Lightning Bolt: The Official Album Thread

[Mine]

I'll defend some songs that aren't popular (like The Fixer) as flat out really good songs. Future Days is a guilty pleasure, but I have to hope it was written that way--if you can write a guilty pleasure unironically.

FD exists in a complete irony vacuum. Sadly.

It does, but it's also so unapologetic about its own sincerity that it is (I think) completely self-aware.

I know what eds going for with this and things like it. But can he achieve it anymore?
Compare FD to something like man of the hour. I know which I think succeeds and which fails. But I'm not sure why the other fails.

I don't think the 2 are comparable in the sense that i think they're both intentionally the way they are. Maybe The End would be a better comparison.

[dimejinky99]

He writes about the mournful sad stuff far better than he does the lovey dovey stuff

[dimejinky99]

I'll defend some songs that aren't popular (like The Fixer) as flat out really good songs. Future Days is a guilty pleasure, but I have to hope it was written that way--if you can write a guilty pleasure unironically.

FD exists in a complete irony vacuum. Sadly.

It does, but it's also so unapologetic about its own sincerity that it is (I think) completely self-aware.

I know what eds going for with this and things like it. But can he achieve it anymore?
Compare FD to something like man of the hour. I know which I think succeeds and which fails. But I'm not sure why the other fails.

I don't think the 2 are comparable in the sense that i think they're both intentionally the way they are. Maybe The End would be a better comparison.

The end is better

[Rangi Guy]

I'll defend some songs that aren't popular (like The Fixer) as flat out really good songs. Future Days is a guilty pleasure, but I have to hope it was written that way--if you can write a guilty pleasure unironically.

FD exists in a complete irony vacuum. Sadly.

It does, but it's also so unapologetic about its own sincerity that it is (I think) completely self-aware.

I know what eds going for with this and things like it. But can he achieve it anymore?
Compare FD to something like man of the hour. I know which I think succeeds and which fails. But I'm not sure why the other fails.

I don't think the 2 are comparable in the sense that i think they're both intentionally the way they are. Maybe The End would be a better comparison.

The end is better

I prefer Future Days

[Mine]

Man of the Hour is more minor key as well, which for me really helps with sincerity in a maudlin tune.

That's a weird statement in the sense that a minor key is also the 1s thing to do to fake sincerity.

[Thejambi]

I'll defend some songs that aren't popular (like The Fixer) as flat out really good songs. Future Days is a guilty pleasure, but I have to hope it was written that way--if you can write a guilty pleasure unironically.

FD exists in a complete irony vacuum. Sadly.

It does, but it's also so unapologetic about its own sincerity that it is (I think) completely self-aware.

I know what eds going for with this and things like it. But can he achieve it anymore?
Compare FD to something like man of the hour. I know which I think succeeds and which fails. But I'm not sure why the other fails.

I don't think the 2 are comparable in the sense that i think they're both intentionally the way they are. Maybe The End would be a better comparison.

The end is better

I prefer Future Days

These would both be better if the band actually contributed.

[mastaflatch]

I'll defend some songs that aren't popular (like The Fixer) as flat out really good songs. Future Days is a guilty pleasure, but I have to hope it was written that way--if you can write a guilty pleasure unironically.

FD exists in a complete irony vacuum. Sadly.

It does, but it's also so unapologetic about its own sincerity that it is (I think) completely self-aware.

I know what eds going for with this and things like it. But can he achieve it anymore?
Compare FD to something like man of the hour. I know which I think succeeds and which fails. But I'm not sure why the other fails.

I don't think the 2 are comparable in the sense that i think they're both intentionally the way they are. Maybe The End would be a better comparison.

The end is better

Future Days sounds like a pastiche of PJ album closers except that it's completely unintentional. the band have been BO'Bed big time with that one. i'm sure that Jeff discreetly rolls his eyes with contempt when it's played live.

[dimejinky99]

Man of the Hour is more minor key as well, which for me really helps with sincerity in a maudlin tune.

That's a weird statement in the sense that a minor key is also the 1s thing to do to fake sincerity.

It's not in a minor key either

[dimejinky99]

Well, one album closing with the end, and the following closing with future days, I guess he just got a an illness scare and was declared better by LB

Interesting contrast at least

[digster]

I know people have their issues with the Riot Act vocals, but think about a song like All or None; part of the reason it's so powerful at the end is that he's willing to understate the first few verses, to give the conclusion that much more impact. That's a choice I don't ever see him making on newer songs.

All or None had incredible music throughout. I mean, it's a friggin' waltz! Not nearly as sparse musically as these other tunes. Pendulum is for me the All or None of LB- Ed is doing his thing, but he's propped up by the right music.

