A Guided Tour of Lightning Bolt: Infallible

General Pearl Jam discussion.
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Re: A Guided Tour of Lightning Bolt: Lightning Bolt

Post by knee tunes »

McParadigm wrote:
LoathedVermin72 wrote:Knowing that McP likes "Just Breathe" makes me look at him totally differently
JB has the same basic underlying affections and fears of Sirens, but doesn't bombast them to the point of what I assume Creed would have sounded like in 2020 if Scott Stapp hadn't gotten into experimental performance art and Rob Thomas had helped write melodies...like that song does.

It's rare that Pearl Jam is willing to let a quiet song get as quiet as it deserves to be. The best case example is Around the Bend. And these days, JB is as close as they get to "unbloated," which is what insecure but loving odes ought to be.

I genuinely appreciate that whole record for wanting to present a side of the band's sound that is unique in the catalog. "They tried a new thing and that thing was corny" is way less of a tragedy in my eyes than "they did the thing they always did before but only as best they are now able, because it's all about keeping the flock." Backspacer is the only record post-Riot Act where I hear any genuine romance...any sense that one or two songs birthed from pure idea and not from being measured mathematically at the songwriting level (versus the production level) for maximum impact.
aww! are you stoned? cuz I feel stoned now.

there's romance in LB, Mc.

The way it appears In Backspacer, tho, is "I'm dying, hon"
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Re: A Guided Tour of Lightning Bolt: Lightning Bolt

Post by knee tunes »

LoathedVermin72 wrote:Knowing that McP likes "Just Breathe" makes me look at him totally differently
it is a fragile thing duh
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Re: A Guided Tour of Lightning Bolt: Lightning Bolt

Post by McParadigm »

Yeah, The End is a vast improvement on the same template, but that song is well served by having a lesser, younger brother slip through and establish some things earlier on. Sort of like how Brothers in Arms is able to expand on a mood semi-introduced by Your Latest Tricks, but with much greater weight and consequence.
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Re: A Guided Tour of Lightning Bolt: Lightning Bolt

Post by knee tunes »

damn you, things I don't know!
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Re: A Guided Tour of Lightning Bolt: Lightning Bolt

Post by Kevin Davis »

McParadigm wrote:Yeah, The End is a vast improvement on the same template, but that song is well served by having a lesser, younger brother slip through and establish some things earlier on. Sort of like how Brothers in Arms is able to expand on a mood semi-introduced by Your Latest Tricks, but with much greater weight and consequence.
This Dire Straits reference is sexy.
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Re: A Guided Tour of Lightning Bolt: Lightning Bolt

Post by LoathedVermin72 »

McParadigm wrote:
LoathedVermin72 wrote:Knowing that McP likes "Just Breathe" makes me look at him totally differently
JB has the same basic underlying affections and fears of Sirens, but doesn't bombast them to the point of what I assume Creed would have sounded like in 2020 if Scott Stapp hadn't gotten into experimental performance art and Rob Thomas had helped write melodies...like that song does.

It's rare that Pearl Jam is willing to let a quiet song get as quiet as it deserves to be. The best case example is Around the Bend. And these days, JB is as close as they get to "unbloated," which is what insecure but loving odes ought to be.

I genuinely appreciate that whole record for wanting to present a side of the band's sound that is unique in the catalog. "They tried a new thing and that thing was corny" is way less of a tragedy in my eyes than "they did the thing they always did before but only as best they are now able, because it's all about keeping the flock." Backspacer is the only record post-Riot Act where I hear any genuine romance...any sense that one or two songs birthed from pure idea and not from being measured mathematically at the songwriting level (versus the production level) for maximum impact.
Yeah, I get what you're saying and I don't even disagree with you. But Jesus fucking Christ, "Just Breathe" is one of the most unlistenable, embarrassing pieces of shit I've ever heard. Musically and vocally, I think it's the worst thing the band has ever recorded, regardless of whether the lyrics are better than other songs in the catalog. This is an old debate, but lyrics don't really amount to all that much if your song sounds like garbage.
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Re: A Guided Tour of Lightning Bolt: Lightning Bolt

Post by Strat »

LoathedVermin72 wrote:
McParadigm wrote:
LoathedVermin72 wrote:Knowing that McP likes "Just Breathe" makes me look at him totally differently
JB has the same basic underlying affections and fears of Sirens, but doesn't bombast them to the point of what I assume Creed would have sounded like in 2020 if Scott Stapp hadn't gotten into experimental performance art and Rob Thomas had helped write melodies...like that song does.

It's rare that Pearl Jam is willing to let a quiet song get as quiet as it deserves to be. The best case example is Around the Bend. And these days, JB is as close as they get to "unbloated," which is what insecure but loving odes ought to be.

I genuinely appreciate that whole record for wanting to present a side of the band's sound that is unique in the catalog. "They tried a new thing and that thing was corny" is way less of a tragedy in my eyes than "they did the thing they always did before but only as best they are now able, because it's all about keeping the flock." Backspacer is the only record post-Riot Act where I hear any genuine romance...any sense that one or two songs birthed from pure idea and not from being measured mathematically at the songwriting level (versus the production level) for maximum impact.
Yeah, I get what you're saying and I don't even disagree with you. But Jesus fucking Christ, "Just Breathe" is one of the most unlistenable, embarrassing pieces of shit I've ever heard. Musically and vocally, I think it's the worst thing the band has ever recorded, regardless of whether the lyrics are better than other songs in the catalog. This is an old debate, but lyrics don't really amount to all that much if your song sounds like garbage.

