Lightning Bolt: The Official Album Thread

[Mine]

This is PJ, it would most likely be even worst than B'OB.

[Strat]

What?

[hlniv]

Future Days and Let The Records Play are still wank.

ftfy

I'm still confused about how you could say SBM 'doesn't belong', and yet FD and LTRP are also really bad. Isn't the jury out about which of these songs 'doesn't belong', especially if SBM is the best one?

I will try to eliminate your confusion with a more thorough explanation-
.
.
.

To summarize:

SBM : good song, bad decision = doesn't fit
LTRP : good concept, poor execution = fits but fails
FD : good songwriting/melody, horrible instrumentation/production = fits but fails

Woah, that's probably more than my question deserved. Good post.

There was bourbon involved

What kind of bourbon?

I agree with you BTW...SBM is the best of those three songs, but it shouldn't be on the album.

Did we ever find out what that vine song was?

I was happy last night to open a fresh bottle of Woodford. It still stands tall as my favorite. I had just finished a bottle of Bernheim Wheat Whiskey, which was OK, but I was glad to get through it.

What is this you say of a "vine song"? I've missed that

[hlniv]

I'm liking the album more and more. Which is kind of surprising how much I hate the production on this. I agree with Chud that this is the worst produced record in their career but there are enough varying moods throughout the course of the album that I find myself being on some sort of journey that has been missing the past couple records. I seek out infallible, lightning bolt, my fathers son, yellow moon and pendulum on a regular basis. I've come around to Future Days only because Ed sounds wonderful. I in no way hold this up to his other solo tracks throughout the career but he sounds wonderful so I can get through the horrible pianos and shitty Wal-Mart acoustic guitar. The Bridge on Yellow Moon is one of their tops.

On the "worst produced record of their career" thing, I'm not sure. I mean, if S/T is both really bland and thin and impossible to listen to because of how harsh and grating and brickwalled it is, and if Backspacer sounds so thin and tinny, I might prefer this to both of them. It's much more well-rounded and "thick" in sound. On the whole, the bass drums have a proper thump to them, and the bass guitar, well you can hear it. What is missing is some "middle", some guitars. But what it has by way of layering is quite nice, and, apart from "The Fixer", much better than Backspacer. IMHO.

those other two, still sounded like Pearl Jam though. This sounds like a blatant attempt at polishing up the band to make them more accessible. BOB probably just hates that the songs themselves are not, mostly, accessible to the general public.

I believe S/T is by far the worst mix of there career, not to be confused with production. Lightning Bolt is heads and shoulders above it in terms of the mix, but the production decisions and the production direction would support the "worst produced record" case. S/T was produced to sound more raw, decisions were clearly made to strip the tunes down to the rock and roll foundation (except for Inside Job, i still don't understand that mess). The problem with S/T was in the mix. It's just horrible for the reasons you mention above.

Lightning Bolt on the other hand is very pleasing to the ear, but the instrumentation and decisions that were associated with it were lacking. I totally agree with the lack of a "middle" and the fact that the guitars are for the most part buried under a wall of sound. Some distinct layering of the guitars in lieu of some of the additional sounds would have improved the album tremendously

[hlniv]

I'm kind of glad it's on the album because it's a good song. That's as simple or as complicated as it needs to be at this point in the PJ timeline. It doesn't suck, it can go on the album. The album and uke versions are different enough that they both deserve to exist.

There's certainly a case to be made for this argument. With the total lack of b-sides and minimal output at this point in their career, I guess we should take a good song and not complain, no matter how we get it, or where it really came from.

[Dr. Van Nostrand]

What?

exactly, pendulum happened because BoB wasnt there when they were trying it out, i would love to see what other interesting stuff they would come up with if he wasnt around for a whole album

[hlniv]

I'm kind of glad it's on the album because it's a good song. That's as simple or as complicated as it needs to be at this point in the PJ timeline. It doesn't suck, it can go on the album. The album and uke versions are different enough that they both deserve to exist.

I agree with all of that. And the only reason to complain would be if it kicked something else off the album, which it didn't, so its just something extra included

We don't know that. Something kicked Pendulum off of Backspacer. Who knows what musical gold they created and subsequently abandoned in lieu of re-recording a solo tune.

