Lightning Bolt: The Official Album Thread

[McParadigm]

weeks on the chart (top 100?)

Weeks on the catalog album charts. Almost all of Ten's weeks are pre-2002. This might actually be its first time (second at the most) on this chart since the Riot Act tour...it typically sells about half what rearviewmirror does.

[evenslow]

Having seen half the record live the disconnect between BoB's aesthetic and the live approach (which in some ways is probably the most authentic pearl jam) becomes much more readily apparent. I have no real issues with how the lightning bolt songs sound on the record. Minor quibbles here or there but I'd have them on any record. But a lot of what BoB adds, or the way he help shapes the songs, kinda pushes against how pearl jam interprets them in concert. There is a harder edge, a dirtier edge, a more rough and ready quality to them. I don't actually mind that the studio and live versions feel different, since now we have them both. And I generally prefer the studio takes, but I think that's because they're studio. Hearing them live made me wish there was the attempt to record the live take in the studio.

There are exceptions. Yellow Moon is one. The stripped down live take, while good, is inferior to the record.

Yes, for LB the moodier, slower songs are generally better in studio and the harsher, rocking-er (yes, rocking-er) songs are better live where they have more space to breathe and roam like the lions and tigers they want to be.

I may have a brain injury.

[harmless]

Having seen half the record live the disconnect between BoB's aesthetic and the live approach (which in some ways is probably the most authentic pearl jam) becomes much more readily apparent. I have no real issues with how the lightning bolt songs sound on the record. Minor quibbles here or there but I'd have them on any record. But a lot of what BoB adds, or the way he help shapes the songs, kinda pushes against how pearl jam interprets them in concert. There is a harder edge, a dirtier edge, a more rough and ready quality to them. I don't actually mind that the studio and live versions feel different, since now we have them both. And I generally prefer the studio takes, but I think that's because they're studio. Hearing them live made me wish there was the attempt to record the live take in the studio.

There are exceptions. Yellow Moon is one. The stripped down live take, while good, is inferior to the record.

Yes, for LB the moodier, slower songs are generally better in studio and the harsher, rocking-er (yes, rocking-er) songs are better live where they have more space to catch their breath to breathe and roam like the lions and tigers they want to be.

I may have a brain injury.

Fixed.

[evenslow]

Having seen half the record live the disconnect between BoB's aesthetic and the live approach (which in some ways is probably the most authentic pearl jam) becomes much more readily apparent. I have no real issues with how the lightning bolt songs sound on the record. Minor quibbles here or there but I'd have them on any record. But a lot of what BoB adds, or the way he help shapes the songs, kinda pushes against how pearl jam interprets them in concert. There is a harder edge, a dirtier edge, a more rough and ready quality to them. I don't actually mind that the studio and live versions feel different, since now we have them both. And I generally prefer the studio takes, but I think that's because they're studio. Hearing them live made me wish there was the attempt to record the live take in the studio.

There are exceptions. Yellow Moon is one. The stripped down live take, while good, is inferior to the record.

Yes, for LB the moodier, slower songs are generally better in studio and the harsher, rocking-er (yes, rocking-er) songs are better live where they have more space to catch their breath to breathe and roam like the lions and tigers they want to be.

I may have a brain injury.

Fixed.

You are nothing if not "The Fixer", harmless.

[McParadigm]

If a record fails to put the songs brought in by the band in the best possible light, or to successfully highlight those qualities that make the songs effective, then something is very wrong.

[harmless]

Maybe the band thinks that this record does all that. I don't think the band can see anything wrong.

[McParadigm]

that's what worries me

[harmless]

I think they're right in some cases, not in others.

[Waverider]

aside from the annoying little shit in this video.......the Father singing kinda blows me away. Great job and then some.

http://youtu.be/RaF_Y6lWg1o

[evenslow]

If a record fails to put the songs brought in by the band in the best possible light, or to successfully highlight those qualities that make the songs effective, then something is very wrong.

To be fair, I actually don't think his process sounds all that bad, it's the sound that sounds all that bad.

[harmless]

I don't mind the way a lot of these tracks are produced, and there are places where I really like it. But his interference on song construction, bad instrumentation choices and general doucheyness are what bother me about BoB. He really has an ego the size of Mt. Everest.

[McParadigm]

Here's a reality that I keep coming back to: at the end of the day, Brendan O'Brien has been involved in plenty of good *sounding* records during the last decade. Even in recent years, his production really fit the Killers and was just fine for the Gaslight Anthem. And, at the end of the day, his level of influence is decided by the band. So how much can he really be blamed for things like the piano at the start of Future Days, or a frustrating vocal manipulation, or whatever? Anything that you dislike of Brendan's is ultimately a criticism you should level at the band.

[McParadigm]

Although I do really like the image of him being like David Lynch's character in Louie.

[harmless]

Here's a reality that I keep coming back to: at the end of the day, Brendan O'Brien has been involved in plenty of good *sounding* records during the last decade. Even in recent years, his production really fit the Killers and was just fine for the Gaslight Anthem. And, at the end of the day, his level of influence is decided by the band. So how much can he really be blamed for things like the piano at the start of Future Days, or a frustrating vocal manipulation, or whatever? Anything that you dislike of Brendan's is ultimately a criticism you should level at the band.

I agree. And the fact that the band probably won't go to another producer for the next album just supports that.

[stip]

If a record fails to put the songs brought in by the band in the best possible light, or to successfully highlight those qualities that make the songs effective, then something is very wrong.

again, I LIKE, and in some cases love the way basically all these songs sound on record. I never listened to MYM and thought 'this song would be great if the guitars were harsher' Or rather, it was just idle curiosity because i like how it sounded as is. I'm just not sure why they aren't trying to reproduce BoB's aesthetic live.

On the other hand, the songs were all recorded before even wrigley. Perhaps Lbolt was never intended to have that great solo at the end, and they threw it in, and liked it.

The guitar tones on everything are a lot more raw than they've been in a long time, too. Not just the L-bolt songs. I mean, maybe this was the arena, but the guitars sounded ANGRY last night. That hopefully bodes well for the next record. Maybe they really liked how Lbolt sounded (again, I pretty much do) and then, working out the live experience (which is also different than just playing the song in the studio) they started to remind themselves of this other direction the songs could go. Maybe they'll insist on that next time. I don't think they went in wanting the songs to sound like this and then got what they got and were afraid to tell BoB. After a certain point I think we have to stop turning him into a Sith Lord. And since BoB is a good producer they'll come in next time and say 'we want a more snarling tone to the guitars' and, since BoB is a professional, he'll give them that sound

[KurtLeon]

aside from the annoying little shit in this video.......the Father singing kinda blows me away. Great job and then some.

http://youtu.be/RaF_Y6lWg1o

Its a Brazillian Pearl Jam cover band, Eddu Vedder from Lost Dogs, such a nice guy!

[Juvenal]

It got to no. 2 over here.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio1/chart/albums

[Lament]

It got to no. 2 over here.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio1/chart/albums

Ahead of Paul McCartney's new album too...

YOU SEE THAT, STIP? AHEAD OF PAUL MCCARTNEY.

[stip]

WHERE ARE YOUR PRECIOUS BEATLES NOW, PAUL?

[harmless]

Pearl Jam squashing the Beatles under their god damn boots.