Jaeti wrote:I've seen several "better than Gigaton" takes. But does anyone who loves loves loves Gigaton think that at this obviously extremely early juncture?
I love love love Gigaton and will be shocked if, in the end, this actually tops it.
I think it is a very different record, and equally as strong but for completely different reasons; it felt less visceral but in many places more euphoric; I'm happy to put it with Gigaton alongside the first 7 records as my favourite
Last edited by Jaeti on Mon April 15, 2024 12:51 am, edited 1 time in total.
Jaeti wrote:I've seen several "better than Gigaton" takes. But does anyone who loves loves loves Gigaton think that at this obviously extremely early juncture?
I love love love Gigaton and will be shocked if, in the end, this actually tops it.
I adore gigaton and think it’s too early to make that claim. But this looks to be a really good record. And the songs feel ambitious (more ambitious than most of gigatons songs which weren’t always looking to resolve in that space), so maybe…
It’s like they thought about the end of retrograde and thought ‘let’s try for that feeling’ on most of the songs
Based on a shitty leak that conjures all sorts of nostalgia
Still awaiting the final product obviously, but based on my ears from 5 full spins this is not Gigaton, at all (not shitting in Gigaton, just making comparisons).
Jaeti wrote:I've seen several "better than Gigaton" takes. But does anyone who loves loves loves Gigaton think that at this obviously extremely early juncture?
I love love love Gigaton and will be shocked if, in the end, this actually tops it.
After just one poor quality listen, all I can say is that is a very different record.
They don't seem the same band. Some people will say is for better, some people will say is for worst.
I'm on the 'this is their better record since Avocado' bandwagon, at the very least.
Strat wrote:Trag i love when you come in with criticism about various aspects of production, song writing, song selection, vocal ticks, business practices....
But to come in and shit on someone whos just enjoying a pseudo leak today.... just says more about you that you are just being a dick on the internet to be a dick. Which isnt who you are.....
its lame.
Love you.
Well it obviously is who I am since I’m doing it
Seriously though…We all bring our biases and preconceived notions. Most seem to start from a position of “it’s pearl jam so I’ll probably love it.” I think it’s limiting, and it also enables the commercial relationship the band has formed with their audience in which they can coast in six weeks a year…
Come to think of it, maybe they were trying to warn us with Army Reserve.
To your first point, isn’t that just fandom? Most of the time the new listener luster wears off and those biases and preconceived notion’s are challenged more. For many, these first impressions and experiences will be the high water mark, and that’s ok. Swinging for the opposite fence out of the gates is perfectly valid but I don’t see how it is less limiting, or even superior, as you seem to be projecting it to be.
I’ve thoroughly enjoyed this board today.The handwritten reports, shitty leaks and engaging conversation has enriched this release, regardless of how the music will eventually hold up. No one here should feel less than for enjoying it and being excited.
Nice post, and I appreciate your taking me seriously and not just calling me a troll or some such…
I agree no one should feel “less than.” But these guys only have a couple albums left probably, and (without actually hearing the leaks) I assume they will continue to squander the creative freedoms they built for themselves by the rinse-repeat approach that so many seem to be salivating for.
We already have a Foo Fighters.
Hmm. This album is very very different from Gigaton and LB. So I’m not sure about the rinse/repeat thing?
Jaeti wrote:I've seen several "better than Gigaton" takes. But does anyone who loves loves loves Gigaton think that at this obviously extremely early juncture?
I love love love Gigaton and will be shocked if, in the end, this actually tops it.
I think it is a very different record, and equally as strong but for completely different reasons; it felt less visceral but in many places more euphoric; I'm happy to put it with Gigaton alongside the first 7 records as my favourite
I haven't listened yet but based on reactions it seems safe to say that DM ends stronger that Gigaton. Huge fan of Gigaton here but it peters out poorly, Retrograde and River Cross were the worst on the album, like low grade Ed solo material. Everything else on the album I still enjoy today, perhaps more so than I did 4 yrs ago
Strat wrote:Trag i love when you come in with criticism about various aspects of production, song writing, song selection, vocal ticks, business practices....
