Here I will post a combination of the reviews we got from the listening parties, so far. You can all read them separately and complete in the Lighting Bolt Reviews thread, that has a lot more reviews and articles.
Tuesday September 3rd, Ramones Museum, Berlin
Benz (including two sound impressions) Franzi Chris (including video) Martin Becki
Wednesday September 4th, Melkweg, Amsterdam
Frank’s notes Joost for AlternativeNation Dennis Mirella
Thursday September 5th, The Art Club, London
? Cai Trefor for Clash Music Benjamin Bland for Drowned in Sound Niall Doherty for Q Magazine
I will start with the songs in album order, and then combine some of what is left later.
Benz pretty catchy uptempo song. It`s nothing crazy innovative but a great opener for the album i would say. I think the second verse was only voice and drums which was pretty cool. The melody is really catchy and you can sing along after first verse. But yeah it`s a bit - don`t know how to say it but it`s like a mixture of some PJ songs i heard before. So when i heard this i was a bit afraid that they really don`t have anything new to say...
humming impression by Benz:
guitar impression by Benz:
Franzi We got this song twice because of a cd-error the first time. I liked it more after the second listen.
It's a faster mid-tempo song I would say. Not nearly as fast as MYM, but still one of the Top3 fast songs on the album.
Ed is slightly screaming the whole time. I guess the lyrics are about faith. Didn't understand much, but it's
more of an optimistic song.
lyrics snippets "hey heyy...it's ok" ... "it's alright"... (often)
"It's alright, I got my own way to believe" is a line that appeared more than once.
"sometimes you find yourself"...
Sounds strange, but it felt kind of right to the melodies.
...
The video was around 10 minutes long & featured parts of the songs Sirens,
Mind Your Manners, Lightning Bolt & Getaway.
Getaway was an early mix and sounded really different then what we heard on
the record later, Brendan apologized for ruining the song in that first
video.
Chris Bass doubles the vocals in the verse - if I had a guitar while listening, I would have figured it out, but now I forgot about it
Martin there are some real catchy tunes like "Sirens" or "Getaway" (love both)
Becki Getaway... First song it seemed catchy. I remember it had a good beat and I enjoyed it. An upbeat faster tempo.
Not nearly as fast MYM, but it was good.
Frank
Joost Ed sings about ‘Dark stormy weather’ over a pounding bass driven riff. It sounded ‘contemporary’, heavy and light at the same time. Dark lyrics but incredibly catchy melodies. Two blistering Mike solo and really strong vocals by Ed. A rocking pop tune like: The Fixer or Breakerfall (not that they have much in common) but less classic rock. More contemporary (like the Arctic Monkeys and The Killers had a lovechild..).
Dennis Getaway (+/- 3:00)
I brought a stopwatch to time the songs, but I was too excited so I
forgot to time Getaway but it's about 3 minutes long. The song itself
sounds hip and fresh and could easily been written by one of the
current rock bands. The song started with the lyric "Everyone's a
critic", which I guess will prove itself once the record is out.
Other lyrics included '"Find a lighthouse in dark stormy weather",
"it's ok,....make your getaway". The song had a start/stop feel to it
and ended with a guitar shredding outro.
Mirella Good opener. Not with a boom but a pretty happy song. Maybe as fast as MYM, hard to tell after just one listen. Lyric snippets I think I heard: ‘everybody naked in this town’, ‘all right’, ‘smiles’ ‘making love like the lizard’, ‘I got my own way to relate (?)’, ‘I got my own way to live’, ‘Hey hey it’s okay’, ‘faith’, ‘mine is mine and yours’. And I noted: singing guitars.
? Perfect as an opener! "Getaway" is a real crusher with a full-bodied Vedder. Raw rock guitars rock the song structure in unprecedented heights, like a hurricane earthy artifacts thrown into infinity. The windy noise take long drawn out notes and amplifier feedback, buzzing with gentle melodies in the middle.
Cai Trefor Opener ‘Getaway’ is immediately striking, its fierce riff self-assured with arena-shaking confidence. Guitarist Mike McCready’s solos reflect this band’s classic rock roots, while the vigorous beats from ex-Soundgarden drummer Matt Cameron are breathtaking.
