What Is Each Album's Major Flaw?: Lightning Bolt

[McParadigm]

ST is so many miles better than Lightning Bolt. Fuck.

[Norah]

Still shits all over Avocado - but that's not hard.

Without wanting to inflate the self-titled record beyond its merits, this sentiment is pretty unfathomable to me.

It's by no means a classic (or even consistently very good) Pearl Jam record but the quality of the songwriting on the self-titled album outstrips the band's work on the last two records by miles for me; it's not even close.

I'm with you.

[Norah]

Still shits all over Avocado - but that's not hard.

Without wanting to elevate the self-titled record beyond its merits, this sentiment is pretty unfathomable to me.

I think Lightning Bolt is a bit better, but I wouldnt say it's miles better. They are both miles better than Backspacer.

I think Lightning Bolt is both better and worse in some respects than Backspacer; the highs are higher but the lows much lower.

The self-titled record is really only a notch (or two) below Riot Act for me.

It's many notches below Riot Act.

[stip]

It's a fair bit better.

[dimejinky99]

This record has agency up the yazoo

[digster]

It's probably been repeated ad nauseum, but I really do hope they change their recording process on the last record. From what I understand, the process for the last few albums have been short bursts spread out over an elongated period of time. Now, there are great albums that are made like (pardon the pun) bolts of lightning; they just come out quickly in a burst of inspiration and you get out of the way. You have the middle approach, where you go in for a period of time to work the record out, or you've got the other approach, where you proverbially lock yourself in the studio and tear your hair out for a year. Great albums have been made every single away, but I feel like it'd be hardest to get a solid, inspired result if you're trying to commit the shortest time possible over a far larger stretch of time. I feel like a lot of Lightning Bolt, while not bad, sounds like a band just wanted any record rather than a great one, got the songs to the point where they were "eh, it's okay", and left it at that. I feel like committing more wholeheartedly to the process, even for a shorter time span, would yield better results.

[dimejinky99]

I'm listening to this on super expensive/supergreat headphones right now and man, im loving the fuck out of it...still dont love the second half though

[Iholdthepain]

Rule of thumb: It's not nearly as bad as RMers (including myself) think. I've actually enjoyed LB quite a bit (other than Sirens and FD)... It's not great, but then again it's not 1994. I'd say they're holding up pretty well for being a 24 year old band. They need a new live bit, though. I'm tired of the gratuitous party atmosphere at the shows, but that's probably just too bad for me.

I'm still buying the tickets and the records, though, so if I want to complain... I will always come HERE to do so.

[dimejinky99]

did we ever do that pearl jams greatest bridges thread? we should...the bridges often are better than the song that they're in..

let the records play has a fuckin awesome bridge

[Lament]

Corduroy is not only my #1 Pearl Jam bridge, but would be a serious nominee for my favorite bridge of all-time. Long Road is up there too.

[Iholdthepain]

did we ever do that pearl jams greatest bridges thread? we should...the bridges often are better than the song that they're in..

let the records play has a fuckin awesome bridge

Pilate comes to mind.

[digster]

I think Insignificance's bridge (and the way it collapses back into the chorus progression) is just about the best thing this band has done. I'd agree they have (or had) a knack for breaking up songs at the right moment and in the right way.

[dimejinky99]

supersonic. awesome bridge

[Heathen]

Rule of thumb: It's not nearly as bad as RMers think.

Nor is it nearly as good.

[Sgt. Crackpot]

Rule of thumb: It's not nearly as bad as RMers think.

Nor is it nearly as good.

[McParadigm]

I'm listening to this on super expensive/supergreat headphones right now and man, im loving the fuck out of it...still dont love the second half though

Beats by Dime

[Got Some]

It's probably been repeated ad nauseum, but I really do hope they change their recording process on the last record. From what I understand, the process for the last few albums have been short bursts spread out over an elongated period of time. Now, there are great albums that are made like (pardon the pun) bolts of lightning; they just come out quickly in a burst of inspiration and you get out of the way. You have the middle approach, where you go in for a period of time to work the record out, or you've got the other approach, where you proverbially lock yourself in the studio and tear your hair out for a year. Great albums have been made every single away, but I feel like it'd be hardest to get a solid, inspired result if you're trying to commit the shortest time possible over a far larger stretch of time. I feel like a lot of Lightning Bolt, while not bad, sounds like a band just wanted any record rather than a great one, got the songs to the point where they were "eh, it's okay", and left it at that. I feel like committing more wholeheartedly to the process, even for a shorter time span, would yield better results.

X2

Fought for years to be all about the art. Now they have that freedom they done seem to have the time/care factor

[McParadigm]

It's probably been repeated ad nauseum, but I really do hope they change their recording process on the last record. From what I understand, the process for the last few albums have been short bursts spread out over an elongated period of time. Now, there are great albums that are made like (pardon the pun) bolts of lightning; they just come out quickly in a burst of inspiration and you get out of the way. You have the middle approach, where you go in for a period of time to work the record out, or you've got the other approach, where you proverbially lock yourself in the studio and tear your hair out for a year. Great albums have been made every single away, but I feel like it'd be hardest to get a solid, inspired result if you're trying to commit the shortest time possible over a far larger stretch of time. I feel like a lot of Lightning Bolt, while not bad, sounds like a band just wanted any record rather than a great one, got the songs to the point where they were "eh, it's okay", and left it at that. I feel like committing more wholeheartedly to the process, even for a shorter time span, would yield better results.

X2

Fought for years to be all about the art. Now they have that freedom they done seem to have the time/care factor

They just need to start doing coke.

And writing songs about coke.

That way, they could stay up for a week at a time, and a "two week" session would actually be worth a whole month. Plus the lyrics would be way better.

It's cocaine
Sometimes you find yourself
having to do more cocaine
so cocaine

The merc is mine
and yours won't take its place
now let's do more cocaine

[epilogue]

I think I like Lightning Bolt more than S/T. But that might change as the thing ages. We'll see. I was pretty high on S/T when it dropped, too. Time changes everything.

[Birds in Hell]

No Matt Cameron songs, there's a flaw.