Song of the Moment: Lightning Bolt

General Pearl Jam discussion.
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Rate Lightning Bolt

5 Stars
34
24%
4 Stars
59
42%
3 Stars
22
16%
2 Stars
8
6%
1 Star
12
9%
Betterman (live)
4
3%
 
Total votes: 139

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stip
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Re: New Song: Lightning Bolt

Post by stip »

there isn't a lot of nuance to S/T. That's certainly fair. It's pretty straightforward.

I will go to my grave arguing that there is more depth to backspacer than people give it credit for, although that may be more thematically than musically. Still, songs like Fixer and FoN have a lot of neat things happening in them
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harmless
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Re: New Song: Lightning Bolt

Post by harmless »

I could argue that in a vacuum all day about any of PJ's albums. But comparatively? Not a chance. I don't mind going along for the ride, but this album has made me realise how much I yearn for some really deeply thought-out music again, not just thematically but structurally, verbally, compositionally. We're not going to agree about what that music is or was, of course. We could maybe call a truce at Yield. They're not a million miles away from Yield, Binaural or Riot Act here, but they really could do with a producer who gives these songs some space and air.
Last edited by harmless on Fri October 18, 2013 7:28 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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Re: New Song: Lightning Bolt

Post by EJ »

a lot of these songs sound Yield-like to me
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stip
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Re: New Song: Lightning Bolt

Post by stip »

harmless wrote:I could argue that in a vacuum all day about any of PJ's albums. But comparatively? Not a chance. I don't mind going along for the ride, but this album has made me realise how much I yearn for some really deeply thought-out music again, not just thematically but structurally, verbally, compositionally. We're not going to agree about what that music is or was, of course. We could maybe call a truce at Yield. They're not a million miles away from Yield, Binaural or Riot Act here, but they really could do with a producer who gives these songs some space and air.

even though I'm generally happy with how the songs are produced I'm happy to concede that many of the production choices could be more interesting. But they could also suck the heart and life out of these songs (see Binaural) as easily as enhance them.
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Re: New Song: Lightning Bolt

Post by harmless »

I like the Binaural production. I dislike the S/T production, though, and I would rather Pearl Jam sounded like this than like that. Apart from the loudness issue, S/T was just so flat and bland. I like the layers on LB.
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Re: New Song: Lightning Bolt

Post by Thejambi »

harmless wrote:I like the Binaural production. I dislike the S/T production, though, and I would rather Pearl Jam sounded like this than like that. Apart from the loudness issue, S/T was just so flat and bland. I like the layers on LB.
I like the idea of the Binaural production but overall i find it inconsistent and flat.
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Re: New Song: Lightning Bolt

Post by chinofstone »

harmless wrote:I like the Binaural production. I dislike the S/T production, though, and I would rather Pearl Jam sounded like this than like that. Apart from the loudness issue, S/T was just so flat and bland. I like the layers on LB.
Biggest complaint of S/T: Uninspiring. Stale.
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Re: New Song: Lightning Bolt

Post by harmless »

chinofstone wrote:
harmless wrote:I like the Binaural production. I dislike the S/T production, though, and I would rather Pearl Jam sounded like this than like that. Apart from the loudness issue, S/T was just so flat and bland. I like the layers on LB.
Biggest complaint of S/T: Uninspiring. Stale.
:thumbsup:
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Re: New Song: Lightning Bolt

Post by Okonkwo »

chinofstone wrote:
harmless wrote:I like the Binaural production. I dislike the S/T production, though, and I would rather Pearl Jam sounded like this than like that. Apart from the loudness issue, S/T was just so flat and bland. I like the layers on LB.
Biggest complaint of S/T: Uninspiring. Stale.
Also, the cover art.
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Re: New Song: Lightning Bolt

Post by harmless »

Okonkwo wrote:
chinofstone wrote:
harmless wrote:I like the Binaural production. I dislike the S/T production, though, and I would rather Pearl Jam sounded like this than like that. Apart from the loudness issue, S/T was just so flat and bland. I like the layers on LB.
Biggest complaint of S/T: Uninspiring. Stale.
Also, the cover art.
I think the art direction was fine. The problem was the songs didn't match up to it.
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Re: New Song: Lightning Bolt

Post by darth_vedder »

For whatever reason this is currently the song from the album that is stuck in my head the most. Pendulum is still my favorite, but LB is on repeat in my head.
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Re: New Song: Lightning Bolt

Post by Jorge »

I actually caught myself singing "YAGOTTAKNOWYOU'LLNEVERLETERGO" at work the other day. Like a burp.
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Re: New Song: Lightning Bolt

Post by harmless »

There are definite issues with Ed's vocals on the first verse of this song. But I keep wanting to make the case that unlike Backspacer, it's those little performance imperfections that give this album a bit of rough where it's needed. Otherwise it's just so slick and "perfect"-sounding. Those issues kind of remind us that if PJ are going for radio-friendly, it's not completely working. There's awkwardness and imperfection.
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Re: New Song: Lightning Bolt

Post by Jorge »

Like a stinky post-lunch burp.
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Re: New Song: Lightning Bolt

Post by harmless »

I would've stopped before the chorus, too.
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Re: New Song: Lightning Bolt

Post by Jorge »

harmless wrote:There are definite issues with Ed's vocals on the first verse of this song.
They're almost a bit too quivery. I wonder if there was any timing correction applied.
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Re: New Song: Lightning Bolt

Post by darth_vedder »

I really like Mikes guitar solo. No cheese, just good rock.
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Re: New Song: Lightning Bolt

Post by harmless »

theplatypus wrote:
harmless wrote:There are definite issues with Ed's vocals on the first verse of this song.
They're almost a bit too quivery. I wonder if there was any timing correction applied.
It's a real possibility.
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Re: New Song: Lightning Bolt

Post by darth_vedder »

theplatypus wrote:I actually caught myself singing "YAGOTTAKNOWYOU'LLNEVERLETERGO" at work the other day. Like a burp.
:lol:
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Re: New Song: Lightning Bolt

Post by Okonkwo »

I enjoy Ed's work in the first verse. The delivery is quick and somewhat anxious, so it has a nice effect when he opens up on the full-throated "she comes after theeeee."
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