UNPOPULAR PEARL JAM OPINIONS

[Iholdthepain]

I just don't understand Stip --- as a lyrics guy and a guy who hates Ed's obvious and trite lyrical metaphors (especially the tree stuff) -- how you can appreciate LB (the song) at all. It's his absolute worst "surf" song to date. Fine there's the anthem build to the music or whatever. But is that really enough? Their go-to trick? That works on you again here? Really?

It's probably the only one of these songs that does it for me, actually. UK doesn't seem finished and I don't really care for LBC

And it's no more a surf song than RVM is a song about driving habits

No true. It's the exact opposite. It's actually more of a surf song than anything they've ever done. There is no metaphor here actually.

The verse after that awesome solo are the best lyrics Michael stipe never wrote for a pearl jam song

wat

The always something/never nothing part. Can someone post them ?

Always something and never nothing
Isn’t that the way we’re taught to be, to be?
Through the worn our pages
In stages when you knew not who to be
Yeah! yeah!
Until the lightning strike sets you free, yeah!

Genius lyrics!

[epilogue]

I predict no minds being changed in this thread...

Just wait until DcT follows my directions

This is the best chance you have, and I admit it (of all things) just might work...

and does anyone know where d,t is getting this 'surf-song' nonsense from?

The word beach is used, so I guess that makes it a surf song?

Otherwise I dunno.

It's not a surf-song like the Beach Boys wrote surf-music, or whatever. It's not even a "surf-song" like Gremmie. But the song is about a surfboard. There is not greater depth or meaning. It's a song.... about a surfboard. Not a surfboard as a metaphor. Not a surfboard as a symbol for some greater understanding.

It's... a song... about... surfing. And that's it.

Which is fine in and of itself. Nothing wrong with that subject matter at all. But I can't understand it as "anthem." Or as something greater than what it is. It's a really dumb song, I think. Terrible lyrics. Trite. Obvious. By the numbers. Generic. Whatever word you want to use. Plus, it goes nowhere. The transitions are terrible. And it doesn't move me.

Obviously, it moves Stip. And I have no desire to change is mind or take that away from him. Or you. Or anyone else. If you guys love it, that's awesome. I wish I felt the same. But I just can't get into it.

[epilogue]

I just don't understand Stip --- as a lyrics guy and a guy who hates Ed's obvious and trite lyrical metaphors (especially the tree stuff) -- how you can appreciate LB (the song) at all. It's his absolute worst "surf" song to date. Fine there's the anthem build to the music or whatever. But is that really enough? Their go-to trick? That works on you again here? Really?

It's probably the only one of these songs that does it for me, actually. UK doesn't seem finished and I don't really care for LBC

And it's no more a surf song than RVM is a song about driving habits

No true. It's the exact opposite. It's actually more of a surf song than anything they've ever done. There is no metaphor here actually.

The verse after that awesome solo are the best lyrics Michael stipe never wrote for a pearl jam song

wat

The always something/never nothing part. Can someone post them ?

Always something and never nothing
Isn’t that the way we’re taught to be, to be?
Through the worn our pages
In stages when you knew not who to be
Yeah! yeah!
Until the lightning strike sets you free, yeah!

Genius lyrics!

I think it's pretty obvious why Michael Stipe never wrote those lyrics. Or rather, never put them on an album.

[Leatherhead]

Unthought Known suuuuuuucks.

[LetMeSleep]

Mike brings something to this track but it's such a lifeless and heavy corpse of a song. And it's not without trying. You can tell that all members are working hard but it just sounds so forced.

I'm sorry Stip but this isn't a good anthem (song). Or it isn't the effortless PJ that I like. For all the flaws in UK and LBC, the transitions are effortless. The builds feel natural and not forced. An anthem shouldn't feel laboured or written. It should feel like bird gently rising on an updraught not an injured battery cage chicken flapping against some wire.

[epilogue]

Unthought Known suuuuuuucks.

Truth. Lighting Bolt is definitely better than Unthought Known.

[Iholdthepain]

I just don't understand Stip --- as a lyrics guy and a guy who hates Ed's obvious and trite lyrical metaphors (especially the tree stuff) -- how you can appreciate LB (the song) at all. It's his absolute worst "surf" song to date. Fine there's the anthem build to the music or whatever. But is that really enough? Their go-to trick? That works on you again here? Really?

It's probably the only one of these songs that does it for me, actually. UK doesn't seem finished and I don't really care for LBC

And it's no more a surf song than RVM is a song about driving habits

No true. It's the exact opposite. It's actually more of a surf song than anything they've ever done. There is no metaphor here actually.

The verse after that awesome solo are the best lyrics Michael stipe never wrote for a pearl jam song

wat

The always something/never nothing part. Can someone post them ?

Always something and never nothing
Isn’t that the way we’re taught to be, to be?
Through the worn our pages
In stages when you knew not who to be
Yeah! yeah!
Until the lightning strike sets you free, yeah!

Genius lyrics!

I think it's pretty obvious why Michael Stipe never wrote those lyrics. Or rather, never put them on an album.

Looking at them on paper, I think you're right...

but when given the M. of Anthems treatment, the only thing that can bring down those brilliantly-penned lyrics is a horrible post-production decision...

I DO think the MYM/LB 1-2 punch is the best energy song suite the band has produced since Breakerfall/GD

[LetMeSleep]

Unthought Known suuuuuuucks.

Truth. Lighting Bolt is definitely better than Unthought Known.

It's unpopular but I strongly disagree.

[Birds in Hell]

Guys, they're both bad songs.

[stip]

I'm dedicating the lbolt tour post to you two

[LetMeSleep]

I DO think the MYM/LB 1-2 punch is the best energy song suite the band has produced since Breakerfall/GD

Is that so? Using what logic is there a MYM/LB 1-2 punch?

[Iholdthepain]

I DO think the MYM/LB 1-2 punch is the best energy song suite the band has produced since Breakerfall/GD

Is that so? Using what logic is there a MYM/LB 1-2 punch?

They play it a lot b2b live...

Spoiler: show

and I thought they were together on the album, too, till you called me out on it and I looked back

[epilogue]

I DO think the MYM/LB 1-2 punch is the best energy song suite the band has produced since Breakerfall/GD

Those... songs.... aren't next to each other....

[epilogue]

Guys, they're both bad songs.

Yes. But which one is badder, Spencer?

[LetMeSleep]

I DO think the MYM/LB 1-2 punch is the best energy song suite the band has produced since Breakerfall/GD

Is that so? Using what logic is there a MYM/LB 1-2 punch?

They play it a lot b2b live...

Spoiler: show

and I thought they were together on the album, too, till you called me out on it and I looked back

There's energy in LB for sure. I certainly can't disagree with that.

[Iholdthepain]

I DO think the MYM/LB 1-2 punch is the best energy song suite the band has produced since Breakerfall/GD

Those... songs.... aren't next to each other....

LIKE I DON'T KNOW THAT... Jeez!

[Kevin Davis]

Wait, the song "Lightning Bolt" is about a surfboard?

[stip]

No

[stip]

well, probably

[McParadigm]

I assumed it was about inspiration.

Like a stone that you couldn't see coming. Like a meteor that you just happened to have the right landing space for. Like a lightning bolt.

And sometimes you sit around feeling the want to create, but come up with nothing at all. So you end up flipping through the worn out pages of old ideas, repeating or just reliving, until the Lightning strike sets you free.