But to come in and shit on someone whos just enjoying a pseudo leak today.... just says more about you that you are just being a dick on the internet to be a dick. Which isnt who you are.....
its lame.
Love you.
Well it obviously is who I am since I’m doing it
Seriously though…We all bring our biases and preconceived notions. Most seem to start from a position of “it’s pearl jam so I’ll probably love it.” I think it’s limiting, and it also enables the commercial relationship the band has formed with their audience in which they can coast in six weeks a year…
Come to think of it, maybe they were trying to warn us with Army Reserve.
To your first point, isn’t that just fandom? Most of the time the new listener luster wears off and those biases and preconceived notion’s are challenged more. For many, these first impressions and experiences will be the high water mark, and that’s ok. Swinging for the opposite fence out of the gates is perfectly valid but I don’t see how it is less limiting, or even superior, as you seem to be projecting it to be.
I’ve thoroughly enjoyed this board today.The handwritten reports, shitty leaks and engaging conversation has enriched this release, regardless of how the music will eventually hold up. No one here should feel less than for enjoying it and being excited.
Nice post, and I appreciate your taking me seriously and not just calling me a troll or some such…
I agree no one should feel “less than.” But these guys only have a couple albums left probably, and (without actually hearing the leaks) I assume they will continue to squander the creative freedoms they built for themselves by the rinse-repeat approach that so many seem to be salivating for.
We already have a Foo Fighters.
I'm new around here but I've been around long enough to appreciate your technical critique of the recording process and how that translates into the sound of a studio album ... it's a topic that interests me greatly but which I know very little about. I assume that your technical expertise influences, or maybe even controls, how much enjoyment you're able to get out of these new songs. that's the burden you bear for your technical intelligence. but I don't understand the bolded, above. characterizing an album you haven't heard as the product of squandered creative freedoms, is bizarre to me. you're just imputing your feelings, which are undoubtedly and unavoidably tethered to the emotional connection you have to their earlier work from 30 years ago, when you, the band, the world, were entirely different, onto the band as a collective, and onto the individual band members. what's left is the fairly obvious conclusion, which I'm sure you recognize, that your opinion has literally nothing to do with anything, let alone the perspective from which the album was written/recording, etc. I guess what I'm trying to say is that the album could both be a triumphant album, for a lot of reasons, and also constitute squandered creative freedoms from your perspective. beyond this, making such a statement belies your other sentiment about people rushing to judgment regarding how good the album may be based on an iPhone recording ... which feels hypocritical. you're just doing the inverse, aren't you?
I like the upbeat shiny feel from this song. It’s clearly rooted in grunge (thanks Stone) and has the nice propulsive quality you want from an opener. By the time Mike starts shredding you can tell that they are reaching back into their bag on this one, and that makes me smile. The back end is desperate and beautiful.
React, Respond
This rhythm section reminds me of Rage Against the Machine and Soundgarden. That little twinkly picking melody that comes in after a little bit is so cool. Once this really gets going it has so much Soundgarden DNA in it. Bass is meat on meat. Chorus is my favorite kind of fast PJ. More shredding. Mike is killing it on this record. You can really tell what they gain from being all in the same room together when creating this.
Wreckage
Very pretty and with its similarities to Daughter this album really starts reminding me of Vs at this point. The harmonies are perfect. This is Yellow Moon and Swallowed Whole style PJ done way better. They just sound so connected and instantly accessible in a way that they didn’t on Gigaton. So fun to sing along with the chorus. This is the first hint on this album that they are really gonna let songs stretch out and breathe.
Dark Matter
So electric and aggressive- I can see why this was a single. I’ve talked a lot about this one already but it still hits with me and is super fun to sing along with. That bass roll before the “arrested the press” part is so choice. And of course every time after the first time hearing this, I’m always just waiting for the Mike solo the way you wait for the roller coaster to head down at the top of the hill.
Won’t Tell
Very pop opening. Then gets kind of like Infallible but way better. Chorus is so epic I already love singing along. Mike is doing the soaring thing but without it being so on-the-nose as on Lightning Bolt. After the bridge the way it goes Cure/U2 is so wonderful and organic. This is fresh and powerful. I could listen to this outro all day.
