12th album rumors and speculation

[Bi_3]

stip or B, what font did you go with?

Mike's fav:

Little Wingdings

That's going to be really hard to read

[stip]

I either need this thing to come out in two months, or 8 months. April would be the worst possible outcome.

What’s wrong with April. Are you an anti-Aprite?

I'm guessing it has something to do with the academic calendar.

Actually that's another reason! That's a super busy month work wise and I'll spend god knows how many hours on RM the first month of an album.

It's book publication related. It was supposed to come out in October, but our publisher pushed all their publishing back a few months due to paper shortages. So now the book is supposed to come out in April. It's no longer a comprehensive exploration of the catalog with a new album we don't talk about.

If it comes out much later than April not a big deal - then it's like a 'primer' for the new album. If it comes out early this year we can delay publication and add a chapter (but we haven't negotiated word count, do we need to cut text elsewhere, etc - now that people have pre-purchased the book if costs for printing goes up how might that impact pricing). It won't take long to put the chapter together (could do it in a weekend if needed), but then it impacts book layout, delays printing, etc and pushes everything back further.

We can always push publication back if we have to - the publisher gave us permission, but if an album comes out in Feb then maybe we're just talking about a month or so delay (I'm guessing?). Since we gave them the manuscript September 2022 we'd just like this to come out already and so the more this gets pushed back the more frustrating it is.

We need Pearl Jam to give a fucking date just so we can pin this all down.

who is your editor and how much are you paying her or him?

I used a freelance editor, who was great and helped me cut about 15,000 words, and the answer is not enough. The publisher is more concerned with layout and styleguide edits.

[E.H. Ruddock]

lol you cut 15k words? Stop trying to convince everyone backspacer is good and I’ll bet you could cut 50k more. I remember your Fixer write up was like 10k words

[IndioShoeThrower]

Rumored first show is May 4. If true, then an album release around Friday May 3 (or May 10) would track. When Gigaton was first announced, I think the release date was roughly a week or so after original planned tour dates were to begin. No idea on when first single will be released, but assuming it will coincide with album announcement/tour dates, then anywhere from mid January to early February would make sense for a May album release. But who knows? I'm just happy they are still making music and playing live. Getting 2-3 good songs out of Buffalo Asylum or whatever it will be called is just frosting on the gravy.

[tragabigzanda]

I had the notion idea that maybe the best building blocks for a new PJ album would be to make Matt use a kit that was less deep sounding, like a scrappy birch kit from The Clash records. He should maybe go back to a metal snare too.

[stip]

lol you cut 15k words? Stop trying to convince everyone backspacer is good and I’ll bet you could cut 50k more. I remember your Fixer write up was like 10k words

Lightning Bolt really got hammered when the word count became a problem

[Strat]

I had the notion idea that maybe the best building blocks for a new PJ album would be to make Matt use a kit that was less deep sounding, like a scrappy birch kit from The Clash records. He should maybe go back to a metal snare too.

bring back Jack

[DDWJMUVW]

Rumored first show is May 4. If true, then an album release around Friday May 3 (or May 10) would track. When Gigaton was first announced, I think the release date was roughly a week or so after original planned tour dates were to begin. No idea on when first single will be released, but assuming it will coincide with album announcement/tour dates, then anywhere from mid January to early February would make sense for a May album release. But who knows? I'm just happy they are still making music and playing live. Getting 2-3 good songs out of Buffalo Asylum or whatever it will be called is just frosting on the gravy.

What I don’t understand is the apparent need to have a 6/8 month runway for an album release. These guys have been chatting about it since late summer, and Ed made mention unprovoked. So…if it’s “in the can”, what are we waiting for? This whole idea of timing it with a tour is so antiquated; as if their ticket sales depend on good reception of the record. There is zero correlation. We know from 22 and 23 the shows will have no problem completely selling out, and even if the new music falls flat, the same cadre will show up at the venues. If the album is ready, release a strong track, do about 1-2 months of hype, and have a March release. Why are they standing on ceremony and being so performative with it all? It’s slightly pathetic. Maybe they’ll surprise me and we get an album Thurs at midnight?

[Strat]

Rumored first show is May 4. If true, then an album release around Friday May 3 (or May 10) would track. When Gigaton was first announced, I think the release date was roughly a week or so after original planned tour dates were to begin. No idea on when first single will be released, but assuming it will coincide with album announcement/tour dates, then anywhere from mid January to early February would make sense for a May album release. But who knows? I'm just happy they are still making music and playing live. Getting 2-3 good songs out of Buffalo Asylum or whatever it will be called is just frosting on the gravy.

What I don’t understand is the apparent need to have a 6/8 month runway for an album release. These guys have been chatting about it since late summer, and Ed made mention unprovoked. So…if it’s “in the can”, what are we waiting for? This whole idea of timing it with a tour is so antiquated; as if their ticket sales depend on good reception of the record. There is zero correlation. We know from 22 and 23 the shows will have no problem completely selling out, and even if the new music falls flat, the same cadre will show up at the venues. If the album is ready, release a strong track, do about 1-2 months of hype, and have a March release. Why are they standing on ceremony and being so performative with it all? It’s slightly pathetic. Maybe they’ll surprise me and we get an album Thurs at midnight?

Theyre stuck in their ways and they dont need to be. Dinasours.

Just release shit, try something new, surprise us, put it in everyones itunes account.

[stip]

what do artists who care about albums do these days?