[harmless]

I'm liking the album more and more. Which is kind of surprising how much I hate the production on this. I agree with Chud that this is the worst produced record in their career but there are enough varying moods throughout the course of the album that I find myself being on some sort of journey that has been missing the past couple records. I seek out infallible, lightning bolt, my fathers son, yellow moon and pendulum on a regular basis. I've come around to Future Days only because Ed sounds wonderful. I in no way hold this up to his other solo tracks throughout the career but he sounds wonderful so I can get through the horrible pianos and shitty Wal-Mart acoustic guitar. The Bridge on Yellow Moon is one of their tops.

On the "worst produced record of their career" thing, I'm not sure. I mean, if S/T is both really bland and thin and impossible to listen to because of how harsh and grating and brickwalled it is, and if Backspacer sounds so thin and tinny, I might prefer this to both of them. It's much more well-rounded and "thick" in sound. On the whole, the bass drums have a proper thump to them, and the bass guitar, well you can hear it. What is missing is some "middle", some guitars. But what it has by way of layering is quite nice, and, apart from "The Fixer", much better than Backspacer. IMHO.

those other two, still sounded like Pearl Jam though. This sounds like a blatant attempt at polishing up the band to make them more accessible. BOB probably just hates that the songs themselves are not, mostly, accessible to the general public.

I believe S/T is by far the worst mix of there career, not to be confused with production. Lightning Bolt is heads and shoulders above it in terms of the mix, but the production decisions and the production direction would support the "worst produced record" case. S/T was produced to sound more raw, decisions were clearly made to strip the tunes down to the rock and roll foundation (except for Inside Job, i still don't understand that mess). The problem with S/T was in the mix. It's just horrible for the reasons you mention above.

Lightning Bolt on the other hand is very pleasing to the ear, but the instrumentation and decisions that were associated with it were lacking. I totally agree with the lack of a "middle" and the fact that the guitars are for the most part buried under a wall of sound. Some distinct layering of the guitars in lieu of some of the additional sounds would have improved the album tremendously

"S/T was produced to sound more raw, decisions were clearly made to strip the tunes down to the rock and roll foundation..."

Yeah, I know, and I don't like that either; it was hardly No Code, even if it was touted as "reflecting their live show" or whatever (it doesn't). So that's why S/T still beats this record for me in terms of being shit-tastic. Lightning Bolt has a few too many bells and whistles, but given the choice, I'd take its layered approach over no bells and whistles at all. S/T is produced in a very boring, bland way; it's just not interesting to listen to. And the songs are not good enough to work against that lack of ear candy. So yes, production is different to the mix; I don't like either on S/T. Lightning Bolt still beats it for me.

[Dr. Van Nostrand]

I'm kind of glad it's on the album because it's a good song. That's as simple or as complicated as it needs to be at this point in the PJ timeline. It doesn't suck, it can go on the album. The album and uke versions are different enough that they both deserve to exist.

I agree with all of that. And the only reason to complain would be if it kicked something else off the album, which it didn't, so its just something extra included

We don't know that. Something kicked Pendulum off of Backspacer. Who knows what musical gold they created and subsequently abandoned in lieu of re-recording a solo tune.

nothing
unless they are lying about it, it was originally going to be a 10 song album, mike says he fought to get yellow moon added and BoB fought to get SBM added, but with out that it was going to be a 10 song album. now that doesnt mean they didnt record songs that didnt make the record, but nothing got kicked off unless the band has a reason to give us incorrect info

[harmless]

I'm kind of glad it's on the album because it's a good song. That's as simple or as complicated as it needs to be at this point in the PJ timeline. It doesn't suck, it can go on the album. The album and uke versions are different enough that they both deserve to exist.

I agree with all of that. And the only reason to complain would be if it kicked something else off the album, which it didn't, so its just something extra included

We don't know that. Something kicked Pendulum off of Backspacer. Who knows what musical gold they created and subsequently abandoned in lieu of re-recording a solo tune.