Upper Hand
Absolutely an early favorite. What a beautiful mysterious cathedral opening. If they opened a concert with this it could be so magical! Give me these long, drawn out musical interludes, PJ! Mike’s lead is so classic in that Jimi-inspired vein. This feels like an entire Pearl Jam concert experience in one song, the way it builds and changes and gets more urgent as it goes. From Jimi to Gilmour and somehow it all makes sense. The raucous ending feels well-earned and I can almost hear the crowd singing along and see him holding the mic out. Speaking of Mike, get it, get it you fearless bastard! The speeding up at the end is so cathartic and I have to move my body to this every time!
Waiting for Stevie
How can you follow Upper Hand? With this monster of classic Pearl Jam grunge sound. This song makes me feel like a teenager again and the lyrics sound awesome I really need to know them so I can sing along. The band is in perfect sync on this one and making it all feel effortless. Sheer perfection, top tier Pearl Jam. This slots so nicely with I Got Id, In Hiding, Breath, etc. The bridge is just chef’s kiss into massive riff. I need this. This is the band I am in deep, deep love with. How they can summon this after over 30 years, where they’re all around 60, blows my mind. This song alone elevates this album, which was already doing just fine without it. There isn’t a second of this song I don’t adore. I have to whoop after a song like this. Or maybe smoke a cigarette.
Running
The musical interlude before it is so pretty. Somehow everything works about this, and its placement. We need a little less serious punker following all that intensive rock in the previous two numbers. Kind of a palate cleanser.
Something Special
With the palate cleansed, we got super shiny alt country pop. The intro really adds to the song and there’s just enough going on here that I’m enjoying the journey. Also, the bass is front and center and I like that. While it’s in the same universe, this feels miles ahead of a song like Sleeping By Myself. My friend likened the intro to Nirvana and the solo and other elements to Crowded House and I agree.
Got to Give
Another really nice intro. So nice that this album isn’t all drum intros. This is some super John Mellencamp stuff at first, but it quickly moves into The Who territory for me, which is one of my Pearl Jam sweet spots. A lot of that is due to Jeff’s wandering bass. A lot of building up in this one, with that outro’s jangly drive being one of those Pearl Jam moments that you never want to end- imagine it live!
Setting Sun
My friend Denise came with me to the listening party, and this was her favorite song, bringing her to tears. It really goes places, and it’s nice to hear a closer with more meat on the bone than River Cross or the several that preceded it. Full of atmosphere, this song is constantly promising you that it won’t let you down, and it never does. The ending reminds me a bit of Retrograde’s back half, but is so much more perfectly built up to. This song’s structure also reminds of the best Black Crowes songs. Lettin’ all the jangle out of the bag. Something to savor before the album is over (and I listen again, and again, lol).
Last edited by RockPusher on Mon April 15, 2024 2:13 am, edited 1 time in total.
Jaeti wrote:I've seen several "better than Gigaton" takes. But does anyone who loves loves loves Gigaton think that at this obviously extremely early juncture?
I love love love Gigaton and will be shocked if, in the end, this actually tops it.
I think it is a very different record, and equally as strong but for completely different reasons; it felt less visceral but in many places more euphoric; I'm happy to put it with Gigaton alongside the first 7 records as my favourite
I haven't listened yet but based on reactions it seems safe to say that DM ends stronger that Gigaton. Huge fan of Gigaton here but it peters out poorly, Retrograde and River Cross were the worst on the album, like low grade Ed solo material. Everything else on the album I still enjoy today, perhaps more so than I did 4 yrs ago
I agree with this album having a stronger ending. I had really felt that the songs we got before were gonna be the weakest on the album, and in a number of ways, that panned out for me. I do think this album will be a wonderful repeat front to back listen the way Gigaton has been - it's got really good flow, with a strong open, solid middle, and surprisingly powerful ending (I think Setting Sun is their best closer since All or None and I don't think anything in between comes close, frankly).
