Lightning Bolt: the official album thread

General Pearl Jam discussion.

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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harmless
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Re: Lightning Bolt - October 15

Post by harmless »

No. I do, but I wouldn't say most people do.
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Re: Lightning Bolt - October 15

Post by ABNorman »

BootsToAsses wrote:Do people generally prefer Backspacer over S/T?

If so, I don't get it.
They jostle each other for 2nd to last place for me.
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Re: Lightning Bolt - October 15

Post by BootsToAsses »

S/T is in my top 5 PJ albums easily. I fuckin' love that one. A couple of misfires for me (Paachutes, Unemployable, Gone) but the rest is wonderful.
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Re: Lightning Bolt - October 15

Post by harmless »

S/T has a few better moments, but less of them. Backspacer is a more consistently good listen from beginning to end. "Supersonic" and "Big Wave" are both outstandingly bad.
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Re: Lightning Bolt - October 15

Post by harmless »

"Parachutes" and "Unemployable" are probably my favourite songs on S/T.
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Re: Lightning Bolt - October 15

Post by BootsToAsses »

harmless wrote:S/T has a few better moments, but less of them. Backspacer is a more consistently good listen from beginning to end. "Supersonic" and "Big Wave" are both outstandingly bad.
Supersonic appealed to me for about 30 minutes and became tired.

I don't know, Big Wave I always kinda liked. Maybe it's just cos I saw Ed playing it in his truck for Laird Hamilton and thought that was the coolest thing ever back in 2006.
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Re: Lightning Bolt - October 15

Post by Huell »

BootsToAsses wrote:S/T is in my top 5 PJ albums easily. I fuckin' love that one. A couple of misfires for me (Paachutes, Unemployable, Gone) but the rest is wonderful.
Agree with gone, but I think the other two are great. Its a strange album for me... Gone is the only song I dont really like but there is something in the album that grates... Its got good individual songs... is it the drums or the production?...

Looking forward to LB more and more, took a few listens to like the partial leaks but they are good so far.
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Re: Lightning Bolt - October 15

Post by Sgt. Crackpot »

ABNorman wrote:
BootsToAsses wrote:Do people generally prefer Backspacer over S/T?

If so, I don't get it.
They jostle each other for 2nd to last place for me.
:thumbsup:
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Re: Lightning Bolt - October 15

Post by BootsToAsses »

Yeah I feel Lightning Bolt will easily surpass S/T and Backpspacer for me. Perhaps even Riot Act which I adore when I'm in the right frame of mind.

Whether or not it can come close to Vitalogy/Yield/Binaural is another story altogether.
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Re: Lightning Bolt - October 15

Post by Sgt. Crackpot »

Huell wrote:
BootsToAsses wrote:S/T is in my top 5 PJ albums easily. I fuckin' love that one. A couple of misfires for me (Paachutes, Unemployable, Gone) but the rest is wonderful.
Agree with gone, but I think the other two are great. Its a strange album for me... Gone is the only song I dont really like but there is something in the album that grates... Its got good individual songs... is it the drums or the production?...

Looking forward to LB more and more, took a few listens to like the partial leaks but they are good so far.
It's the production. It ruined this album for me. So crunchy, abrasive and loud.
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Re: Lightning Bolt - October 15

Post by Birds in Hell »

harmless wrote:"Big Wave" ... outstandingly bad.
:shake:

I like S/T alright, certainly a great deal more than Backspacer.

Comatose, Unemployable, Parachutes, Big Wave and Army Reserve are all very enjoyable songs (so that's, like, half the album) but I agree that it's an uneven and not particularly rewarding listen as a full record.
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Re: Lightning Bolt - October 15

Post by ABNorman »

The only songs from S/T that are in no danger of being skipped by me are Life Wasted, WWS and Parachutes. All others are fair game, depending on my mood. Big Wave and Gone are instant skips.
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Re: Lightning Bolt - October 15

Post by Release_Me »

Judging from the clip of Infallible we heard and that shitty soundcheck recording, I already think it's going to be one of my favourites on LB. I'm still guessing Pendulum will be my favourite (based on the descriptions from the listening party reviews). If Yellow Moon and My Father's Son turn out good, this album will displace Backspacer as my no. 4. I hope I haven't set expectations too high for the rest of the songs. :lol:
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Re: Lightning Bolt - October 15

Post by Mike »

harmless wrote:"Parachutes" and "Unemployable" are probably my favourite songs on S/T.
:luv:
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Re: Lightning Bolt - October 15

Post by BootsToAsses »

Life Wasted
Worldwide Suicide
Comatose
Severed Hand
Marker In The Sarker

That's a fantastic 5-song combo IMO. But then things take a big dip with Parachutes and Unemployable. Big Wave is groovy in my book, but full band Gone is atrocious. Army Reserve, Wasted Reprise, Come Back and Inside Job is a fine way to end a record.

So that's 10 great songs and 3 bad ones. Pretty solid effort. I don't mind the production either; much better production than Backspacer. The drums sound full and more impactful than Backspacer.
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Re: Lightning Bolt - October 15

Post by Mike »

BootsToAsses wrote: But then things take a big dip with Parachutes and Unemployable.
:waah:
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Re: Lightning Bolt - October 15

Post by ABNorman »

Mike wrote:
BootsToAsses wrote: But then things take a big dip with Parachutes and Unemployable.
:waah:
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Re: Lightning Bolt - October 15

Post by igotworms »

I love S/T. It's a blisteringly angry vibrant beast of an album. Definitely in my top 5 PJ albums, probably top 4. Glad to hear I'm not alone as whenever I've read posts about it they always seem to be negative.
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Re: Lightning Bolt - October 15

Post by Release_Me »

The only thing which holds back S/T from being a great album is the songwriting which just isn't 'hooky' enough (WWS, MiTS and mayble Unemployable excluded). The subject matter is very serious and better melodies would do well to offset that seriousness. The band's playing is excellent though and I find none of the songs to be clunkers like some of you. The other problem with S/T is the fact that it sounds more dated than any other album besides maybe Ten. Still, it's my joint 5th with Yield.
Last edited by Release_Me on Tue September 24, 2013 10:43 am, edited 1 time in total.
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Re: Lightning Bolt - October 15

Post by stip »

BootsToAsses wrote:Do people generally prefer Backspacer over S/T?

If so, I don't get it.
Not here, for the most part. Although I do, personally
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