Lightning Bolt: The Official Album Thread

[Got Some]

And they kind of did go full Gospel on FD, if by that you mean bad Christian radio.

I mean back up singers and bit more of an orchestral feel to the chorus.

A gospel chorus singing with ed on the chorus would be haunting.

[stip]

Too much, I think

[harmless]

Well, it could work. The song already has too much; the only thing I doubt is that BoB would know what he was doing to make that tasteful.

[stip]

Well, it could work. The song already has too much; the only thing I doubt is that BoB would know what he was doing to make that tasteful.

I don't think the song is intending to be satire, though. Adding a choir turns it into something it is not (maybe that's the point?) and takes away from the sweetness at its core. There is a lot going on in the song but those additions also have room to breathe. They're not overpowering and in many cases are nice accents.

A choir would overwhelm the song.

[harmless]

Well, it could work. The song already has too much; the only thing I doubt is that BoB would know what he was doing to make that tasteful.

I don't think the song is intending to be satire, though. Adding a choir turns it into something it is not (maybe that's the point?) and takes away from the sweetness at its core. There is a lot going on in the song but those additions also have room to breathe. They're not overpowering and in many cases are nice accents.

A choir would overwhelm the song.

I think it sounds satirical as it is: I mentioned bad Christian radio, because that's the only other context in which I've heard this amount of production wizardry and polish -- Christian worship music. That's not a bad thing, I can tolerate that (I have done in my mother's car all my young life) but it does sound satirical. Now, a traditional gospel treatment wouldn't sound satirical at all. I'm not talking about loud, bombastic happy-clappy 'Oh Happy Day!' gospel, I'm talking about a more serious, gentle and tender 'Negro-spiritual' gospel sound: 'Wade in the Water' style. That could've really worked, even including a gently-strummed uke or banjo (and a real piano, possibly even honky tonk). All of these things are of course things that BoB wouldn't know how to produce and orchestrate in a million years, which is why we got this shlocky Christian worship song instead. I agree: from BoB's point of view, I don't think he meant this treatment to sound satirical. But for me personally as a listener, thinking of it in that way is the only way I'm able to enjoy it. As a bookend to 'I've got my own way to believe!' which is a snarky, sarcastic song about faith. To end with a satirical "faith song" about our Future Days / End Times is a good idea. I dig that. So I'd rather forget that BoB thought this sounded pretty. It doesn't, but it still works. The thing about the treatment I'd prefer is that it would've suited a different album more (Vitalogy, for example).

[harmless]

And weirdly, speaking of Vitalogy, I'd compare this song to Heyfoxymop... in that I'll never want to listen to it on its own, but it's a song that the album can't do without in context.

[Dr. Van Nostrand]

And weirdly, speaking of Vitalogy, I'd compare this song to Heyfoxymop... in that I'll never want to listen to it on its own, but it's a song that the album can't do without in context.

i was always freaked out by stupid mop and i almost never listened to it

[harmless]

And weirdly, speaking of Vitalogy, I'd compare this song to Heyfoxymop... in that I'll never want to listen to it on its own, but it's a song that the album can't do without in context.

i was always freaked out by stupid mop and i almost never listened to it

I find it funny now. But yeah, it used to be scary.

[harmless]

Three spins today after leaving it alone for about a week. I'm still liking it a surprising amount, and I'm not having to skip anything. The lack of cohesion is less noticeable when you've been away for a while (I find, anyway). It just sort of meshes together.

[sward]

I have one kid who is very active in sports, so I find my time to sit and listen to the album has been erratic. I think that has allowed me to enjoy the record on a level that is different from the last handful where I played them non stop until I had no choice but to tire of them. Every time I work in a listen of Lightning Bolt, I'm left finding some new things or realizing I like a song more than I did initially. All in all pretty happy with where this is going. I had it pegged as my favorite since Yield, and that hasn't changed.

[Dr. Van Nostrand]

Three spins today after leaving it alone for about a week. I'm still liking it a surprising amount, and I'm not having to skip anything. The lack of cohesion is less noticeable when you've been away for a while (I find, anyway). It just sort of meshes together.

i still havent had a listen where i didnt enjoy it the whole way through, but i havent listened in a few days, i might tonight at the gym and see how it goes

[stupidmop]

Well, it could work. The song already has too much; the only thing I doubt is that BoB would know what he was doing to make that tasteful.