Benjamin Bland Opening track ‘Getaway’ has the edge of punked up Vitalogy-era Pearl Jam but with a slightly more accessible edge. ”It’s ok, sometimes you find yourself being told to change your ways”, sings an impassioned Eddie in the chorus. A rousing opening track.
Niall Doherty There’s malevolent stomps and spiky riffs all over the first three tracks, Getaway, Mind Your Manners and My Father’s Son. Those who are put off by Vedder’s voice won’t find redemption here, but the singer is a mightily fine rock’n’roll orchestrator, leading even the scowliest of verses into anthemic, hook-laden choruses.
Last edited by Mirella on Wed September 25, 2013 10:55 am, edited 2 times in total.
Benz You know that already. Only think i would say that it`s the fastest song on the record.
Franzi you know that one
Chris Yeah.
Becki We all know it. No explanation needed.
Frank
Joost A good hard punch after a “Getaway”. Good combo to start this record.
Dennis (2:40)
The sound on this was much clearer than Getaway to me, but all the
songs were in a compressed format anyway so it was hard to tell
exactly what caused the difference.
Mirella I had lots of fun trying to decipher the lyrics. I am still not sure about those
…
Sounds right in its place after the first song. I did not take notes during this song since we already know it, and just enjoyed it for the good song I think it is.
? Her first single released shows Pearl Jam are still the rebels before. Only just a little meek, since their criticism numero uno aka George W. Bush had to leave the pitch at the presidential desk. A certain socially critical irony is unmistakable in "Mind Your Manners" when Vedder urges to the customs chatter. Hard, raw and with a message. The single accesses the rock 'n' roll charm of the 60s in the riffing, distorted him like Motorhead or later - somewhat hidden - Metallica thrash with their tirades. Today, take Volbeat .
Cai Trefor The following ‘Mind Your Manners’ continues this all-guns-blazing approach. The guitar here is more barbed than the previous cut, with a real heavy metal feel. The adrenaline begins to surge
Benjamin Bland If you are reading this then you have probably already heard this one, it being the first single off the record. The riffs are pretty tight and mechanical by Pearl Jam standards, and, along with the opener, it gets the record off to a harder start than 2009’s Backspacer, which was a more poppy affair from the outset.
Niall Doherty There’s malevolent stomps and spiky riffs all over the first three tracks, Getaway, Mind Your Manners and My Father’s Son. Those who are put off by Vedder’s voice won’t find redemption here, but the singer is a mightily fine rock’n’roll orchestrator, leading even the scowliest of verses into anthemic, hook-laden choruses.
I basically did the same thing a few weeks ago and posted a link to my summary file on the LB thread... And all I got was "why would we need this? We already have a thread for all the reviews".... Ha ha, I guess I should use more smiley faces when I post?
theplatypus wrote:A solo is when the guitar goes twiddly diddly
I basically did the same thing a few weeks ago and posted a link to my summary file on the LB thread... And all I got was "why would we need this? We already have a thread for all the reviews".... Ha ha, I guess I should use more smiley faces when I post?
Yes, more smileys, I guess . Sometimes people just don't know what they miss. Just keep posting the good things!
groetjes,
Mirella (I only used one smiley in this thread until this message)
Benz When it started i remember me saying what is that? That`s not Eddie singing! But it was Eddie First i really thought it`s Stone singing. Might just be because the room was pretty noisy. Other than that i think it was decent but a bit too long. Got a bit bored towards the end.
Franzi It's a strange one, couldn't describe it. Ed's voice sounds unfamiliar at the beginning, I thought that Stone sang first, too.
Mid-tempo. Really something new.
Chris Could catch one line which was something like "My mother...she's a work of art". The verse is almost only vocals, drums and very much bass...
very bassy...dark atmosphere IMO. I like that song as I generally like challenging song structures I thought the bridge is very funny - like a poppy tune making fun of something.
Martin (what a surprising song)
Becki I remember thinking this song was very different. Different how? Honestly,, I don't know how to describe it. I just remember it was very different.
