Lightning Bolt: The Official Album Thread

[stip]

The lyrics are what tie the songs together, and yes, I do think so. I don't think Eddie sits down intending to write about one idea, but I think the lyrics are a reflection of what is on his mind. I like puzzling that out, and I think there are a lot of interesting ideas at play here--some old themes refracted, for the first time, through the prism of aging.

[Jorge]

Swallowed Whole is definitely the best song on this album.

It's in a constant tug-o-war with "My Father's Son", for me.

[harmless]

There are obviously reasons they put these particular songs together which we're not privy to. We weren't in the room when they thought about track sequencing, and I credit them with a bit more intelligence than just "bung a load of songs together for the hell of it". Yes, they recorded more songs, and some weren't chosen, others were. But once you've chosen your songs -- even if that choice was somewhat random, based on what they thought was the best material -- you then begin to think about which songs go where, and why. Themes and concepts and marrying them up will be something you think about, and then that process is probably communicated to the artist in some way. Jeff is pretty concerned with overall album concept and art direction, and seeing as that's "his job" as part of Pearl Jam, I reckon there was more deliberation on it than we could possibly know, given the two or three quote snippets we've heard. How do we know? We don't, but the best evidence we have is the songs themselves, and the fact that each song has its own piece of artwork (which has never happened before on previous albums), and dots can be joined between those separate pieces of art. I think the fact that Ed wrote all of the lyrics on this album makes these kinds of connections far more plausible.

[Birds in Hell]

Swallowed Whole is definitely the best song on this album.

It's in a constant tug-o-war with "My Father's Son", for me.

Same here.

[epilogue]

Swallowed Whole is definitely the best song on this album.

It's in a constant tug-o-war with "My Father's Son", for me.

My Father's Son is in my top five from this album.

[epilogue]

The lyrics are what tie the songs together, and yes, I do think so. I don't think Eddie sits down intending to write about one idea, but I think the lyrics are a reflection of what is on his mind. I like puzzling that out, and I think there are a lot of interesting ideas at play here--some old themes refracted, for the first time, through the prism of aging.

I agree. And along similar lines, I think the sinking boat imagery is to me what the tree imagery is to you.

[dimejinky99]

You're a bit negative today, dime.

That's not being negative. But it'd be a foolish hope to think that there's much more to the making of many of these records.

[Mike]

I still like SBM and Yellow Moon the most.

[dimejinky99]

The big issue I have with SW is its very clearly an ed composition and I can't help but feel its territory he's already covered and done it better, on previous songs.
And the band are completely uninspired and just follow that annoying twangy riff.
Nobody does anything to lift it or take it elsewhere and add even a little colour or flair.
It's not awful but it's not holding up to repeat listens at all.

Radio has been playing it a built here. Maybe it'll be the next single?
Think it'd be a big misstep if it is.

[harmless]

When did "very clearly an Ed composition" become "not a Pearl Jam song"? I'm not sure when that happened, but OK. I'm also pretty sure the band is on fire in plenty of places, including on the solo (best solo on the album) and the bridge. Don't you think FD is more of an "Ed solo song" than this?

[harmless]

You're a bit negative today, dime.

That's not being negative. But it'd be a foolish hope to think that there's much more to the making of many of these records.

What are you even talking about? Much more than what? Much more than dime thinks there is?

[harmless]

I said "negative" because you appear to have done a full 180 on this album and apparently Backspacer as well. I don't remember you thinking that these albums were just thrown together randomly before.

[dimejinky99]

I haven't been on or mentioned backspacer in weeks. Think you're confusing me with someone else.
Haven't done a 180 but haven't felt the impulse to play the record at all since Brooklyn. Don't know why.

And I meant I don't think the band have anything really to say or elaborate on, on many of these records. There aren't any huge ideas or themes to discuss and we're hardly going to see any of them except maybe Ten, in the Classic Albums series.
Not being negative I just think if there were anything to really get into on lots of their records, they would have covered by now. At the very least in the PJ20 book.
And they didn't, so...

[harmless]

Nonsense. They made very deliberate decisions in the PJ20 book and the PJ20 film (notably: ignoring the entire middle-late periods of the band). You're basically saying "They would have covered everything interesting about everything, if there was anything interesting to cover, which there isn't." You really think that everything they omitted was omitted because it objectively wasn't interesting?

[harmless]

I'm not referring to the last few weeks, I'm referring to the fact that you always liked Backspacer. I've seen years of posts from you saying so.

[Mine]

This kind of discussion is exactly why a fan made documentary of the middle records would be vastly superior to the exercise in masturbation that was PJ20

It's not like a fan made documentary can't end up being that either. The problem is that they intentionally made it celebratory instead of interesting. Interesting documentaries or biographies for that matter cover even "touchy" subjects in an intelligent way. It's what makes them interesting to begin with not the retelling of the common knowledge for the millionth time. Having said that someone would have to make a documentary without omitting most of their career in an intelligent way without the band's involvement and then maybe they would get a clue.

[stupidmop]

I don't think the band are interested in discussing the 'touchy' subjects, and any fan made documentary without the bands involvement won't feature any info we don't already know without being speculative

[dimejinky99]

I rill like backspacer. Overall, I'm just feeling the Pj chapter of my musical experience is coming to an end. I love them and always will but I'm just not as invested as I once was. And the return isn't worth the overall investment I've made in terms of energy and dedication.
Feels like a big part of me is refusing to grow up and listen to new things and move on and PJ is the anchor for that. Time to leave certain things in the past where they belong.
Probably just seen em too many times. Maybe just being moody.
Just not as bothered at all as I once was.

[dimejinky99]

I don't think the band are interested in discussing the 'touchy' subjects, and any fan made documentary without the bands involvement won't feature any info we don't already know without being speculative

Certainly.
And ed's remark about the albums being an apartment that someone else lives in now suggests he at least would be reluctant to go back over everything.

Maybe when they get to Neil's age they'll want to really get into it all.
I'd hoped Neil would in his book, and he didn't. At all. Huge disappointment.

[stupidmop]

I don't think the band are interested in discussing the 'touchy' subjects, and any fan made documentary without the bands involvement won't feature any info we don't already know without being speculative

Certainly.
And ed's remark about the albums being an apartment that someone else lives in now suggests he at least would be reluctant to go back over everything.

Maybe when they get to Neil's age they'll want to really get into it all.
I'd hoped Neil would in his book, and he didn't. At all. Huge disappointment.

Honestly i don't really blame them. As much as im interested in all that stuff i can see why they don't wanna sit there and talk about bygone shit. It a shame cameron crowe didn't grow some balls and ask em the hard questions while he had them right there.

As for ed and his apartments, i hope that just means he...buys some more soon...or builds them....rents them? I WANT MORE ALBUMS