I don't think the song is intending to be satire, though. Adding a choir turns it into something it is not (maybe that's the point?) and takes away from the sweetness at its core. There is a lot going on in the song but those additions also have room to breathe. They're not overpowering and in many cases are nice accents.

A choir would overwhelm the song.

I think it sounds satirical as it is: I mentioned bad Christian radio, because that's the only other context in which I've heard this amount of production wizardry and polish -- Christian worship music. That's not a bad thing, I can tolerate that (I have done in my mother's car all my young life) but it does sound satirical. Now, a traditional gospel treatment wouldn't sound satirical at all. I'm not talking about loud, bombastic happy-clappy 'Oh Happy Day!' gospel, I'm talking about a more serious, gentle and tender 'Negro-spiritual' gospel sound: 'Wade in the Water' style. That could've really worked, even including a gently-strummed uke or banjo (and a real piano, possibly even honky tonk). All of these things are of course things that BoB wouldn't know how to produce and orchestrate in a million years, which is why we got this shlocky Christian worship song instead. I agree: from BoB's point of view, I don't think he meant this treatment to sound satirical. But for me personally as a listener, thinking of it in that way is the only way I'm able to enjoy it. As a bookend to 'I've got my own way to believe!' which is a snarky, sarcastic song about faith. To end with a satirical "faith song" about our Future Days / End Times is a good idea. I dig that. So I'd rather forget that BoB thought this sounded pretty. It doesn't, but it still works. The thing about the treatment I'd prefer is that it would've suited a different album more (Vitalogy, for example).

A la

Perhaps? I fucking love this song.

I was gonna say it should have been just eddie and an organ or something, but then i re-listened to the song my god is it awful. It'd need new lyrics and a new melody too. There was more Bo'B cheese than i remembered. Dammit pearl jam. I can't believe not one of the five dudes in the band said maybe we should tone this shit down.

[dimejinky99]

From matt

[Heathen]

of course

[harmless]

What would we do, eh?

[harmless]

Well, it could work. The song already has too much; the only thing I doubt is that BoB would know what he was doing to make that tasteful.

I don't think the song is intending to be satire, though. Adding a choir turns it into something it is not (maybe that's the point?) and takes away from the sweetness at its core. There is a lot going on in the song but those additions also have room to breathe. They're not overpowering and in many cases are nice accents.

A choir would overwhelm the song.

I think it sounds satirical as it is: I mentioned bad Christian radio, because that's the only other context in which I've heard this amount of production wizardry and polish -- Christian worship music. That's not a bad thing, I can tolerate that (I have done in my mother's car all my young life) but it does sound satirical. Now, a traditional gospel treatment wouldn't sound satirical at all. I'm not talking about loud, bombastic happy-clappy 'Oh Happy Day!' gospel, I'm talking about a more serious, gentle and tender 'Negro-spiritual' gospel sound: 'Wade in the Water' style. That could've really worked, even including a gently-strummed uke or banjo (and a real piano, possibly even honky tonk). All of these things are of course things that BoB wouldn't know how to produce and orchestrate in a million years, which is why we got this shlocky Christian worship song instead. I agree: from BoB's point of view, I don't think he meant this treatment to sound satirical. But for me personally as a listener, thinking of it in that way is the only way I'm able to enjoy it. As a bookend to 'I've got my own way to believe!' which is a snarky, sarcastic song about faith. To end with a satirical "faith song" about our Future Days / End Times is a good idea. I dig that. So I'd rather forget that BoB thought this sounded pretty. It doesn't, but it still works. The thing about the treatment I'd prefer is that it would've suited a different album more (Vitalogy, for example).

A la

Perhaps? I fucking love this song.

I was gonna say it should have been just eddie and an organ or something, but then i re-listened to the song my god is it awful. It'd need new lyrics and a new melody too. There was more Bo'B cheese than i remembered. Dammit pearl jam. I can't believe not one of the five dudes in the band said maybe we should tone this shit down.

I clearly don't hate it as much as you, but... yeah.

[southp]

I'm still riding the lightning

[Got Some]

I'm still riding the lightning

Yep it's a really good album!!!

[Angus]

In a year in which probably my 3 favourite bands Arcade Fire, Sigur Rós and Pearl Jam have released a new album, I think I like Pearl Jam's most. That's the biggest compliment I can give this album and I wouldn't even have thought that was possible after the last 10 years. Bring on Euro tour 14!

[dimejinky99]

So I can't shake the feeling that this is like No Codes spiritual brother.
They have the same shape and both take strange turns.