Frank
Joost When they tried ‘new wave’ type songs on Backspacer they only succeeded on “Got Some”. They also succeed here. Tight playing, bass heavy and a weird bridge (a ‘typical’ Matt bridge). There’s a lot going on in this bridge. It was not an experimental song but I already want to hear this song again. Another dark heavy pop tune.
Dennis (3:02) This song begins with some spoken wordish lyrics a la 'Bushleaguer'
about insemination and getting a release. This song had a pleasant
rhythm (my notes read tadadadum), and halfway it descends it something
a bit slower and with more bass. The way the lyrics were sung here
reminded me of 'Johnny Guitar'.
Mirella I had been looking forward to this one in advance because of the title, but it was nothing like I could have imagined. The voice is different from any other song, and all the instruments sound slightly ‘off’ to me. Hard to explain. I noticed one single guitar at some point, and also a funky rolling bass. There was a soft part and some nice tempo changes. Some of the lyrics sounded negative to me at first listen, So I really need to hear it again to decide if I like it or not, and what the ‘finally free to believe’ is all about.
? With "My Father's Son", Pearl Jam lean back a little, let air to breathe, show wistfully vulnerable, but at the same time open like an open book. In peace lies strength: their songwriting bursting forth before stichelnder jaggedness.
Cai Trefor ‘My Father’s Son’ ensures it doesn’t dissipate, its primal punk-cum-garage momentum indicative of a band truly locked into their flow.
Benjamin Bland This is a bit more like the Backspacer sound. There may be some synths going on in the background here, which is nice. On first listen this is fairly unremarkable, but it definitely signals that the album isn’t going to stay in the more rock-centric vein of the first two tracks.
Niall Doherty There’s malevolent stomps and spiky riffs all over the first three tracks, Getaway, Mind Your Manners and My Father’s Son. Those who are put off by Vedder’s voice won’t find redemption here, but the singer is a mightily fine rock’n’roll orchestrator, leading even the scowliest of verses into anthemic, hook-laden choruses.
Benz I have to say i did not like this song very much. I was really disappointed with this one because of all the hype. It`s a pretty (too) radio friendly ballad. Comparing it with Black is a joke to me. It was still interesting the guitars sounded a bit like 80 rock to me. But yeah I think i liked this song the least of all.
Franzi It's a beautiful one, Chris and I thought from the beginning that it sounded a bit like Pink Floyd, kind of like Mother.
At the start he sings several times:
"Hear the sirens..."
It's more of a slow song, but has a nice mood to it, feels lonely, like being alone somewhere at night, just my opinion.
I guess it's a heartbreak song, although I didn't understand most of the lyrics.
There is a guitar solo in it with notes that reminded me of binaural-area solos of mike, but I'm really no guitar expert
It has a catchy melody between the chorus, don't know if that's the bridge or the verses, but I think it will grow on you the more you listen to it.
Overall I think it's a classic PJ song (without being cheesy) that many people will love.
Chris It's a long song. In the end, this line gets repeated over and over: "The fear goes away...". The song has a short and rather calm Mike solo.
Martin there are some real catchy tunes like "Sirens" or "Getaway" (love both)
Becki I loved this one! It's long and a slow song. I remember the lyrics "Hear the Sirens.. Hear the Sirens" I also remember a nice guitar solo. I see this a classic PJ ballad that fans are going to like.
Frank
Joost The song that some already say is the best the band has ever written. Well…it could very well be a grower and the one I will like the most in about a year or so. But on first listen it didn’t do much to me. Pearl Jam never came this close to an ‘eighties’ power ballad. Mike has written this song and is very proud of it he said on the EPK (which featured interviews done by: Judd Apatow, Carrie Brownstein and more….). Not impressed with this one on first listen.
Dennis (5:37) It starts off with the line "Hear the Sirens" x 3 and something about
a circus profound. I liked the start of the song but later on it
becomes a bit more like a power ballad, but the "Hear the Sirens" line
might save it. Need to hear it more to make a better judgment. It
ends with a guitar solo that reminded me of something you would hear
on a Guns N' Roses song.