If we don't know that, what's the point in speculating? I hate BoB as much as the next guy, but I'm not going to complain that he's kicked off a song that might not exist. As far as we know, this album was going to contain 11 songs, and then SBM was added. That's an OK explanation as far as I'm concerned.

[harmless]

This is PJ, it would most likely be even worst than B'OB.

What does this mean?

[Mine]

This is PJ, it would most likely be even worst than B'OB.

What does this mean?

It's trying to mean that they would be able to find a worst producer then B'OB is.

[harmless]

This is PJ, it would most likely be even worst than B'OB.

What does this mean?

It's trying to mean that they would be able to find a worst producer then B'OB is.

They might do, they might not.

[EJ]

Unfortunately, I think the only way they don't use him again is if he's completely booked up when they're ready to record the next one.

[harmless]

Unfortunately, I think the only way they don't use him again is if he's completely booked up when they're ready to record the next one.

And if he isn't, they'll wait. It's not like they were in any hurry last time.

[EJ]

Unfortunately, I think the only way they don't use him again is if he's completely booked up when they're ready to record the next one.

And if he isn't, they'll wait. It's not like they were in any hurry last time.

Exactly. "Its just easier this way."

[hlniv]

I'm kind of glad it's on the album because it's a good song. That's as simple or as complicated as it needs to be at this point in the PJ timeline. It doesn't suck, it can go on the album. The album and uke versions are different enough that they both deserve to exist.

I agree with all of that. And the only reason to complain would be if it kicked something else off the album, which it didn't, so its just something extra included

We don't know that. Something kicked Pendulum off of Backspacer. Who knows what musical gold they created and subsequently abandoned in lieu of re-recording a solo tune.

If we don't know that, what's the point in speculating? I hate BoB as much as the next guy, but I'm not going to complain that he's kicked off a song that might not exist. As far as we know, this album was going to contain 11 songs, and then SBM was added. That's an OK explanation as far as I'm concerned.

My point was that we don't know if someone got left behind because of it. I'm not really speculating on what was left behind, just making the point that we can't definitely say that SBM didn't kick something off. To Doc's point, maybe there wasn't another finished tune that was ready, but I don't think we really know, and they wouldn't tell us anyway. The last Mike interview (during the tour), he alluded to having a bunch of really good song ideas that they didn't finish, so who knows. I doubt, though, that yellow moon was the only one that was part of the late decision making on what makes it or not. Would be hard to imagine it was just one, although I know that's the only one they've mentioned.

[darth_vedder]

Future Days and Let The Records Play are still wank.

ftfy

I'm still confused about how you could say SBM 'doesn't belong', and yet FD and LTRP are also really bad. Isn't the jury out about which of these songs 'doesn't belong', especially if SBM is the best one?

I will try to eliminate your confusion with a more thorough explanation-
.
.
.

To summarize:

SBM : good song, bad decision = doesn't fit
LTRP : good concept, poor execution = fits but fails
FD : good songwriting/melody, horrible instrumentation/production = fits but fails

Woah, that's probably more than my question deserved. Good post.

There was bourbon involved

What kind of bourbon?

I agree with you BTW...SBM is the best of those three songs, but it shouldn't be on the album.

Did we ever find out what that vine song was?

I was happy last night to open a fresh bottle of Woodford. It still stands tall as my favorite. I had just finished a bottle of Bernheim Wheat Whiskey, which was OK, but I was glad to get through it.

What is this you say of a "vine song"? I've missed that

Love me some Woodford, good stuff. I've been on a Rye and Scotch kick lately.

Here is the vine clip:
https://vine.co/v/b2Px66xx6Tl

[hlniv]

This is PJ, it would most likely be even worst than B'OB.

What does this mean?

It's trying to mean that they would be able to find a worst producer then B'OB is.

They might do, they might not.

I am really confused. Or I could something else

[evenslow]

This is PJ, it would most likely be even worst than B'OB.

What does this mean?

It's trying to mean that they would be able to find a worst producer then B'OB is.

They might do, they might not.

I am really confused. Or I could something else

how are we supposed to say your username in our head hlniv?