[RockPusher]

For my part, I'm probably buying tix to Bottle Rock day 2 tomorrow morning. My kids' grandma on their mom's side loves PJ but can't do indoor shows anymore so this one is a special opportunity for us both to see them together. I'm excited to see My Morning Jacket for the first time, and Cold War Kids and The Record Company both intrigue me.

Maybe we'll get a couple new songs. That would be pretty cool.

[DDWJMUVW]

what do artists who care about albums do these days?

Care? In terms of revenue?

Not a clue. Sales and streams are literally drops in the bucket.

[liebzz]

Rumored first show is May 4. If true, then an album release around Friday May 3 (or May 10) would track. When Gigaton was first announced, I think the release date was roughly a week or so after original planned tour dates were to begin. No idea on when first single will be released, but assuming it will coincide with album announcement/tour dates, then anywhere from mid January to early February would make sense for a May album release. But who knows? I'm just happy they are still making music and playing live. Getting 2-3 good songs out of Buffalo Asylum or whatever it will be called is just frosting on the gravy.

What I don’t understand is the apparent need to have a 6/8 month runway for an album release. These guys have been chatting about it since late summer, and Ed made mention unprovoked. So…if it’s “in the can”, what are we waiting for? This whole idea of timing it with a tour is so antiquated; as if their ticket sales depend on good reception of the record. There is zero correlation. We know from 22 and 23 the shows will have no problem completely selling out, and even if the new music falls flat, the same cadre will show up at the venues. If the album is ready, release a strong track, do about 1-2 months of hype, and have a March release. Why are they standing on ceremony and being so performative with it all? It’s slightly pathetic. Maybe they’ll surprise me and we get an album Thurs at midnight?

Theyre stuck in their ways and they dont need to be. Dinasours.

Just release shit, try something new, surprise us, put it in everyones itunes account.

I mean, yes 100%. There is no need at all even for a hype tour in the media. It’s as simple as the songs are done, produced and mixed, here it is. Why? Because even with the hype machine, no one is coming in that wouldn’t have anyway. There’s a few hundred thousand of us. We all listen to the album, most of us will buy the album in some physical form if not multiple formats for our shelves, and those of us who are motivated to see them will shell out big dollars to see them. We’ve been doing this for 30 years. We’re not hiding under any rocks unaware the band still exists. Chances are, people who will be turned on to their music as a result of said hype machine would probably have come around to them in due course because a friend, or more likely a parent now, will have shown them the music. It’s not 1991 anymore, and we’re not in Sam Goody perusing the shelves for something new and hot. We’re all just waiting. Waiting to wait, like an obedient dog. It’s cruel not to feed a hungry dog just waiting.

[stip]

what do artists who care about albums do these days?

Care? In terms of revenue?

Not a clue. Sales and streams are literally drops in the bucket.

just in terms of it being (or feeling) like a big deal

[tragabigzanda]

I think they all have limited interest/capacity in the promotion machine, so they try to coordinate it to get the most bang for their buck. I agree it doesn’t make much sense given their fans are rabid, but there you go

[96583UP]

guys, there is a whole economy related to pearl jam plastic doo dads for sale when they release an album and go on tour

you can't just make that plastic stuff overnight. it takes time. lead time

you need to invade a country under false pretenses, gain access to their crude oil, build a pipeline using a no-bid contract process to get it out to a seaport, transport it to china, arrange for a group of child laborers to take it off of the docks and into the factory, and then have it pressed into dog collars, keychains, and basketball paraphernalia

what about this do you not understand?

why can't they see?

[DDWJMUVW]

Nobody does cheap plastic doo das and shitty t shirts better than PJ.

Think of all the little plastic buffaloes and wottman bobble heads that are being made in Taiwan right now to be sold in the 10c store and at shows.

[liebzz]

They could put Backspacer doodads on sale tomorrow and they’ll be sold out before the west coast even wakes up. They don’t need an album to tie it around.

[bodysnatcher]

Rumored first show is May 4. If true, then an album release around Friday May 3 (or May 10) would track. When Gigaton was first announced, I think the release date was roughly a week or so after original planned tour dates were to begin. No idea on when first single will be released, but assuming it will coincide with album announcement/tour dates, then anywhere from mid January to early February would make sense for a May album release. But who knows? I'm just happy they are still making music and playing live. Getting 2-3 good songs out of Buffalo Asylum or whatever it will be called is just frosting on the gravy.

What I don’t understand is the apparent need to have a 6/8 month runway for an album release. These guys have been chatting about it since late summer, and Ed made mention unprovoked. So…if it’s “in the can”, what are we waiting for? This whole idea of timing it with a tour is so antiquated; as if their ticket sales depend on good reception of the record. There is zero correlation. We know from 22 and 23 the shows will have no problem completely selling out, and even if the new music falls flat, the same cadre will show up at the venues. If the album is ready, release a strong track, do about 1-2 months of hype, and have a March release. Why are they standing on ceremony and being so performative with it all? It’s slightly pathetic. Maybe they’ll surprise me and we get an album Thurs at midnight?

Theyre stuck in their ways and they dont need to be. Dinasours.

Just release shit, try something new, surprise us, put it in everyones itunes account.

Remember when Radiohead just randomly dropped an album and was like “whatever, pay what you want”

That was 2 years before Backspacer. And both bands are roughly the same age.

[RockPusher]

Remember when Radiohead just randomly dropped an album and was like “whatever, pay what you want”

That was 2 years before Backspacer. And both bands are roughly the same age.

They're both great bands with idealistic members. I also remember when Pearl Jam took on Ticketmaster because they wanted fans to be able to afford their shows.