Lightning Bolt: The Official Album Thread

[harmless]

I think I'd argue that there are a few things on here that don't really sound like anything PJ has done before. It may not be as treading quite as much new ground as some of their past records, but there's still some unexpected stuff here.

I agree. I wasn't saying this is the same old, same old, not at all. A lot of the difficulties people are having is that PJ are sounding very new in a lot of ways people don't like. But in the wider context of experimentation, it's... not really. But we have admittedly had this conversation to death.

no one is talking about the "wider context of experimentation" we're talking about pearl jam.

OK. But which songs truly break out of PJ's sound though? And I'm not talking production bells-and-whistles.

how many songs have they made that sound like pendulum? swallowed whole? infallible? the ed solo song they turned into a country song? the entire album has more keys than any previous album.

You're answering a question with a question, which is weird, because in the back of my mind when I asked you my question, my answer to yours was "Plenty." I can look back and find the origins of all these songs, in earlier songs. That isn't a bad thing, and to an extent it was always true of Pearl Jam, but I don't deny that it's there.

you crack me up. we're talking about a rock n roll band, you can find the "origins" of these songs all over the place, even in other peoples songs. and i totally disagree w. your explanation of infallible, its really not like anything they've written before. the verses have a creepy pop vibe, while the chrous takes a motown/r&b turn. sure, they've written creepy pop n r&b type stuff, but not like this, nor in the same song.

I agree with you on that last part; they mash up two different kinds of song. It's nice, and I like it, even if I don't think it's entirely successful. But what you haven't demolished is my point that this song has its origins in earlier Pearl Jam songs. So I'm not sure why I "crack you up" at all, sorry. You're resorting to being condescending because you don't really have a point. You seem to think that I'm arguing that LB is awful and uninteresting just because it's not stretching very far. I don't really care whether PJ is a rock band, they've certainly stretched themselves more than this before. It doesn't mean I don't like the new album, so relax. But honestly, have you heard the new Arcade Fire album? That's full of experimentation. It's not a choice between Mozart or "rock band".

[Mike]

I think when someone talks about wanting Pearl Jam to be "experimental" they really mean they want them to write interesting music. Sirens might be an experiment for Pearl Jam but the music sure ain't interesting. Fatal isn't an experimental song but I sure think it's interesting.

Spoiler: show

Imo

[VinylGuy]

oh i love Sirens.

[Mike]

Maybe "unique" and "memorable" are better words than interesting.

[stip]

Maybe "unique" and "memorable" are better words than interesting.

I bet people who like the song find it memorable.

Even unique.

[stip]

Do you mean you want them to write darker, slower, more airy and atmospheric songs?

[McParadigm]

people talking about experimenting are really just talking about a greater deviation from convention than the typical song provides.

[stip]

people talking about experimenting are really just talking about a greater deviation from convention than the typical song provides.

Was that Winston Churchill?

[EJ]

Do you mean you want them to write darker, slower, more airy and atmospheric songs?

I would guess moodier songs with more breathing room, a la Cold Confession.

[harmless]

oh i love Sirens.

Me too, me too.

[McParadigm]

people talking about experimenting are really just talking about a greater deviation from convention than the typical song provides.

Was that Winston Churchill?

Chairry, from Pee Wee's Playhouse.

[Thejambi]

I don't find Lightning Bolt overly derivative just as I don't find it particularly daring.

[harmless]

Maybe "unique" and "memorable" are better words than interesting.

The thing that keeps drawing me back to the song, apart from its sentiment and lyrics, is the great performance from all members: Ed's vocals, Mike's twelve-string (I love that, as well as how it's not strummed on every beat, but comes in and out), and Stone's wash of reverb-laden electric. It all sounds gorgeous to me. Matt also plays this song well, and the drum tone kind of reminds me of Dave Krusen on "Black".

[warehouse]

I think I'd argue that there are a few things on here that don't really sound like anything PJ has done before. It may not be as treading quite as much new ground as some of their past records, but there's still some unexpected stuff here.

I agree. I wasn't saying this is the same old, same old, not at all. A lot of the difficulties people are having is that PJ are sounding very new in a lot of ways people don't like. But in the wider context of experimentation, it's... not really. But we have admittedly had this conversation to death.

no one is talking about the "wider context of experimentation" we're talking about pearl jam.

OK. But which songs truly break out of PJ's sound though? And I'm not talking production bells-and-whistles.

how many songs have they made that sound like pendulum? swallowed whole? infallible? the ed solo song they turned into a country song? the entire album has more keys than any previous album.