Mirella Starts with ‘hear the sirens’ a couple of times, the second time ending higher than the first. Later the word ‘circles’ is used, or maybe ‘circus’. Then there is an absolutely beautiful ‘ah’.
‘more and more in this here town’, ‘let me get my breath’, ‘just to know we’re safe’ ’I’m a grateful man’, ‘take your hand’, ‘nothing lasts forever’ are some lyrics I heard
The singing gets higher, which I really like, and there is a nice and quiet part in between.
‘every choice/mistake I made is not my plan to see you in the arms of another man’
And then right when I thought it was getting a bit cheesy, it turns out to be a beautiful song. ‘want you to know .. always loved you’ Higher singing and very fine guitars. There is a short part that reminds me of TV commercials or something, but it all ends well. Multiple voices.
---
Last thing I read was a rumor that Sirens would be the new single and that it would come out this week. I hope that is true.
? A ballad from the picture book, only much better. What Eddie does with its powerful because touching voice, can not be human. Transported during the beat of the bass, Ed pushes the drive conditions trembling high voltage busbar. Spreading, but not long-winded.
Cai Trefor Track four, ‘Sirens’, is the first step into Pearl Jam’s refined acoustic territory. At its beginning there’s just Vedder with a single guitar, before McCready ups the track’s intensity and the vocals rise in unison. It’s an all-out affair.
Benjamin Bland Right, we’ve reached cheesy ballad territory now. Any remaining hope that the album signals a return to a consistently harder rocking Pearl Jam sound is dwindling. The band think highly of this one apparently, but it’s bit too fluffy and middle-aged sounding for these ears.
Niall Doherty After the frantic beginning, they lessen the pace but not the scope.
Last edited by Mirella on Fri September 27, 2013 1:23 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Benz I liked it much more than the live version we`ve all heard. I think it might be in my top 4 of this album.
Franzi To me it really sounds similar to the live version, no big surprise here. Not my favorite song, but the production sounds nice.
It's got an awful fade out at the end & a guitar solo in between. But you know the rest
Chris Sometimes I find fade-outs suitable, sometimes I don't. For this one it's ok for me. But I always wonder with what kind of song end they would come up if they play it live...and sometimes they would become very creative about that and I'd love to hear that on an album as well.
Becki Lightning Bolt... Again we have all heard this
Frank
Joost After being slightly disappointed by “Sirens” this felt as a celebration. We all have heard the live version, I wasn’t too keen on it. But it does sound much better on album. Reached higher than “Unthought Known”. Still a song that Eddie could write in his sleep but it’s not a nightmare.
Dennis (4:35) This song features a piano and a guitar fade out. It felt to me like this song will work better live than on the album somehow.
Mirella Very clear. Sounds just like the live version but more cheerful and I actually liked this better on the record than live, so far. Just when I thought the song was a bit too long, there were these nice screamy lines bellowed out. Very catchy. And the song fades out.
? The title track closes after O'Brien addition to the first two songs on the record, the trilogy of the Pops to "Lightning Bolt". A metaphor for Pearl Jam, bursting with the forcefulness and strength. A plump charged "Booooooolt" Vedder supported by the realization that hit!
Cai Trefor The title-track finds those two words, “lightning bolt”, howled during its chorus. It’s remarkably similar, in a good way, to ‘Animal’, a number from 1993’s second LP, ‘Vs.’. So far, ‘Lightning Bolt’ feels like a live set taken into a studio, such is its pace.
Benjamin Bland We’ve now reached a more Yield-esque sound, which is either great news or the worst case scenario depending on your perspective. Spiky enough to carry a little bit of attitude, but there’s not really any real aggression present either. The riffs are probably good enough to make this one into a minor live favourite.
Niall Doherty The title track throws every stadium-rock trick they’ve perfected over the past two decades into its four-minute and 20 second running time, starting off as a delicate ballad before erupting into a Who-style screeching chorus. It’s excellent, and its perfectly executed pendulum swing between intricate and epic sums up the rest of the album.
good work
