the moment because they're not that interested in being a recording band.

Personally, I think that any and all effort to try to guess what they are thinking is fruitless. We can't know. For all anyone knows, it's Stone's wife running the show.

There is zero to gain from trying to presume anything.

I'm not, I'm going from a lot of what I've read from band and BO'B interviews. I'm speculating around what Ed has said, but I'm certainly not guessing.

[jforte20]

I find it funny how everyone assumes some member got fleeced on the decisions on this album. Maybe they all agreed on what should be on the album, and they are all happy with the final result. And maybe, after 23 years in the biz, they are not so naive as to blindly follow the producers every recommendation.

Ladies and gentlemen, no matter how you feel about these songs, this is Pearl Jam.

I don't think they're blindly following anything, but I do think they're not interested in defying his decisions and ideas at the moment because they're not that interested in being a recording band.

Then why record anything at all?

Bread and butter, fan and media expectations, fun.

I can't imagine them recording an entire album..just to record it. This isn't a christmas single.

[harmless]

I find it funny how everyone assumes some member got fleeced on the decisions on this album. Maybe they all agreed on what should be on the album, and they are all happy with the final result. And maybe, after 23 years in the biz, they are not so naive as to blindly follow the producers every recommendation.

Ladies and gentlemen, no matter how you feel about these songs, this is Pearl Jam.

I don't think they're blindly following anything, but I do think they're not interested in defying his decisions and ideas at the moment because they're not that interested in being a recording band.

Then why record anything at all?

Bread and butter, fan and media expectations, fun.

Harmless, you might actually be more jaded than chud and platypus combined

I very much doubt it. I still like the music, at least.

[stupidmop]

I find it funny how everyone assumes some member got fleeced on the decisions on this album. Maybe they all agreed on what should be on the album, and they are all happy with the final result. And maybe, after 23 years in the biz, they are not so naive as to blindly follow the producers every recommendation.

Ladies and gentlemen, no matter how you feel about these songs, this is Pearl Jam.

didnt bob say they were more open to suggestions earlier in their career?

He said ed at least was standoffish and didn't want to be his friend

[WaitingForBluey]

I find it funny how everyone assumes some member got fleeced on the decisions on this album. Maybe they all agreed on what should be on the album, and they are all happy with the final result. And maybe, after 23 years in the biz, they are not so naive as to blindly follow the producers every recommendation.

Ladies and gentlemen, no matter how you feel about these songs, this is Pearl Jam.

I agree with this...investment in a band doesn't begin and end with the songwriting you put into it. With Stone as an example, Moonlander shows he continues to write. Perhaps he just doesn't write as many things anymore that fit PJ, or that the rest of the band gravitate towards. That doesn't mean you can't still be interested in the band as a creative endeavor.

Yea exactly. Case in point, listen to what Stone contributes on guitar to Sirens. If he was like "Oh well, that's Mike's song. I guess no one wants to use my ideas. I'll just play the chords - F, Am, blah blah". Hell no, he totally makes that song awesome with what he adds to it. Any musician can get just as much of a kick out of that kind of thing, compared to "Oh look at me, I wrote this. Yea, give me credit for this!"

[Jaeti]

EDIT: I would also add that none of these songs so far feel like they are just mailing it in to my ears.

No, not at all. It's one thing to not like the kinds of songs they're writing, but I do believe they're trying to make the songs they write good. And so far these have all been good songs.

[harmless]

I find it funny how everyone assumes some member got fleeced on the decisions on this album. Maybe they all agreed on what should be on the album, and they are all happy with the final result. And maybe, after 23 years in the biz, they are not so naive as to blindly follow the producers every recommendation.

Ladies and gentlemen, no matter how you feel about these songs, this is Pearl Jam.

I don't think they're blindly following anything, but I do think they're not interested in defying his decisions and ideas at the moment because they're not that interested in being a recording band.

Then why record anything at all?

Bread and butter, fan and media expectations, fun.

I can't imagine them recording an entire album..just to record it. This isn't a christmas single.

Cool, I wish I felt the same. I'm not saying the new songs aren't of a good quality (some of them are about Christmas Single quality), but nothing after Riot Act can compare to it or anything before it because the dynamic and aims of the band totally shifted at that point. It's my opinion, man.

[Jaeti]

I find it funny how everyone assumes some member got fleeced on the decisions on this album. Maybe they all agreed on what should be on the album, and they are all happy with the final result. And maybe, after 23 years in the biz, they are not so naive as to blindly follow the producers every recommendation.

Ladies and gentlemen, no matter how you feel about these songs, this is Pearl Jam.

I don't think they're blindly following anything, but I do think they're not interested in defying his decisions and ideas at the moment because they're not that interested in being a recording band.

Personally, I think that any and all effort to try to guess what they are thinking is fruitless. We can't know. For all anyone knows, it's Stone's wife running the show.

There is zero to gain from trying to presume anything.

We'll find out for sure when BoB needs a break and it's her turn to do press for the album.

[jforte20]

I find it funny how everyone assumes some member got fleeced on the decisions on this album. Maybe they all agreed on what should be on the album, and they are all happy with the final result. And maybe, after 23 years in the biz, they are not so naive as to blindly follow the producers every recommendation.

Ladies and gentlemen, no matter how you feel about these songs, this is Pearl Jam.

I don't think they're blindly following anything, but I do think they're not interested in defying his decisions and ideas at the moment because they're not that interested in being a recording band.

Then why record anything at all?

Bread and butter, fan and media expectations, fun.

I can't imagine them recording an entire album..just to record it. This isn't a christmas single.

Cool, I wish I felt the same. I'm not saying the new songs aren't of a good quality (some of them are about Christmas Single quality), but nothing after Riot Act can compare to it or anything before it because the dynamic and aims of the band totally shifted at that point. It's my opinion, man.

I'm not trying to change your mind at all. But if you want Riot Act, it's probably at your local record store with the rest of the albums that are approaching 20 years old.

[harmless]

I do think they're not interested in defying his decisions and ideas at the moment because they're not that interested in being a recording band.

I have no idea how anyone could possibly make a statement without absolutely one single shred of evidence.

Lucky that I'm not doing that then, eh?