You're answering a question with a question, which is weird, because in the back of my mind when I asked you my question, my answer to yours was "Plenty." I can look back and find the origins of all these songs, in earlier songs. That isn't a bad thing, and to an extent it was always true of Pearl Jam, but I don't deny that it's there.

you crack me up. we're talking about a rock n roll band, you can find the "origins" of these songs all over the place, even in other peoples songs. and i totally disagree w. your explanation of infallible, its really not like anything they've written before. the verses have a creepy pop vibe, while the chrous takes a motown/r&b turn. sure, they've written creepy pop n r&b type stuff, but not like this, nor in the same song.

I agree with you on that last part; they mash up two different kinds of song. It's nice, and I like it, even if I don't think it's entirely successful. But what you haven't demolished is my point that this song has its origins in earlier Pearl Jam songs. So I'm not sure why I "crack you up" at all, sorry. You're resorting to being condescending because you don't really have a point. You seem to think that I'm arguing that LB is awful and uninteresting just because it's not stretching very far. I don't really care whether PJ is a rock band, they've certainly stretched themselves more than this before. It doesn't mean I don't like the new album, so relax. But honestly, have you heard the new Arcade Fire album? That's full of experimentation. It's not a choice between Mozart or "rock band".

you crack me up b/c it seems like you are constantly looking to argue on here. im not sure where you get this idea that im vigorously defending LB from your terrible insults. i just think its more different than you are giving it credit for. siting 4 separate songs for 1 doesnt really disprove anything.

[Mike]

people talking about experimenting are really just talking about a greater deviation from convention than the typical song provides.

Oh, I didn't see that post.

Do you mean you want them to write darker, slower, more airy and atmospheric songs?

Not really, I would also include songs like Faithfull or Last Exit for example. Pearl Jam were able to write all kinds of songs and make them unique to me. That's what I loved about them and for me it's missing in the newer records even though LB is way better in that regard than Avocado and Backspacer. (See Pendulum, MFS) Sirens just isn't very interesting to me but maybe people who like think it is, like you said. I don't know.

[harmless]

I don't find Lightning Bolt overly derivative just as I don't find it particularly daring.

Yup. I'm definitely not saying it's overly derivative.

[Thejambi]

people talking about experimenting are really just talking about a greater deviation from convention than the typical song provides.

Was that Winston Churchill?

Chairry, from Pee Wee's Playhouse.

Chairry is a cunt.

[harmless]

I think I'd argue that there are a few things on here that don't really sound like anything PJ has done before. It may not be as treading quite as much new ground as some of their past records, but there's still some unexpected stuff here.

I agree. I wasn't saying this is the same old, same old, not at all. A lot of the difficulties people are having is that PJ are sounding very new in a lot of ways people don't like. But in the wider context of experimentation, it's... not really. But we have admittedly had this conversation to death.

no one is talking about the "wider context of experimentation" we're talking about pearl jam.

OK. But which songs truly break out of PJ's sound though? And I'm not talking production bells-and-whistles.

how many songs have they made that sound like pendulum? swallowed whole? infallible? the ed solo song they turned into a country song? the entire album has more keys than any previous album.

You're answering a question with a question, which is weird, because in the back of my mind when I asked you my question, my answer to yours was "Plenty." I can look back and find the origins of all these songs, in earlier songs. That isn't a bad thing, and to an extent it was always true of Pearl Jam, but I don't deny that it's there.

you crack me up. we're talking about a rock n roll band, you can find the "origins" of these songs all over the place, even in other peoples songs. and i totally disagree w. your explanation of infallible, its really not like anything they've written before. the verses have a creepy pop vibe, while the chrous takes a motown/r&b turn. sure, they've written creepy pop n r&b type stuff, but not like this, nor in the same song.

I agree with you on that last part; they mash up two different kinds of song. It's nice, and I like it, even if I don't think it's entirely successful. But what you haven't demolished is my point that this song has its origins in earlier Pearl Jam songs. So I'm not sure why I "crack you up" at all, sorry. You're resorting to being condescending because you don't really have a point. You seem to think that I'm arguing that LB is awful and uninteresting just because it's not stretching very far. I don't really care whether PJ is a rock band, they've certainly stretched themselves more than this before. It doesn't mean I don't like the new album, so relax. But honestly, have you heard the new Arcade Fire album? That's full of experimentation. It's not a choice between Mozart or "rock band".

you crack me up b/c it seems like you are constantly looking to argue on here. im not sure where you get this idea that im vigorously defending LB from your terrible insults. i just think its more different than you are giving it credit for. siting 4 separate songs for 1 doesnt really disprove anything.

Do you think you should maybe get a cup of tea? When did I insult Lightning Bolt?

[harmless]

I'm not "constantly looking to argue", it was you who first took up this argument after I'd posted. I can't remember what I posted, at this point.

[McParadigm]

Chairry is a cunt.

and Judy is a runt, I know. Why they wanted to join the Ice Capades is beyond me, though.