You are such a mess and goddammit i love it.
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Re: A Guided Tour of Lightning Bolt: Lightning Bolt

Post by stip »

LoathedVermin72 wrote:
McParadigm wrote:
LoathedVermin72 wrote:Knowing that McP likes "Just Breathe" makes me look at him totally differently
JB has the same basic underlying affections and fears of Sirens, but doesn't bombast them to the point of what I assume Creed would have sounded like in 2020 if Scott Stapp hadn't gotten into experimental performance art and Rob Thomas had helped write melodies...like that song does.

It's rare that Pearl Jam is willing to let a quiet song get as quiet as it deserves to be. The best case example is Around the Bend. And these days, JB is as close as they get to "unbloated," which is what insecure but loving odes ought to be.

I genuinely appreciate that whole record for wanting to present a side of the band's sound that is unique in the catalog. "They tried a new thing and that thing was corny" is way less of a tragedy in my eyes than "they did the thing they always did before but only as best they are now able, because it's all about keeping the flock." Backspacer is the only record post-Riot Act where I hear any genuine romance...any sense that one or two songs birthed from pure idea and not from being measured mathematically at the songwriting level (versus the production level) for maximum impact.
Yeah, I get what you're saying and I don't even disagree with you. But Jesus fucking Christ, "Just Breathe" is one of the most unlistenable, embarrassing pieces of shit I've ever heard. Musically and vocally, I think it's the worst thing the band has ever recorded, regardless of whether the lyrics are better than other songs in the catalog. This is an old debate, but lyrics don't really amount to all that much if your song sounds like garbage.

What exactly is it about Just Breathe that makes it one of the most unlistenable, embarrassing pieces of shit you've ever heard?
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Re: A Guided Tour of Lightning Bolt: Lightning Bolt

Post by bada »

I'm sure LV will lay out an argument that will satisfy you Stip.
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Re: A Guided Tour of Lightning Bolt: Lightning Bolt

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heheheh
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Re: A Guided Tour of Lightning Bolt: Lightning Bolt

Post by PHATJ »

stip wrote:
LoathedVermin72 wrote:
McParadigm wrote:
LoathedVermin72 wrote:Knowing that McP likes "Just Breathe" makes me look at him totally differently
JB has the same basic underlying affections and fears of Sirens, but doesn't bombast them to the point of what I assume Creed would have sounded like in 2020 if Scott Stapp hadn't gotten into experimental performance art and Rob Thomas had helped write melodies...like that song does.

It's rare that Pearl Jam is willing to let a quiet song get as quiet as it deserves to be. The best case example is Around the Bend. And these days, JB is as close as they get to "unbloated," which is what insecure but loving odes ought to be.

I genuinely appreciate that whole record for wanting to present a side of the band's sound that is unique in the catalog. "They tried a new thing and that thing was corny" is way less of a tragedy in my eyes than "they did the thing they always did before but only as best they are now able, because it's all about keeping the flock." Backspacer is the only record post-Riot Act where I hear any genuine romance...any sense that one or two songs birthed from pure idea and not from being measured mathematically at the songwriting level (versus the production level) for maximum impact.
Yeah, I get what you're saying and I don't even disagree with you. But Jesus fucking Christ, "Just Breathe" is one of the most unlistenable, embarrassing pieces of shit I've ever heard. Musically and vocally, I think it's the worst thing the band has ever recorded, regardless of whether the lyrics are better than other songs in the catalog. This is an old debate, but lyrics don't really amount to all that much if your song sounds like garbage.

What exactly is it about Just Breathe that makes it one of the most unlistenable, embarrassing pieces of shit you've ever heard?
I agree with LV. It is boring, grating, Ed's vocals annoy me endlessly. It just doesn't work for me at all.
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Re: A Guided Tour of Lightning Bolt: Lightning Bolt

Post by McParadigm »

I agree with LV.
The devil's buying stock in the company you keep, I'm afraid.
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Re: A Guided Tour of Lightning Bolt: Lightning Bolt

Post by stip »

bada wrote:I'm sure LV will lay out an argument that will satisfy you Stip.
the best part about that thread is that I discovered the death battles website.
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Re: A Guided Tour of Lightning Bolt: Lightning Bolt

Post by epilogue »

stip wrote:
bada wrote:I'm sure LV will lay out an argument that will satisfy you Stip.
the best part about that thread is that I discovered the death battles website.
:?:
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Re: A Guided Tour of Lightning Bolt: Lightning Bolt

Post by LoathedVermin72 »

I could give a detailed explanation of why I hate this song, but that would require going back and listening to it again, which I have no intention of doing.
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Re: A Guided Tour of Lightning Bolt: Lightning Bolt

Post by bada »

stip wrote:
bada wrote:I'm sure LV will lay out an argument that will satisfy you Stip.
the best part about that thread is that I discovered the death battles website.
That reminds me I have to watch Lion-O vs He-Man tonight.
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Re: A Guided Tour of Lightning Bolt: Lightning Bolt

Post by Tj »

I wonder how the haters of JB feel about the following three songs
1. No Ceiling
2. Wishlist
3. Betterman
I am just trying to gain a pulse here of what elements are hated the most.
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Re: A Guided Tour of Lightning Bolt: Lightning Bolt

Post by stip »

I love all 3. I like just breathe the least of the bunch, but it's still quite good
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Re: A Guided Tour of Lightning Bolt: Lightning Bolt

Post by tragabigzanda »

pearl jam sucks now
Last edited by tragabigzanda on Fri January 02, 2026 10:01 am, edited 1 time in total.
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Re: A Guided Tour of Lightning Bolt: Lightning Bolt

Post by darth_vedder »

Team McP. I somewhat like Just Breath.

And, the Dire Straits reference was sexy.
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