Lightning Bolt: the official album thread

[Django Butterworth]

So it's not possible for a professional singer to hit the same notes twice?

Go home, RM, you're drunk.

[SomethingCreative]

They're different takes

Listen to the "G" in fragile on both. Its a little harsher the first time around, like he was took close to the mic. The 2nd time around is softer.

They are GODDAMN close though. He's good.

[Tj]

No I like turtles.

[harmless]

So it's not possible for a professional singer to hit the same notes twice?

Go home, RM, you're drunk.

When have we ever worried about Ed duplicating stuff live?

[Django Butterworth]

Fuck. I'd be happy if he remebered the words.

[harmless]

They're different takes

Listen to the "G" in fragile on both. Its a little harsher the first time around, like he was took close to the mic. The 2nd time around is softer.

They are GODDAMN close though. He's good.

What about MYM?

[SomethingCreative]

They're different takes

Listen to the "G" in fragile on both. Its a little harsher the first time around, like he was took close to the mic. The 2nd time around is softer.

They are GODDAMN close though. He's good.

What about MYM?

I think the last line of the chorus is at least duplicated. They kind of bury it under the start of the guitar solo the first time but as far as I can tell they're exactly the same.

But you guys don't think this is even close to the first time this has happened right?

[Django Butterworth]

They're different takes

Listen to the "G" in fragile on both. Its a little harsher the first time around, like he was took close to the mic. The 2nd time around is softer.

They are GODDAMN close though. He's good.

What about MYM?

I think the last line of the chorus is at least duplicated. They kind of bury it under the start of the guitar solo the first time but as far as I can tell they're exactly the same.

But you guys don't think this is even close to the first time this has happened right?

I don't think it happened this time.

[harmless]

They're different takes

Listen to the "G" in fragile on both. Its a little harsher the first time around, like he was took close to the mic. The 2nd time around is softer.

They are GODDAMN close though. He's good.

What about MYM?

I think the last line of the chorus is at least duplicated. They kind of bury it under the start of the guitar solo the first time but as far as I can tell they're exactly the same.

But you guys don't think this is even close to the first time this has happened right?

It hadn't even occurred to me until Tj mentioned it. But no, if it's happened here, I'm fairly sure it's happened before.

[sward]

They're different takes

Listen to the "G" in fragile on both. Its a little harsher the first time around, like he was took close to the mic. The 2nd time around is softer.

They are GODDAMN close though. He's good.

What about MYM?

I think the last line of the chorus is at least duplicated. They kind of bury it under the start of the guitar solo the first time but as far as I can tell they're exactly the same.

But you guys don't think this is even close to the first time this has happened right?

Is it even a problem if it does happen? I mean..surely they perform the vocals for the full song and then go back and decided whether to sing it again, and again. If the first take is coming out the best (even if not substantially), why the bid deal if it gets used again in repeated spots?

[Hypnos]

[SomethingCreative]

They're different takes

Listen to the "G" in fragile on both. Its a little harsher the first time around, like he was took close to the mic. The 2nd time around is softer.

They are GODDAMN close though. He's good.

What about MYM?

I think the last line of the chorus is at least duplicated. They kind of bury it under the start of the guitar solo the first time but as far as I can tell they're exactly the same.

But you guys don't think this is even close to the first time this has happened right?

I don't think it happened this time.

I'm not certain either, nor do I really care. Its not a big deal. Its the studio. I just couldn't hear anything that set the vocals apart them apart like on Sirens

[McParadigm]

It might have happened. That's a ProTools kind of trick.

The thing is, if you're doing that it's because you think it's necessary to do that. Vocals are cut separately, so maybe it was faster for Ed to get one great take of any recurring line and let them copy-paste it in where it was needed. Or maybe they thought precision was the pathway to mass acceptance. Either way, it doesn't hurt your enjoyment of the song, but it does take some shine off the band. Simple fact is, you shouldn't have to cheat to get a good take.

Anyway, who wants precision and exactness? Give me imperfection every time.

[Jaeti]

They're different takes

Listen to the "G" in fragile on both. Its a little harsher the first time around, like he was took close to the mic. The 2nd time around is softer.

They are GODDAMN close though. He's good.

What about MYM?

I think the last line of the chorus is at least duplicated. They kind of bury it under the start of the guitar solo the first time but as far as I can tell they're exactly the same.

But you guys don't think this is even close to the first time this has happened right?

Is it even a problem if it does happen? I mean..surely they perform the vocals for the full song and then go back and decided whether to sing it again, and again. If the first take is coming out the best (even if not substantially), why the bid deal if it gets used again in repeated spots?