I don't know...I think Future Days might have a lot more 'stuff', for lack of a better term, than All or None, or at least it feels that way. Pendulum is a fair comparison, and that's a good example of a song where Ed makes a choice to understate it for the better. There are probably exceptions to what I said, but overall I think it's fair.

[Mine]

By a twist of fate I've basically never listened to Future Days in the last few months outside of the presence of my girls, and now they're so totally connected to that song there's really no way I can't enjoy it. especially because the surrounding details are well done.

I think this is the mindset this song was written in to begin with.

[aurynsdad]

Man of the Hour is more minor key as well, which for me really helps with sincerity in a maudlin tune.

That's a weird statement in the sense that a minor key is also the 1s thing to do to fake sincerity.

It's not in a minor key either

Ha, I worried that might be the case when I wrote that. Didn't bother to actually check.

[Mine]

I'll defend some songs that aren't popular (like The Fixer) as flat out really good songs. Future Days is a guilty pleasure, but I have to hope it was written that way--if you can write a guilty pleasure unironically.

FD exists in a complete irony vacuum. Sadly.

It does, but it's also so unapologetic about its own sincerity that it is (I think) completely self-aware.

I know what eds going for with this and things like it. But can he achieve it anymore?
Compare FD to something like man of the hour. I know which I think succeeds and which fails. But I'm not sure why the other fails.

I don't think the 2 are comparable in the sense that i think they're both intentionally the way they are. Maybe The End would be a better comparison.

The end is better

Future Days sounds like a pastiche of PJ album closers except that it's completely unintentional. the band have been BO'Bed big time with that one. i'm sure that Jeff discreetly rolls his eyes with contempt when it's played live.

Jeff can't tell. He keeps writing versions of Red Mosquito since 96.

[aurynsdad]

He writes about the mournful sad stuff far better than he does the lovey dovey stuff

I think he often tries for that paradoxical ground that includes both. Think of the kid in "Love Actually" who says something along the lines of "What could possibly be worse than the absolute torture of love?"

[hlniv]

This album remains far superior than Backspacer to me. However, it has dropped compared to S/T and Riot Act. At first, I thought this was near Riot Act in terms of the PJ Catalog, now I would place it slightly below S/T. Riot Act is clearly in the major leagues and the last three are in the minors.

I am enjoying:
Swallowed Whole
Sleeping By Myself
Yellow Moon
Lightning Bolt (live only - hard to listen to the album cut)

I am indifferent to:
Getaway
MYM
My Father's Son
Pendulum
LTRP
Lightning Bolt (album cut)

I can't get through:
Sirens
Infallible (this hasn't aged well)
Future Days

[dimejinky99]

This album remains far superior than Backspacer to me. However, it has dropped compared to S/T and Riot Act. At first, I thought this was near Riot Act in terms of the PJ Catalog, now I would place it slightly below S/T. Riot Act is clearly in the major leagues and the last three are in the minors.

I am enjoying:
Swallowed Whole
Sleeping By Myself
Yellow Moon
Lightning Bolt (live only - hard to listen to the album cut)

I am indifferent to:
Getaway
MYM
My Father's Son
Pendulum
LTRP
Lightning Bolt (album cut)

I can't get through:
Sirens
Infallible (this hasn't aged well)
Future Days

SYWM

[hlniv]

Jeff can't tell. He keeps writing versions of Red Mosquito since 96.

OK, well there's 1/2 Full. Then there's all of these....

NAIS
Pilate
Low Light
Push Me Pull Me
Pendulum
Sleight of Hand
Help Help
My Father's Son
Army Reserve
Yellow Moon

[hlniv]

This album remains far superior than Backspacer to me. However, it has dropped compared to S/T and Riot Act. At first, I thought this was near Riot Act in terms of the PJ Catalog, now I would place it slightly below S/T. Riot Act is clearly in the major leagues and the last three are in the minors.

I am enjoying:
Swallowed Whole
Sleeping By Myself
Yellow Moon
Lightning Bolt (live only - hard to listen to the album cut)

I am indifferent to:
Getaway
MYM
My Father's Son
Pendulum
LTRP
Lightning Bolt (album cut)

I can't get through:
Sirens
Infallible (this hasn't aged well)
Future Days

SYWM

That's edgy

[Mine]

Jeff can't tell. He keeps writing versions of Red Mosquito since 96.

OK, well there's 1/2 Full. Then there's all of these....

NAIS
Pilate
Low Light
Push Me Pull Me
Pendulum
Sleight of Hand
Help Help
My Father's Son
Army Reserve
Yellow Moon

Yellow Moon to the point it's distracting, which some say reminds them of Low Light.

[Lament]

I can't tell whether I'm listening to Red Mosquito or Sleight of Hand unless I check my ipod screen.