Lightning Bolt: The Official Album Thread

[VinylGuy]

As a point of comparison, Arcade Fire is expected to sell around 130K for their new album (although I saw an Amazon deal recently which could bump it up). The buzz around this album, atleast from where I stand, is deafening, I'm actually very surprised that they aren't topping PJ and becoming the biggest album of the year. Music industry is indeed a pile of ashes, but from the rock landscape, I thought they'd be much bigger. I've got to find time to listen to Reflektor properly, seems like something that requires undivided attention.

Hey Tuolumne!! Im glad you are around more often.

[harmless]

This album is no longer giving away any new secrets, for me. On the plus side, that means that I'm hearing it as an entire album now, without any particular songs needing any extra attention. Nothing needs to grow on me anymore. On the minus side, the tracks that I find weaker won't grow on me anymore, and I'm starting to pine for another album that takes a proper long time to figure out. This album feels deeper than Backspacer but not bottomless.

[EJ]

I'm starting to pine for another album that takes a proper long time to figure out.

Time to start another speculation thread.

[harmless]

I'm starting to pine for another album that takes a proper long time to figure out.

Time to start another speculation thread.

Well yes, but I'd like it to be an album that exists and still takes time to figure out. I think Lightning Bolt will be enjoyable for those that enjoy it, but for everyone else, there's not a lot to keep grappling with. I might be wrong, time will tell.

[EJ]

I'm starting to pine for another album that takes a proper long time to figure out.

Time to start another speculation thread.

Well yes, but I'd like it to be an album that exists and still takes time to figure out. I think Lightning Bolt will be enjoyable for those that enjoy it, but for everyone else, there's not a lot to keep grappling with. I might be wrong, time will tell.

I agree with that. I think part of that is there's not much room to breathe in these recordings. They're pretty compressed. That's a production thing. Even Pendulum, which has the closest ties to Binaural era PJ, still has too much compression for my ears. Still think the song itself is top notch though.

[harmless]

I'm starting to pine for another album that takes a proper long time to figure out.

Time to start another speculation thread.

Well yes, but I'd like it to be an album that exists and still takes time to figure out. I think Lightning Bolt will be enjoyable for those that enjoy it, but for everyone else, there's not a lot to keep grappling with. I might be wrong, time will tell.

I agree with that. I think part of that is there's not much room to breathe in these recordings. They're pretty compressed. That's a production thing. Even Pendulum, which has the closest ties to Binaural era PJ, still has too much compression for my ears. Still think the song itself is top notch though.

Yup. I think that if this album had the same production values as something like Binaural or Riot Act, the response to it could've been through the roof.

[Tuolumne]

As a point of comparison, Arcade Fire is expected to sell around 130K for their new album (although I saw an Amazon deal recently which could bump it up). The buzz around this album, atleast from where I stand, is deafening, I'm actually very surprised that they aren't topping PJ and becoming the biggest album of the year. Music industry is indeed a pile of ashes, but from the rock landscape, I thought they'd be much bigger. I've got to find time to listen to Reflektor properly, seems like something that requires undivided attention.

Hey Tuolumne!! Im glad you are around more often.

Thanks!

[Jorge]

As a point of comparison, Arcade Fire is expected to sell around 130K for their new album (although I saw an Amazon deal recently which could bump it up). The buzz around this album, atleast from where I stand, is deafening, I'm actually very surprised that they aren't topping PJ and becoming the biggest album of the year. Music industry is indeed a pile of ashes, but from the rock landscape, I thought they'd be much bigger. I've got to find time to listen to Reflektor properly, seems like something that requires undivided attention.

I thought that, their indie-chic status of critical darlings notwithstanding, Arcade Fire were still kind of middle-tier commercially. I'm not surprised that PJ is easily outselling them.

[Strat]

How's everyone?

[BurtReynolds]

Sales prove that Stip is entirely justified in liking Lightning Bolt more than Reflektor. case closed. Everyone apologize.

[Heathen]

Sales prove that Stip is entirely justified in liking Lightning Bolt more than Reflektor. case closed. Everyone apologize.

He just needs to avoid looking at both albums' ratings on Metacritic.

[mray10]

As a point of comparison, Arcade Fire is expected to sell around 130K for their new album (although I saw an Amazon deal recently which could bump it up). The buzz around this album, atleast from where I stand, is deafening, I'm actually very surprised that they aren't topping PJ and becoming the biggest album of the year. Music industry is indeed a pile of ashes, but from the rock landscape, I thought they'd be much bigger. I've got to find time to listen to Reflektor properly, seems like something that requires undivided attention.

I thought that, their indie-chic status of critical darlings notwithstanding, Arcade Fire were still kind of middle-tier commercially. I'm not surprised that PJ is easily outselling them.

Arcade Fire has been on SNL 3 times, won a Grammy, and still this last time when they were announced as the musical guest she was complaining about how she'd never even heard of them. She probably did the same thing the last time they were on SNL.

[mray10]

Who was that guy on the board around the Backspacer era that was always positive and would buy a bunch of PJ CD's to give away to people?

His username was Lloyd Dobler.

Bless,

Jared

Yes! That's the one. Whatever happened to him?

Buried under all his copies of Avocado. It's very sad.

[malice]

Sales prove that Stip is entirely justified in liking Lightning Bolt more than Reflektor. case closed. Everyone apologize.

never!

[darth_vedder]

I'm starting to pine for another album that takes a proper long time to figure out.

Time to start another speculation thread.

This one literally has 1000's of pages to get to first.
http://forums.theskyiscrape.com/viewtop ... um#p208424

[dimejinky99]

[Tuolumne]

That clip is literally my favorite piece of PJ footage on video. That whole montage that follows, gives me the chills, captures everything I love about PJ. Danny Clinch did something dope on that.

[stip]

Sales prove that Stip is entirely justified in liking Lightning Bolt more than Reflektor. case closed. Everyone apologize.

He just needs to avoid looking at both albums' ratings on Metacritic.

sales was never my thing. Metacritic proves I need to like Reflektor more and L-bolt less

[stip]

I'm starting to pine for another album that takes a proper long time to figure out.

Time to start another speculation thread.

Well yes, but I'd like it to be an album that exists and still takes time to figure out. I think Lightning Bolt will be enjoyable for those that enjoy it, but for everyone else, there's not a lot to keep grappling with. I might be wrong, time will tell.

I agree with that. I think part of that is there's not much room to breathe in these recordings. They're pretty compressed. That's a production thing. Even Pendulum, which has the closest ties to Binaural era PJ, still has too much compression for my ears. Still think the song itself is top notch though.

Yup. I think that if this album had the same production values as something like Binaural or Riot Act, the response to it could've been through the roof.

I gave this its first listen in a few days. It is an album that feels comfortable very quickly, but it was written that way. whatever mysteries it has will be in ways that the songs fit together and in the stories the record is telling more than the music.

I am reasonably confident calling this one my number 4.

[LetMeSleep]

I had a listen to Stip's mix the other day after a few days without any LB action. Not a bad playlist but I didn't listen after Pendulum. It has given me a good 5-6 tracks with another 3 that are okay at times. That's a pretty good return for now I think. As an album I would put it at no.10 as BS is a more cohesive listen but LB has a few better tracks. I also have issues with production on nearly every track but not major issues. I'm still formulating my drum/production review so I'll expand then.