Yeah, even if true, this isn't all that upsetting to me.

[sward]

It might have happened. That's a ProTools kind of trick.

The thing is, if you're doing that it's because you think it's necessary to do that. Vocals are cut separately, so maybe it was faster for Ed to get one great take of any recurring line and let them copy-paste it in where it was needed. Or maybe they thought precision was the pathway to mass acceptance. Either way, it doesn't hurt your enjoyment of the song, but it does take some shine off the band. Simple fact is, you shouldn't have to cheat to get a good take.

Anyway, who wants precision and exactness? Give me imperfection every time.

The takeaway from all this is that we actually have no idea.

[harmless]

It might have happened. That's a ProTools kind of trick.

The thing is, if you're doing that it's because you think it's necessary to do that. Vocals are cut separately, so maybe it was faster for Ed to get one great take of any recurring line and let them copy-paste it in where it was needed. Or maybe they thought precision was the pathway to mass acceptance. Either way, it doesn't hurt your enjoyment of the song, but it does take some shine off the band. Simple fact is, you shouldn't have to cheat to get a good take.

Anyway, who wants precision and exactness? Give me imperfection every time.

I agree with this. So while it won't stop me liking the songs, I don't buy the "Who cares?" line either. It does have implications if it's happened. We just don't know whether it's happened. Which is a good thing I guess.

[13inlet]

A few things:

1) I don't think it's the same exact track... look at the wav file below:

https://soundcloud.com/mmmusic/pearl-jam-sirens

Look where he says "over"... those waves are different.

2) It may be parts of the track and this would fall more on B O'b. because he's mixing it.

3) I would bet heavy, heavy money they've stolen pieces of tracks (imagine just 'one word' as a piece) and copied them in here or there for words that were tough. I can't imagine that that doesn't happen all the time in this day and age. Vocals are tough to get 100% right. So, let's say you have one vocal track that's perfect, but the vocalist screws up one word (which I'd bet Ed does all the time - we all know him)... then why not take track B, which got that word right, cut that word, and paste it into track A.

I have no problem with this if this is what they did. It is what it is. It's not like it's a fake recording or his voice was altered. It's simply professionally mixed. If you don't like that sort of thing you should hate pretty much every harmony that has ever been put in a song... in order to remain consistent. Because they 100% definitely cut, paste and move harmonies.

[harmless]

They're different takes

Listen to the "G" in fragile on both. Its a little harsher the first time around, like he was took close to the mic. The 2nd time around is softer.

They are GODDAMN close though. He's good.

What about MYM?

I think the last line of the chorus is at least duplicated. They kind of bury it under the start of the guitar solo the first time but as far as I can tell they're exactly the same.

But you guys don't think this is even close to the first time this has happened right?

Is it even a problem if it does happen? I mean..surely they perform the vocals for the full song and then go back and decided whether to sing it again, and again. If the first take is coming out the best (even if not substantially), why the bid deal if it gets used again in repeated spots?

A word, or a line here and there... sure. But an entire chorus? That's lazy and I would consider it a deal. A big deal? Possibly not, but a deal nonetheless.

[harmless]

A few things:

1) I don't think it's the same exact track... look at the wav file below:

https://soundcloud.com/mmmusic/pearl-jam-sirens

Look where he says "over"... those waves are different.

2) It may be parts of the track and this would fall more on B O'b. because he's mixing it.

3) I would bet heavy, heavy money they've stolen pieces of tracks (imagine just 'one word' as a piece) and copied them in here or there for words that were tough. I can't imagine that that doesn't happen all the time in this day and age. Vocals are tough to get 100% right. So, let's say you have one vocal track that's perfect, but the vocalist screws up one word (which I'd bet Ed does all the time - we all know him)... then why not take track B, which got that word right, cut that word, and paste it into track A.

I have no problem with this if this is what they did. It is what it is. It's not like it's a fake recording or his voice was altered. It's simply professionally mixed. If you don't like that sort of thing you should hate pretty much every harmony that has ever been put in a song... in order to remain consistent. Because they 100% definitely cut, paste and move harmonies.

Could you check the MYM choruses? Are those different as well? They sound even more similar to my ears.

[SomethingCreative]

Its really nothing to get upset over. Sometimes shit just works like clockwork in the studio... sometimes it doesn't. Studio time is expensive, even for Pearl Jam.



This conversation made me think of something I was told once by a guy who recorded my old band a while back. I have no clue if this is actually true, but he said that "Back in the day" Chris Cornell would come into the studio, sing a song 4 times. Then they would cut and paste the best version.

It happens. A lot.